IMS bearing inspection

[thom4782]

Your indy's price (1200 pounds) for a LN retrofit is reasonable if that is the only work done. The 1200 breaks down to roughly 460 pounds in parts and 740 pounds in labor.

A clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing costs about 375 pounds VAT included. Labor is roughly two hours less than the hours necessary for the LN bearing replacement. I don't know what shops in your area charge for labor, but I'd guess the labor associated with a clutch job is about 700 pounds using the LN bearing job as a reference. So, something is off. There's no way a shop can profit by replacing the clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing at $480 pounds out the door.

I do agree with you that replacing the IMS bearing doesn't make sense if you're willing to walk away from the car if the engine implodes. On the other hand, if you plan to keep the car for another 50K to 100K, then you're looking at something like a 5% chance of catastrophic failure by doing nothing (a guesstimate on a 112K car) versus almost no chance of failure after installing a dual row LN bearing.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by thom4782

I don't know what shops in your area charge for labor, but I'd guess the labor associated with a clutch job is about 700 pounds using the LN bearing job as a reference.

Even the expensive places in the UK only charge about £700 pre VAT for the whole job including parts. £700 would be about 11 hours in labour.

You can get the kit for £240 inc VAT, so presumably the indy will be paying a bit less.

Porsche Boxster Clutch Kit - 98611691100/1 | Design 911

Revolution Porsche quote a very clear £399+VAT to do the clutch. Second offer down here:

Check out our offers, Revolution Porsche, Brighouse, West Yorkshire

They have a pretty good rep on the local Boxster forum Boxanet here in the UK.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by thom4782

I do agree with you that replacing the IMS bearing doesn't make sense if you're willing to walk away from the car if the engine implodes.

It's not so much being willing to walk away if it implodes. It's simple maths.

If I was to fit a new clutch, flywheel and LN bearing tomorrow, I'd probably looking at a bill of £2,000. I could probably buy a replacement 2.5l Box for £3.5k and keep my current car for spares!

It just doesn't make financial sense to bury lots of money in these cars in the UK given the terrible residuals.

I'm in a bit of a tricky spot with this car right now. I could throw £2k at it and then one of the heads could crack the week after and before you know it you've spent more than the price of just buying another one.

Not sure what I am going to do. The best outcome would probably be a new clutch and hope the flywheel is OK.

Probably the best thing to do would be to get the clutch done and if that goes well, sell the car for £3.5k and buy a really tidy 2.7 for about £5k.