Sporty

Just to clarify - the 997 engines with the smaller bearings, mainly early build 2005 997's are more prone to failure, whether an M96 or M97. My engine is an 2005MY M96 with the larger revised bearing -so the blanket statement of M96 vs m97 is more prone to failure is inaccurate in of itself; the frame of reference should be older style bearing vs revised bearing typically found in non late build 2005 997s. Furthermore, if one is to believe the discovery info as a result of the class action suit, those findings indicate less than 1% failure rate on the larger revised bearing vs 4- 8% for the smaller bearing. So non late build 2005 997s could be subject to 4-8% failure while the rest is less than 1% FWIW.

Sporty

Third lin in previous post should read "bearing typically found in late build 2005 997's"

fatfat

Purchased used from Porsche dealer over a year ago. Today is around 50k, and engine missing with service light on about a week ago.

Replacing the original plugs coils....ugly coils btw.. Will reset with dura metric and see?

oregonmon

Just purchased from individual last week.

2005 C2 (M96/05) May build date. No failure. 35,000 miles.

seacoast

2005 Carrera S Cabriolet
Failed at 57,196 miles as I pulled into my garage after driving 800 miles in one day (from VA to NH) Oil and filter were changed before my trip to VA from NH. I pulled into my garage and didn't hear any unusual noises or notice any problems. I shut down the engine as normal and went to bed. The next day I woke up to a pool of oil under the car. I knew immediately what had happened. Luckily, in 500k traveled in Porsches over 22 years, I have yet to be stranded away from home. After consultation with Jake Raby and finding out that his schedule was pretty packed and he wanted the entire car delivered to GA and I would potentially not get it back until next Spring if a rebuild was required. I searched for a local shop which was capable of doing the work. Daniel Jacobs, LLC a/k/a Hairy Dog Grrrage in Oxford, CT got the car via flatbed after I pulled the pan and filter to confirm it was an IMS failure. Lots of shiny metal in the pan and filter. Amazingly, Daniel Jacobs was able to save my engine. They dropped the pan and cleaned out the bottom of the engine, replaced the bearing with the LN retrofit kit and carefully flushed the engine several times with cheap oil. After the second change, no metal was found in the oil. On the 997, the oil goes from the sump to the pump then through the filter. If the filter isn't clogged or defective, metal should never get into the oil passages inside the engine. They changed it again for good measure. I just drove it home today - 250 miles. So far, so good. No odd sounds, temps and oil pressure were perfect too. I really dodged a bullet! The total cost including towing and tax was about $5k which is still cheaper than a new or used engine. I would say that for the $2000-3000 cost installed for the IMS retrofit, it is crazy to not do it if you have a single row bearing engine.

I need to talk to the local shop which changed the oil before I took it on the road to see what they used and I'll update this post. I always use Amsoil or Mobil1 when I change my own oil. This car was new to me and I had only owned it for 2 months. I put about 4500 miles on it in that time. It was CPO to the previous owner. I bought it in a private party sale.

Technical details:

2005 Carrera S Cabriolet (manufactured 01/2005)
Engine # M97/0168507440 (apparently 26 engine #s before the change to the bigger bearing)

Previous owner didn't drive it much. He put less than 10k miles on it in 3 years. I put 4500 miles on it in 2 months. He changed the oil just before I bought it. I changed it again after getting it home since I wasn't sure what oil he had used for his change. I'll post again in a couple of months when I have another 5k on the engine.

997_rich

Nice save! please check in from time to time to confirm you're still in good shape. That bearing looks pretty rough- almost looks like that nut was over-torqed but it made it throught 57k miles so that's probably not the case.

AP997S

Don't forget to put in your claim for the 'Class Action' rebate. I suspect your VIN falls in the number that the 'C.A' targeted. It won't be much but at least you'll recover a few bucks.

myw

05 c2s
16xxx miles
3.8 M97 - build date for vin/engine number states it was made one month after the rollover to larger single row ims bearing (same as 06-08)

if the engine hasnt exploded on me in another 40k miles ill do the ims solution when swapping the clutch. *knock on wood*

seacoast

I installed the LN full flow adapter, a NAPA 1042 filter with a filter magnet, and a magnetic drain plug then changed the oil again (Mobil 0W-40 European Car Formula). I found a few tiny bits of metal and rubber from the IMS bearing and seal in the OEM cartridge filter. It still sounds great and runs perfectly. No odd noises and there was nothing unusual in the oil other than those few minor pieces caught by the filter. The magnet and better filter should hopefully catch anything remaining in there. I'll post more updates as I add miles. I added 100 more today.

Vampire

No probs with my '06 C2S with 47K miles. It was delivered to me in Augsut ' 2005.

McCrazy

This post would be more useful if you included mileage, year/month, and type of engine/car.

Fahrer

I believe the seal is made of plastic rather than rubber. Are you sure about the source?

seacoast

McCrazy, my post above was a follow up to post #350 which lists all of those details.
Fahrer, the material was the same as what remained on the seal part of the original IMS bearing.

McCrazy

Got it SeaCoast. Sorry to hear your IMS failed but it was the early design IMS. Looks like your car became one of the 4-8% from the Class Action suit.

7200rpm

I live in Sweden and I'm following this thread with interest. According to a 997 pre-owned user guide recently published in Swedens major motor magazine, the journalist states: "The bearing is somewhat undersized and have to work hard. The same design is used in the Boxster, 996 and 997, but for the 997 it has decreased in extent and is very uncommon. The problem disappeared until model year 2007, according to reports. The reason is that Porsche for 2007 has mounted others improved IMS-bearings and bearing holders." (perhaps translation isn't 100%...). He also states what this thread concludes, that early 2005's are most likely to fail. Has anyone read about this improvement in the bearing construction for later 997.1 Carrera models? It doesn't say what "report" he is referring to.

I've also done a short re-search and among 196 pre-owned 997 carreras coupés currently on sale in Sweden, 2 has stated the car has a new engine, both are early 2005's. Engine was replaced at around 30000 miles i both cases, however, it does not state whether IMS-failure was the cause.