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There are lots of theories out there and lots of anecdotal advice based on those theories. Here's my actual experience.
My 01S is my daily driver. I changed the oil regularly at 5K intervals and never saw a metal flake in the oil filter. I was told that once my engine reached 100K, I had probably dodged the IMS failure bullet. Nonetheless, I replaced the clutch at 125K and decided to replace the IMS at the same time because of the labor savings. Here's what I found
The OEM IMS look pristine. It spun freely and didn't show any wobbling. I thought I had wasted my money. Then I removed the seal. To my surprise, the grease was completely washed out. Oil leaking through the seals was providing the lubrication. Would the bearing have lasted much longer - 5K, 10K 25K or 50K. Who knows. I'm just glad I caught the problem as the bearing was beginning to go down the "it's just a matter of time before it fails" path.
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