Streather and the IMS bearing
04-24-2011 | 02:00 PM
#46
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
I was on this board very early in 1999, there is a FAQ that lists my name in it. Back then the subject of Boxter engines failing came up - 12 years ago.
I sold that Guards Red 996 against my will because of economics and was just sick over not having my Porsche any more. Fast forward to last year, I decided I can get one again so I started reading and this subject was everywhere on the 3 forums that I joined. It freaked me out, I called Porsche, I spoke to a service writer at North Scottsdale Porsche, I spoke to Don Jackson, a local Indy Shop owner and I spoke to Jack at Stuttgart Southwest who did the PPI on the '99 I ended up buying.
I could have bought a 2000 or 2001 but for me it was some crazy thing about getting back what I gave up another '99.
Everyone I spoke to told me something I read here, "stay on top of the oil level, change the oil no more than 5K miles or every year which ever comes first, do not drive the car like your in the Indianapolis 500, don't hit the redline."
I do a lot of reading here, every day, I don't post much. I love the comments about "spirited" driving then CRISIS happens.
Going back to what I was warned about by everyone that I spoke to when deciding if I should go for another '99 or not, is there a link?
My car was manufactured in March of 1998, that's 13 years ago. I drive it and enjoy it but I don't beat the dog #### out of it. Does that decrease the chances of the engine grenading, I tend to think so.
I sold that Guards Red 996 against my will because of economics and was just sick over not having my Porsche any more. Fast forward to last year, I decided I can get one again so I started reading and this subject was everywhere on the 3 forums that I joined. It freaked me out, I called Porsche, I spoke to a service writer at North Scottsdale Porsche, I spoke to Don Jackson, a local Indy Shop owner and I spoke to Jack at Stuttgart Southwest who did the PPI on the '99 I ended up buying.
I could have bought a 2000 or 2001 but for me it was some crazy thing about getting back what I gave up another '99.
Everyone I spoke to told me something I read here, "stay on top of the oil level, change the oil no more than 5K miles or every year which ever comes first, do not drive the car like your in the Indianapolis 500, don't hit the redline."
I do a lot of reading here, every day, I don't post much. I love the comments about "spirited" driving then CRISIS happens.
Going back to what I was warned about by everyone that I spoke to when deciding if I should go for another '99 or not, is there a link?
My car was manufactured in March of 1998, that's 13 years ago. I drive it and enjoy it but I don't beat the dog #### out of it. Does that decrease the chances of the engine grenading, I tend to think so.
04-24-2011 | 02:57 PM
#49
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 794
From: Berkeley Lake, Georgia
Simple synopsis really....
The design of the IMS and bearing was a bad design that Porsche tried to correct, but had 10 years of issues from 1999-2009(997.1).
They stepped up under warranty and fixed the cars in one manner or another, i.e. new engine, seals, etc.
They did not publish any factual rate of incidence....that would be suicide PR.
They moved on to a new engine design - 997.2 with no IMS designed in the engine......that took a while, thus the 10 year issue after 5 years of possible band-aid fixes...
After market company comes to the rescue with an upgraded bearing for bad design........so far, it really assists owners psychologically and mechanically....
Bottom-line....no car is perfect.....it is just comes down to how much you want to spend or time wasted to repair the issue if it occurs
The options:
New upgraded bearing
New engine or other parts/labor if needed under warranty or out of your pocket
Get rid of the car
Avoid the 99 to 2009's.
They stepped up under warranty and fixed the cars in one manner or another, i.e. new engine, seals, etc.
They did not publish any factual rate of incidence....that would be suicide PR.
They moved on to a new engine design - 997.2 with no IMS designed in the engine......that took a while, thus the 10 year issue after 5 years of possible band-aid fixes...
After market company comes to the rescue with an upgraded bearing for bad design........so far, it really assists owners psychologically and mechanically....
Bottom-line....no car is perfect.....it is just comes down to how much you want to spend or time wasted to repair the issue if it occurs
The options:
New upgraded bearing
New engine or other parts/labor if needed under warranty or out of your pocket
Get rid of the car
Avoid the 99 to 2009's.
04-24-2011 | 03:00 PM
#50
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 9
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Sorry to get back to the topic, but the IMS bearing is designed as a sealed bearing that is not lubed by engine oil. In fact, the failures are caused by a failed bearing seal allowing engine oil to wash out the bearing permanent lube. How would engine oil level make any difference? Streathers comments are off. On an intact bearing, engine oil level has no impact on the bearing race and *****. If your bearings' seal failed , and your oil was low, well maybe that would do it. But then you would have a failed bearing wouldn't you!
Furthermore, from a statistical standpoint, there is no way to get statistically meaningful numbers from this board or Raby. You need a large enough random sampling group. Neither is random. But it is clear that IMS bearings do fail often enough to be of concern, primarily because the failure results in a destroyed engine. If a failed IMS bearing only resulted in a burned out dash light, it wouldn't be a subject for discussion or such a big concern.
All you can reasonably infer from all this IMS BS is some IMS bearings fail. And is it worth spending $800 during a clutch change (or more) to reduce the odds of a $16,000 engine replacement . It was to me. I don't think about it anymore.
Furthermore, from a statistical standpoint, there is no way to get statistically meaningful numbers from this board or Raby. You need a large enough random sampling group. Neither is random. But it is clear that IMS bearings do fail often enough to be of concern, primarily because the failure results in a destroyed engine. If a failed IMS bearing only resulted in a burned out dash light, it wouldn't be a subject for discussion or such a big concern.
All you can reasonably infer from all this IMS BS is some IMS bearings fail. And is it worth spending $800 during a clutch change (or more) to reduce the odds of a $16,000 engine replacement . It was to me. I don't think about it anymore.
