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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHCurrent cost: IMS Solution Install - West?
Leading reported evidence
Install "the solution" myself
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I installed "The Solution" myself, so I did my own "qualification"...
Leading evidence: 'Install "the solution" myself' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'most important part of the process' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check here' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Install by a local porsche specialty shop here in nj
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Had installed by a local Porsche specialty shop here in NJ.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Unscrupulous or unknowing shops have replaced IMS bearings when evidence of failure already exists - kind of defeats the rationale of replacing the bearing.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
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Suspected cause
True....but the "certification" (whether done by a shop or DIY) is probably the most important part of the process.
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
Unscrupulous or unknowing shops have replaced IMS bearings when evidence of failure already exists - kind of defeats the rationale of replacing the bearing.
Replace clutch, pp, rms, pilot bearing, slave bearing and etc
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
The parts are getting damn expensive, and while you are in there, there is a lot of incentive to change the clutch, PP, RMS, pilot bearing, slave bearing and etc.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Unscrupulous or unknowing shops have replaced IMS bearings when evidence of failure already exists - kind of defeats the rationale of replacing the bearing.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
44 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T103553Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
It�s usually about $4k for �The Solution�... this # can fluctuate depending on what else gets done �while they�re in there�... Do a search and you�ll get a better idea of all the preventative things that it makes sense to address while doing this procedure. Good luck
That's the best advice. However, we see a trend where most shops will quote out the IMS Solution (or Retrofit) and labor to do the install, however there are many other things that should be done and are often needed like a dual mass flywheel, clutch, and water pump.
A recent one came in and customer wanted an AOS on his Boxster. The AOS hoses were also bad and oil fill tube was also cracked. The same car also needed CV joints among other items that typically aren't part of an IMS install, but if we didn't correct them, it would be a glaring omission on our part to not do so.
Another customer came in and during the pre-qual we found copper in the oil - he had been tracking the car, no deep sump, and using Mobil 1. He ended up getting an RND Engine when he came in for an IMS.
In most cases I tell customers not to expect the bill to be less than $6500 for an IMS Solution install - we do a full inspection and qualification on the car and it can be as high as $8500 with other items that are non-related that have been neglected in normal service. Hope for the best and plan for the worst. Most of my estimates are double other Chicagoland shops quotations, however, I can always remove items from the estimate, where other shops are adding them on the tail in once they have you on the hook.
Thank you gentleman.
My AE is a low mile mint condition car. Oil analyst each year past four years perfect. CAM Dev in spec. Annual documented oil change from new.
I am a gambling man by nature. Arent all 996 owners!
Not much competition in CALI or Cert installers and prices reflect that.
Cheers
As Charles said, you may have a lot of other parts that should be addressed, 15 year old plastic and rubber should all be replaced while you're in there.
$4k? HMmmmm, I just got a quote from a preferred installer. I was prepared for $5k (for some reason, I had $3k for bearing install and $5k for Solutions install), but....the quote for my '01 S came in at $8K ($7,950 to be exact). And that's just for the IMS solutions install - does not cover RMS, tranny seal, rear engine case bolts, etc. Have prices gone up dramatically in the last year? Was I totally crazy for thinking $5 was ballpark? The aggregate quote for the IMS Solution, RMS, and engine chain tensioners is over $10k. Can someone give me a sanity check here? I also pinged a couple other preferred installers just for a point of comparison.
Interesting, doing same research and yielding similar results. $4000 - $6500+.
I am asking the shops if they register with LN after install, many don't even know what "register" was, little less about the pre-qualification procedure
http://imssolution.com/wp-content/up...nual-05-16.pdf
.
From my understanding, this form needs to be filled out and sent in as well with all the other supporting documents.
http://imssolution.com/wp-content/up...-Checklist.pdf
From what I have gathered, the less expensive installers typically simply do the install and that's it, but I have been wrong in the past.
As I said in my original post, $4k is the ballpark # for the "solution" alone. As Charles Navarro pointed out, there are usually other things that should be addressed while the bearing is being done. The sky is really the limit, and generally speaking you need you limit the cash outlay before you start to approach the price of a new engine or even the total value of your vehicle. IMO the $8500.00 # for the "Solution" alone, is way over priced... The $4k # may be closer to reality, but be careful that they're not trying to hook you with a # you want to hear, only to add a bunch of stuff once they've got your car torn apart... Good luck
Minneapolis , MN
certified LN installer
$3,400.00
LN retro fit single row
clutch
flywheel re surface
rms
oil, misc gaskets etc.
Also includes $270.00 for pre qualification procedure.
it was, I think, $1,500 more for the LN solution. I also did AOS, not included in above number.
I chose to keep my bearing, 52K miles look fine btw, and paperwork with my car. I didn't register it with LN.😮
I just did one for neighbor while he had other problems solved (CEL 1341). But if all you want is an L&N bearing solution done, I can see it being in the $2,000 range. The parts are getting damn expensive, and while you are in there, there is a lot of incentive to change the clutch, PP, RMS, pilot bearing, slave bearing and etc. Tipt will cost a bit more because it is harder to drop that box.
What the hell is an LN certified Installer?
I was quoted about ~$4,000 by a certified shop in central CO in 2016, ended up paying about $6,500. Throwout bearing, AOS, some fasteners, IMSS, prequalification, etc. My car had some things that needed to be refreshed so the engine came out.
