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YOUR RESEARCHcost of LN IMSB upgrade and another ?
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second
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The marketing behind this issue is second to none.
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Car has 49,000 miles on it so they just replaced the IMSB and the RMS.
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Expecting to pay around $2K at an LN Engineering recommended shop.
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Suggestion
If the transmission is already out of the car for said clutch job, you're looking at about another $1000 for the new bearing and install ($600 for the bearing, $300 for install, plus $100 for the oil change).
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If the transmission is already out of the car for said clutch job, you're looking at about another $1000 for the new bearing and install ($600 for the bearing, $300 for install, plus $100 for the oil change).
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Suggestion
101 Unnecessary Preventative Maintenance Procedures You Can Perform On Your 996 Instead of Actually Enjoying It: A Guide To Dropping Your Motor To Change The Air Filter
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IF they say you need to do it because they are already replacing your clutch, then you may think they are trying to pull more money out of your wallet.
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It sounds like if one is considering a 996 and the LN upgrade has not been done the first thing you should do is drive it to an indepedent shop and get it done
What should one expect to pay for that?
As a second question, since it is a roller bearing that fails, shouldn't one know it is going bad by listening with a mechanic's stethoscope at that area?
Don't believe the internet hysteria. YES, the bearing which shall not be named is a known weak point on these motors, but NO, your car is not a ticking time bomb. Most of the cars affected by this issue experienced it fairly early in the car's life (under 30k miles). So, if you're buying a super low mile garage queen, sure it might be worth looking into. If the car has 80k+ miles on it, just drive the damn car and enjoy it. When it needs a clutch, think about upgrading the bearing.
If the transmission is already out of the car for said clutch job, you're looking at about another $1000 for the new bearing and install ($600 for the bearing, $300 for install, plus $100 for the oil change). Labor to remove/reinstall the transmission is around $900 at most shops.
If you really feel the need to buy a 996 and immediately spend a bunch of money on preventative maintenance, I'd suggest doing the water pump.
Ppl claim that the bearing can break down quickly without audible warning although I don't recall any case that the owner said he's been actively listening and checking at every oil change with stethoscope and yet the IMSB still blow up unexpectedly.
Typically they are done with the clutch and lightweight flywheel. Did mine yesterday. Prices seem to range between 2600-3300. I had a new clutch 20k miles ago on the car so we just replaced the plate which should have saved a bit. I have never heard of someone just doing the IMS but it should be much less if that is all you do. Maybe half that much?
It is about that time when a newb asks this question again. I was beginning to worry that it hasn't been brought up recently.
KK needs to come in here and school this guy on the preventative maintenance schedule so he knows what he's getting into. In fact I'm surprised there isn't a sticky on it at the top.
Ah yes, the instant classic. "
101 Unnecessary Preventative Maintenance Procedures You Can Perform On Your 996 Instead of Actually Enjoying It: A Guide To Dropping Your Motor To Change The Air Filter
", by KrazyK
I was quoted $2300 for the clutch, bearing and RMS. My 2002 currently has 69k miles and the clutch seems fine so I'm going to hold off a bit then if it detonates all the doomsayers can say I told you so.
I had mine done last week. Car has 49,000 miles on it so they just replaced the IMSB and the RMS. Clutch only had 15,000 miles on it from previous RMS replacement, so the total job was $1900.
I'll jump in here on this as I just picked up an 04 with 17K miles on the odometer. Car was obviously pampered and sat in the garage for a good portion of its 10 year life so it's at the shop right now awaiting an LN Engineering upgrade IMS bearing. I wouldn't have done the upgrade at this time but the low mileage made me a bit nervous as far as a possible IMS failure.
RMS being replaced as it's showing signs of dampness. No clutch here unless we discover an issue. Expecting to pay around $2K at an LN Engineering recommended shop. That cost covers the IMS upgrade and RMS.
Hope this info proves helpful.
Good, sound decision. IMS is just not that big a deal. 944 owners have been spending roughly the same amount on timing belts every 45K for decades. Call it required maintenance, do it or get it done and move on. If you cannot afford it then this hobby/car may not be your cup of tea.
Very few 944 owners pay $2K for a timing belt job now days. For a long time they have been a DIY crowd, just like the 928 owners. Good chunk of the 2K is labour.
Actually... That is why the 944 timing belt is such a good example for comparison - the parts, like the LN bearing, are relatively inexpensive, there are high installation costs, and you do the work more to avoid future damage than to fix a current problem.
There is also the, "while you are in there" element of replacing/updating the clutch and possibly other bits.
As for the "now 944 guys are DIY" part - that is a blanket statement that is not completely accurate nor does it negate the comparison, as 944 owners paid for those jobs for years when the cars were newer.
FYI my '03 has just turned 127K miles. I bought it with 124K miles - was a highway commuter. Original clutch, RMS, and IMS. No leaks or strange sounds but the clutch is getting stiff so I expect to address these items and the water pump in one large service event sometime in this year.
Well, I have debated weighing in on this subject for years.....
Here are
some
of my thoughts on the subject....
We have replaced a fair number of these bearings. We have never pulled one that was on its way out. We generally replace them when doing a clutch and the owner is worried about losing the bearing. We have not done the bearing on our own 996 race car, but maybe we will the next time the gearbox comes out...
The marketing behind this issue is second to none. Yes, some motors have suffered a failure, and their owners have suffered a very significant financial loss/impact. NO escaping that fact. That said, we know of 3 motors in our trading area that suffered a failure. Note I said "a failure". The motors were diagnosed at shops with an IMS bearing issue without any real diagnosis. But because the shops were quoting replacement engines, it really did not matter what the mode of failure was I guess....
Every Porsche series ever built had issues. The IMSB issue is, percentage wise, pretty low on the scale of issue Porsches have suffered over the years.
Should you replace yours? Good question. If your worry about it and your gearbox is out for clutch or other issue, then you probably should. Should you have it done just because, without any other reason to be in there? That is up to you and your personal tolerance level.
The problem for shops is this... IF they don't recommend it when doing your clutch and it fails, you are going to be pretty upset with your shop. IF they say you need to do it because they are already replacing your clutch, then you may think they are trying to pull more money out of your wallet. So shops need to spend the time to talk to you about the real failure rate and your own budget and risk tolerance before making a recommendation. Unfortunately, most just take the 100% safe route and say you need to replace it....
Jeff Alton
Turn3 Autosport Inc
Well, in late November I went into a Porsche agency with the intent of driving out with an '07 Boxster S. I'd done my homework on that. Came way with an '04 base Carrera with only 14,000 miles on the odometer. THEN I discovered Rennlist and the dreaded IMS bearing controversy/issue. Counter intuitively, one train of thought is: I'd been better off if the machine had 114,000 miles on it. Recognizing my anxiety gene wasn't going to find repose, I sunk $2,300.00 in an LN bearing replacement. Necessary? For the car, who knows? For me, yes. But I will say this: Porsche engines do NOT appear to be "bullet proof" and, although perhaps one should drive 'em like one stole 'em, one should also be prepared to spend money like one stole it, too.
I had mine done 2 years ago.
Necessary or not, now I don't worry about IMS. Before, I did.
Is it worth $2,000-$3,000 for a peach of mind?
Only you can answer that.
A very cogent opinion.
I plan on a DOF bearing when I do the clutch later this year. Its nice to see a non-alarmist yet reasoned opinion from a shop.
Cheers
