IMS Indecision - What do I do for the best

Sorry to post another IMS topic but I cannot decide what to do at the next service, my 2000 3.4 Carrera 4C Tip cabriolet, 66Y17006, has done 87k and is due a full service and I understand 90k trip service, local Porsche indy has suggested I think about spend approx £2k extra and drop the engine and change the IMS (oil fed) and RMS plus all other engine/gearbox consumable items that are difficult to do without the engine out. The car was run the first five year of its life with average mileage (10k) and service at Porsche main dealer, since then its have average 1500 to 2000 p.a. and it's been service every year with oil change at indy specialist, it currently sounds and runs perfectly with no smoke or leaks, as I only do gentle low mileage (although would like to use more then I reduce work commitments soon) and annual service/oil change I am thinking to stick to the standard service and deal with problems when they arise, although seem to change my mind on a daily basis, I was just wondering if any experts agree or should I spend the extra now? Thanks for your help, as it's completely original and in rainforest green with Savanna dose feel little unique so would like to keep it going long term.

:welcome: to 911uk Robert In your position I'd have the car serviced as per the schedule. FULL STOP. It's quite possible that you'll never experience any of the potential issues that these cars can suffer from. If you do, just deal with them when the time arises.

Car on a ramp .. is it damp on the gearbox bell housing .. no then leave it .. yes and how bad .. if you have drips onto the floor then you need to change the IMS seal / Rear main Seal so whilst there you would have a look at the bearing ... it starts with a ramp check basically . Can they fail yes .. do they at this mileage .. pretty rare these days , possible but the odds are against it . I feel it boils down to do you just want advise or are you actually worried about it .. maybe to the point of not wanting to drive the car just in case . If the latter then get it changed , if you genuinely don't want to drive a car because of a possible fault then you either have to fix it or sell the car ... That's how i look at it anyways . On an oil change then any mechanic will automatically look in the canister for metal .. any signs and they will be telling you . Btw .. i work at an Indy and this is IMHO .

Just leave it alone or have the seal flipped off if you get access. Anything else is just a snake oil solution peddled by Indys trying to generate work from people's vulnerability and paranoia. Don't you just love Indys recommending you spend £2k with them :floor:

^^^^^ This

Mine currently in for clutch and rear oil leak. Indy is an advocate of leaving the IMS alone, however, bearing has play in it so its being changed. The time / part cost are negligible as he was in there anyway. I feel I've dodged a bullet! Car is 996.2 C2 manual on 87k miles.

Reluctant as i am to criticise another garage .. that is also how i read it . I do stand by my comments about people being too scared to drive the car through fear of this letting go .. im afraid ive seen this paranoia and even with a chap i work with who had one of these and who should have known better .. sigh . Play found in these bearings is another matter though .

What type of bearing was it replaced with? Only reason I ask is that my 996.2 C2 (83k) is going to be due a (first) clutch change soon (stiff clutch) so will get the indy to check the IMS bearing

Thanks all for the advice and I will go as planned with full service unless anything is found on the ramp, as I have very clean garage floor at present. Just to confirm it was me that asked the Indy, as I had heard it's sometimes addressed on manual clutch change. I have had classics costing many times more than a 996 which were nothing like as fun to drive, or easy, and I could never guarantee they would get me home, with the problems keeping the price so low if I could find another garage I would go for a hard top as well for all year fun, in fact if the 40th anniversary on 33k at ACA auction recently had not gone so much above guide I would already need it.

You don't need a hard top for all year fun, in fact, if you had one you probably wouldn't use it. Waste of time and effort if you ask me.

As others have said leave alone and save the money if you like in a "Porsche Fund" so that if it ever does fail you can put it towards the rebuild fund. Lots of misinformation out there perpetuated by journos and content creators that just repeat what they here like chinese whispers. Everytime I watch a 911 buying guide or video I cringe when I here them casually say, "make sure the IMS has been replaced or budget for changing it". NOOOOOO STOP! Also depending on who tackles the job they could do more damage than good as replacing it properly without undue stress would require removal of the intermediate shaft as far as I'm aware. I believe there are various versions of the intermediate shaft as well with some designs bein preferred over others. Anyway - if it ain't broke don't fix it! :thumb:

wheeler dealers - IMS there was a link in a previous thread to an episode of Wheeler Dealers where Ant changed the IMS bearing in situ on a 996. I think from memory they went for up-rated bearing with a direct oil feed. Maybe worth a watch if you are looking to have your IMS changed as he explains it all in good detail. When I bought my 996 the service book just had a stamp in it from a Porsche Dealership at the 88K miles service were the mechanic had written IMS bearing changed. Never go to the bottom of what work was done on IMS so just built it into the price offered for the car. My local Porsche Indie Autotrasse said just drive it and enjoy and don't worry about it.

Many problems with doing the bearing in situ - no way of supporting the shaft, could lead to other damage, is it in straight etc etc. Best to leave well alone unless it has play in it. Flip the outer seal off then you have an oil fed bearing..... OPC never change the bearing. If they found play in it they would rebuild the engine to remove the shaft and replace. I would be suspect of the handwriting unless its accompanied with a proper invoice. Forget about it, just have it inspected when doing the clutch next.

The fact that the engine is rocking backwards and forwards when that Ant off WD is hammering the after-market bearing in shows how stupid both he and the idea is :nooo:

I did ring Porsche Mid-Sussex about it - they found the car on their systems and the job No for the works but said they could not open the file as had been archived due to being more than 6 years ago! :x I have a Tip so not sure when you make the decision to take a look at it?