I guess we are getting off topic, but the IMS bearing is well and truly covered on this forum, so you could do a search and find heaps of information and debate about it. I was totally unaware of it when I bought my car 2 years back, so it gave me a bit of a fright when I discovered the issue.

Briefly, engines to 2009 (Boxster and 911) have a bearing on the intermediate mainshaft (IMS) which is prone to failure, leading to seriously expensive repairs and/or engine replacement. A friend's '00 996 had his go a while back. Engine survived but cost $12K.

You can have it replaced if it worries you, costs a bit less than $3K to do locally. Not all Porsche specialists locally can do it. Opinions vary on how prevalent the problem is, and what is the best course of action. I have been advised not to worry too much about it by my service people, but I still do!

Do a forum search and check out others' opinions and experiences. Cheers.

Circles - Did you get a fix for your car? Mine is doing the exact same thing, including the passenger door not unlocking. I've tried the suggestions made to you, but no such luck. :(

Circle - did you ever resolve your problem? Exactly the same thing is happening with me and I've tried the recommended actions from this thread.

No I never managed to resolved it, just learned to live with it. I'v been told by my specialist that it could be due to a broken microswitch in one of the door locks, he recommended only replacing them if it became a serious issue. For now I unlock using the key, disarm the alarm with the ignition then open the passenger door from the inside. It's a bit of a pain in the hole but nothing I can't live with.

eagle day sells those key handles, for a 2000 model, they can be used, if the remote is inoperative, or you just want a smaller key to stuff in your pocket. if you change over to one, you will need to use the chip which came with the original key. when I purchased my boxy, I had one fully operational key and one without a remote, and switched to one of those lighted key heads.

Not the answer I was hoping for! I'm finding it a pain in the backside...or should I say, my Mrs is when she's standing in the rain waiting on me opening door, key in ignition, sitting down, then leaning over.

I've got mine booked into a Porsche dealership next week. I've been quoted £190 for a new key should it need it (I'll need two if that's the problem).

I'll check back in here once I've got it back from the dealer and let you know what sorted the problem (if it gets sorted).

It would be great to hear back on what the resolution is. I was getting quoted mad money in the dealership for them to fix it and my Indy is more of an engine kinda guy. He wasn't keen on taking the door locks apart unless he had to.

It was the key fob. I've had them both re-programmed and they work. I phoned around my local area and nowhere would do Porsche key re-programming, it had to be the dealership - so I'm not too fussed about having to pay for it.

To get one done it was £190, for two it was £316 - so I went for the two to get done. I'm glad I've got it done, standing about in the rain wasn't that fun.