Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-23-2011, 02:16 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 60
Garage
$3000 fear suck!

So I got sucked in to all the BS about the IMS bearing and had mine replaced at 130,000 miles. It looked just as good as the new one we replaced it with. What a complete waste of money. Could have put in a PSS9 system for the same money. LIVE AND LEARN that people hype s**t to make money.

mmontfort is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 02:35 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Colchester, CT
Posts: 489
I cry BS on your post! :troll:
__________________
1999 986 2.5L, Stock Exhaust (S muffler), EVO Intake, 18" Stock rims (17" during winter), IMS Upgrade, 150k+ miles and counting!
87 944S brought back to life
Dragonwind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 04:12 AM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 160
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmontfort
So I got sucked in to all the BS about the IMS bearing and had mine replaced at 130,000 miles. It looked just as good as the new one we replaced it with. What a complete waste of money. Could have put in a PSS9 system for the same money. LIVE AND LEARN that people hype s**t to make money.

Who did you have do the work? You were just lucky yours was in good shape, or maybe you've changed the oil every 3-5k miles and it paid off. If you have the LN bearing upgrade, you won't have to worry about the motor imploding and can put those PSS9s on there without worrying about parting them out for half price down the road. I'd like to do that next too, along with a brake upgrade, maybe even a single turbo addition. Pretty soon it could get to be real money!
__________________
2001 Boxster S 3.6, 2003 E46 M3, 94 968 Cab, 80 911 Weissach Edition, BMW 1200 CLS
smshirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 04:45 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Missouri
Posts: 112
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmontfort
So I got sucked in to all the BS about the IMS bearing and had mine replaced at 130,000 miles. It looked just as good as the new one we replaced it with. What a complete waste of money. Could have put in a PSS9 system for the same money. LIVE AND LEARN that people hype s**t to make money.
The upgrade makes sense on a low-mileage, nearly new car, which is both still highly valuable and most at risk of IMS failure from what I've read. Even LN and Raby will tell you that probably 95% (or more) of IMS's are good and tend to stay good. Your car obviously had a good IMS or it wouldn't have lasted 130,000 miles. And why would you invest $3K in a car with 130,000 miles anyway? It's not like the new IMS would give you new rings and valves ...
johnsimion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 04:54 AM   #5
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
Did you disassemble the 130,000 mile bearing to inspect it?
Have you had enough experience with roller bearings to know a bad one if you saw it? Did you measure the diameters of the balls or check them for spalling?

Quote:
The upgrade makes sense on a low-mileage, nearly new car, which is both still highly valuable and most at risk of IMS failure from what I've read
The reason we have developed the IMS Guardian is for people who want to procrastinate the IMSR as long as possible, or have a vehicle with value diminished to the point that the IMSR makes no monetary sense. Some will never have to retrofit their bearing while the IMSG provides audible and visual warnings from a dash interface.

You did this as an elective procedure and it was a wise decision. People who have faced the decisions related to an IMS failure do not share your same thoughts. We talk to them on a near daily basis.

Contrary to popular belief, just because your IMS bearing isn't extracted in pieces doesn't mean that it was "perfectly fine and as good as the bearing that replaced it".
__________________
Jake Raby/www.flat6innovations.com
IMS Solution/ Faultless Tool Inventor
US Patent 8,992,089 &
US Patent 9,416,697
Developer of The IMS Retrofit Procedure- M96/ M97 Specialist

Last edited by Jake Raby; 06-23-2011 at 04:59 AM.
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 07:04 AM   #6
Registered User
 
laphan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MI
Posts: 144
I disagree with you on IMSR BS comment. Mine almost broke at 47K.
I think this IMS game is like playing a Russian roulette. The chance you you might get hit by one is small but when you get it, you are toast.

I'm not here try to tell anybody to get IMS replaced or help Jake to sell his product.

I had a clutch judder because there was a leak (RMS) and oil got to my clutch friction area. Sent it for clucth, IMS and RMS work and found that RMS was leaking but still went ahead with IMS replacement procedure since the car was already apart.

