Question about previous generation LN Dual Row IMS bearing

My car's previous owner had the IMS bearing changed back in 2011 and it is listed on the invoice as "IMS Bearing Kit - Dual Row" at a parts cost of $635 w/overnight shipping. Invoice also indicated it was elective work. Prior to buying the car I called the indy shop who did the work and reached the owner. He told me that they've only ever used LN aftermarket bearings and based on his invoice code it was the LN Ceramic Dual-Row with a 50k mile service interval rating. My questions are: 1) Is that bearing the same one that's available now with the open design? 2) if not, what has changed to cause the service rating interval to be changed to 75k miles? Thanks in advance for any info.

I think its a case of "classic" and "pro" rather than single or dual row. The classic had an interval of 50k and the Pro 75k. See this chart: http://imsretrofit.com/wp-content/up...rochure-dl.pdf What year is your car? At a guess you might have the classic. Guessing if there was an LN part number on the receipt then you would have found the answer

This is really a question for LNE - you should reach out to them via email. They're very responsive and helpful if they can be. Good luck ** The brochure is clear - Dual Row IMS Retrofit RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT EVERY 75K MILES OR 6 YEARS...

Quotes source post: 14431967

+996 they are very helpful. I never got back the sir clip from my original IMS bearing which is needed for the solution install and they were kind enough to send me one for when I eventually replace my dual pro. Very small gesture but went a long way in my books and physically (USA - - - - > AUS) =) Hang on to your original sir clips or go the solution!

Quotes source post: 14431967

The time limit gets me every time. These guys prey on you with this lifespan all out bs! What a great marketing too, fool guys into buying with fear mongering then fool then with fear into buying your product over and over.

The "time limit" isn't a hard and fast "rule" but a suggestion based on what they've seen happen to cars that sit more than they are driven. There's a point where your have to make some decisions for yourself based on your driving and servicing habits. 😉

The Classic Dual Row has remained unchanged for over a decade. Nothing changed. The 6 year 75K mile service recommendation has been in place since day #1. It has never changed, it only became more publicized by others. I told my retrofit customers this service interval up front, dating back over a decade. Most other shops/ installers did not, which has been the root of the problem. The only product that LN sells that has EVER been advertised as "permanent" is the IMS Solution. The 2011 bearing is quickly approaching the end of it's recommended service interval in calendar time, and thats if the 6 month/5K mile oil service interval has been followed to the letter. LN is putting together a program for those who have a classic single/ dual row bearing, and wish to service it, and upgrade to an IMS Solution when it approaches the end of its recommended service interval. I do not know the details of this, though- not my department :-)

Quotes source post: 14432414

^^This^^ is why I installed the Solution in my engine. I wasn't sure of the milage (I think between 30-50k) but the 6 year interval was approaching and I was going to pull the engine anyway (CEL, cam deviation etc...). I decided that while the engine was out, was the time to do it, so I bit the bullet... Now I don't have to chew my nails over this MOF anymore... Only 27 to go

This is also why the suggested Service Life is not a problem imho. In 75k miles or so, you'll probably have plenty of reasons to drop the engine in a 996 or just the trans in a 986. Which is why we've had some great threads on making the engine+trans drop as easy as possible for the diy mechanic.

If you take as a given that a ceramic dual bearing will be of a higher quality then a conventional one (as the original) and many engines run well on those original ones longer then 6 years or 75k, it is safe to assume most retrofitted bearings will last longer then the stated interval, especially if the original bearing (and IMS itself etc etc) ran for an extended period as well without any indication of failure. That would be at least my assumption. If somewhere later in life I would choose to rebuild the current engine due to wear/excessive mileage I would choose to upgrade from the retrofitted LN IMS to the IMS Solution. Volkert

Quotes source post: 14433577

If my engine goes 75k with my LN bearing without failing from d-chunk, milkshake, oval cylinders or the other 100 ways to explode, I will probably just keep it in there.