29 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHDIY IMS bearing replacement
Leading reported evidence
Replace /traded-in the blow ups
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
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
Two of these were when the 911/Boxts were near new & Porsche replaced/traded-in the blow ups.
Leading evidence: 'Replace /traded-in the blow ups' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend retrofit' (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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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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Suggestion
I have reached out to 2 Syd independents and both recommend the retrofit.
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
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Suggestion
At no point in calculation is the failure repair bill a small item.
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
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Suggestion
I suspect that the paranoia is more likely associated with the cost of repair when it fails ie people might see it as a lowish risk of actually happening but very high repair bill or cost to exit - that is either pay for a rebuild (big bucks), or sell it as a none going item and it'll sell for a significantly reduced value (big bucks written off).
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
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Suggestion · Original poster
Replacing the bearing for me was more because I could make a video about it and it also increases the value of the car by around $5k or so, which is why I did it.
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Suggestion
I suspect that the paranoia is more likely associated with the cost of repair when it fails ie people might see it as a lowish risk of actually happening but very high repair bill or cost to exit - that is either pay for a rebuild (big bucks), or sell it as a none going item and it'll sell for a significantly reduced value (big bucks written off).
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 · Original poster
Replacing the bearing for me was more because I could make a video about it and it also increases the value of the car by around $5k or so, which is why I did it.
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.
29 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Porsche Forum Australia: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
The 'solution' is the very expensive, complicated, oil fed bearing set up which is what I was referring to for the paranoid, where the ceramic bearing is still not enough.
This week I go back and have another go at replacing the IMS bearing on Archie my 996.
Those of you who haven't seen my IMS bearing removal fail video, make sure you get the proper removal tools before you start. If you don't believe me go back and watch my first attempt
Thankfully this time is much more successful.
It is not that it is overly special. It is just a simple aluminium tube with a threaded rod going through it. It is just the fact that it is made for the job, so it fits perfectly into the hole in the case and sits on the end of the intermediate shaft. The internal size is the exact size for the bearing to still be pulled into. Nothing complicated, but it attaches to the bearing and pulls it out nice and square, making a job that I tried multiple different pullers with and failed at for a day and a half, an easy 5 mins job ;)
Interested also. There's nothing super amazing is there? Just crank and cam locks and a typical tubular threaded puller but everything is sized just right and of suitable robustness to do the job. I made something similar (more elaborate in fact) for replacing the rear subframe bushes in my e39 Touring. As with this, it made the job quite easy. In this case, coming from LN you have some degree of technical/emotional support and the confidence that it's going to work as designed. Makes a big difference when DIY'ing something that can go expensively wrong.
I think the IMS solution is something for the super paranoid. If you are petrified every time you drive your car that it might blow up, then that is probably for you. I was honestly happy to just drive the car with the original bearing. As I mentioned the early cars with dual row bearings had around a 1% failure rate and mostly on cars that weren't driven. The single row bearing cars had around an 8% failure rate (by far the highest). Replacing the bearing for me was more because I could make a video about it and it also increases the value of the car by around $5k or so, which is why I did it.
I'm not so sure that something that had a chance of 1 in 100 (1%) or 1 in 12 (8%) would be classed as paranoia. These values are significant proportions of the population. 1 in 10,000,000 or 1 in 50,000,000 is very rare and therefore to worry about them would be heading towards paranoia.
I suspect that the paranoia is more likely associated with the cost of repair when it fails ie people might see it as a lowish risk of actually happening but very high repair bill or cost to exit - that is either pay for a rebuild (big bucks), or sell it as a none going item and it'll sell for a significantly reduced value (big bucks written off). At no point in calculation is the failure repair bill a small item. Even at brand new price, it'd be a significant % of purchase price, and it'd be an increasing factor as time goes on and the inherent value of the car reduces with that passing of time.
I understand the fear of it failing, which is why the 'retrofit' bearing is so popular. The 'solution' is the very expensive, complicated, oil fed bearing set up which is what I was referring to for the paranoid, where the ceramic bearing is still not enough.
I find it really interesting from a human dynamics perspective.
i fall into category 1. I could not own a IMS fitted 996/7. Every time I turned the ignition a part of me would be tensing up waiting for the ‘click boom’ and would totally ruin my ownership experience to the point I despised the car. No matter what you said to me about odds or retrofits I just couldn’t get that issue / risk out of my mind to let me enjoy otherwise great cars. Happy to have tons of other risk positions and activities in my life but just can’t rationalise / compartmentalise the IMS issue.
many IMS owners are in category 2. They have either never heard of the IMS or they can programme their brain to accept it is a high magnitude, low probability event and never give it another thought. They get in and drive and never give it another thought.
pretty odd bunch us humans...
"
The 'sol
ution' is the very expensive, complicated, oil fed bearing" I think complicated is a bit strong Jeff it only has 1 moving part , an oil filter adapter and oil line . Expensive maybe .
True.
I am blissfully in camp 2 with my 996, but I was in camp 1 with my old Cayman S. I never confirmed it, but I am 99% certain by the chewing of oil, new AOS, and clouds of smoke it would blow when it was cold that it had scored bores. It definitely tainted my experience to the extent that I had to get rid of the car (even though I loved it) and I couldn't swallow selling it privately so I traded it in instead taking a hit in the process.
I have the special tool for the e39 touring subframe bushings. I’ve been hanging onto it forever hoping I would find someone who needed it. If only I knew!
👍
My tools are safely tucked away in my beemer cupboard for the next time and/or anyone I find who needs them too. I did mine (530iT M-Sport) at around 250k, so will replace promptly again when it hits half a mil.
😀
Coming up on 310 now and still a joy to drive, great cars.
I have had 3 close friends whose IMS's have collapsed in the last 20 years. Two of these were when the 911/Boxts were near new & Porsche replaced/traded-in the blow ups. So that was fortunate for the owners. But in the case of an older car, the repairs cost nearly as much as the car. So I dont trust those 1% ??? "statistics" at all.
My friends drive quickly but carefully. Two still have Porsches in their families - but not for 'sports car' reasons.
I'm not sure if this has been widely seen, but it is from Feb this year and appears to capture the condition of a double-row bearing just prior to failure:
IMS option 1 has a shorter life time than the option 2. I was told 5-7 years for the ceramic bearing, 10+ for the Solution. Something to consider when weighing up cost.
I just did mine (opt 1) on a 170k 986s, while I was replacing the clutch. No observable damage on the old bearing.
just watched your Video Jeff, loved the detail, many others don't talk to the crank and cam locking. Looked a little more work than what I could possibly attempt. Having just purchased the 996.1 I wasn't fussed that it did not have the IMS done based on my purchase price there was room to absorb some long term maintenance requirements and not be underwater in its value. I have reached out to 2 Syd independents and both recommend the retrofit. By the time you do the 'while your in there' activities of clutch, oil separator, main seal and flywheel its now a circa $6k job. Being an early car with the dual row bearing (supposed low risk) I am really struggling to justify the $6k spend vs $5k improvement in resale (probably sell in the next year or so) but maybe it would help it sell faster. I am wanting to do a suspension refresh shortly so its a real catch 22 on peace of mind vs better driving experience, real conundrum for me right now
🤔
I think your main issue will be that it just takes a little bit longer to sell the car when you are done. A lot of people are really paranoid about getting into a 996 and this makes it a bit easier to swallow. I was not worried about the IMS failing, but in my case as I could do it myself, it was worth the effort, for the value of the car, and also the video I could make of it.
If I was in your place I would probably leave it too, but I think I have a higher risk tolerance than others may do.
