View Poll Results: Has your IMS failed
No failure
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88
86.27%
Yes my IMS failed
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14
13.73%
Voters: 102. You may not vote on this poll
IMS poll
#16
I'm in....
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
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I upgraded IMS barrings and the the AOS went out leading to catastrophic failure. That as at ~140K. 80k of which were track miles.
#18
Former Vendor
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Also have a 2012 Black Edition Boxster S and I'm glad it doesn't even have an IMS!
Nothing wrong with an IMS, Porsche started using the technology with the 547/1 in 1955 and every flat 6 aircooled engine also had one and they NEVER gave issues. The IMS is not an issue and it was used for a very good reason. The problem is a sealed ball bearing inside an engine.
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Danny Manny (11-08-2020)
#19
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now that there are options on addressing the IMS, something that wasn't possible when this issue was first raging, and given the falling prices for all Boxsters (ditto for water-cooled 911s), my hesitation to recommend the car to someone doesn't really come from an exploding engine. It's more to do with the things that have always been true of this brand, the parts are expensive and the labor needs to be specialized. But if it were cheap and easy to own these cars everyone would have one and they'd be rotting/neglected like so many econo boxes parked on the street.
#20
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The poll will not let me vote twice ( i have two boxsters to report).
1. - replaced with LN at 40k, IMS is OK condition
2. - replaced with LN on replacement of motor (150k on original motor, 197k on original car, 27k on "new motor - you tell m the mileage :-))
note: original motor jumped time. Original diagnosis was failed IMS. I took the IMS out - it was fine. Chain show on bank A failed - one side jumped time. Beware, this indicates there may be mis-diagnosed "IMS" failures out there.
Grant
1. - replaced with LN at 40k, IMS is OK condition
2. - replaced with LN on replacement of motor (150k on original motor, 197k on original car, 27k on "new motor - you tell m the mileage :-))
note: original motor jumped time. Original diagnosis was failed IMS. I took the IMS out - it was fine. Chain show on bank A failed - one side jumped time. Beware, this indicates there may be mis-diagnosed "IMS" failures out there.
Grant
This is basically a cut and paste of a poll in one of the Carrera forums.
Many have been asking to understand how many of m96 cars have had IMS (intermediate shaft) failures. Although the people on this board are not necessarilly a random sampling of Boxster owners I would like to see a poll to get a better sense of it.
• Please vote only once for each Boxster you own (yes or no).. you can post multiple times but only vote once
• Please include details of your car and engine if it failed via IMS and when.
• Please let us know if there were any mitigating factors (low oil, overheat, etc) that might've led to the failure
• Please post only about IMS failures, this is not about RMS failures
• Please post only for your car, no heresay or posting for a friend who doesn't frequent the board
• Please post what was done to rectify the failure if your car failed (CPO engine, engine out of pocket, used engine, sold, insurance fire, pushed it into a river etc)
Many have been asking to understand how many of m96 cars have had IMS (intermediate shaft) failures. Although the people on this board are not necessarilly a random sampling of Boxster owners I would like to see a poll to get a better sense of it.
• Please vote only once for each Boxster you own (yes or no).. you can post multiple times but only vote once
• Please include details of your car and engine if it failed via IMS and when.
• Please let us know if there were any mitigating factors (low oil, overheat, etc) that might've led to the failure
• Please post only about IMS failures, this is not about RMS failures
• Please post only for your car, no heresay or posting for a friend who doesn't frequent the board
• Please post what was done to rectify the failure if your car failed (CPO engine, engine out of pocket, used engine, sold, insurance fire, pushed it into a river etc)
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Al Allen (09-25-2022)
#21
Former Vendor
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Original diagnosis was failed IMS. I took the IMS out - it was fine. Chain show on bank A failed - one side jumped time. Beware, this indicates there may be mis-diagnosed "IMS" failures out there.
#22
Rennlist Member
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No failure. Upgraded the IMS three year ago.
I drive it on street and some track.
Flywheel showed more wear and tear than the bearing when it came out. Clutch was still in good order. Replaced the flywheel while he was in there.
I drive it on street and some track.
Flywheel showed more wear and tear than the bearing when it came out. Clutch was still in good order. Replaced the flywheel while he was in there.
#23
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Too bad your timing chains aren't happy about that.
Nothing wrong with an IMS, Porsche started using the technology with the 547/1 in 1955 and every flat 6 aircooled engine also had one and they NEVER gave issues. The IMS is not an issue and it was used for a very good reason. The problem is a sealed ball bearing inside an engine.
Nothing wrong with an IMS, Porsche started using the technology with the 547/1 in 1955 and every flat 6 aircooled engine also had one and they NEVER gave issues. The IMS is not an issue and it was used for a very good reason. The problem is a sealed ball bearing inside an engine.
