15 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAnyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Leading reported evidence
Install while the clutch was being done
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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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
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had the EPS bearing fitted while the clutch was being done.
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'Install while the clutch was being done' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Install while the clutch was being done' (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
Both have replaced many, one of them usually replaces at least one IMS a week.
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Replace are either
Suggestion or failed attempt
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 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 · Original poster
They tell me that the ones they replace are either because they have found metal in a filter or where owners have just been seeking reassurance by changing it.
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Replace engine
Suggestion or failed attempt
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 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 · Original poster
I know there is a camp that says 'if it aint broken, don't touch it' but there is always the doubt that it could go at any time and the cost of doing the bearing will be cheaper than replacing the engine.
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Replace i think it boils down
Suggestion or failed attempt
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 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
I was purely commenting on the choice of bearing, I don't really want to enter a debate on if the IMS should or should not be replaced - I think it boils down to personal preference (although I appreciate there is evidence supporting both arguments)
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Replace are either
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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 · Original poster
They tell me that the ones they replace are either because they have found metal in a filter or where owners have just been seeking reassurance by changing it.
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Replace engine
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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 · Original poster
I know there is a camp that says 'if it aint broken, don't touch it' but there is always the doubt that it could go at any time and the cost of doing the bearing will be cheaper than replacing the engine.
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Replace i think it boils down
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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
I was purely commenting on the choice of bearing, I don't really want to enter a debate on if the IMS should or should not be replaced - I think it boils down to personal preference (although I appreciate there is evidence supporting both arguments)
Anyone fitted an EPS replacement IMS Bearing to their 3.4L
Coverage and how to read this overview
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.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
911uk: 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: 20261026T165820Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi guys
Apologies that this is just another IMS post.
My car is a 1998 Gen.1 3.4 engined car which has covered 95k and as far as I am aware, it is showing no sign of issues with the IMS. However, I guess like any component, if it is original, it most probably has some wear.
I know there is a camp that says 'if it aint broken, don't touch it' but there is always the doubt that it could go at any time and the cost of doing the bearing will be cheaper than replacing the engine. Secondly, if I ever decided to sell it, the first question will be 'has the IMS been done'? which I am sure will hurt the resale cost if the answer is no.
My car is currently in my local independents and whilst it is in there, I thought about getting the IMS done. They told me that they fit the EPS bearing from Design911 and they say they have done lots of them without any problems. They tell me that the ones they replace are either because they have found metal in a filter or where owners have just been seeking reassurance by changing it. They did say that many of the ones they take out are fine and it is a tough call on whether to change it or not. I wondered if anyone on here has had the EPS bearing fitted or experience of them and if they have had/know of any issues with it?
The other bit that is bothering me was that my car being an early model it had the dual row bearing and from reading various posts there is not a dual row direct replacement and there may be a small tolerance issue with replacement single row bearings as the aperture is slightly bigger. I am not sure if this is the case with the EPS bearing, hence why I am hoping someone on here can shed some light. Should I be worried about this or am I being driven down another path of IMS concern?.
There seems to be so much info out there about IMS replacements that as a non mechanical person I am as confused as heck.
As always, I really appreciate all the advice you guys give.
:?:
Hi
I too have a 98 car and recently went through the same process. I had the EPS bearing fitted while the clutch was being done. No report from my garage on any issues with fitting and the car is running nicely with it in there. It's only been a few months though so plenty of time for it to go wrong, but the garage explained that they always fit that bearing and have never had any issues with them going wrong.
AMS Porsche use the EPS, I have this in my 3.6, quite a good read up on there website attached below,
https://www.amsporsche.com/news-porsche-ims-bearing-upgrade-what-you-need-to-know-and-why-upgrade-24
From what I understand Porshacare (and in turn Friends Green Porsche) both use the EPS IMS bearing too.
FWIW - poppopbangbang (if you've followed his 996 for any length of time) went for the EPS IMS when rebuilding his engine too.
I've just had my 'new to me' C4S fitted with and EPS IMS bearing by Friends Green Porsche as part of the PDI prep. From what I've read and the number of excellent independents using this solution, I'd have no issues with it. The engineering principles behind are good.
Mark
If you've got a dual row with 95k miles of proof its good you're crackers to change it. Ping the outer seal off, check it for play and continue with happy motoring.
I'm on 150k and my bearing is still like new with no play.
Didn't he also have it done whilst the engine was being rebuilt so no yanking the existing bearing out of an unsupported shaft, on an engine that had done 300,000 miles and comment that the original one was in perfect condition?
Your main crank bearings will be in a worse state than your IMS bearing, have they offered to change those too?
Correct. I was purely commenting on the choice of bearing, I don't really want to enter a debate on if the IMS should or should not be replaced - I think it boils down to personal preference (although I appreciate there is evidence supporting both arguments)
My 996 Tip has done 105,000 miles and I have spoken to 2 reputable specialists about replacing the IMS. Both have replaced many, one of them usually replaces at least one IMS a week.
When asked how many engines they have had to rebuild following IMS bearing failure, the answer from both was none!
I have decided not to replace mine, change oil every 6 months and keep a close eye on the oil filter for bits of metal.
