LNE IMSB Installer

Recently purchased a 99 996 C2, and was hoping someone might know of a good shop in Colorado Springs that could install the LN Retro Fit IMSB. I love the car and want to enjoy it with my family, but am petrified that at 86K the IMSB might let go and leave me with a 17K+ bill and a broken soul! Anyone had one these installed in the Colorado Springs area by a good indie?

European Auto Werks John Beckius European Auto Werks 2760 Grand Avenue Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 tel. [phone removed] fax. [phone removed] [email removed]

Thanks, I definitely saw them on the preferred list, but was hoping not to have to make that trek. It's a solid eight hours round trip through heavy mountains, and we are in peak hail season!

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You have a '99 with a dual row IMS so not really sure what you're hoping to gain. Maybe that extra 1-2% reassurance? From the horses mouth: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...l#post13433744

While I hate to recommend not doing preventive maintenance, mainly because I'd feel pretty bad if it blew up later, read the advice from Jake that Alpine just posted. We are running out of good 99 C2s. If my 2001 ever breaks, I will be looking for a replacement 99 C2. I will not buy one with a replaced IMSB, no matter whose. I could not find one locally for sale with an original bearing (well there was one but it was a cab with tip with wood accents in the interior and in a shade of green that did not appeal to me-basically I would not have driven it if they gave it to me) when I needed to replace my 99 C2 in the time frame I had available.

I appreciate the re-assurance that the 99 C2 is much less at risk, but it does happen, and seems like cheap insurance compared to the alternative. To Tharbin: If I may inquire, why would you not want a 99 with a bulletproof bearing in it? Just for the purity of a car with the original?

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Just so you know, the '99 can have it's own set of issues like oval'd cylinder walls, porous block casting, D-Chunking which have been more common in the '99's. So let's say you choose to replace the dual row IMS, this is false security as other issues can creep up. Just trying to provide a broader picture. This car is definitely not for everyone. The moment you have to lose sleep over it is the moment you should sell it IMO.

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I really appreciate this link. I am probably over worrying, but can't seem to get it out of my head. Maybe I'll have some oil analysis done on my next change for additional reassurance. Would still like to identify a capable shop in Colorado Springs that could do the replacement though....just in case I need to.

John is my Certified Installer, he should be the best consideration. Travis Smith at Pike's Peak Racing is also a friend of mine, and we've worked together as Trainers in the past. If he is closer, you can't go wrong, as he follows the same protocol as my Certified Installers do. I seldom have alternate recommendations other a Certified Installer, but Travis is currently undergoing evaluation for the Certified Installer program anyway, and he is only a few steps away from the final evaluation.

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JStew, no nothing to do with originality. I don't think any 996 (other than GT2/3s) will ever be collectibles. There is no proof that the replacement bearings are any more bulletproof than the original dual-rows plus I prefer the idea of a sealed bearing. I respect the developers of all of the replacement bearing solutions (well, maybe not KK so much...) and for a small-single-row they are the only viable way to go but with the exception of the IMS Solution, they are less permanent than the original dual-row that has a known history of 250k miles. I like the IMS Solution and will be putting it in my 2001 someday to replace the IMS Retrofit currently installed but I think it is crazy expensive.

if you had a decade of your life invested in it, you'd not think so.

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Jake, no disrespect intended. I understand your feelings and would feel the same. It looks like beautiful engineering and I hate to think how many hours went into developing and testing it. You consistently develop new ways to help keep 996/997s on the road and your attention to "doing-it-right" is evident in every post you submit to RL. Your knowledge of the engines and your willingness to help forum members are self-evident. To me though it is just a part. A pressure fed plain bearing. Not unlike the air-cooled 911s.

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I think the best thing you can do to put yourself at ease is to get an invasive PPI done which includes borescoping the cylinders, dropping the oil pan and checking for debris, inspecting the sump. Basically like a version of prequalification prior to going with IMS retrofit. This will give you a basic baseline of where you stand before proceeding further. The other thing you might want to address is getting the water pump done, unless you know for sure it's been done recently using an OEM water pump. Some get unlucky and have the original wp vanes break off causing coolant blockages in the head which can lead to hot spots and eventual engine failure. Also a thorough coolant flush could reveal any debris that may be in the cooling system. For the worry warts, there are several and endless things you can do. It's up to you to pick what items you can and can't live without.

And all Mezger based GT2, GT3, and Turbo. All of which do not fail. The DLC flange coating process alone costs more than most other IMS Retrofit kits.

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Jake, I am certainly no engine expert but it is my understanding that Metzger engines are air-cooled engines, just with modified cooling fins and water-cooled heads. Do you really want to say "do not fail"? I would readily admit that it is extremely rare and probably not the original fault but any bearing in any engine can fail.

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I was referring to IMS failures from Mezger engines. I agree that anything can fail, which is why the below photo of the engine I am finishing today exists.. It failed, but not from an IMS issue. This 996 Turbo engine is basically a GT1 engine internally, very similar to the 964 AirCooled engine.

Thanks Jake. As always I appreciate all you do for RL and for Porsches in general. By the way, I love your workshop and that you close down for Independence Week.

Thanks for all the comments folks. I finally got a good tip about "European Performance Specialists" right here in my area. After going to see them, I can just tell they are top notch. I'm having them do the retrofit bearing, coolant flush, RMS, and clutch on the 18th. They quoted me about $1800 in labor, and I am providing $1500 of the parts and fluids, ($49 per gallon for OEM phosphate free coolant btw...jeesh!). The way I drive the car, I don't anticipate having to put a whole lot more into it in the near future, and will sleep much better knowing the car is now highly unlikely to suffer any catastrophic failure in the next 40k miles. I personally think that 996's will become collectible before too long. I especially think that the 99's in particular will double in value in the next 5 to 10 years at auction and private sale. They are the first water cooled Porsche's, and are getting very hard to find...so many have been wrecked or tracked. I spent a year finding one that was completely original, with a clean history. Thanks again