In work since well before 2009... Its the true solution to the problem.

This one is a lot different than the retrofit arrangements as we are not selling it direct to the public for DIY installation. Cost is almost exactly twice as much as the standard retrofit, but it never needs future service, replacement or attention.

For 997-1 and 997-2 engines?

Details will be shared in Panorama in January 2013.

Jake...why not have the story told on 60 minutes? Sounds like the real reason is because you won't be able to profit financially....

Another hater..
Trust me, sharing would have been much more lucrative than choosing not to.. I have also chosen not to be an expert witness on more than one occasion.

Look at what happened when 60 minutes covered 3 wheelers and CJ5 Jeeps..

I don't think it's hate as much as misplaced frustration Jake, after all the current solutions are so cost prohibitive you really have to think hard about the endeavor. It's safe to assume based on past performance that this new bulletproof solution is not going to arrive at a cost effective price point.

Mazda had this problem with the RX-7, never heard of it in an RX-8 though. I have owned both. The difference between Mazda and Porsche is that the failure rate on the rotary was incredibly high (70%?) I know, because my RX-7 had the same failure. The only question my mechanic asked me was how many miles I had. When I told him, he whipped out a book with picks of a broken seal.

Every car has its issues, some more than others, but they wouldn't stay in business if they publicized them all. The internet is a two edged sword. You can get all the information you want, but forums like this tend to concentrate the problem, make it worse than it is. I replaced my IMSB for peace of mind.

I catch myself reading these threads and getting worried... then I realize whats the point. If my car explodes, big deal. Money is paper and cars are metal... can't take either one with you. And, as long as my family and I are healthy, thats all that matters... not a car engine. So i'll drive mine and enjoy it...
That's my thought on the IMS crap...

Thats exactly the mindset that Porsche owners should have. Some people want preventive measures to avoid issues proactively; others are willing to be reactive and pay the price if something fails.

Today more than ever my failure calls start off with "I knew about this problem, but just figured I'd not worry about it". Thats much different than years ago when people would state "I had no idea about this problem until the car broke and I started researching".

The people who appreciate being proactive are very happy that development programs like ours exist while the other side of the owners seem to simply believe that the problem is all myth and money driven.

All that matters to us is saving engines, I cost my company money everyday by doing the right thing and saving engines that are within our capability to save. I feel much better at the end of the day after saving someone's engine with a process that we have developed or component we have created than I do when I get the 18K+ check in the mail for an engine that we had to completely reconstruct after a failure. Last month alone we "saved" two engines that were deemed "complete losses" by dealerships and other shops. That saved a collective 38,000 bucks for those two owners.

None of this is work to us, its just a life and I have fun everyday that I come into the facility that I've built from scratch since the age of 13. The day that I consider any of this work, I'll close the doors and have my own 30,000 square foot hobby shop and its all paid for.

Just be glad that there are retrofits, solutions and tools to extract the factory IMS Bearing. I believe that some of you have forgotten that the procedure that I developed to extract these bearings was once considered "impossible".

MSRP will be around 1495.00 and the installation costs will be the same as the standard retrofit. The IMS Solution can be installed as a retrofit to an OEM bearing or an aftermarket bearing, like the current LN Retrofit. Only two processes deviate from a standard retrofit, both of which are very straight forward.

As a comparative, the IMS Solutions that we have already been installing here at our facility to individual customers wanting them as a "retrofit" have cost 600.00 more than our standard retrofit using the current LN/ FSI bearing. All of our single row retrofits in the future will only be carried out using the IMS Solution technology. All of our engines are also getting the IMS Solution as well. Many of those who already own our engines are scheduling to have the new technology applied now and thats where the majority of our first run of bearing units have already been allocated to.

The IMS Solution is currently protected by a provisional patent and we are awaiting the USPTO to work through their 33 month backlog to issue the full patent.

I think I know this IMS SOlutions design. If it is what I think it is, I had a chat with one of the developers and it represents a bulletproof permanent solution to IMS bearing failure. I like it! :cheers:

Porsche let me down the day that they sold their soul and built the Cayenne.

Those massive Cayenne profits (I think it's Porsche's #1 volume seller too, next to the Pano) is funding great stuff for the Boxster, Cayman, and 911 varients.

Jake-It's not hate...I already have my car retrofitted with your bearing. I am proactive with my maintenance. What I am saying is that I don't see a down side to having this reported through 60 minutes. Expose the problem; make it mainstream. Didn't they do a piece on BMW HPFPs? Look what happened...now my HPFP is warranted until 100K. This happened after the 60 minute episode.

Good luck finding a Judge and a jury that gives a rat's ass about a poor old Porsche owner. Not gunna happen. The problems are not safety related. Small in number.

This offers no solace or relief for those owners that have suffered. But a great business opportunity for great (and smart) vendors like Jake and L&N. Good for them. And good for the owners that are not so risk tolerant.

maybe its just me.
as being a positive guy, i try to look at the "full half of the glass".
i knew about the IMSB, issue before i purchased my car.
i decided to by it anyway, and the retrofit is going on it next month.

without the IMSB issue, these cars would probably cost double then what they cost today (if not more).
not sure if i would have bought a boxster if the price was double .
not because i don't think its worth it. just because i could not afford it.

Jake: What kind of service or attention might the current IMSB retrofit require. I was under the impression that after the retrofit was installed the odds of an IMSB failure were close to zero and no further service or attention was needed. I am asking because I was planning to have my independent install the current retrofit in my 01S in the next month. I don't know if my IMSB is a single or dual row bearing. Thanks

So when will this be available? I am considering having a retrofit done by my mechanic (RennsportKC) in Grandview, MO. If I wait will I be able to have them do this or are you the only one to do this new fix? Any advice would be great.

Thanks, Jarrett

A major distributor has already placed a huge order and will have the first units in hand in February and begin to distribute them to shops across North America and Europe.

We are accepting sign ups for the procedure carried out at our facility now.



Then you would have had to spoken to me or Charles Navarro personally as we are the inventors and developers of the IMS Solution; no other individuals or companies have been involved. The only outsiders that know about the details are those who have purchased the unit and currently have it installed into their engines. A few members of the media have saw it, held it and have been blown away by it.

When are you going to reveal and let us know the cost of the "Solution"?

Jake,

Wile you be selling or distributing a kit with flange, tool, etc.?

I am good for one of these in February.