35 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHThis forum gave me a nightmare last night
Leading reported evidence
Replace their ims bearing only
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
Read the posts from the significant majority who have changed their IMS bearing only to learn that factory one they took out was in perfect condition.
Leading evidence: 'Replace their ims bearing only' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Inspect filter' (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.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
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
1
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Suggestion
Inspect your filter under a bright light after each oil change looking for metal debris.
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.
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Suggestion
If not done already, swap out the IMS and then do regular oil changes every 3-5K miles (or every 6 months).
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
I had 129,000 miles on my 99; was waiting for the clutch to get worn down enough to need replacing, and replace my IMSB while in there.
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
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.
Suggestion
Inspect your filter under a bright light after each oil change looking for metal debris.
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.
35 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: 20261026T072535Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Bought my first Porsche a couple weeks ago, a nice black 996 coupe 6 spd. 70K miles (113KM) and runs super well, other than the cold timing chain tensioner sound for the first second of startup of which I am going to replace... all of them if necessary (just have IMS tensioner on order for now).
However I had a nightmare last night that my motor was on it's way out and it was going to cost me $10K+. I think it's due to the plethora of active threads talking about broken timing chain guides, cam pads, IMS bearings, leakdown tests failed, you name it. It's enough to give a new owner an ulcer!
How common are these issues on cars,
really?
Is there anything (other than the IMS proactive work) that a person can do to prevent these issues?
Give us new owners some hope here - please tell me you can to 150K miles on one without needing to tear the motor apart/replace it?
Replace it with the clutch is the common thought process and that's unlikely to last to 150K so no real extra labour investement. I'm in a similar position to you, just bought one about a month ago, I'm taking solace from my car being a nice early 996.1 and therefore a twin row IMSB(earing).
Just drive it if it goes bang, you had some fun. You can get replacement engines..........on ebay.
Ha! Welcome to the forum. You are going through what all new owners go through.
Breath deep and don't panic. Even the "common" problems aren't all that common. For all the bad news these are actually pretty solid cars if taken care of and not abused through neglect.
Part of that means driving them regularly and stretching their legs. You don't have to get crazy, but these cars were built to be fun.
Unfortunately when things go bad, they tend to go really bad. Some you can do some preventative steps, others you can't.
The best answer is to just drive and enjoy the car. Worrying about it all will just ruin the experience.
same here. bought a 01 with 68kmiles two month ago. Did an oil changed and found metal flakes in the oil filter. Have the IMS bearing replaced.
The shaft on the original IMS bearing has about .020"play. The two rubber seals have some missing pieces and similar metal flakes are on the outside of the rubber seals. The mechanic said this IMS bearing is ready to go anytime....
now I could sleep better
Change your oil every 3k (max) and use good oil like motul , castrol 5w40 but stay away from Mobil 1
Inspect your filter under a bright light after each oil change looking for metal debris. This is how you will know it's time to do IMS
Also don't let the engine light below 2500 rpm. Keep it above that as it stresses out the main shaft
There is more you can do bit oil changes and filter inspections are a great startt
Search for the threads from owners who have 200000 plus miles on their motors and have done virtually nothing to them. Read the posts from the significant majority who have changed their IMS bearing only to learn that factory one they took out was in perfect condition. Pick up a used copy of the book 996 The Essential Companion...600+ pages about every version of the 996, including discussions of IMS and RMS and all the other ghosts that haunt this forum. Just have fun.
OP...It's a well known fact that as the RPMs rise, your caring for internet-induced agita decreases.
Sure, something can always go wrong, but sock away a few bucks against a rainy day. And, enjoy all the sunny ones until then. You have a great car. Drive it hard. Then, post the pics here...T
This thread title actually made me laugh a little. I used to go through this all the time after browsing the forum daily. Scared me into getting my IMS, Clutch, RMS etc. done one month after ownership. Only to find out that everything was in good shape. Piece of mind...yes, but immediately $3k lighter in the wallet because of "panic threads". You will always come across those due to the nature of car forums. Most post about issues they are experiencing. Then you will have a few "I love this car!" threads sprinkled in here and there. Honestly, I give the forum browsing a break every once in a while and just enjoy the car. If not, I probably would've sold mine years ago. Congrats on your car and enjoy it!!!
Thanks for the responses guys. I am going to stay on the regular maintenance - just deciding whether I should drop the oil pan or not. It's sort of like that feeling of thinking you should go to the Doctor but scared to because of what they'll say LOL!
Still have yet to do my real intro thread with pics - will try and do that tonight or tomorrow.
If not done already, swap out the IMS and then do regular oil changes every 3-5K miles (or every 6 months). Fix everything else as it comes up; don't defer maintenance. Know that a 10+ year old car is going to require fixing on a more regular basis than a new Honda.
And then drive the damned thing - and sleep soundly!
Try owning a air cooled 911 just as fun.....
"The reports of the IMS death have been greatly exaggerated" Mark Twain would have said had he owned a 996
I have decided, for peace of mind, to classify my 996 different than I do other cars. In my mind, it is a consumable. I plan on driving it, enjoying it and taking care of it until I get bored with it, or until it blows up. Hopefully it will be many years, if not, oh well, it was a blast to drive! I will either sell it, fix it, or crush it, and get something else cool! I find myself obsessing less than I was.
I had 129,000 miles on my 99; was waiting for the clutch to get worn down enough to need replacing, and replace my IMSB while in there.
And then my block cracked, lol.
Keep in mind that the statistical information and information about frequency of problems was current when the book was written - which I believe was about 8 years ago. The book has a ton of useful information, but some of the "facts" and statistics may no longer be completely accurate.
I, too, am a paranoid 996 owner.
Today I was waiting at a stop light, and suddenly the entire car started vibrating and I heard a horrible metallic noise. Started to freak.
Quickly looked at the tach and gauges, and all seemed fine.
Then looked in the rear view mirror and noticed some F'ing sh*t car behind me with massive speakers and stereo blasting, rattling his license plates and whatever else was loose on his car.
While forums are a great source of information for both the informed and uninformed the scare tactics and paranoia will destroy your enjoyment and cause you to hear ghosts and gremlins at every turn if you are not careful. Case in point the first collector car I ever purchase. Started reading at the forum and I went nuts. I could not drive the car without hearing and feeling every ghost and issue ever raised about the particular model. Mind you my car never had so much as a hiccup in 5 year and about 7500 miles. I sold the car. Long story 3 years later the car had more than doubled in value. I regret the sale every day. Same thing happened with my recent purchase of a one owner 99 c2 cab with 12000 miles Just got it back from the dealer for the second time telling me to stop reading forums and drive the car it is perfect. I cannot stop reading but I am becoming desensitized somewhat. Sadly these forums have a very bad effect on values as well. So there is good and bad to all thing.
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