15 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH996 C4S w/o IMS Fix
Leading reported evidence
Replace under warranty by porsche
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
One thing to consider is, does this car has the original engine or was it replaced under warranty by Porsche.
Leading evidence: 'Replace under warranty by porsche' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace ."' (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.
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1
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Suggestion
Seller says it's been looked at and he was advised not to spend the $$ to replace."
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 you buy it, skip the IMS service and just change the bearing (Retrofit or Solution).
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 it is the large bearing it can only be changed by splitting the case halves (Big money!
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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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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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.
15 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: 20261026T222516Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Saw a 02 C4S with a little more than 40k miles on it Has not had the IMS replaced. Asking mid $40s for the car. A. How concerned would you be about this. B. What is a non fix worth of the purchase price? C. Would you take the gamble based on the mileage or get the IMS replaced. Seller says it's been looked at and he was advised not to spend the $$ to replace.
Even with the $4k that it'll cost for the installation of the "IMS Solution" it's still priced about $5k too high.
"
Seller says it's been looked at and he was advised not to spend the $$ to replace."
- What does this even mean? Of course he said that... and it's meaningless...If you didn't say it already, your reply should be - Oh really? Cool, can I see the written report? Oh you don't have one? Hmmm, ok give me the number of the shop and the name of the guy you spoke to. At that point, you call and speak to the guy and ask him how familiar he is with the M96 engine platform, and exactly how he determined the health of the IMSB... I'd love to hear his reply...
Agreed that the car is overpriced.
If you buy it, skip the IMS service and just change the bearing (Retrofit or Solution). Not worth the effort to change the IMS.
IMS = Intermediate Shaft. IMSB = Intermediate Shaft Bearing... This is the part that generally fails (although the shaft itself can fail as well - the gears can slip as they are installed at the factory with an interference fit) and is generally replaceable by removing the flange on the front of the engine (after removing the transmission). There are exceptions to this as well - the most recent bearing used is not removable without splitting the crankcase halves. Keep reading and asking questions - if you decide to buy one of these cars due diligence will pay off handsomely.
So for this particular car that has had nothing done to it with respect to the IMS / IMSB am I looking at a $4000 fix for the LN "solution"? Again, the car has 40,000 miles on it.
40k miles would be considered low milage for a 19 year old car. $4k for the "IMS Solution" is a ballpark price that includes the installation of the "solution" (Patented Plain bearing with filtered oil feed). The price for this service will vary depending on the shop that does the job and whether they do anything else (clutch, flywheel etc.) while they're in there. For a car like this you'll also want to look at maintenance records, how many owners, etc...
One thing to consider is, does this car has the original engine or was it replaced under warranty by Porsche. My 02 4S has a factory replacement engine and this engine has the large more reliable IMS. This may be why the current owner was advised not to change it.
If it is the large bearing it can only be changed by splitting the case halves (Big money! ) the good news is that the large bearing has a very low failure rate (much lower than the 8% with the small single row bearing).
AFAIK, the IMS can only fail in one way: when the sprocket slips on the shaft. Are you saying that some MY cars are more susceptible to this than others?
Echoing above. Price is too high for the documentation provided. Having proof of the condition of the engine is the key in setting the price. Otherwise, it's a $25-$35K risk for a rebuilt engine. Proof is a report of an invasive PPI showing the bores are clean, the sump has no weird bits and pieces, and there is no crap in the oil filter. The problem is that it's a weird market right now. Prices are going up, meaning it's a seller market. More risk to the buyer. Good luck! Hope to see you get one. These are amazing vehicles. Never ending smiles...
Hope so. The car is still available so maybe the market is speaking. The car is priced the same as cars that have had the fix. And the car may need a clutch too. Seems like the right strike price is sub 40k - like maybe 38ish.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