And guess what we found out....

My IMS bearing had some play on it(while new LN bearing has no play at all). IMS did not leak oil but play on the bearing really told me that my bearing was on the way OUT. There was no visible metal shavings on my oil filter, engine ran fine.

I was one who did not believe in IMS failure but after saw what happened to my bearing, I'm glad that my clutch problem saved my engine. OTOH, most IMS bearing failure happens on cars with low mileage
laphan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 07:38 AM   #7
Registered User
 
DFW02S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 381
I had mine done at 57k and I sleep well knowing that I can hammer the daylights out of the car without (that particular) fear of seizing the engine.

When I'm done with Boxster fun, anyone buying the car will see value in buying a car with the LNE bearing.
DFW02S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 10:26 AM   #8
Registered User
 
DFW02S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 381
You seem to be saying that given the opportunity to buy one with the LNE done or the same car without it, you'd judge them to be equal in value.
Aren't opinions great?

And please note that I only mentioned value, not price.


Quote:
Originally Posted by silverboxster101
... FYI: The LNE bearing adds NOTHING to the price of the car.
DFW02S is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 12:19 PM   #9
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Yeah, when I took my car in to have my clutch replaced, I asked about replacing the IMS. The owner showed me a stack of perfectly good IMS bearings that he had replaced at the insistance of other customers. I took one look and agreed to skip it.

Why do I temp fate so?

IMS failure is less than 3%. That means that I have a 97% chance of never having an IMS failure. Those are about the overall odds that Vegas casinos run on. Good enough for me.

Of course, someone will end up in the 3%, that is real. And if you can't afford $5-$6K to replace your engine, then you have a problem because the only way to mitigate the potential IMS failure is a $2,000 replacement. (And if you can't afford a $2,000 repair you probably shouldn't own a Porsche. Or a BMW. Or many other similar cars.)

As for the $400 warning system, who knows. But when the warning goes off your only option wlll be a $2,000 repair (on top of a $400 warning system).

For me, I'm going with the odds (97%). And if I end up in the 3%, I easily have the $6K to replace the engine.
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 12:23 PM   #10
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Quote:
Originally Posted by DFW02S
When I'm done with Boxster fun, anyone buying the car will see value in buying a car with the LNE bearing.
There is no recognized market value in a IMS bearing replacement.

Most likely it is somewhere around $300 at best if you find someone who cares. They'll give you 50% of the hardware cost. Labor is never valued.

And most buyers could care less whether the IMS has been replaced or not (just like we didn't care when we bought our used cars).
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 02:04 PM   #11
Opposed to Subie Burble
 
Overdrive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central CT
Posts: 1,197
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
And most buyers could care less whether the IMS has been replaced or not (just like we didn't care when we bought our used cars).
I can't agree with that statement entirely, thstone. The reason I "didn't care" is simply because I didn't know. Had I known about the issue prior to the purchase I would have sought out a vehicle that did have it done, and I know there are some people out there who know about that issue when they go shopping.

I think people are assuming that the "value" being referred to is financial in nature. I understand it as personally important value, and that is not to say that I'm going to pay more for a car that has it vs. a car that does not. But knowing what I've learned as a part of being on this forum and doing some homework (post-purchase), given two similar lower mileage cars where a difference between them is that one had the IMS retrofit or replacement done by a certified shop, I'd choose that one over the one that did not have it done, because that car, to me, would be the more reliable of the two, at least when it comes to the issues having to do with the IMS bearing.
__________________
-O/D

1997 Arctic Silver Boxster, 5-spd
IMSR + RMS
Robbins glass window top
Overdrive is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 02:31 PM   #12
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
There is no recognized market value in a IMS bearing replacement. ............

