IMS Upgrade - Should I have it done

[SoK]

Originally Posted by Jim Miller

I found a local Porsche repair place "Ralf's Auto Repair" in Reisterstown MD, not sure if anyone knows them. Nice guy, he recommended changing the IMS bearing out and was aware of the LNengineering retrofit.

Should I also have the RMS replaced also? Anything else. Car has 32,000 miles (99).

Jim,

I just bought a 2001 Boxster with 42k miles last Wednesday, pristine in and out. It has a slight oil leak though, which I was aware of when purchasing and for which I paid the appropriate price. I'm taking it to the Cincinnati Porsche dealer Friday. Their rate is $1168.82 after tax to replace the IMS/RMS (most recent Porsche updates), oil/filter, full inspection/lubrication and a 2 year/24k mile powertrain warranty after the work is done. They're also giving me a rental for the 2 days they'll have the vehicle.

I priced out a warranty with a company I know of being in the insurance business, and the warranty alone on this car was $2400/year. I'm now paying half of that for at least a 4 or 5 year fix WITH a 2 year warranty.

Try calling a local Porsche dealer and see if you receive a similar number. I was very excited to hear this directly from the dealer.

[jmatta]

SoK, tell me you're not considering having Porsche replace the IMS bearing with the same old piece of junk? If you're going through the effort and expense, the LN update is the only logical solution and minimal difference in cost.

[mikefocke]

SoK, that price doesn't make sense to me. The labor to remove and replace (R&R) the transmission to get at the bearings is almost as much as you are being quoted. To expect them to add a 2 year warranty on the entire engine for almost nothing more just doesn't strike me as consistent with the experiences and costs I've read about.

Nothing wrong with the Porsche-part RMS seal if it is the latest from Porsche.

Everything wrong with the IMS bearing and seal if it is from Porsche as none of their bearing/seal revisions have proven to not fail in a small percentage of cars and when they do fail they very often take the engine down with them to the point where a complete rebuild is necessary (assuming it is even still possible).

For the dealer to assume the risk of a new engine ($10k-$14k from Porsche) for peanuts doesn't make economic sense to me as a 2 year warranty alone is usually much more than your quote.

Call the dealer and at least ask him: Does the quote include both the Rear Main Seal and the IMS bearing and seal replacement? Parts and labor? Does it include an oil and oil filter change? What warranty do I get...on the work done or the entire engine? Who backs the warranty? Is it usable anywhere but at your dealership?

Good luck.

[SoK]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

SoK, that price doesn't make sense to me. The labor to remove and replace (R&R) the transmission to get at the bearings is almost as much as you are being quoted. To expect them to add a 2 year warranty on the entire engine for almost nothing more just doesn't strike me as consistent with the experiences and costs I've read about.

Nothing wrong with the Porsche-part RMS seal if it is the latest from Porsche.

Everything wrong with the IMS bearing and seal if it is from Porsche as none of their bearing/seal revisions have proven to not fail in a small percentage of cars and when they do fail they very often take the engine down with them to the point where a complete rebuild is necessary (assuming it is even still possible).

For the dealer to assume the risk of a new engine ($10k-$14k from Porsche) for peanuts doesn't make economic sense to me as a 2 year warranty alone is usually much more than your quote.

Call the dealer and at least ask him: Does the quote include both the Rear Main Seal and the IMS bearing and seal replacement? Parts and labor? Does it include an oil and oil filter change? What warranty do I get...on the work done or the entire engine? Who backs the warranty? Is it usable anywhere but at your dealership?

Good luck.

I did verify each and every one of those exact question's while I had them on the phone. The person in service I spoke with was familiar with the IMS/RMS issues, as well as the retrofits being done. That's why I jumped at the price as opposed to having you all do it. I want it done either way.

I'll be sure to post the work order up this weekend as they complete everything.

[jmatta]

"Porsche no longer uses the same old junk they did in 2001"

Not much better than the bearing used in 2001...I wouldn't consider anything other than the LN unit, unless you want to replace it every twenty five thousand miles and still take a chance of a premature failure. Seems as though they finally got the RMS correct.

[SoK]

What are the pro's and con's to the updated Porsche OEM IMS bearing vs. the LN unit? What are the major differences?

I really appreciate all the help, I'm still very new to these cars.

Originally Posted by jmatta

"Porsche no longer uses the same old junk they did in 2001"

Not much better than the bearing used in 2001...I wouldn't consider anything other than the LN unit, unless you want to replace it every twenty five thousand miles and still take a chance of a premature failure. Seems as though they finally got the RMS correct.

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by SoK

What are the pro's and con's to the updated Porsche OEM IMS bearing vs. the LN unit? What are the major differences?

There is no OEM IMS bearing available from Porsche. What the dealership quoted you was probably a flange reseal, which consists of replacing the seal on the IMS flange - that's why the job looked so cheap. That's it.

There is no part number associated with anything IMS related other than a complete IMS assembly (complete shaft, 3rd revision) OR the flange, seal, and nut. Bearing and bearing support (stud) don't have part numbers, as they were never intended to be replaced.

[SoK]

Originally Posted by jmatta

SoK, tell me you're not considering having Porsche replace the IMS bearing with the same old piece of junk? If you're going through the effort and expense, the LN update is the only logical solution and minimal difference in cost.

Porsche no longer uses the same old junk they did in 2001, everything has been updated with the new iterations of the boxer engine.

Regardless of that, the theme I've gathered from this thread is that these IMS/RMS issues stem from a lack of use. My Boxster is a daily driver now, year round, so I don't expect the same issues from this parts this time around.