[tonycarreon]

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RMS = rear main seal. seal between the transmission and engine. starts to drip (some say sweat is a better description) oil - usually a few drops noticed on the garage floor. not that big of a deal as long as you keep an eye on the oil level and don't let it get low. some cars go years before it is ever fixed. requires dropping the transmission fix. a lot of people have it done when a clutch is replaced, since they require a lot of the same labor. the part itself (a gasket) is cheap, but the labor is expensive.

IMS = intermediate shaft. though the problem usually refers to the bearing that sits at the end of the shaft where the engine and transmission meet. the bearing seal wears out over time even though it was intended to be sealed for life. when that happens motor oil gets into the bearing and washes away the remaining grease. since the oil does not lubricate the bearings properly they begin to wear and the shaft is no longer stable. the timing system relies on the shaft/bearing and eventually things go south. i've heard it described thusly - the pistons and valves clap hands and the engine "self destructs." gruesome sounding. in actuallity it doesn't blow up or explode, but usually knocks a hole in the engine - the engine is scrap metal by then at any point. again requires the transmission and engine be seperated (it's even in the same general area as the RMS). some people noted a "rocks in tincan" sound before a failure while some receive no warning - simply a bang and the engine quits.

RMS can be done at the dealer - though expect to pay a lot of $$$. porsche does not/has not acknowledged the prevelance of the IMS flaw. there is dispute among many as to the actual rate of failure, but that's usually irrelevant to those who experience it.

LN Engineering (working with Jake Raby) have come up with a more robust IMS bearing that they say all but eliminates the failure. again the cost of the part is negligible (~$600) depending on model, etc. but labor is expensive. more and more indy shops are starting to offer the service, but it takes some experience and knowledge since the bearing was not intended by Porsche to be extracted. newer models must have the case opened since the bearing can not be extracted.

most agree that not treating the car like a porcelin doll is a way to stave off failure - drive it well and shorten the recommended oil change interval.

some people feel the "problem" is hyped out of proportion - or even deny it is a problem at all. in the end, do some research, talk to others and make your own decision.