Getting there

Well, I got the alloys back, here's a couple of pics of the finish, very pleased: I don't want to get them dirty! What with all of the new suspension on, and new brakes, I don't want to drive it anywhere! Well, it won't be moving in this rubbish weather anyway. Quite pleased with my progress the past week. Just waiting for components for the front brake upgrade, and booking in to get the few minor marks on the paint sorted. Then it's time to start work on upgrading the full exhaust system, upgrading IMS and other engine compnents. So still lots to keep me busy (asnd my bank!) One thing though, anyone have any idea how to refurb the laquer finish on my rear callipers? Cheers!

Hi Steve, Where are you ordering your bearing from and what one are you going for?.

Hi, if I was going for a retrofit I would get the LN engineering one from the states, but I'm thinking of having the engine pulled and various bits upgraded instead. I'm just waiting for a quotation from autofarm on increasing the engine capacity and tuning a few items at the same time

I definitely would not increase the engines capabilities without changing the bearing especially as there in there anyway. That would be crazy. I think Autofarm use the LN bearing so personally I would prefer that bearing over others.

Steve I sorted the calipers on my TT by washing with soapy water, then degrease before rubbing down and painted using Japlac paint (most DIY shops have it in various colours). Mike

The only thing about the LN bearing is that they say it should be considered as a maintenance item, to be changed iro 40000 miles. So not only is it not a permanent fix, but when selling a car, are you really going to tell the new owner that in x000 miles it will need another £1450+ on a new bearing? Maybe I'm just being pessimistic, but I don't think it is the be-all and end-all of the problem.

Richard's point is well made. I agonise being an OCD person about whether to spend £600 (fitting vat) on an IMS guardian or £1500 on LN IMS bearings. In the end i felt that the guardian wouldn't reduce the risk and splashed on the LN bearing which was replaced at Autofarm. When I asked Josh/dick there what would they do if the LN bearing failed - they couldn't answer (as i recollect no returns on that) Up to you but if my IMS ahd gone i probably wouldn't spend the £8-10 getting it all repaired I would go back to my race bikes !!! for a faster thrill

Spot on thanks Mike, I'll have a search for that Re the bearing, tbh, I do very little mileage in the 996, so 40k is like a lifetime! Although I will be looking at getting the intermediate replaced as a first option to the later style. With regards to the IMS Guardian - I'm not that paranoid, if something happens it happens, I'm not going to spend my life driving around looking at a little LED. I wonder what the actual IMS failure percentage is of owners in the UK. It seems if there is an engine failure everyone automatically thinks 'IMS'! I wonder what the reality is.

Hi Richard, Yes its a Grey area as we all know, this car should have been called the (Catch 22 911) The bearing and has had more testing than any other bearing. and the 40,000 miles is an ass covering exercise LN cant really offer a lifetime warranty on a retro fitted part and not fitted by them. Fortunately only because of independents it is a serviceable item. If it had been left to Porsche we would be looking at cars that would be worth even less than they are. In Germany Porsche centers are fitting the LN bearing but will not allow (officially) anyone here to do so. Its not the be all and end all, but it is our prosthetic limb that needs attention as do eg: cam belts on a 348 Ferrari which means taking the engine out every couple of years and most cars also require cam belts. At least this is not every couple of years but it should be considered a service cost for anyone planning on keeping there car longterm. £600 for a £250 Guardian where? you can buy the bearing for less than that. Theres no way I would pay £600 for something that takes 45-60 minutes £250 (retail) Guardian £50 oil £300 Labor???. for an hour?. I'm pleased you didn't go for it at that price.

£300 per guardian & vat = £360 and fitting 2 hours = 120& vat =150 total £610 Ah if only everyone was clear and transparent about vat and fitting costs Still either guardian or new on bearings is a risk management decision probably bets left bankers to decid for us

That is absurd and out prices the Guardian. I say that's priced via the bonnet badge. Anyone considering a Guardian should fit it themselves. After all the kit was designed FOR DIY INSTALL.

The list price of a Guardian in the US is $389.00. Add to that shipping, duty, and VAT on the lot, and you get to about £350. The list price over here is £360 inc VAT. There is no way on God's Earth that anyone could fit one properly in 45 minutes. Draining the oil, removing the sump pan, cleaning it all up, replacing the filter, fitting and wiring up the switch and control box, lifting the carpet and routing the cable to the sensor, tie-wrapping the cable securely, and putting the whole lot back together? Meng has his sums wrong, by the way. £360+£150=£510.

There is only about 1.5ft of cable exposed to be tied and the only downside is that I didn't re fill my sump till 24hrs later to allow the sealant to cure properly which obviously a garage running a business cant wait that long. A switch thats pre wired A cable run that involves removing no trim or carpets total (20min) and cracking the sump to clean it and done on a four post lift piece of cake (30min) Id except a garage to have one person doing the cable run and switch install and one doing the sump. I have to disagree on the timescale sorry 2hrs is very comfortable for a garage. But then mainly because people should be doing it themselves as it is a DIY kit.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the time scale.

510 is fair price all in though.

I'd rather put the 510 towards something else tbh.

Steve you would do it yourself mate theres nothing to the kit so you can cut that figure in half, And that could be 510 towards a new engine. Retrofit IMS bearing or not I would still run with a guardian fitted. you have a gauge for everything else why not one to tell you there's metal eating your cylinders. My primary is my engine, body comes second.

Excuse my ignorance but what is the IMS and do I need to worry about it on mine? [&:]

Of course, my engine doesn't come last by any means, I replace any tiny seal or bolt that doesn't look up to scratch and keep it well serviced. I'm actually planning on having it taken apart and fully upgraded. I just don't agree with a company selling something based upon fear and scaremongering that has been done on the internet Cheers,

Like the companies that make them for helicopter gearboxes? True, the consequences are more catastrophic, but the principle is similar.

Just my humble opinion but I had my ims guardian installed and to have a good job done I can't see the whole thing taking less than 2 hrs. Tony wright did a superb job on my car. Roy

Yes theres a fear nobody wants it to happen to there engine. (scaremongering would be if there were no risk). All company's have done is create a solution to a problem that Porsche will close the door in your face upon, or sell a new engine to the customer. I think its nice to have that option and they have to advertise because Porsche wont tell anyone of these company's existence or use there parts (apart from OPC Germany funny enough). The company's then get criticized for doing so. Yeah so kit could be cheaper but there a horse on the front people are going to cash in OPC do. As far as timescale is concerned, Im saying that to have the kit installed by a garage then makes the kit quite expensive. And as DIY 2 hrs is realistic it was created with the DIY market in mind. But Ive said enough and to not hear me bang on about it why not just ask Jake Raby @ Flat six he will answer any questions you may have. These cars were £70-£80k new if you bought one under £20k you had a result, But looking after a race horse was never going to be cheap.