Purchasing a C4S, Can anyone help explain this receipt for work done.

I am buying this C4S and am very comfortable with the car I spent quite a bit of time with it and the owner and am waiting to now get a PPI (thanks to everyone who helped on that day). He had quite a bit of receipts for maintenance but there is one that sticks out most to me, wondering if anyone can help to explain the items (mostly 2,3,4 & 5). Im assuming that by this receipt the IMS was not upgraded but only the the seals were replaced (thanks to a member for pointing this out to me). Is this a big problem? should I be worried? Also what are the items to do with the clutch? Why didnt they just replace the clutch? Is this something else that is a problem? I hope that the bumper being repainted wasnt anything huge, and im sure the PPI will come up with anything as he will have a copy of this receipt

Not a big problem, should not be worried. But you have already read about the drama/paranoia/hysteria about the IMS here so all depends on your tolerance. If seller is amenable to it, have the oil filter removed/cut/inspected during PPI. Or for your peace of mind, upgrade the IMSB after you buy it. If clutch is still good per PPI, then not a problem. If clutch is found needing replacement, then do it along with IMSB upgrade. Use BOTH above to renegotiate price. Best of luck.

Quotes source post: 11990721

Thanks very much for the quick reply. Looks like the IMS upgrades are around �1000, or �1300 from revolution porsche. Their prices seem MUCH lower than others, are they a reputable shop? Good to know about the clutch also, I wasnt sure to the extent they can test the clutch on a PPI

Quotes source post: 11990693

Google "Porsche 996 clutch assist spring" and you will see what this is. It is a spring device that assists depressing the clutch pedal. A prior owner may have removed or modified the device, or it simply failed and needed replacement. Repainting a bumper cover is a common thing for any modern car with urethane bumpers. Might mean a front end bump, but just as likely it means someone wanted to clean up the rock dings and misc scratches that such bumpers accumulate. Is there a prior owner to inquire about this? I will not address the IMS replacement issue as you can read for days on end about this on any Porsche forum and there is nothing more to add.

Quotes source post: 11990819

Ahh thanks, the clutch didnt feel heavy at all while I was driving. Guess its not something thats hugely critical. The bumper that was repaired/painted was the rear bumper which would worry me more than the front bumper. Hopefully its just from chips/scratches though. Yes the IMS reading can go on forever. I was just more worried about if all they did was replace the seals, does that mean the IMS could still be bad??

Replacing the IMS seal has no affect on the condition of the IMS bearing - so the bearing could be fine, or it could be otherwise. This IS kind of an odd assortment of items to do at one time. Replacing both the RMS and IMS seals suggests that there was a leak and the shop wasn't sure which seal was the culprit, so they did both (which, considering the labor involved, makes sense). The "propshaft donut" is likely the flex disc (guibo) that connects the transmission to the front drive shaft.

Quotes source post: 11990919

Alright, so guess IMS wise its just a lottery thing then at this point. The leak in the IMS/RMS is fixed at least. Yes out of all the receipts this one really stuck out to me as odd. How often do you hear about "propshaft donut"/flex disc repairs? Is this a wear and tear item, or the result of spirited driving? Thanks for taking the time to explain.

IMS and RMS seal replacement is common on these ( mine has had them done twice). I assume that the bumper respray was for some minor damage, again could be as basic as a supermarket scrape. Don't fret about IMS, very few seem to go these days. Have your garage check the oil filter after every oil change for metal swarf, and you'll be fine. Lots of folk worry themselves stupid about potential issues, but the best thing is to simply have it maintained well and drive it lots.

The labour cost to replace those seals doesn't add up to the work that's actually needed to complete this job.

Quotes source post: 12049589

Thanks for this it does seem like this is what everyone is suggesting I do including a couple garages. Though I just had the oil change done at an OPC, my next one I will ask them specifically to check as I will go to an independant.

Learn to do oil changes yourself pretty straight forward and while you are at it replace the stock plug with a magnetic one. http://lnengineering.com/resources/2...ic-drain-plug/ The clutch helper spring lives above your left foot not back in the bell housing.

Quotes source post: 12054483

Cool to know about the drain plug thanks!! Also it says the rubber ring needs to be changed every time you remove the plug, is this also so with the factory plug?

Yes factory plug also. It is aluminum ring and it should be changed every time, many of us don't and it works fine, but for ~$0.25 US why not get a few and toss them on the shelf next to your spare oil filter(s) http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...23-106-30-M131

Quotes source post: 11991380

So here is my take on what was replaced. If the RMS was leaking, not a big issues, just replace the seal (correctly) and it's done. If the IMS seal was actively leaking, that means that oil has made it's way into the IMS tube. That oil may have free access to move out of the tube or most of (or some of) it may be "stuck" in the tube. When this oil gets hot, there is no doubt that it is making it's way into the IMS bearing and most likely (again not absolutes) washed out the permanent grease. Jake considers this the first stage of the failure process (if memory serves). It would have been far better if the seals were removed from the bearing before the new outer IMS seal was installed. Doesn't sound like this happened. It could (and I did say could) be that trap oil with contaminants is now in the bearing. I've had my single row replaced on my 03 with the LN single bearing and the original was is decent shape. The oil in the bearing was nice and clean anyway but the permanent grease was gone. did this car sit for long periods of time? That would be one of my main concerns as to whether the bearing should be replaced.

Quotes source post: 11990919

This is the most likely scenario. The parts are cheap, labor to get there is expensive, even if just one is leaking it's cheap insurance to replace both.