ZuffenZeus

Most of the more respected Porsche mechanics conclude the infamous IMS failure in the 996 and 997.1 are due to two primary reasons - weak bearing design and oil starvation. There has been no valid evidence to point to the transmission as being a part of the equation.

IMHO, this is based on your indy's limited experience with the cars he's dealt with and if my memory serves me correctly, the tiptronic transmission only made up a small percentage of cars in the 996/997.1 generation of the 911.

6L6

Thanks for your input, Jake!

Bill

911Syncro

Either my Indy told me, or perhaps I read it somewhere, that the Tip cars have a higher failure rate because they are typically run up only to 3,000 RPM and no higher. And this relates to the "oil starvation" problem.... that the IMSB, after seal failure or unsealed replacement, gets more scattered/splashed oil at higher RPMs. Can you comment on that (possible) myth please Jake? Does running my Tip car periodically up to redline in 2nd or 3rd, does this help in lubing an IMSB that doesn't have seals?

Thank you!

DrMEMS

It's been observed on this thread that 996s driven harder tend to have a lower IMSB failure rate than those driven gently. Splashed oil lubricating the IMSB is consistent with this theory.

6L6

Watching for Jake's reply on this.

Bill

Flat6 Innovations

I drive tiptronic cars like manuals. I always control the shifting myself, even in my own 993 Tiptronic.

Remember that the IMSB was designed to have permanent lubrication. The issue with the bearings is not, and has NEVER been related to oil starvation. The major issue comes from the bearing being overloaded.

Everyone is an expert on these topics, even the guy sitting in his "library" shooting videos on topics about things he has no idea about, and has probably only done once.

The bearing needs surface speed to unload the *****, so the tiptronic when driven in automatic mode does not favor this.

People keep looking for the best car to buy/ own that won;t have a bearing issue. They make up wild and crazy stories and listen to people that no less than they do on the topic whole trying to gain the information that they want to hear.

Buy the damn car, and omit the ball bearing with an IMS Solution. Spend the money once, and be done with it, then it won't make a single damn difference how the car is driven. Can't afford that? Don;t want to spend that money? Then buy a freaking Miata.

808Bill

And for someone like me looking at a Tip C2 that wants the Salution, can afford it but has no one within my state of Hawaii certified to put one in...Jake, need a little vacation?

Flat6 Innovations

I can only work in my world... take me away from here, and I get all confused!

The local dealer we work with has a 996 tiptronic that needs an engine... buy that, and I'll build you what you need, then ship it to Hawaii. No problem. That solves it all.

TonyTwoBags

Let a friend drive my 996 last fall. Guidance before we took off "keep the car between 3k and 5k, it's already warm." Guidance after letting him shift a few times "keep the car between 3k and 5k, it's not a Honda & needs to spin." I don't know why but people love to lug the sh*t out of their motors.

808Bill

Now that's an offer I can't refuse. Will be in touch once I get the sale of my small business behind me, thanks!

Flat6 Innovations

This one won't last that long.

ZuffenZeus

Wow, Jake maybe I was high on meds at the time, but from reading the many technical articles from sources like LN, insufficient lubrication of the IMSB was a top contributing factor to failure. Maybe "oil starvation" is not the best term to use in reference to the IMS problem?

mjberning

Just had my IMS Bearing replaced in my 2002 996 C2 - 6 Speed

Car had low 28,300 miles. Original bearing was in excellent condition (so much for the low mileage scare tactics).

Replaced it with LNE Single Row Pro. Also replaced the clutch, RMS, Water Pump, and AOS at the same time and had plugs and coils changed. My vehicle is almost like new now so I hope I can drive it for a long while with just oil changes and brake pad swaps.

I probably paid for a service that was not needed for a few years but possibly will enjoy my car more now.

I had a lot of questions whether or not changing a perfectly good bearing is necessary or introduces more risk. As they say better is sometimes the enemy of good. I will be very upset if my LNE bearing should fail given the original was in perfect shape and the shop used all of LNEs tools and procedures.

808Bill

Would an oil analysis and a inspection the oil filter and pan not have been the tests done to make the decision in regards to changing the bearing now at so few miles vs later?

Anestheticg

I was in a similar situation. Bought a 2000 C2 tip with 34xxx miles and swapped out the bearing immediately. Original IMSB came out intact(early dual row). I felt too that maybe I jumped the gun but had other work done at the same time like you. Was it premature? Maybe but I figured if I didn't do it and had a IMSB failure I would feel like an idiot so be happy in your decision. Drive the hell out of it