IMS bearing solution quote, it's insane!
#16
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AnthonyGS was referring to the intermediate shaft itself, which has the gears at each end press-fitted. Apparently, the gears have been known to slip on the shaft, which affects timing on one or both camshafts (potentially enough to cause major damage). I have no idea of the extent of actual risk, though, or how often this might have actually been known to occur. I would guess it's rare, as almost never seems to be attributed to engine failure in 986s or 996s. Anyway, "pinning" the gears to the shaft prevents this occurring, but requires major engine disassembly.
David
David
#17
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IMSS gear slip failure CNN HEADLINE NEWS
Lighting strike at bottom of dry pool
Sounds like an oil thread
Lighting strike at bottom of dry pool
Sounds like an oil thread
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RennHarry (07-14-2021)
#19
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I've switched to a nice zero weight canola oil, big power gains!
But seriously, I think what he might be referring to is doing the IMS replacement without locking out the cam chains, I think I have seen some youtube videos where that has been the case. It certainly would be possible to screw up the timing!
Tim
But seriously, I think what he might be referring to is doing the IMS replacement without locking out the cam chains, I think I have seen some youtube videos where that has been the case. It certainly would be possible to screw up the timing!
Tim
#20
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Welcome to Porsche ownership! Remember, you're not driving a Corolla.. it's a Porsche and it's gonna cost you a lot more money with preventive maintenance. That's why if you chose to go with the LN IMS Solution, then it's always a good idea to do other preventive items like the RMS, AOS, Clutch, and Flywheel while the mechanic is in there. But I wouldn't shrug off replacing the IMS bearing on a 20-year-old Boxster. The stupidity tax is north of $20K for a new motor. There are other cheaper bearing options that will be smarter than doing just nothing.
You also have the 01 Boxster which has the 6204 - the one bearing that caused most of the trouble with failures. Therefore, I'd strongly recommend having it addressed asap. Once it's done you can breathe easier and enjoy that car. Do nothing.. it's rolling the dice.![thumbup](https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/thumbup.gif)
You also have the 01 Boxster which has the 6204 - the one bearing that caused most of the trouble with failures. Therefore, I'd strongly recommend having it addressed asap. Once it's done you can breathe easier and enjoy that car. Do nothing.. it's rolling the dice.
![thumbup](https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/thumbup.gif)
If someone can do the IMS themselves, go for it, but otherwise at the stage of the game we are in with the 986, doing nothing (Drive your car and change oil regularly) is likely the most sensible in my opinion.
From my research, a ~20 year old car that has been regularly driven and maintained continues to be less likely to have an IMS bearing failure. Even using the original failure rates, the overwhelming odds are that it WON’T fail.
Stupidity is spending several thousand on a replacement bearing as preventative maintenance on a car that is only worth several thousand at this point.
I say...enjoy the market stupidity that currently allows us to buy these old 986 for less than the cost of a nice vacation. Drive the hell out of it, and get another if it fails.
The perceived “cost of Porsche ownership” is what keeps many away, which is just fine with me (more for us), but in large part it’s a thought shared by people who know nothing about Porsche.
All just my opinion
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Shawn Stanford (07-13-2021)
#22
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All due respect, stupidity would be paying $20,000 for a blown motor when the car can be replaced for less than that.
If someone can do the IMS themselves, go for it, but otherwise at the stage of the game we are in with the 986, doing nothing (Drive your car and change oil regularly) is likely the most sensible in my opinion.
From my research, a ~20 year old car that has been regularly driven and maintained continues to be less likely to have an IMS bearing failure. Even using the original failure rates, the overwhelming odds are that it WON’T fail.
Stupidity is spending several thousand on a replacement bearing as preventative maintenance on a car that is only worth several thousand at this point.
I say...enjoy the market stupidity that currently allows us to buy these old 986 for less than the cost of a nice vacation. Drive the hell out of it, and get another if it fails.
The perceived “cost of Porsche ownership” is what keeps many away, which is just fine with me (more for us), but in large part it’s a thought shared by people who know nothing about Porsche.
All just my opinion
If someone can do the IMS themselves, go for it, but otherwise at the stage of the game we are in with the 986, doing nothing (Drive your car and change oil regularly) is likely the most sensible in my opinion.
