11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTrusting non-Pcar mechanic
Leading reported evidence
Check with the dealer
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
I'd check with the dealer to be sure they'll install a non-Porsche-approved part in the engine, such as the LN IMS bearing retrofit.
Leading evidence: 'Check with the dealer' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check with the dealer' (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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Suggestion
I agree here...An oil change, brakes, maybe even changing a belt can be done by just about anyone.
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Suggestion
I agree here...An oil change, brakes, maybe even changing a belt can be done by just about anyone.
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 contain suggestions
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Suggestion
you need to get the car up on a lift and decide if you're going to replace all the hoses due to age or if you inspect and replace as necessary...that'll start to bring you bill up a bit more...
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Suggestion
There's a great mechanic near here who told me "Sure, I can work on your Porsche!" But when I spoke to him about the IMS he said, "Oh, don't worry about it, as long as you change the oil regularly you'll never have a problem." Obviously he had no clue the bearing is sealed and should not be affected by oil-change intervals, and that even if the seals are breached, motor oil is too thin to properly lubricate it because the clearances were designed for grease.
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.
Suggestion
you need to get the car up on a lift and decide if you're going to replace all the hoses due to age or if you inspect and replace as necessary...that'll start to bring you bill up a bit more...
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.
Suggestion
There's a great mechanic near here who told me "Sure, I can work on your Porsche!" But when I spoke to him about the IMS he said, "Oh, don't worry about it, as long as you change the oil regularly you'll never have a problem." Obviously he had no clue the bearing is sealed and should not be affected by oil-change intervals, and that even if the seals are breached, motor oil is too thin to properly lubricate it because the clearances were designed for grease.
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.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T052503Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
'99 C4, 90K miles, has transmission whine, perhaps needs pinion bearing.
If transmission removal is required I figure it's a good time to put in IMS bearing upgrade and perhaps pull the engine and replace air/oil seperater, water pump, hoses and anything else worth doing.
I have 4 choices:
1. DIY
2. P-car dealer located 60 miles away
3. a good indy also located 60 miles away
4. a local shop but not p-car specific
I am tempted to try this as a DIY after reading the recent posts. I would require me to buy some tools, such as a trans. jack, and probably others too. This would reduce the advanage $ wise of having it done.
What I am really thinking is using a local guy who is not p-car specific. I see all makes of cars in his lot including Audi and VW. The guy also builds race cars. For sure he has the right tools and a mechanics mind set.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
If you talk to him first regarding retrofitting the IMS ( all the details) and he sounds competent, then he can do that and the AOS, waterpump, hoses, etc... still figure hourly labor costs are still 8-10 hours plus ... you need to get the car up on a lift and decide if you're going to replace all the hoses due to age or if you inspect and replace as necessary...that'll start to bring you bill up a bit more...
parts and all should run north of $2K
I'd check with the dealer to be sure they'll install a non-Porsche-approved part in the engine, such as the LN IMS bearing retrofit. The other option you mention, a good indy, would seem to be your other best option unless you want to DIY. The problem with even a great non-Porsche mechanic is that he won't have a lot of experience with this engine/transmission layout. There's a great mechanic near here who told me "Sure, I can work on your Porsche!" But when I spoke to him about the IMS he said, "Oh, don't worry about it, as long as you change the oil regularly you'll never have a problem." Obviously he had no clue the bearing is sealed and should not be affected by oil-change intervals, and that even if the seals are breached, motor oil is too thin to properly lubricate it because the clearances were designed for grease. But if you're even considering DIY then you probably are knowledgeable...perhaps that local guy would let you work with him?
I agree here...An oil change, brakes, maybe even changing a belt can be done by just about anyone.
But when you're dealing with engine internals and transmissions it might be best to leave it to someone familiar with the car.
Then again for those of us doing work on our own we're probably not experts but at least we know when we $%*# something up it's our own fault.
+1 for knowing when too stop and ask questions.,.... PLUS use the right manuals, torque everything, and maybe we are shadetree mechanics doing really hard jobs, but we have help/support and are not trying to make money - so if it takes a LONG time, we dont rush to finish
I just had my indy (Audi/VW and sometimes P-car expert - 7 minutes away) change out a coil pack. He knows what he's doing and it's not a complicated process. When it get's really specific/particular - that's when I'll take it to my local P-car indie guy (about 40 minutes away)
I would only use the dealer for warranty work myself. Those bastards will rip you blind.
DIY or good Indy with experience. I'd only use the non specific guy if I could be there with him while he's doing it.
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