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Rebuild or replace motor?

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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

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YOUR RESEARCHRebuild or replace motor?

Leading reported evidence

Replace rebuilt, and shipped, i made a spreadsheet

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Since there are so many variables about what gets replaced, rebuilt, and shipped, I made a spreadsheet to compare all the components and the prices.

Rebuild or replace motor?
Frequently discussed work

Check /surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics

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Suggestion

Biggest costs other than the short block would be the labor involved with engine out, top end disassembly, head checking/surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics that break, and re-installation.

Rebuild or replace motor?
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Leading evidence: 'Replace rebuilt, and shipped, i made a spreadsheet' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check /surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics' (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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1 matching discussions · 22 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 4 other evidence results

Check /surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics

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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.

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Suggestion

Biggest costs other than the short block would be the labor involved with engine out, top end disassembly, head checking/surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics that break, and re-installation.

Rebuild or replace motor?

Check metal debris

Suggestion or failed attempt

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Unsuccessful attempts
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Discussions
Read evidence and context

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

Have the shop drop the sump to check for metal debris.

Rebuild or replace motor?

Check of the heads

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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
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

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Suggestion

Your also barring bad parts looking at < a grand for a GOOD valve grind, and a full crack jeck/pressure check of the heads..

Rebuild or replace motor?

Check own post history

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Read evidence and context

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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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

Should checked my own post history.

Rebuild or replace motor?
Frequently discussed actions (7)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Check /surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
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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

Biggest costs other than the short block would be the labor involved with engine out, top end disassembly, head checking/surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics that break, and re-installation.

Rebuild or replace motor?

Check metal debris

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
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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

Have the shop drop the sump to check for metal debris.

Rebuild or replace motor?

Check of the heads

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.

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Suggestion

Your also barring bad parts looking at < a grand for a GOOD valve grind, and a full crack jeck/pressure check of the heads..

Rebuild or replace motor?

Check own post history

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Suggestion

Should checked my own post history.

Rebuild or replace motor?

Replace options and posted them

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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion

I did a ton of legwork to figure out different engine rebuild/replace options and posted them on a thread here:

Rebuild or replace motor?

Replace rebuilt, and shipped, i made a spreadsheet

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

Since there are so many variables about what gets replaced, rebuilt, and shipped, I made a spreadsheet to compare all the components and the prices.

Rebuild or replace motor?

Use heads without a proper re-build

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 not re-use the heads without a proper re-build.

Rebuild or replace motor?
Coverage and how to read this overview

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.

22 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: 20261026T174436Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Just took my 1999 996 Carrera in to have the IMS bearing replaced. (I bought the car in January 2019 with 50K miles.) Just got a call from the shop that they pulled the old IMS bearing and the bearing had just started to fail. Apparently 2 bearings seem to be missing. (No indication on my part that something bad was happening to the motor.) The shop is investigating their options to present to me and I want to make sure I'm not missing a low(er) cost solution to my troubles. I'm in Northern California. Any idea what the cost would be to rebuild the motor? (I was guessing around $10K.) What is the cost of a "crate" rebuilt motor? $15K? $20K or more? Besides a motor rebuild and a replacement engine, what other options might I have? By the way, I think my wife is on another forum right now looking into the cost of a hitman to take me out. (BTW: I tried to search the forum but couldn't narrow down the search parameters enough or find a recent post. Sorry if this is listed elsewhere.) John "Just Shoot Me Now"

POST 2Original post

Oh boy! I feel for you John 😩 �Two ***** missing�, is not a �just starting to fail scenario� - I think it would be considered a �stage 3� failure by FSI standards. Do some more reading, and don�t panic! You�ve got options, though none of them are inexpensive. Good luck

POST 3Original post

At least they didn't just slap a new bearing in without telling you.

POST 4Original post

There is a reasonable cost factory short block option, but with labor and "while you are in there" stuff, I'm guessing you'd be close to $10k. ~$5-10k for a salvage motor from a wrecking yard. ~$10-15k or more for a stock rebuild. No personal experience but I've read $20k and up for a Flat Six Innovations upgraded rebuild (cost goes up depending on which options you select). Keep in mind, some options have significant waiting lists, and others come with caveats.

POST 5Original post

Why not drop the sump plate, retrieve the errant parts and take a look around? You said it was running fine when you dropped it off and I assume that also means no strange sounds. If it all looks good, it would be very tempting to just put a new IMSB in it and run it. Yeah, I know, flame away....

