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YOUR RESEARCH996 IMS question
Leading reported evidence
Replace oh and the coils and plugs
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Oh and the coils and plugs were replaced two weeks ago ($1,500).
Leading evidence: 'Replace oh and the coils and plugs' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Adjust price you pay accordingly' (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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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It had 34,000 miles when the IMSB wa replaced with the IMS Solution (solid bearing).
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Suggestion
Authorized the repair for $3600, with $1060 being attributed to the bearing (and I assume bearing removal tool even though they have it).
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Suggestion
Either way I would plan on replacing the IMS bearing right away upon purchase.
Replace tire rotation if applicable, air/cabin filter
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Suggestion
If you think about it, average owner pays $600 for a yearly �service�, or at least that�s what my dealers charges, and it�s really just an oil change, tire rotation if applicable, air/cabin filter change and general look over.
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Suggestion
Regardless of brand, a particular size or type of ball or roller bearing will have a set rating for that bearing and can be verified by looking at any given manufacturer's catalog.
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Suggestion
I hate to potentially burst a bubble but the somewhat-expensive OilVue kits go to the same testing laboratory as the Wix kits that you can find on Amazon and at O'Reilly.
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27 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261027T005001Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I want to say I read somewhere that early model 996's didn't have the IMS issues.....is that true or did I dream this? I'm looking at a 1999 with 60,xxx miles and the seller is unsure if the IMS was ever done. Not sure of the build date (yet) but will get that and see when it was built.
Not true! Early model 996's had a dual row bearing that was more robust than the single row bearings Porsche started using from 2000/2001 thru 2004/2005. The early dual row bearing had a lower failure rate, BUT ITS STILL A WEAR ITEM!! It should be changed out as part of a major clutch/rear main seal service, typically at about 60 to 70K miles. My former 1999 Boxster, which shares the M96 engine design, had a dual row bearing that I changed out for a Vertex tapered roller bearing. The dual row bearing was noisy and extremely loose and probably not far from total failure at 72K miles. I went with the tapered roller bearing because it has 5 times the load capacity of the dual row ball bearing.
Yes, you read that, no it's not true.
So called experts will tell you early dual row IMS bearing never fail, but that's not true.
Fail less often, maybe.
Some will tell you what the Porsche lawsuit says about failure.
But those numbers are over a decade old now.
MANY more IMS bearings had failed since then.
Either get an invasive PPI, or take a huge risk.
That's your choices.
Either way I would plan on replacing the IMS bearing right away upon purchase.
My suggestion is the IMS Solution, which is the only permanent solution.
It can even be used again if you rebuild your engine in the future.
They�re dual row, but they can/do fail.
Just scheduled my 2001 for an IMS and AOS replacement with a shop. Authorized the repair for $3600, with $1060 being attributed to the bearing (and I assume bearing removal tool even though they have it). For piece of mind and resale value alone I think it�s worth having done.
If you think about it, average owner pays $600 for a yearly �service�, or at least that�s what my dealers charges, and it�s really just an oil change, tire rotation if applicable, air/cabin filter change and general look over. Makes the $3600 seem reasonable given the work being done and the worst case scenario if you don�t, or at least that�s what I tell myself.
Even if the car is extensively documented, but missing paperwork on the IMSB, I would plan on a complete "Engine Out" service, to include the IMSB. Plan to spend $5-8,000 (coils, plugs, (U)AOS, RMS, etc, etc) and save yourself a potential $20,000+ down the road. These are "old" cars and need attention paid to maintenance items that, due to age, have at the least, started to deteriorate, IMSB included. Just try to adjust the price you pay accordingly.
Those are good things; I did all of the same work on my car after purchase. However, for perspective, I left the engine in the car (it might have been easier to drop it, but I just wasn't ready to do that.) Probably spent around $3k in parts. Not disagreeing with you, but if someone does the work their self, they will save alot. And it's fun.
I have a 2001 996 with about 56k miles. My mechanic said he saw a small amount of silver flecks so it was time to bite the bullet. So next week it goes in for LN�s solution, main seal and AOS. It�s a big nut ($6k) but rationalizing it helps that values have gone up. Oh and the coils and plugs were replaced two weeks ago ($1,500). No one ever said a Porsche was cheap to maintain.
The silver flakes were not magnetic but he didn�t know where they originated. The mechanic is well versed in Porsches but he was too busy to work on it. So I am taking it to the Porsche dealership/Woodhouse in Omaha. They have done �50-60� IMSB�s using the LNE solution. They said if a single row bearing comes out then a single goes back in and the same with a double row. I am paying up to
go to the dealership but they should know what they are doing. In the Midwest there aren�t that many choices for this sort of thing.
So, it may be just the way you typed it but, it seems like you�re using the word �solution� in the generic meaning of the word? The IMSS (IMS Solution) is a plain bearing (no *****/rollers) sized to take the place of a single or dual row ball bearing. There is a huge difference between the plain bearing (permanent fix) and ball or roller bearings (maintenance item). Good luck
If you havent already, consider doing an oil analysis with Oilvue before your indy does any work. It may help to determine what's going on inside the engine.
It's been said, but it bears repeating. I have a early, Jan 2000, 996, and it had the dual row bearing. It had 34,000 miles when the IMSB wa replaced with the IMS Solution (solid bearing). The bearing was just beginning to show signs of failure. No impact on the engine at all (we caught it very early) but it would have failed eventually.
The claims made by some about load ratings for their roller bearings are disingenuous. Regardless of brand, a particular size or type of ball or roller bearing will have a set rating for that bearing and can be verified by looking at any given manufacturer's catalog. Claims of 5, 10, or 12 times the strength is simply just not true.
The factory single row 6204 bearing a dynamic load capacity of 2900# with thrust max load rating of 1450#.
The dual row 4204/5204 has a dynamic load capacity of 4000# w/ thrust of 2000#.
The later non-serviceable 6305 bearing has a dynamic load capacity of
4,600# w/ thrust of 2300#.
The NJ or NU204 cylindrical bearing used in most roller bearing kits has a dynamic load capacity of 3750# with thrust max load rating of 375#. It is worth noting that although the cylindrical bearing has 29% higher load capacity, in thrust it has only 26% of the capacity of the deep groove single row 6204 bearing.
I hate to potentially burst a bubble but the somewhat-expensive OilVue kits go to the same testing laboratory as the Wix kits that you can find on Amazon and at O'Reilly. The Wix kits are half the price or less. All of them are processed by ALS Tribology.
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How is he "a funny one"? He provided useful information about getting a test completed for less that is done at the same lab. I'd just say nothing or, better, "thank you for the info".
Actually I�ll slightly amend my original post:
OilVue includes PQI but they don�t include fuel dilution (fuel by gas chromatology). Wix will do fuel dilution but not PQI. Otherwise the two tests are identical in the data they provide and both are done by the same lab (ALS). If you want fuel dilution with Wix, just make sure that you send the sample to their Valley View, OH location and write �fuel by GC� on the submission form.
IMHO if you are an M96 owner you�ll likely want the cheaper Wix test since lazy/faulty injectors seem to be a consistent threat to our engines� longevity. But if you suspect that your UOA tests are missing info on larger pieces of wear metals, then you�ll want the PQI with OilVue.
No jokes about it.
Isla, all joking aside, this is very helpful. Taking cost out of it for a second, I have been running Speed's oil tests since I started testing my oil. Skip discussed the wider net of Oil Vue, so i am doing both . I will look onto Wix as well. While containing costs is attractive, I am more interested in as comprehensive view as possible.
I did think your comments were tongue and cheek.