And most buyers could care less whether the IMS has been replaced or not (just like we didn't care when we bought our used cars).
I would not bet on that; when doing a PPI for a customer, cars are rated on the basis of "+’s" vs. "-‘s" (we do not attempt to set price). Two cars in otherwise equivalent condition, one with an IMS refit, the other without, care to guess which one scores higher (and typically sells for more)?
__________________
Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
JFP in PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 02:39 PM   #13
Porscheectomy
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,011
When selling my car, I would absolutely make the arguement that the car has had the upgrade that would cost the owner $2k to otherwise install, looking for an extra thousand for the car. Just like I'd do with a new clutch or new set of tires.
blue2000s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 06:07 AM   #14
Opposed to Subie Burble
 
Overdrive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central CT
Posts: 1,197
Garage
Completely off topic, I just noticed that JFP in PA as of his post above has 987 posts. :dance:
__________________
-O/D

1997 Arctic Silver Boxster, 5-spd
IMSR + RMS
Robbins glass window top
Overdrive is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 06:17 AM   #15
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
We can fix that.................
__________________
Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
JFP in PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 08:08 AM   #16
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: The City
Posts: 1,084
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by blue2000s
When selling my car, I would absolutely make the arguement that the car has had the upgrade that would cost the owner $2k to otherwise install, looking for an extra thousand for the car. Just like I'd do with a new clutch or new set of tires.

The difference being that anyone buying a car realizes that fact regarding tires, clutch, alternator or most basic parts. Whether or not you can successfully justify an IMS upgrade to them just like those is the issue.

Keep in mind its a small fraction of buyers and sellers that come on here and actually try to get an insight. And of the people here on this site not everyone is sold on the bearing in the first place.

realistically, it is a great benefit that comes at a cost. Just like most mods you may not get that money back at resale.
Lobo1186 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 09:02 AM   #17
Registered User
 
Perfectlap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,709
just get back the $3,000 by only changing your oil once every 6 six years.
Looking out for Porsches is over rated...
__________________
GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW
Perfectlap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 09:05 AM   #18
Porscheectomy
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 3,011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lobo1186
The difference being that anyone buying a car realizes that fact regarding tires, clutch, alternator or most basic parts. Whether or not you can successfully justify an IMS upgrade to them just like those is the issue.

Keep in mind its a small fraction of buyers and sellers that come on here and actually try to get an insight. And of the people here on this site not everyone is sold on the bearing in the first place.

realistically, it is a great benefit that comes at a cost. Just like most mods you may not get that money back at resale.
If they're buying my car, they will understand the IMS when I'm done.
blue2000s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 09:09 AM   #19
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,656
You don't have to do the retrofit, just don't get unlucky like I did.
ekam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 09:42 AM   #20
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
What I see as a reality is a difference in the actual "sell-ability" of the cars. This is more because the buyers that have cash in hand are generally the type that do their homework, when that homework is done the person finds out about the IMS challenges.

I get a TON of emails from people looking to buy these cars that already have the IMSR, or asking questions about what should be done or looked at before purchase, beyond a typical PPI.

I also get a ton of people who buy a car, never take delivery of it and have it shipped to us for the work before they ever see it in person. These people would certainly buy a car that already has the retrofit procedure carried out, to save the hassles.. They'd also pay more for it, because they already had the budget anyway.

I am just getting ready to put my Wife's 996 Millennium Edition up for sale, it has the IMSR and other work done to it that we consider necessary. I will purposely ask 2,000.00 more for this car than what the others like it are selling for and advertise it with the IMSR. We'll see how long it takes the car to sale and see if it matters.

That car even has the IMS Guardian employed currently and I have not decided whether or not I will pull it out of the car yet since we have not released the product for sale yet.

The door jamb decal makes a difference along with serialized components. We had to do this because people were advertising cars as being retrofitted, when they actually were not.. I guess they were wasting their time since it doesn't make a difference in sell ability or net price.
Attached Images
 

__________________
Jake Raby/www.flat6innovations.com
IMS Solution/ Faultless Tool Inventor
US Patent 8,992,089 &
US Patent 9,416,697
Developer of The IMS Retrofit Procedure- M96/ M97 Specialist
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:01 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page