POST 6Original post

I'm sorry to hear that. As someone who has been in your position, I know how bad it sucks. My motor had bore scoring, not IMS issues, but the consequences are similar. I did a ton of legwork to figure out different engine rebuild/replace options and posted them on a thread here: 2019 Engine Rebuild Comparison RND/FSI/EBS/Vertex . Since there are so many variables about what gets replaced, rebuilt, and shipped, I made a spreadsheet to compare all the components and the prices. There is a link in the first post of the thread. You should check out the spreadsheet and will likely benefit from reading the full thread. In the end, I found a small indy shop I could trust to install the factory short block. I also had the heads refinished, replaced the clutch, coolant tank, and AOS, and it all came out to about $14k. Be prepared for others on this forum to push you to the extremes, recommending to either dump the car or spend $25k+ on an FSI engine. Lots of them haven't been in this position, so it's theoretical for them. Others have their own motives for pushing a certain approach. Take your time to do some research, keep in mind which parameters are most important to YOU (e.g. cost, timing, longevity) and then make your own informed choice. I wish you good luck with whatever you decide to do.

POST 7Original post

Quotes source post: 16182510

Finally! I've been looking for your thread for a while now! It should be stickied. Anyway, I subscribed. Thanks for taking the time to do the research. A rebuild is in my future and I will be referencing your sheet. [EDIT] Ha, I posted a question in that thread. Should checked my own post history. :facepalm

POST 8Original post

Since you caught it early enough that the heads are still in good shape (an assumption), I would go with the factory short block and swap heads over to the new block. This is $15K at an indy shop for sure. For a higher risk option, you could ask for a new IMS, put the engine back, perform compression and leak down test, and if all is good drive it until there are other reasons to worry, This is $3K option. And lastly, if you can find a buddy to assist you with the rebuild in your garage, that lowers the cost as well.

POST 10Original post

Quotes source post: 16182650

I agree with this approach. I know its california but you should be able to get out of this cheaper than $15K. The short block can be had for $5900 and you have a solid core as the block is still intact. https://www.sonnenporscheoemparts.co...4l-996100951tx The short block is the same as the non X-51 models, with exception that it probably comes with the x51 oil baffle rather than the normal plastic one.

POST 11Original post

Quotes source post: 16182759

So is the short block assembled? So you "only" need to install the heads? Ignoring labor, what would be the difference between LN Nickies? (Assuming crank and IMS can be reused)

POST 12Original post

Quotes source post: 16182427

And no one finds OP strange. No pre inspection for IMSB R&R? If two bearings were missing I believe you would hear that. Two ball bearings missing and car runs fine. Crazy. Better call Jake. This will blow his mind.

POST 13Original post

Quotes source post: 16182776

The heads would need to be inspected, cleaned, and possibly decked before reinstalling. Not just a "slap on" type of thing. Yes, the full short block comes brand new, assembled, with a 2 year Porsche warranty. Biggest costs other than the short block would be the labor involved with engine out, top end disassembly, head checking/surfacing, "while your in there type items and plastics that break, and re-installation.

POST 14Original post

I would not re-use the heads without a proper re-build. Do once and do it right!

POST 15Original post

And remember that Porsche has done nothing to address bore scoring... just sayin�...

POST 16Original post

Quotes source post: 16182799

What would be potential issues with reusing the heads? Do they need to be overlooked to avoid future failures or is it that they might have been damaged?

POST 17Original post

Quotes source post: 16182777

Good point, I would expect the OP to have responded to one of the ideas...

POST 18Original post

Get an oil sample and have it analysed by Blackstone. Have the shop drop the sump to check for metal debris. Get a second opinion from another shop. In other words. gather more data. relinuca

POST 19Original post

Quotes source post: 16182936

No damage but valve seats have been known to fail and cracks do happen in these heads. Short cuts bite you in the *** sometimes and then cost you more in the long run. The subject has been discussed over and over...The experts would never reuse an old head without a proper refurbish.

POST 21Original post

Your also barring bad parts looking at < a grand for a GOOD valve grind, and a full crack jeck/pressure check of the heads.. Given the cost of the R&R ,, thats fairly low key..

POST 22Original post

Losing any ***** means the bearing has seen full stage 4 failure. This didn't "just start". This is game over for the rest of the internals. the engine has been operating with the circulation of ferro-magnetic debris for enough time that collateral damage had to occur. If you decide to throw another bearing at this, please don't use anything offered by LN, this engine is undoubtedly disqualified for any IMS Retrofit procedure. Also, at thus stage the oil analysis will do very little good, as the particles have become too large to be detected. They will give a false representation of the engine's condition.

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