Even if it wasn't a material issue, the power of the internet has made it so.
What better way to manage than to say, voilà, no IMSB! All better now.
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ron joy (03-15-2023)
#24
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In the beginning Porsche might have had a handle on these figures because all Boxsters were under warranty and they got the failed engine back. But at this point, not even Porsche knows. Why don't they know? Because they don't keep track of all the cars that have bypassed Porsche service or installed aftermarket bearings or have been scrapped.
A ny attempt to sample online is cursed by sample bias. Not to mention small sample size.
A ny attempt to sample online is cursed by sample bias. Not to mention small sample size.
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ron joy (03-15-2023)
#25
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Yes IMS failure.
2004 Boxster S 40,000miles. 2nd owner since Nov 2010 - 23,400 miles at time of purchase. Oil changed every 6,000 miles (Mobil 1 0W40). Not track driven. After engine was warmed up rev's were kept at 3200 and above.
Nov. 2012 my wife and I were heading south for warmer temperatures and approx. 4hrs into the trip, when I came off the interstate and stopped at the stop sign the engine quit. Lights on the dash came on as if I had stalled. Prior to this absolutley no indication there was anything wrong, I was driving 75 - 80.
When I started the car the noice was horrible! I now know it is known as the "death rattle".
The car was towed to "european auto surgeons" great group. They diagnosed the problem then I had the car towed to the nearest Porsche dealer, Portland Me. (stay away!) whom also agreed with the original diagnosis. Between Porsche Portland and PNA they didn't offer what I thought was a fair enough settlement so the car was towed home to my garage where I'll see what I can do with it.
2004 Boxster S 40,000miles. 2nd owner since Nov 2010 - 23,400 miles at time of purchase. Oil changed every 6,000 miles (Mobil 1 0W40). Not track driven. After engine was warmed up rev's were kept at 3200 and above.
Nov. 2012 my wife and I were heading south for warmer temperatures and approx. 4hrs into the trip, when I came off the interstate and stopped at the stop sign the engine quit. Lights on the dash came on as if I had stalled. Prior to this absolutley no indication there was anything wrong, I was driving 75 - 80.
When I started the car the noice was horrible! I now know it is known as the "death rattle".
The car was towed to "european auto surgeons" great group. They diagnosed the problem then I had the car towed to the nearest Porsche dealer, Portland Me. (stay away!) whom also agreed with the original diagnosis. Between Porsche Portland and PNA they didn't offer what I thought was a fair enough settlement so the car was towed home to my garage where I'll see what I can do with it.
#27
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I had an '04 40th anniversary purchased in '07 with 10k miles. At fifteen K the IMS failed. I was just a couple of blocks from the dealer, so I went right to the shop. As my engine wasn't yet trashed, I got a field overhaul. My research showed that IMS failures were addressed with factory reman, which wasn't offered to me, not pleased. A year or so later the car wouldn't hold a charge, two separate trips to dealer for that repair as a needed cable wasn't ordered the first time. Two years later repeat of same problem with cable and alternator, only this time CPO expired and I was going to cost me a thousand dollars to repeat the earlier repair. The most expensive car I've ever owned was the most unreliable, on its fourth alternator at less than forty-thousand miles. Three major failures that put the car out of service for days, in the case of the alternator and weeks with the IMS. Reading the boards, this is yet another of Porsche's many "known problems" . "Known problems" are simply long standing problems that Porsche is content to leave unaddressed. What kind of company puts out such a terribly flawed engine for years and leaves it's customers on their own after warranty and continue to manufacture that engine for years, eventually leaving it to third party shops to solve. Toyota/Lexus would stop production once such a serious flaw was discovered, and make it right for those already affected.
I realized I could not trust this car for a cross country trip, the prospect of a Porsche breakdown, with the attendant delay, expense and being at the mercy of unknown shops etc. meant I couldn't happily use the car for travel very far from home.
I'm happily done with Porsche and now drive a Lexus IS F, which has given me no trouble whatsoever. The power/weight ratio is right up there with the Porsche, it's quieter, smoother and more comfortable, and delightful to drive ( I bought the Lexus ten minutes into the test drive). In case some would conclude that I was so unsophisticated that I couldn't appreciate how wonderful a Porsche is, I would note I regularly take my Ducati Panagale to the track, track days on four wheels are interesting, but on two with a power /weight ratio of 1/3, now that's a challenge.
I realized I could not trust this car for a cross country trip, the prospect of a Porsche breakdown, with the attendant delay, expense and being at the mercy of unknown shops etc. meant I couldn't happily use the car for travel very far from home.
