The question of what to do about IMSBs just got more complicated. If you’re planning to do some IMSB preventative maintenance, it seems to me your choices are:
1. Change oil frequently, say every 5K or year whichever comes first, using something like Motul 5-40. Check filter at every change for magnetic metal shavings. Cheapest path but leaves the original bearing in the car.
2. Install the TechnoFix DOF (direct oil feed). $800 plus labor. This bathes the IMSB in filtered oil which improves lubrication. I’m guessing DOF option lubricates the IMSB with splash oil if the direct feed fails. It still leaves the old, perhaps worn, bearing in the car. Limited data on bearing longevity available for the DOF option.
3. Install the LN Retrofit. $645 for the Retrofit plus labor. Improved ceramic bearing design with extremely low failure rate. Splash oil lubricated. Reportedly no dual row failures and a possibly a handful out of thousands of single row installations. OEM says inspect / change bearing after 50K miles.
4. Install the LN Retrofit along with TechnoFix DOF. $645 for Retrofit, $800 for DOF ($1445 total) plus labor. Combines the best of options 2 and 3. Direct oil feed and I think splash oil lubricated as a backup if the feed fails. Likely has the same odds of failure as the LN Retrofit alone but I’m guessing. Applies to all M96 engines – dual, single and large bearing engines.
5. Install the IMS Solution. $1725 suggested retail plus labor. Replaces the IMS ball bearing design with a plain bearing that is lubricated by pressure fed filtered oil. Applies only to late 2000 though early 2005 single row bearing cars. Not available for dual row or 2005 or later cars.
If I go the low cost route, I’d pick #3 without question, the LN Retrofit alone. At the high end, I'm more uncertain.
One high cost choice is to do the LN Retrofit with the TechnoFixDOF and face the low odds possibility of the bearing failing. The question in my mind is does direct feed oil extend the bearing life so much that it is worth spending the extra $800. The other high cost bet is install the IMS Solution with the possibility of losing the oil feed and having the plain bearing seize. The question with the Solution is what is the possibility of losing the oil feed.
What are your opinions.
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