My LNE IMSB retrofit bearing looked very similar to the factory bearing, ala Jäger's photos. I bought mine directly from Charles at LNE via phone. There was no exposed bearing race on the bearing I bought.

NONE of the LN bearings have EVER been sealed. What you are seeing in those pics is not a seal.

As far as shipping the car to Georgia for the IMS Solution, well many people have done this and paid less for shipping than local sales tax would cost. Nothing like having a critical component installed in the same place where the technology was invented.

So LN bearing aren't sealed. Still, it appears that some bearings came with the 'barrier' shown in the pictures and some did not come with it. My questions are pretty simple.

Do the versions without the barrier get lubricated better because oil can more easily reach the ceramic bearings and their races?

If this is the case, i.e., better lubrication, should one remove the barrier before installation?
'

There are no differences in the lubrication of the two units. For further details email LN Engineering directly.

We have used both styles with no issues.