From my research, a ~20 year old car that has been regularly driven and maintained continues to be less likely to have an IMS bearing failure. Even using the original failure rates, the overwhelming odds are that it WON’T fail.
Stupidity is spending several thousand on a replacement bearing as preventative maintenance on a car that is only worth several thousand at this point.
I say...enjoy the market stupidity that currently allows us to buy these old 986 for less than the cost of a nice vacation. Drive the hell out of it, and get another if it fails.
The perceived “cost of Porsche ownership” is what keeps many away, which is just fine with me (more for us), but in large part it’s a thought shared by people who know nothing about Porsche.
All just my opinion
![thumbup](https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/thumbup.gif)
#23
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Consider the LNE "IMS Retrofit" instead of the "IMS Solution." The Retrofit kit is $1,000 less, and my mechanic didn't like the exposed oil line on the Solution, either. He quoted $3,000 for the Retrofit + clutch + RMS for my 2000 BS manual. There's more labor for the Tiptronic, as they are more work to remove it to get to the clutch and IMS bearing.
#24
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I drove my 986 S many miles on track without an upgraded IMS. When I did the transmission rebuild, I went ahead with the fix and was told my original bearings were pristine. Prior to this fix I had found a spare engine from a fellow RLer for around $3k which collected dust for several years before I finally sold the car, the engine still running like brand new. My point is I wouldn’t pay $8k for the IMS. Drive it like you stole it and if/when the engine blows, you can find an entire engine for way less than $8k.
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Shawn Stanford (06-23-2021)
#25
Burning Brakes
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Was the quote in any way itemized? In writing? Reason I asked is a year ago I had an insurance claim denied and after a lot of digging found out that the contractor had honestly made a mistake that amounted to thousands. He just slipped a digit in inadvertently in the quote he sent to the insurer.
While Porsche mechanics are expensive (and good ones doubly so) location can have an effect on the rates too.
While Porsche mechanics are expensive (and good ones doubly so) location can have an effect on the rates too.
#26
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I recently had bought one of the lowest milage boxsters in the US, in may of 2019 paid 12400 for the vehicle with 24500 miles, 04 base red with black interior. My IMS went 2 years later at 39k miles. Destroyed my entire motor, I had to find now a newer 03 04 motor 2.7 with reasonable mileage to match my low mile chassis. I got an entire motor assembly with 66k miles for 4800 and while in there I did a clutch kit with throw-out bearing and the LN IMS solution kit along with this the air oil separator and practically every gasket in the top end of the motor. My bill for labor of a new engine install clutch install ims bearing install and everything was 3970 out the door with tax. ALL IN ALL FOR A MOTOR CLUTCH IMS WAS 8800 AND I GET TOO KEEP MY CORE.
#27
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The value of the car is does not indicate the cost of ownership, or procedures. It costs the same to carry the work out on a 2007 997.1S as it does to carry the work out to a Boxster worth 1/3 the amount of money. Both engines also cost the same to reconstruct, despite the vehicle value. 8K or so is what we also charge for an IMSS retrofit preventative package.
Mode of failure #24
Mode of failure #24
Last edited by Flat6 Innovations; 07-12-2021 at 04:49 PM.
#28
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Last edited by Shawn Stanford; 07-13-2021 at 08:51 AM.
#29
Instructor
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The value of the car is does not indicate the cost of ownership, or procedures. It costs the same to carry the work out on a 2007 997.1S as it does to carry the work out to a Boxster worth 1/3 the amount of money. Both engines also cost the same to reconstruct, despite the vehicle value. 8K or so is what we also charge for an IMSS retrofit preventative package.
Mode of failure #24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDpgHmOB7Xc
Mode of failure #24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDpgHmOB7Xc
The somewhat misleading part was that the Bank 1 cams (the side that does not move) came to rest at exactly where they should be for Cyl 1 TDC, which was highly confusing for a few minutes until I watched the Bank 1 exhaust cam for rotation while turning (and they didn't move at all). I wonder if the pistons "helped" to turn the valvetrain back to TDC position for the few rotations...by pushing back against the valves. Ugh. Should be interesting to see all of the collateral damage once I start pulling it apart.
Pin or weld your sprockets, people!
Pin in main sprocket:
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