I'm happily done with Porsche and now drive a Lexus IS F, which has given me no trouble whatsoever. The power/weight ratio is right up there with the Porsche, it's quieter, smoother and more comfortable, and delightful to drive ( I bought the Lexus ten minutes into the test drive). In case some would conclude that I was so unsophisticated that I couldn't appreciate how wonderful a Porsche is, I would note I regularly take my Ducati Panagale to the track, track days on four wheels are interesting, but on two with a power /weight ratio of 1/3, now that's a challenge.
#28
Race Director
Thread Starter
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^ Seems I've read more than a few failures with the 550 edition Boxster and similar with the Carrera anniversary car. It's probably more anecdotal than anything else but being a factory special edition that fails nowhere near 100K miles is none the less embarrasing for such a premium price tag.
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ron joy (03-15-2023)
#29
Instructor
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I had mine replaced last year at a Boxster "expert" , in S. Pasco co. Fl.
and had to replace again , because it was over torqued by 300%. Have pics to show this blundering mistake.
I had my share of nightmares in N. Pinellas Co. garage also. Write me I will be happy to share this BAD experience , and $$$$$ badly spent .
and had to replace again , because it was over torqued by 300%. Have pics to show this blundering mistake.
I had my share of nightmares in N. Pinellas Co. garage also. Write me I will be happy to share this BAD experience , and $$$$$ badly spent .
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#30
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
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2000 S Boxster
1st engine failed at 47K miles, 2nd failed at 150K miles engine/197K miles chassis. The 2nd killed the car and I sold it to someone building a track car.
Issue: Are you sure it is the IMS that failed? In both of my failures, the mechanics "thought" it was the IMS and they were pretty sure... For the first, the engine was crated and shipped back to Germany (replaced under warranty) however for the second engine, the new owner pulled the bearing and it was fine. SO...... how many IMS failures are not?
I know it is too late to change the poll, but frankly, I think it should be "engine failures" not just IMS failures as there are other failure modes at play.
Just for the morbidly curious....
Symptom engine failure 1: 10 hours into a 13 hour drive on interstates, my oil light popped on. Yikes, pulled over and shut down the engine. No leaks, no issues that I can see, checked dip stick, no odd sounds, no performance changes, all looked good. Called Porsche dealer "must be a fluke". Started up and light was out. All fine.... 1 week later, while driving in a parking lot, the engine started making noise like marbles bouncing in a hard plastic box. I drove home for another 3 miles.... sound got louder and had some power loss, no loss of fluids or dash lights. Shut down car, flat bedded to dealer. Tried to start at dealer and it made a loud metallic racket. Shut off…. New engine… may be IMS.
Symptom engine failure 2: Driving about 55 on highway, big miss like engine shut off, engine immediately returns to normal… happens again about 15 seconds later… I throw in the clutch and start to drift off to the side…. Dash lights up, engine stalls out. Can’t restart, engine appears seized. Next day, engine would turn over but one bank skipped time… mechanic said IMS failed.. dead. Wasn’t IMS, but still don’t know what it was.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
1st engine failed at 47K miles, 2nd failed at 150K miles engine/197K miles chassis. The 2nd killed the car and I sold it to someone building a track car.
Issue: Are you sure it is the IMS that failed? In both of my failures, the mechanics "thought" it was the IMS and they were pretty sure... For the first, the engine was crated and shipped back to Germany (replaced under warranty) however for the second engine, the new owner pulled the bearing and it was fine. SO...... how many IMS failures are not?
I know it is too late to change the poll, but frankly, I think it should be "engine failures" not just IMS failures as there are other failure modes at play.
Just for the morbidly curious....
Symptom engine failure 1: 10 hours into a 13 hour drive on interstates, my oil light popped on. Yikes, pulled over and shut down the engine. No leaks, no issues that I can see, checked dip stick, no odd sounds, no performance changes, all looked good. Called Porsche dealer "must be a fluke". Started up and light was out. All fine.... 1 week later, while driving in a parking lot, the engine started making noise like marbles bouncing in a hard plastic box. I drove home for another 3 miles.... sound got louder and had some power loss, no loss of fluids or dash lights. Shut down car, flat bedded to dealer. Tried to start at dealer and it made a loud metallic racket. Shut off…. New engine… may be IMS.
Symptom engine failure 2: Driving about 55 on highway, big miss like engine shut off, engine immediately returns to normal… happens again about 15 seconds later… I throw in the clutch and start to drift off to the side…. Dash lights up, engine stalls out. Can’t restart, engine appears seized. Next day, engine would turn over but one bank skipped time… mechanic said IMS failed.. dead. Wasn’t IMS, but still don’t know what it was.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
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Al Allen (09-25-2022)