Who HASN'T done the IMS Retrofit (and why not)?

[dblaalid]

There's a lot of talk about who HAS done the LN Retrofit for the IMS issue, but I have yet to find a consolidated list of people who haven't, including their reasoning why. Most of these responses are sprinkled through dozens of other posts and I thought it would be convenient to judge the overall sentiment through a post like this.

I haven't because I'm just holding out until I need a new clutch to save $$ on the labor. I do plan on doing it though.

Is there anyone who doesn't plan on doing it at all!?

[2003S]

Have not; Have had my Boxster for 6 months, and the PPI showed it would probably need a clutch within a year; Like you, I'm waiting for then to get it done. I'll probably just find a convenient time this summer with my independent shop, and get it all done.

[madmods]

.........................

[schnellman]

[QUOTE=madmods;283635]Haha sport cars huh!

1) I don't fix what's not broken
2) I don't normally get easily influenced by those in the business of changing parts
3) I follow official reports and figures - in this case they are very low, or still non-existent
4) I couldn't care less even if the car itself would blow up, I'd get another one tomorrow
5) A car is for driving, and life is for living


I've not rebuilt, nor do I lay awake at night worrying about it. Madmods said it best.

[bmx672]

This is my 6th summer with my Boxster... I have 70k miles (had 30k when I bought it) and I don't worry about it. I drive it like its supposed to be driven. So far my oil filers are clean of metal debris If it happens, it happens... I'll deal with it if and when that time comes. If I need a clutch at any point I would probably do it though...

[ProjectM96]

I am at 86,000 miles in my 2000 Box. Haven't done the IMS and don't plan to anytime soon. I also drive my car like its meant to be driven. Always revving high, turning fast, accelerating as fast as I can each time I drive it. When I did oil change at 80k, the oil filter had no debris.

Plus, I hear the IMS issue is due to maunfacturing tolerances problems. Some were not in the correct tolerances and some were. It's impossible that all Boxsters were effected.

[kabel]

Originally Posted by madmods

1) I don't fix what's not broken

unless you're already in there and/or have lots of disposable income.

[recycledsixtie]

Originally Posted by madmods

Haha sport cars huh!

1) I don't fix what's not broken
2) I don't normally get easily influenced by those in the business of changing parts
3) I follow official reports and figures - in this case they are very low, or still non-existent
4) I couldn't care less even if the car itself would blow up, I'd get another one tomorrow
5) A car is for driving, and life is for living

I do have the double-row IMS bearing sitting here however. Been here for the last 12 months or so. I was waiting for a valid reason to drop the tranny so I can fit it. However plan changed after confirming a severe cam deviation (-3 degree in less than 15k) in an engine with less than 70k, and other little things which (for my taste) clearly show that this is not one of those perfectly manufactured motor!

I'm at the stage where I do not know whether I should drop the the 2.5L and rebuilt it myself (as a hobby... love gasket kits!) -OR- just enjoy it until it blows up and then mount a 3.4L fully rebuilt engine.

Car stories for you brotha. Good luck with yours!

Yes I agree 100% with this. I have weakened and had installed the IMS Guardian though. PPI said fine oil mist on rear of engine and bell housing. Is that a ploy to get me to install new RMS, ims job and new clutch while in there? When the Guardian warning goes off , then a new IMS. Otherwise I drive my 2001 Boxster base hard when conditions permit. Good post. Great thoughts.

[TerryT]

Originally Posted by recycledsixtie

Yes I agree 100% with this. I have weakened and had installed the IMS Guardian though. PPI said fine oil mist on rear of engine and bell housing. Is that a ploy to get me to install new RMS, ims job and new clutch while in there? When the Guardian warning goes off , then a new IMS. Otherwise I drive my 2001 Boxster base hard when conditions permit. Good post. Great thoughts.

I have been wondering about this "When the Guardian warning goes off"... doesn't that mean that it's already too late ? Bits of metal floating around in your sump means quite a bit of damage has been done already surely ?

[recycledsixtie]

Originally Posted by TerryT

I have been wondering about this "When the Guardian warning goes off"... doesn't that mean that it's already too late ? Bits of metal floating around in your sump means quite a bit of damage has been done already surely ?

Yes Terry I understand your question. I think that LN engineering has done enough research to show that the detection of metal buildup is occurring before an actual IMS disintegration. The makers have way better explanations than this layperson. For me it is a form of insurance. When the warning horn/lite goes on pull over asap.

I have spent $2k on my 2001 Boxster last year and assuming nothing goes wrong, I am only spending minimal on real Porsche coolant this year.

[j.fro]

I bought my 2000 Box S in Feb 06 and it had 60,000 miles. I'm now at 152,xxx. Last year at 142,000 I had to pull the trans to fix the second gear synchros, so I had a nice look at the back of the engine. The RMS had a well established but dry velveting, so I left that alone. The IMS was dry as a bone. 140,000 miles of dirt, but no signs of oil.
With this many miles and five years of hard autocrossing, the engine doesn't owe me anything. When the time comes, she'll be rebuilt to add some serious power, and then I'll do the bearing, along with everything else.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by madmods

Haha sport cars huh!

