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thom4782 · 01-31-2013, 08:33 AM

People have written lots about the IMS Solution and IMSB. Here's a summary from my reading. It should help put the options in perspective. Please correct anything I may have gotten wrong from my review of bulletin board and web information

IMS Retrofit

Benefit: Ceramic bearing life much greater than original design; still has multiple wear points.
Availability: now
Cost of part: about $650
Installed cost: $2K to $3K depending if clutch / RMS replaced at same time
Installers: independent shops, some dealers, DIY
Reliability: High (dual row - no reported failures; single row - handful of reported failures, rate less than 1%)
Result of Failure: Major engine damage perhaps catastrophic damage
Maintenance: inspect at 50K or during clutch / RMS replacement whichever comes first

IMS Solution

Benefit: New design eliminates many wear points in old design reducing the possibility of failure to almost nothing
Availability: Unknown (estimates range from Spring 2013 to early 2014)
Cost of part: about $1500
Installed cost: $2.5K to $3.5K depending if clutch / RMS replaced at same time
Installers: Now - Flat 6 Innovations; later independent shops
Reliability: Predicted to be very high almost bullet proof
Result of Failure: Minor - engine noise
Maintenance: none

If you are greatly concerned that the IMSB might fail soon, ypu might want to replace it now with the IMS Retrofit now since the IMS Solution isn't generally available outside of Flat 6 Innovations. In 3 to 7 years, you can decide whether to upgrade to the IMS Solution or stick with the retrofit. If you aren't greatly concerned about a near term failure, but plan to replace the IMSB as a preventive measure, wait until IMS Solution is available. If you just want to get this all behind you now, schedule a IMS Solution job with Flat 6 Innovations.

01-31-2013, 08:33 AM	#19
thom4782 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Foster City CA Posts: 1,099	People have written lots about the IMS Solution and IMSB. Here's a summary from my reading. It should help put the options in perspective. Please correct anything I may have gotten wrong from my review of bulletin board and web information IMS Retrofit Benefit: Ceramic bearing life much greater than original design; still has multiple wear points. Availability: now Cost of part: about $650 Installed cost: $2K to $3K depending if clutch / RMS replaced at same time Installers: independent shops, some dealers, DIY Reliability: High (dual row - no reported failures; single row - handful of reported failures, rate less than 1%) Result of Failure: Major engine damage perhaps catastrophic damage Maintenance: inspect at 50K or during clutch / RMS replacement whichever comes first IMS Solution Benefit: New design eliminates many wear points in old design reducing the possibility of failure to almost nothing Availability: Unknown (estimates range from Spring 2013 to early 2014) Cost of part: about $1500 Installed cost: $2.5K to $3.5K depending if clutch / RMS replaced at same time Installers: Now - Flat 6 Innovations; later independent shops Reliability: Predicted to be very high almost bullet proof Result of Failure: Minor - engine noise Maintenance: none If you are greatly concerned that the IMSB might fail soon, ypu might want to replace it now with the IMS Retrofit now since the IMS Solution isn't generally available outside of Flat 6 Innovations. In 3 to 7 years, you can decide whether to upgrade to the IMS Solution or stick with the retrofit. If you aren't greatly concerned about a near term failure, but plan to replace the IMSB as a preventive measure, wait until IMS Solution is available. If you just want to get this all behind you now, schedule a IMS Solution job with Flat 6 Innovations. Last edited by thom4782; 01-31-2013 at 08:40 AM.