IMS Bearing

How true is this post I read: 1. IMS bearing - From 2006 forward the IMS bearing is virtually a non-factor in the 987 platform (2005 Boxsters are still subject to a higher rate of failure). Porsche installed a modified IMS bearing that virtually eliminated the problem. Reports of IMS bearing failures on 2006+ cars have been almost non-existent on this website. While there may be a small percentage that do fail, the frequency of failures is by far much lower than prior to 2006. So much has been made of IMS failures (class action lawsuit, etc.) that some vendors have created hype for their IMS repair kits and will attempt to sell them to anyone with an IMS , regardless of year/make/model. If you are fearful of an IMS problem in a 2006-2008 987 then have it checked out, but likely you will not have a problem. That isn't so much a track day thing. Seems to affect the odd car that has been stored a lot and not revved much or had oil changed much. Automatics seem more vulnerable than sticks because they typically don't get the revs on a regular basis, but we don't have scientific data only occasional word of mouth postings.

This is consistent with my understanding. I am not losing any sleep over the issue.

Failure rate after 2005 is reported to be less than 1%. What you posted is accurate. Bottom line is that greater than 99% of the 2006, 2007 2nd 2008 Caymans have NOT had IMS issues. :drivingskid:

What a relief. Wasn't sure so I brought a extended warranty from Protect My Car, but it only covers 50% of repairs excluding such as brake pads, rotors, spark plugs and any other “wear and tear” items are not covered. Though I get 3 oil changes a year for free.

Porsche switched from the Gen II bearing midway thru the 2005 model yr to the Gen III bearing. There is no good way to know which bearing you have unless you have a very early production date (Gen II) or a very late production date (Gen III). So it depends on which bearing you have in 2005 that determines the failure rate - Gen II = 10%, Gen III = 1%. All 2006-2008 models all have the Gen III bearing with a 1% failure rate. There is no way to visually determine the health of ANY IMS bearing without taking the bearing out. With the Gen III, that means physically breaking the block into halves. You can monitor the oil filter for metal bits or add a magnetic drain plug or buy a system from Flat 6 that monitors various engine factors, but you can't just pull the trans and visually see that the IMS is good or bad.

I had a 2005 Boxster S and my Vin number was excluded from the class-action. Why??? I guess that meant that I had the generation three bearing even though I had a 2005 or at least I thought. I brought it into an Indy in Huntington Station, New York, a well-known Porsche mechanic, and they gleefully excepted my $3000 to replace my IMS bearing with an LN Engineering hybrid, along with clutch and flywheel simply by dropping the transmission. It was a later production 2005, but at the time, I knew no better. So after I discovered that my Porsche was excluded from the lawsuit, due to a VIN probably incorporating the generation three bearing, I thought that this particular Indy ripped me off, because they never had to split the engine and simply just dropped the transmission to get to the IMS . I nolonger trust them or use their services.

I just purchased a 2008 Boxster from a dealer who said he would replace the IMS bearing with the LN Engineering retrofit kit. This morning he called and said that in late 2008 Porsche changed the design and in this car the case would have to be split open to get at it. He supposedly called LN Engineering and they told him to remove the outer cover so that the oil can get to the bearing and they didn't recommend replacing the bearing. How accurate is this information or am I being manipulated?

Porsche went to the Gen III IMS bearing in mid-2005 and kept that version thru MY 2008 (not late 2008 as you were told). To replace it, you do have to split the case. However, it has a 1% or less chance of failure. The majority of people leave their bearing alone and have 0 issues. Some people have added a Direct Oil Feed system that scavenges oil from the crankcase and sprays it onto an uncovered bearing. Some just peel the cover off the bearing and let the oil flow freely thru it. If you just leave it as is, oil will get into the bearing and lubricate it on its own. If your mechanic was not aware of what your 2008 had for a bearing, I would have to question how much they really know about Porsches in general. Any European mechanic in the business should know all about IMS bearings in Porsches. My advice: leave it alone and change your oil every 5-8K mi. Buy a magnetic drain plug and look at your oil filter after every oil change. Then go out and enjoy your Boxster and don't worry about it. You have a 99% chance of being fine.

That is correct. The larger single-row bearing is not serviceable without splitting the case. LN Engineering does make a serviceable IMS bearing for M97 engine but you still need to split the case to install it.

It is not a Porsche dealer but they sell quite a few used Porsches. They have bought the IMS bearing installation tools and have done several of them....supposedly. They plan to take the cover off the bearing and let the oil from the crankcase lubricate the bearing. He's also agreed to reduce the price of the car and replace the clutch at no cost. Also, I have bought several cars from them in the past. I know where he lives! Overall, I just want some peace of mind

Whatever floats your boat I guess, but it's not something I would do. If this dealer sells a lot of Porsches then they should know that Boxsters and Cayman 's 2006 and newer, except for a rare exception, all have the newer IMS bearings with a less than 1% failure rate. Mistaking your 2008 for Boxsters older than 2006 is not insignificant. Thank god they at least called LN Engineering BUT, realize LN's business model is to hype this issue and to sell as many correction kits as possible. Their advertising screams there will be problems where there most likely won't be, at least in anything 2006 and newer. Good luck regardless.

So does the IMS have a greater tendency to fail on less frequently driven vehicles? I am doing an engine swap and can source an M96 3.4L fifteen year old engine...so only 1,333 miles driven per year... And the other question I have is do I want the M96 engine that can have the IMS fail (but be replaced) or the M97 engine that has the larger bearings, but if something happens, isn't replaceable?

Anecdotally, garage queens fail more often than hard driven cars. If you acquire a used M96 engine , change the bearing before swapping, for confidence. FWIW, LN does not guarantee immunity from bearing failure, and recommends changing it periodically. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Right...seems strange. Porsche won't sell me a new IMS bearing and they do not recommend LN's product...what is one to do!?!?

I don’t like to bump an old post, but FWIW I talked to a good Indy shop here about this issue. They said in reality it’s not as prevalent as it might seem. They seem almost none... their advice to me was to drive my ‘05 Boxster S , change the oil often, and keep the revs up. The bearing is actually lubricated better at higher revs. They would not replace it for me even if I asked... I’m not losing sleep over it. In the meantime I’ll continue to wind it up in second and third and enjoy the noise.

This is what I just got back from LN Engineering , I have a 2006 Boxster with a M9626-626 engine only 45K kms on it: "If you are in the market for a new (to you) Porsche or own a 2006 through 2008 Porsche Boxster , Cayman , or 911 model with the larger, non-serviceable IMS bearing , there is no need to be alarmed or worry about your IMS bearing . The incidence of failure with a 2006-2008 M96 or M97 engine that have this larger IMS bearing is highly unlikely with estimates being about a 1% failure rate, if not less. We advise those with manual gearboxes that when you have your clutch replaced, it's best to have the grease seal removed off the original bearing to allow engine oil to better lubricate it. At that time, you can reseal the IMS flange and have the rear main seal replaced as well. Tiptronic cars, not having any components that need servicing, should have the grease seal removed off the IMS bearing as soon as possible. Grease seal removal will greatly extend the original bearing life." For what it's worth, seems to be a moving target in all forums I've checked, any way it's laid up for the Canadian winter right now but come April vrooooom!

You're a couple years late with this reply.