4 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHInfo on what to look for when buying
Leading reported evidence
Replace often enough
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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.
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
There really is no consensus on what causes the IMS issue, but gently-used garage queens with low miles for their age seem to be more susceptible--probably because they don't get their oil changed often enough.
Leading evidence: 'Replace often enough' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace often enough' (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.
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 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
There really is no consensus on what causes the IMS issue, but gently-used garage queens with low miles for their age seem to be more susceptible--probably because they don't get their oil changed often enough.
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.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
If the IMS issue scares you a lot, either (1) get a car that's had the retrofit done, (2) set aside a couple grand to get the retrofit or (3) maybe a 996 isn't for you.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Replace often enough
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
There really is no consensus on what causes the IMS issue, but gently-used garage queens with low miles for their age seem to be more susceptible--probably because they don't get their oil changed often enough.
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
If the IMS issue scares you a lot, either (1) get a car that's had the retrofit done, (2) set aside a couple grand to get the retrofit or (3) maybe a 996 isn't for you.
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
There really is no consensus on what causes the IMS issue, but gently-used garage queens with low miles for their age seem to be more susceptible--probably because they don't get their oil changed often enough.
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.
4 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Pelican Parts: 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: 20261027T003124Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Looks like I will be in the market for a Carrera. Would like to get a C4S but not sure if that will be in my budget. More likely will be looking at a C2 coupe or cab. If I get a PPI done, will it cover every area that may cause problems with these cars? Would an IMS issue manifest itself by now? Anything that I should avoid? I know full service history is a must. On another note, how easy are 996's to work on? Have a lot of experience with R&R on 944 N/A. I'm also interested in the last air-cooled 993's, but they seem to retain a high $ amount which might put them out of my budget.
OK. I have done some digging around and it looks like the following issues are something to be concerned about.
1) IMS bearing (no good way to check for this)
2) RMS (easy fix but time consuming)
3) bad crankshafts (will 10 yr old car be susceptible to this? Or will failure have already occurred by now?)
4) 2nd gear issues?
How about driveline of Carrera 4? Any known problems to look out for? Good chance of snow 6 months out of the year here, so thought this would be good for me. How is the rear seating area for Cabs vs. Coupe? Is one a lot better than the other? Do the Cab tops leak?
996 series cars are a bargain and a great bang for the buck. You sound like you already have the sound basics for researching your next car, the only advice I can give is do not let IMS/RMS stories scare you out of these cars. It took me nearly two years to weed out a ton of cars and options before pulling the trigger on my C4S. I drove coupes, cabs, 4's, 2's in nearly every year 1999-2004. It boiled down to the 3.6L, 4S body and brakes, and mileage and care. Have fun in the elimination process!
+1 to that. If the IMS issue scares you a lot, either (1) get a car that's had the retrofit done, (2) set aside a couple grand to get the retrofit or (3) maybe a 996 isn't for you. Not really sure if it's a common enough issue that you can use it to beat the seller down on price. There really is no consensus on what causes the IMS issue, but gently-used garage queens with low miles for their age seem to be more susceptible--probably because they don't get their oil changed often enough.
Crankshaft problems are a new one on me. As for cab tops, my 02 doesn't leak a bit, although it only gets wet when I wash it--it's strictly a dry day car for me. If you want a cab, I'd stick to 02 or later, because they have the glass rear window (among many other improvements). All Porsche rear seats are going to be tight, but cabs are probably worse, except for the unlimited headroom.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
