Who still has their original IMSB? And why?
#61
#62
When my 2000 Boaster S turned 142k I had to do the trans for 2nd gear pop-out. I left the IMSB alone; the car now has 170k. No worries, it's a car I'll own until I cannot own a car. When the clutch went in my 1999 C4, the car had 72,000 miles. I balked and replaced the IMSB. It was perfect. Part of me wishes I had let it be, but I learned a lot by doing the job myself, and if I had to sell the car, the New LN bearing would be part of the ad.
#68
I don't know why I found it interesting that no one mentioned they don't worry about their IMSB because they have the Guardian installed. Which is my answer. A couple of years and oil changes later and I only find the same very slight film of grey on the magnets. So I don't worry about the IMSB or any other metal wear at this point at 53k miles. I'll worry about replacing it when it's clutch time.
#71
Just replaced mine, gave in to the hysteria. Had 33,000 miles on my 2002 C4S. Replaced it myself with a Pelican kit. The original bearing was fine, but had a cup of oil in the IMS tube, that is now on my garage floor!
#73
I debated whether to even post this question, since I'm pretty sure it's going to be misinterpreted, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway.
When the Guardian goes off, it's an indication that you now have metal in your oil pan and you need to shut the car off. However, once there's enough metal in the oilpan to jump the electrodes in the Guardian plug, isn't it also true that you likely have metal everywhere you have oil in the motor? My assumption based on other posts is that just replacing the bearing at the point you already have bearing debris throughout the motor is stupid, since you can't ensure that you won't be pumping metal fragments through the replacement bearing. This seemingly makes the Guardian an indicator that it is now time to flatbed your car somewhere to have the engine torn down, cleaned, and reassembled - so I'm unclear on how the Guardian is better than getting on a maintenance schedule that includes replacing the bearing at appropriate intervals...
When the Guardian goes off, it's an indication that you now have metal in your oil pan and you need to shut the car off. However, once there's enough metal in the oilpan to jump the electrodes in the Guardian plug, isn't it also true that you likely have metal everywhere you have oil in the motor? My assumption based on other posts is that just replacing the bearing at the point you already have bearing debris throughout the motor is stupid, since you can't ensure that you won't be pumping metal fragments through the replacement bearing. This seemingly makes the Guardian an indicator that it is now time to flatbed your car somewhere to have the engine torn down, cleaned, and reassembled - so I'm unclear on how the Guardian is better than getting on a maintenance schedule that includes replacing the bearing at appropriate intervals...
I don't know why I found it interesting that no one mentioned they don't worry about their IMSB because they have the Guardian installed. Which is my answer. A couple of years and oil changes later and I only find the same very slight film of grey on the magnets. So I don't worry about the IMSB or any other metal wear at this point at 53k miles. I'll worry about replacing it when it's clutch time.
#74
I debated whether to even post this question, since I'm pretty sure it's going to be misinterpreted, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway.
When the Guardian goes off, it's an indication that you now have metal in your oil pan and you need to shut the car off. However, once there's enough metal in the oilpan to jump the electrodes in the Guardian plug, isn't it also true that you likely have metal everywhere you have oil in the motor? ...
When the Guardian goes off, it's an indication that you now have metal in your oil pan and you need to shut the car off. However, once there's enough metal in the oilpan to jump the electrodes in the Guardian plug, isn't it also true that you likely have metal everywhere you have oil in the motor? ...
#75
For what it's worth, if I were in the market for an m96/m97 powered car I wouldn't touch one with an after-market IMS bearing. For much the same reason I would avoid a car with any significant engine mods (to include air-intakes, exhaust, cams, lifters, ECM, etc.) I'm a purest and such cars set of my probably-has-been-hooned sensor.
For you folks that go the after-market bearing route, do you feel the need to continue to replace the bearing every 30k miles as has been recommended? Given the price of 3rd party warranties, or the ever falling prices of salvage motors, would that route not provide a lower cost option? Given the number of ways a performance motor can be destroyed it seems like this particular modification is akin to purchasing an insurance policy that only pays if your car catches leukemia on a tuesday.
To answer the OP's question, I'm currently running 2 m96 machines, a 2.5L @ 140k miles and a 3.4L @ 94k miles, both original bearings for the reasons stated above.
For you folks that go the after-market bearing route, do you feel the need to continue to replace the bearing every 30k miles as has been recommended? Given the price of 3rd party warranties, or the ever falling prices of salvage motors, would that route not provide a lower cost option? Given the number of ways a performance motor can be destroyed it seems like this particular modification is akin to purchasing an insurance policy that only pays if your car catches leukemia on a tuesday.
To answer the OP's question, I'm currently running 2 m96 machines, a 2.5L @ 140k miles and a 3.4L @ 94k miles, both original bearings for the reasons stated above.