IMS change neccessary for a sale?

The few enquiries I have received on my 2000 C2 are asking if the IMS bearing has been 'done' yet? Is this really a show stopper if it still has the original bearing?

I'd prefer it if it hadn't been done. Just my preference. I'm a mechanic/ engineer / ex-engine builder and I still wouldn't change it. To each their own opinion not trying to start a debate.

i'd be happy with it being checked and the seal removed, but unfortunately new potential buyers don't know enough about the subject and think it's best to have a new one fitted which is not the case. Just try to explain it to them the best you can. good luck.

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It will be a show-stopper for some - depending upon what they've read on the internet. For some it will be a negotiating point. I'd knock a bit off the asking price rather than getting the job done. Some may consider that it's fine as it's lasted as long as it has. Many won't even ask the question or know what an IMS bearing is.

It'd be a show stopper for me if it had been done. Wouldn't go anywhere near one done in situ.

Is yours the single row bearing? The dual row bearings were very good and have minimal failure To be honest bore scoring is way more of a cost

Just stick one of these in the service file.

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And that my thoughts on the subject. Replacing a lifetime part with a limited mileage part seems to make little sense to me.

Not just that. The main issue is you can't press a bearing in to a floating shaft in the engine without running the risk of damaging some other internal part. You only find out about it a couple of thousand miles after it's been done. You also can't really press a bearing in correctly using that method either......and as you say - fitting an inferior bearing as to what Porsche fitted. There's plenty of other flaws in doing this but I can't be bothered to type them up.

Totally agree , I did my Boxster a few years ago when I replaced the clutch/flywheel , I shouldn't have bothered , the dual row bearing was still perfect, should've just pulled the seal off and left it. The cover plate was leaking though and I couldn't get a new seal for it so that tipped the balance for me. Bashing the new one in gave me the willies , definitely not how to fit a bearing. You'd need a pretty tall press even if you had the engine in bits. Here it is , found it in my old photos. 80k miles and 16yrs old , smooth as silk.

The internet has a lot to answer for - overblown IMS anxiety being one of them. But the problem has been hugely amplified by lazy journalists in buyers guides simply repeating the poorly informed and dated scare stories. I think lots of 996s out there have now had their IMS changed and are ironically at greater risk than they were before. Unfortunately probsbly 75% of buyers out there will insist on IMS having been changed, which does mean it’s harder to sell a (better) original car than it should be. You’ll have to be patient, especially with the market the way it is at the moment. Personally I wouldn’t negotiate money off the sale price - if anything your original IMS should carry a premium Assuming that it has been thoroughly tested as a good un, of course (ie 60k plus miles under the belt).

A 3 minute chat to any potential buyer is all it takes to change their mind.

Thanks guys. Pretty much mirrors my thoughts on the subject. Some of the 'upgrades' are rated at 40k miles (or 4 years) basically making it a service part

I'm ultra fussy and ultra cautious and bought my first 996 this year. No PPI, no IMS done, no bore score check - not through ignorance, but though choice - and some may argue I paid all the money for it, too. I chose my car because compared to the others I looked it is twas the best by a significant margin, No fluid leaks, no noises, no sooty tailpipe and a telephone directory of invoices. If it ain't broke..... Sadly, from what I've observed of the 996 market, new entrants are doing their online research and drawing up a list in their head of "I'll be safe as long as I follow these rules" which include conditional deal breakers about IMS and bore score checks. If I ever advertised my car for sale, I'd proudly state it has a 3.4/4 motor with its factory installed, original, dual row IMS as the opening line in the advert to save all the nonsense - take it or leave it. Me, the previous owners and the queue of people trying to buy it (I got there first and paid full asking price) didn't care about the original IMS. It could explode tomorrow, it probably won't.

Trouble is that you are caught between a rock and a hard place ims wise! They can and do fail without warning at any mileage and irrespective of service history etc. I bought a 2 owner fopc history garage queen and at 69k it failed. Failure would be less of a gamble and worry if the repairs weren't so damned expensive on these engines! I agree that replacement in situ is risky given the forces required to change the bearing so what to do? But potential new owners want some reassurance that they are protected... Oh and and cylinders 5/6 had the beginning of scoring on mine, not bad but visible My advice would have to be ; buy on condition but have a war chest and don't be naive to the potential fragility of the m96/7 engines... The only just run in, if it was going to fail it would have already comments etc are simply delusional...