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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHFormer 944 owner looking at an 03 C4S with new engine
Reported or suspected cause
little overplayed honestly
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suspected cause
I think the bearing issue is a little overplayed honestly, but not when it happens to you.
Former 944 owner looking at an 03 C4S with new engine
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Leading evidence: 'little overplayed honestly' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'little overplayed honestly' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check then walk away' (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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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
Just remember its a Porsche, parts are expensive, labor is expensive, if you can't do the work yourself or write the check then walk away.
Former 944 owner looking at an 03 C4S with new engine
Replace every 40k
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suggestion
I would vote for the replacement engine - I also have a 2004 C2 and had the LNE retrofit done at 75K miles - touching 80K miles now with no issues - but the LNE single row bearing is considered a service item and recommended to be replaced every 40k to 50k miles.
Former 944 owner looking at an 03 C4S with new engine
Replace every 40k
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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
I would vote for the replacement engine - I also have a 2004 C2 and had the LNE retrofit done at 75K miles - touching 80K miles now with no issues - but the LNE single row bearing is considered a service item and recommended to be replaced every 40k to 50k miles.
Former 944 owner looking at an 03 C4S with new engine
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9 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T183130Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hey guys. I used to lurk here quite a bit back in my 944 days. Now that my kids are no longer babies I've been on the 996 prowl. I've come across an 03 C4S that was the victim of the dreaded IMS failure back in 2011. The car had 79k on the clock at the time. The owner bit the bullet and shelled out the $20K for a new engine, clutch. He's put 4k miles on it since.
I'm curious what you guys think about this in terms of the relative lack of experience rates with the replacement engine. Also curious if you could tell from the engine part number whether or not its the one that cannot be retrofit or maintenance 60K miles from now. Engine part number was 996100995DX. Invoice he showed me states its an 05 build?
I guess I'm wondering if I'm better off buying something with less than 60K that hasn't gone yet so I can get the retrofit, or do I go with the new engine that has also had a new clutch as well.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
I just had a replacement engine installed in my 04 C4S after the original failed at 37k miles. I am extremely pleased as it feels like I have a brand new car. Other huge benefit is that the factory replacement engine includes all accessory parts except for the A/C compressor so all of the usual suspects for preventative replacement are taken care of. According to my dealer all Porsche provided replacement engines do have the larger IMS bearing. Failure rates are supposedly much, much lower. But the bearing is not a candidate for the LNE retrofit process.
I would vote for the replacement engine - I also have a 2004 C2 and had the LNE retrofit done at 75K miles - touching 80K miles now with no issues - but the LNE single row bearing is considered a service item and recommended to be replaced every 40k to 50k miles.
Good Luck.
Thanks for the info, guys. Yeah, the thought of having the new engine, seals, clutch and 60k mile maintenance items behind me is a big selling point. I just questioned whether, long-term, having an engine where the bearing can be maintenanced was/is a better answer. I will keep researching. Thanks for the feedback.
Sounds like an advantage to have the newer engine, unlike the old days when a replacement engine was a bad thing. I think the bearing issue is a little overplayed honestly, but not when it happens to you.
This car should fall under the re-imbursement claim in the Porsche class action suit. He needs to file first before he sells it. Maybe he will discount for you after that.
IMS... Vs. #2 rod bearing... 300+ vs. 135/225(951)
No brainier, buy it! It's the modern version of the 951. Just remember its a Porsche, parts are expensive, labor is expensive, if you can't do the work yourself or write the check then walk away.
