IMS Upgrade - Should I have it done

[Pinarelloman]

OK, I have my car back.
2001 Boxster S 66,000km. Had a dual row bearing.
Dual mass flywheel was U/S, had 20mm movement. Clutch face about 50% worn, thrust bearing OK. All now replaced. IMS replaced with LN unit.
A few observations, clutch action alot lighter, timing chain rattle on startup now gone.
Total price $4699 AUD.
While alot of $$ it gives me peace of mind that there is one less thing to go wrong.

[Jim Miller]

Picked up my car after new IMS, RMS and clutch. Enjoyed driving it home and parked it in the driveway. Moved it to the garage and noticed I was leaking oil. Bummed. Goes back to the shop tomorrow morning. I just want to get out and drive this thing.

Still glad I replaced the IMS but the car didn't leak oil before I had the work done.

[Jim Miller]

Car fixed, oil plug seal missing or blow out. Guy who did the work was very apologetic, open his shop on Saturday to look at it and fix it. Overall I was very satisfied this guy Ralph at Ralph's auto service, I recommend highly.

Been driving it all morning, love it, glad I traded my 330i zhp for the Boxster.

[mikefocke]

My understanding is that, no, you can't tell what revision of the bearing assembly your car has if it is a replacement engine until you pull the transmission and clutch off. '02 replacement engines may be redone '97-'01 engines or redone '02 engines and '02 was around the time they switched from dual to single row bearings.

There are no comparative statistics on which of the 3 assembly designs are more prone to failure except in Porsche's records and they aren't telling.

So yes, you have to possibility of a failure of the IMS.

Now the good news is they don't all fail and the failures are spread out over many possible years of ownership.

[jmatta]

Now the good news is they don't all fail and the failures are spread out over many possible years of ownership.

All is great until it's YOUR car that fails.

[jotoole]

Don't piss on the campfire.

[jmatta]

Not pissing...just stating a fact and respect Mike's input on "all Boxster". I've owned over a dozen older 911 variants and have never had a serious issue. The modern Porsches are of real quality and engineering concern. I'd considered buying a pre-driven Cayenne, but after reading the article in the latest Excellence, there isn't a chance. That said, my Box S is still one of my favorites.

I've loved my Porsches, past and present, as much as the next person; but will think carefully going forward. Unfortunately with two kids in higher edu, I can't afford to buy the "latest and greatest".

[mikefocke]

Originally Posted by jmatta

Now the good news is they don't all fail and the failures are spread out over many possible years of ownership.

All is great until it's YOUR car that fails.

The chance that mine will fail this year is very low. And if it does, I'll do what I've done on 5 other cars over the last 50 years when their engines failed, replace the car or the engine. Compared to other things in life, this isn't.

I don't spend my last dollar on a car when I buy one (the last 2 Porsche's I've owned I've been the third owner and they have been at least 5 years old when I bought them) and I don't expect perfection from Porsche (my first-owner 914 taught me that all too well...probably 2 dozen dealer visits in 2 years!).

(I'm also a measured-over-a-lifetime winner at the casinos.)