I don't have a problem with paying for "preventative maintenance". HELL, I don't even having a problem actually paying for the engine, but I do have a problem with being cast as some poor shlub who perhaps over-reached when buying the car and now cannot afford to be able to pay for its upkeep. I have maintained EVERYTHING that was required of me and then some. I have taken every precaution that I know of to ensure that my vehicle stays in tip-top shape. So DO NOT try to compare my efforts as being anything less then what would possibly be asked of me.

I wasn't aware of possible fixes before. As I mentioned earlier, I haven't been that involved on this forum for the past couple of years. I only chose to post recently when I remembered about this forum AFTER my engine blew up. So don't try and pawn this off as "another whiner" who can only afford a F#%*ING Ford Fusion or Jap Scrap

 

Looking at the Flat6Inovations site, the cost of the preventive maintenance is not $800 - $1200, but $3500 to $3700, plus the cost of getting your car to Georgia and back. They also mention on the site that the process itself could destroy your engine.

Not so much of a no-brainer that everyone seems to be making out.

 

hold on there... I know James and I am sure he was NOT refering to YOU... nor was I.. please...no one here is anything but symathetic to your situation. No one is blaming or accusing...

it was asked what can be done and I pointed out that ONE problem is the low price attracts buyers that might not understand the car and might be in over their heads on maintenance costs... thats all..

please dont think we are assuming YOU had that issue.

I think if you start reading at the point you asked "what are people doing" about post #64 or so you will see James is replyiing to what I said which was in defense of the 996's after Tom said get a GT3 or turbo - I said they are good cars, james said spend money repairing them or dont buy one.....

just my take on how that went

 

My agreement to the "whiner" comment went like this: The risk to these engines is now widely known to anyone who bothers to do any research before buying. And the fear is already baked into the depreciated price of these cars. So anyone who buys one and is then surprised by bad news was either unprepared or was rolling the dice.

This isn't meant to excuse Porsche at all. At all. But we're definitely in caveat emptor territory with the 996.

 

There are independents all over North America that can do the retrofit. Total price here in Toronto is under two grand now.

 

This can be done for $800 or less if you borrow the installation tool.

The actual process of taking the flange off, removing the bearing and installing the new parts takes 10 minutes. If you have the skills to remove the transmission (which is easier than many other cars), replacing the IMS is within your range. Yes it will take a few hours to remove and install the transmission.

If you are not a DIYer, more and more independent shops are installing the upgraded IMS units. For about the cost to do a clutch which would not be near $3700.

 

Two calls today.. One before lunch and one about 15 minutes ago. One of them was self induced as the person made his own "retrofit kit" with an unknown bearing that had been shimmed to fit correctly.. He wasn't too upset, just hoped that he could swap the correct retrofit bearing without engine disassembly.

He called two weeks ago while doing this and I didn't tell him it was a bad idea, I also didn't recommend doing it. I figured I'd see what the outcome was. He is a rennlist member :-)

 

Thank you Ed. I probably kind of went off half-cocked because of what I thought was the insinuation that maintenance could have prevented this and that the upkeep was not there. Look I really do like the car. I've had it for some time now and can honestly say my enthusiasm, whenever I take her out, has not diminished even slightly.

As far as this "fixit" thing goes; what are the options now? Do you or do you not have to drop the tranny or engine to get this devise installed? I'm kind of confused as to what exactly happens.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm a DIY'er to some extent but wouldn't think of doing a job that big, nor would I have the facility/tools required. If this retrofit is available closer to home and for around two grand, I would consider having it done. The key is to find a place that has done many of them. I don't want to be their first case.

 

Wow. I thought the ****ty valve guide issues that plague us 993 folks were a pain in the ***, until I read this thread.

I feel for anyone that has an IMS failure. And Porsche should be sued in a nice fat class action lawsuit for selling so many $100K lemons.

Guess a $10K top end rebuild on my 993 C4S when the day comes ain't so bad after all...

 

wyovino: Call Charles at LN and ask what shops in the U.S. buy his kits in quantity. My guess is that it's the 80/20 rule. I.E: 20% of his dealers are installing 80% of the kits sold.

 

N/P if I was in your shoes I might be tad "on edge" too

so the "fixit is a "prior to the marbles and oil leaking out step. Yes the transmission is out and the flywheel off, motor pinned at TDC (top dead center) the bearing and seal plate are removed with a special tool that LNE has/sells/borrows out and that is that

in the case where the shaft has become loose and rattled about, chains jump timing, valves smaking pistons, bending carnage... its pretty mush game over for the motor. LNE has "parts" to put it all back together and in the end be stronger/better but the cost -vs- time equation needs to be studied. If your shop doesnt know how to rebuild the motor that is another huge issue (my indy has rebuilt motors and I was there when the first one was being done, its quite involved.... do a search on youtube something to the effect of Boxster motor rebuild... its a 7-8 part series and although not exactly the same, gives you a real good idea of whats involved, most dealers have NOT rebuilt any m96's)

I hope this is helpful although a bit late... keep in mind a "new motor" will not have the LNE part and IMO is subject to the same type of problem you are faced with currently

keep it cool, have a brew.... on me if i was there

 

Nothing like an IMS discussion to get the troops rumbled.... I'd like to count how many times the same thing is said in different threads on IMS.

 

janus what is the name of your warranty provider? PM me if you'd prefer to keep it private

 

Well, well, well. I just found out that the dealer offered to replace the engine free of charge. I would have to pay for some of the labor used, however even that was offered to be partially subsidised as well.

This is a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders (obviously)!

While talking to my service contact, he mentioned that they were getting many other IMS issues brought to their attention with other 996s. After I asked if he thought there were an unusually large number of them, he said" oh no. For all major engine failure dealt with there at the dealer, he figures those with IMS causes were well under 40%."

I'm glad the other 60%+ don't have to go thru what has been a terribly unfortunate situation for the rest of us.

Anyway the engine is being shipped from Atlanta and should be arriving either late tomorrow or soon thereafter.