When I bought my car in 2016 I was unaware of the IMS bearing "issue". My bad because I never checked, I just wanted the car. Once I realized I was driving a potential risk, low mileage (36K miles) and a single row bearing, I did my research and finally decided on the LN ceramic retrofit. Had installed by a local Porsche specialty shop here in NJ. Cost was $2500. They verified my AOS and my clutch and said don't do those yet. 2 years and 10K miles later, I am rolling strong. Clutch feels great and I am satisfied that for the next 4 years I am OK. Wish I had the cash to do the "solution" but I figure that if I replace this retrofit at 6 years and get another 6 years I am about equal in cost and by then a clutch will most likely be needed. Works for me, but each to their own. Lastly, I do not track my car. Your decision might change if that is your future.
It's a list of company's that have been approved by Flat6 for installation of the Solution. I believe it carries a warranty on the engine.
http://theimssolution.com/certified-installers/
Id stay away from that shop and if they are an installer I would think twice to even have them on the list just for the basics....Theres some shops like that in "Scottsdale" that I stay away...
^^^ Nah... The part alone (The Solution) from LNE is $1700.00. Anyone who who do the requisite labor for $300.00 you should RUN AWAY from... If you have any mechanical ability, space and some patience, I would highly recommend DIY'ing it. If not (once again...) $4k is a good starting #... any extras will cause the number to rise according to cost of parts+labor (the only labor you're going to save on is the removal and re-installation of the engine and transmission - which happens to be the biggest, most involved part of the job - not difficult, just labor intensive - this is why so many folks decide to do clutch, flywheel, AOS, etc. while the engine and tranny are out)
No one has mentioned that if the Solution is to be warranted, your engine must pass a rigorous test procedure to make sure it qualifies for a Solution install. This is one of the reasons that the Solution is so expensive but the best fix for the IMS. Makes our engines like the famous Mezger engine. If the shop does not do this test procedure then don't waste your money on the Solution. The inventor of the Solution is Jake Raby of Flat 6 Innovations in Georgia. His shop is renowned. He can point you to a certified installer or he can do the work but be prepared to wait.
Jake no longer does this as a service - unless you want to ship him your engine. A couple years ago he shifted his focus to engine building - I actually emailed Jake first and was planning to ship my car out to his shop. Still might be cheaper to rip out my engine and ship it to Jake than the $10k i was given!
That's too bad. I spoke with him a few times 2 years ago and he is passionate about these cars and the validity of the install. Was the installer a certified one who gave you that quote? I had dealt with a certified installer in PA and their quote was more like $6K than the $10K you were quoted. And that included a new clutch.
Ask for the details of their estimate - parts and labor. I used "certified" installer in DFW area (only certified installer in Texas) - did IMS Solution, AOS, RMS, and clutch - parts + 13 hours of labor totaled about $4,500
So I just read up and watched the $1700 solution and how it is installed. One sleek solution ! Pricey but for the discerning owner who does not worry about costs. And the installation does not look like rocket science. The marketing of "certified installer' is one sleek trick. Nice job.
The "qualification" procedure to install any LNE bearing is the same. It is NOT rocket science, and the "certified installer" program is not a "trick". It's a way for LNE to exercise some level of control over the use of their parts/products. They're training these people (installers) to do the job properly and to "qualify" engines before doing the job so the parts themselves aren't questioned after a post retrofit failure (due to debris laden oil or other potential problems). It's not a perfect but I suppose it does offer some level of confidence that the job was done to a certain standard. I installed "The Solution" myself, so I did my own "qualification"... There is no warrantee on a DIY, so it's really just a case of "I know what I know" about my installation. I also did a bunch of other stuff while I was in there so I'm confident that it was a clean/proper installation (no debris in the oil, and the previous LN classic dual row bearing was in good shape). Good luck
Then you are living proof that no "certification" is required to properly and competently install The Solution. I know of at least 50 people on Pelican that can competently do the same thing, without any certification.
True....but the "certification" (whether done by a shop or DIY) is probably the most important part of the process. Unscrupulous or unknowing shops have replaced IMS bearings when evidence of failure already exists - kind of defeats the rationale of replacing the bearing.
I think it�s important to point out the difference between �certified� and �qualified�... �Certified Instalker� pertains to shops/installers that have passed LNE/FSI program that attests to their ability and integrity to carry out a proper qualification, removal and installation of the IMSB retrofit or Solution. �Qualification� is the inspection of your engine and oil to determine that a retrofit or Solution installation will have a proper chance of being successful.
270 for the qualification... my local shop wants over 4k just for the qualification. Add on install and a clutch job and the quote they sent was over 12k. Is that crazy?
I just paid $7500 for. - IMS retrofit (not solution) RMS, Clutch kit and new Flywheel.. was told it was a bit more because my car is a C4. AOS was an additional $700, that was with the $500 discount to do it from the back while trans was out.
It included the regular AOS, not the ultimate, isn�t the Ultimate almost a grand just for parts? I had just got the car and didn�t know advantages of Ultimate, but I do not intend to track and want to keep the car original.
Insane wow oh wow...I worked on my aircooled engine on things I knew I could like replacing plugs, where a shop wanted $500 including the plugs...
There so many good videos from FCP Euro on the a lot of main parts that we replace on the 996s
You Tube
After seeing some of these videos, I would never go to a shop that had the nerve to charge me $7.5k on repairs that I could prob do myself
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