1) I don't fix what's not broken
2) I don't normally get easily influenced by those in the business of changing parts
3) I follow official reports and figures - in this case they are very low, or still non-existent
4) I couldn't care less even if the car itself would blow up, I'd get another one tomorrow
5) A car is for driving, and life is for living

+1 for Madmods.

The only thing I'd add is that if my IMSB has lasted 104,000 miles, then its likely to last quite a bit longer. My theory is to redline often to splash some fresh oil into the failed IMSB seal!

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by madmods

Haha sport cars huh!
1) I don't fix what's not broken
!

Boxster 986 Complete Suspension Overhaul

And all this time I thought you were like me...fix EVERYTHING that is not broken...because it is fun! Just messin with you.

Oh and I'll be giving an update to that thread...since I to developed suspension overhaul fever.

And yes I DID change out my perfectly good IMS double row

[Dave S.]

I haven't upgraded the IMSB in my 2003 S (24k miles). Seems spending $3K + on an insurance policy that you don't know if you need seems pretty steep on a $20,000 car.
If it fails, I'll either sell the dead carcass for a few thousand and never buy another Porsche again, or maybe take advantage of the situation and try to find someone with experience installing a 3.8L 997S engine into it and make it a rocket.
If I ever have the transmission out and am replacing the clutch, I would probably do the IMSB for good measure, just not willing to spend that much for nothing in hope that I'm fixing a problem.

[rdc8118]

I've got a 99 boxster with two major accidents under it's belt.
Resale values on old boxsters are low and mine's even lower. If i needed a clutch then I'd spend the extra cash and replace it. For now I'll just do frequent checks on the oil filter with a high power magnet (I pulled out of an old hard drive).

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Dave S.

I haven't upgraded the IMSB in my 2003 S (24k miles). Seems spending $3K + on an insurance policy that you don't know if you need seems pretty steep on a $20,000 car.
If it fails, I'll either sell the dead carcass for a few thousand and never buy another Porsche again, or maybe take advantage of the situation and try to find someone with experience installing a 3.8L 997S engine into it and make it a rocket.
If I ever have the transmission out and am replacing the clutch, I would probably do the IMSB for good measure, just not willing to spend that much for nothing in hope that I'm fixing a problem.

After some research, I discovered that it doesn't have to cost 3K to do the IMS upgrade. In fact, for low mileage vehicles such as yours and mine that probably don't require any clutch work, , with the right "indy" the service can be performed for under 2K . Not bad for something that will not only protect your investment, but give you a piece of mind as well .

[fivepointnine]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

After some research, I discovered that it doesn't have to cost 3K to do the IMS upgrade. In fact, for low mileage vehicles such as yours and mine that probably don't require any clutch work, , with the right "indy" the service can be performed for under 2K . Not bad for something that will not only protect your investment, but give you a piece of mind as well .

mine was $1900 including RMS and oil change. My clutch looked like brand new, I should have done the flywheel, going to have to do that within the next year after the shop showed me pictures of it and I have a very slight amount of clutch chatter.

good news was the shop gave my car a clean bill of health after the IMS (besides the flywheel)

Im going to be out of town to a beautiful southwest asia resort for the next 9 months so I did not want to take any chances since my wife will be driving the car some while I am gone.

[NoGaBiker]

Simple math; I have no interest in working on this car (been there, done a buncha that with previous sportscars.) I would probably use Raby for the job since they're close, and it is appx $3500, or was last year when I checked. That is about 25% of the cost of a new motor. I do not believe there is a 25% chance that any random motor will go. I've owned this 2004 S since new, now have 39k miles, have kept up the oil changes more frequently than factory. Finally, if it goes, it goes. I won't be skipping with joy, but it won't change a thing in my life. Put a new motor in and be done with it.

And there's a good chance I'll trade it on a 981 if I really like them, and the LNE bearing won't bring me anything when I trade. If I decide to keep the 04, I'll wait till a clutch is needed, then install the LN bearing at that time, since the cost goes down dramatically and it statistically beginns to make sense.

[Soetekouw]

55K on my car and not planning on doing any repairs on it until it really needs it. As Madmods stated, "don't fix what is not broke." Bought the car new in 2007, change the oil every 5K, and drive it daily.

When I was a 'new' Porsche owner in 2007, this forum scared the hell out of me with all the predictions of IMS failures and water pump replacements, etc. I thought I had spent $70K for a piece of junk that could blow up any minute. Folks were recommeding to fix it now before it breaks. I was worrying all the time and seriously thinking about getting rid of this car and buying something more reliable - maybe Japanese. But, bottom line, those days are gone. I have accepted that this is just a car. It is still running and still being driven daily AND life is for living and not worrying about something that may happen.

Don't fix until it is broke and drive it like it is supposed to be driven.

[Topless]

My brother did his clutch 1.5 years ago and has no plans to get in there again unless something breaks. California car, 4k oil chg intervals, filter inspected and always clean.

I needed to replace the clutch and trans on my car last fall so while we were in there...
My old IMS bearing looked to be in very fine shape at 98k miles though.