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YOUR RESEARCHIMS - stupid question/ OEM service
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Replace many people have bought these cars
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Many people have bought these cars to find out later that the IMS was changed out but no documentation was available at the time of sell.
Leading evidence: 'Replace many people have bought these cars' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace /rebuild the engine' (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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In my experience I've always seen, and used, LN engineering replacement IMS bearings.
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Suggestion
Yep, If that's actually 600K, I wouldn't replace an IMS bearing, I'd be ready to replace/rebuild the engine.
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Suggestion
Others are saying to get ready to replace the engine instead of replacing the IMS because of the mileage.
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Suggestion
My 996 has a Katrillion miles on it, should I also replace the IMS???
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The service for my car is due. It�s very high mileage (600k+). My clutch is ok and ims is still original. I plan to have the cam belt, water pump etc replaced. I�m thinking to take it back to Porsche service centre for the maintenance works. Does anyone have experiences with the OEM IMS? Do they still supply the old version or have they replaced an updated one?
Is this a 996? The cam belt is very easy it takes no time at all.
A good Indy would probably charge ~1\2 the $$ that a dealer would charge and be more familiar than most dealers on a 14 year old car.
I assume you mean 600,000 kilometers instead of miles, correct? That's still crazy high for a Porsche, much less a 996. As fpb111 said, the serpentine belt is a relatively easy job and the water pump is not that tough of job either if you wanted to tackle it yourself. I've done these jobs on many of my past cars, but the Porsche 911 is little more time intensive because everything is so cramped together. I have found that YouTube is helpful to understand the depths of these DIY jobs before starting. Now regarding the IMS... How do you know it's the original bearing? Are you the original owner? Many people have bought these cars to find out later that the IMS was changed out but no documentation was available at the time of sell. My Porsche service center doesn't offer an IMS retrofit service. In my opinion, if the motor is going bad associated to a failing IMS, their answer is to replace it with a new factory engine. I've read that some will install a new LN bearing, but it would be very surprising if Porsche offers to install another OEM bearing.
Spoke to my OPC few weekends back when they had their workshop open day. They had an M96 in parts that had an IMS failure. When I asked what they would be putting back in they said they only install factory IMS bearings - but you do get a 2 year warranty on the rebuild!
In my experience I've always seen, and used, LN engineering replacement IMS bearings. We used them when I worked in Denver, and here in Portland too. We also offer LN engineerings' IMS permanent solution. I have not personally installed one of those, but have seen them done, and serviced vehicles with them. They seem okay from what I've seen and heard. I think they have a 50,000 mile warranty from LN you'll have to double check.
You didn't mention what year car you have. If that's a typo and you meant 60k I would go with an LN ceramic bearing if it's a double row bearing and the Solution if it's a single row. If it does indeed have 600k I wouldn't do anything with the IMS as something else is likely to cause a catastrophic failure somewhere down the road.
Yep, If that's actually 600K, I wouldn't replace an IMS bearing, I'd be ready to replace/rebuild the engine.
If it is 60K, which is low mileage, I'd do what Wyovoni said.
Although I'd probably do IMS Solution for either bearing type. (single or double)
Also, I'd skip going to the dealer, I'd find a good Indy, or if you're handy you could do all that yourself.
When you say "cam belt" do you mean the sepentine belt, or a timing belt?
These engines have timing chains, so you don't have to worry about replacing timing belts.
I'd say if there are no signs of the engine having problems, then I see no issue replacing the IMS bearing. The IMS bearing is splash lubricated, and as long as the vehicle is driven regularly how a Porsche should be driven they last a long time. Generally when they fail it's on a vehicle that sat in a garage, was driven only to the farmers market once a month 4 blocks away. Just my .02cents
Whoa, the OP states it's the original OEM bearing. Therefore, that would be a sealed bearing then, correct? And, wouldn't it be smart to replace it as a preventive measure, instead of reactive measure? From what I've seen, when it goes, it takes the whole engine with it because of collateral damage associated with metal contaminated oil.
No, I wasn't telling him not to replace it. Others are saying to get ready to replace the engine instead of replacing the IMS because of the mileage. I am saying I see no problem with replacing the IMS as preventative maintenance, and I would recommend that it be done. I was just saying that an original IMS bearing can make it to the OP's mileage. I would also recommend replacing the IMS flange with new fasteners, along with the 3 or 4 accessible case seam bolts. They are micro-encapsulated and are cheap and may prevent oil leaking through the threads later on.
New poster on third post. Initiates a rather ludicrous thread and then disappears for two days (and most likely longer)... In the words of Paul Ryan, "I think we been trolled"...
