996 purchase advise related to IMS or step up to 997

New to the Forum... I am considering two 2002 911 6spd cabriolet with between 70 and 82k miles. Both sold by small used car dealers. One makes no representation as to the IMS having been done. The other car has a replacement engine that came from a car that had 77k miles prior to wreck. They supposedly did the IMS on the replacement engine during installation. If I can get the non IMS bearing car cheap enough I could get it done by a LN Certified shop and get the 'Solution' with warranty. Given that neither comes with complete history other than that shown on Carfax is there more risk or questionable value to a salvaged replacement engine of similar mileage vs. a discounted known original IMS bearing engine? Anyone have or know of a good used 911 for under $20k with IMS reliably done near South Carolina? If they're running over $20K I'd consider if it were a 997 model.

Why not hold out and find a car from a private seller that has records? There�s literally no way to tell the condition and history of either car you are looking at.

There is also no way to predict if either car would qualify for the solution install. You may buy the car only to have it not pass pre-qualification.

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You say "supposedly", which I assume means you have no real proof that the IMS was swapped out. Plus, you mention that same car has been in an accident, correct? The other car hasn't been in a wreck and you're pretty sure the IMS hasn't be changed out. Has the second cabriolet been in an accident? If not, that would be my choice if the price is right. (No Bob Barker pun intended) Again, it all depends on if the first cabriolet has documentation on the accident and IMS bearing swap from a certified IMS shop. If not, I wouldn't touch it. Move on. Here's the deal, if the IMS Solution was installed with documentation, then the car is probably going to sell faster and for more money. The IMS Solution is a rather expensive investment to have carried out, but worth it if you're going to keep the car for a long time. The 997 mk1 is in the same IMS boat, but the larger version of the bearing is more costly to replace, but has a lower failure rate than the single row that was found on the 996 and 997.1 cars. I'm personally plan to keep my car for a long time and so the IMS Solution was installed on my car along with other preventive items (clutch, AOS, RMS, etc.) It's not a cheap service, but I'm glad I don't have to worry with it ever again. The other parts of the motor will wear out before the IMS Solution. If you want to know more about the process of pre-qualification and installation of the LN IMS Solution, then I encourage you to watch The Knowledge Gruppe videos led by Jake Raby. They're very educational even if you don't plan to install them yourself. Check it out... You Tube

Thanks. The car with the replaced engine was not wrecked. The donor car was wrecked. The other car with its original engine car did have one accident on the carfax. As suggested I probably should wait for a PP sale but even those don't always have all prior records. Assuming the ims was done when the engine was swapped the only question is whether or not to fear problems related to having had an engine swap or is that pretty much the same chance of problem as would be expected from having an ims service as it is fairly involved as well? So it's new IMS in a donor engine or hopefully discounted car that does have accident history (not salvage) and get my own IMS service. The LN shop I would use is near the car with it's original engine.Maybe I would get a PPI and pre certification for ims solution prior to purchase if they'd let the car out for a few days.

If it were me, and options on both fit what you want, I�d go with the non-wrecked car with the replacement engine and then have The IMS Solution installed.(Even if it has a fresh IMS) That, or wait for a better deal. I looked for a year for a 996, then I found mine which was a local car with The IMS Solution, Fabspeed exhaust, clear bra for just $20K. It was a private party ad on Facebook in the local PCA Group. I checked it the next evening with my Durametric and paid with a Cashiers check the next evening. (Sept 2017) Wait for the right deal and have the cash ready because great deals go quickly!

I don't want to say what I would do because I would choose differently, but given that there is no proof the IMS bearing was changed, I would assume it wasn't. The problem with no documentation is anyone can say it was changed. To verify is too difficult, even for a Porsche dealership. A seller can just say it was and hope you don't have a problem or verify it wasn't changed for a long time. They have an incentive to say it was changed.

How much are they asking for these cars? There's so much more than "IMSB" to be aware of with these cars!

" They supposedly did the IMS on the replacement engine during installation. " Unless they are willing to remove the trans and prove it. Didn't happen. Get what you want. No compromise. No rush. Wait for the right car and you'll know.

The one with the replaced engine is offered at almost $20K. The original enginee option with accident history is offered at $17K. Probably room in the $17k deal.

Now see a 02 with 87k many service records and ims done. The guy is a race instructor so I presume it's been tracked. What should i ask or avoid about this one?

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check the DME for over-revs in range 2. Also check the cylinders for bore scoring.

Thanks for advice. I spoke with the prior owner and it was his track car. He wsa a big porsche enthusiast and did most work himself or at an indie after the service warranty expired so records are not complete. The clutch has been in since 32k miles and it now has 87k miles. I've not driven yet but the new short term owner says it has a heavy clutch. I would think given the mileage it may be due for another one yes? Also the records show a intermediate seal replacement with the RMS replacement at 31K but does not look like the bearing was replace. I'm considering an offer subject to PPI but if it needs clutch and IMS i could probably find one with those done for similar money and maybe not so much track usage. The price offered is $13.9k plus clutch and IMS is over 18. Should I fear track or possibility that PPI doesn't pickup a failing IMS?

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RUN! Forrest, RUN!!! Why buy someone else's thrasher? One missed shift is all it takes. Go find what you really want(unless you want someone else's thrashed track car).

OK. How about an '02 with a factor replacement engine (cracked head) in 2006 30K miles. Good records for early dealer work and fairly recent Clutch, one owner. The replacement engine has 47k miles and was a 2005 factor remanufactured (i presume by engine part s/n containing 'T') No record of IMS being done but it would at least have a 2005 bearing. Recent dealer installed clutch. I called the dealer but they wouldn't confirm the IMS would have been inspected during a clutch replacement and no parts beyond clutch & flywheel were listed on the receipt. I can get a PPI but is oil analysis reliable enough to indicate whether IMS failure is a factor or not? I'd hate to do an IMS when the clutch was just replaced but not sure whether to rely on a 2005 era IMS. I can get a cheaper deal on similar age and total miles(72K) car with early life damage history; uncertain clutch age and budget for IMS & Clutch for the same money as this one with 78k miles. Which way would you go?

*disclaimer* You can't be certain which bearing you have unless you perform a visual inspection. *speculation* The 2002 with the 2005 Reman M96 probably has the 2005 bearing that cannot be pulled without splitting the case. *opinion* Sounds like you want the car with room in the budget to do the work yourself.

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I can say with some certainty, NO. Oil analysis won't necessarily pick up an IMSB failure (didn't with mine). Personally, a factory reman sounds pretty attractive, even if it is the non-replaceable IMSB (with a much lower failure rate than others). Unless the PPI is including removing sump and doing borescope, I wouldn't spend much on it. Not all PPIs include this service. UOA might turn up bore scoring however, particularly if there is a trend over a few oil changes.

If you are looking to avoid the IMS bearing issue entirely, you will have to buy a 2009 or newer (997.2), or a turbo, GT2, or GT3. The base 997.1 came with the M97 engine with the large single row bearing. By the way, I bought a track car and I have been very happy with it. It was well maintained.

Unless I can see the DOF, I wouldn't accept it as IMS being replaced. The DOF tube is easy to see.

I think people are bored...So many old threads being revived.

This thread was a trainwreck anyway. Hardly anyone replaces the IMS (Intermediate Shaft) but plenty of folks replace the IMSB (Intermediate Shaft Bearing).