How can I tell if IMS has been replaced?

[maytag]

Hey all. Thanks for your help: a search didn't yield much to this specific question.

My new-to-me 2003 boxster S has over 140k miles on it. While it has some items I'm going to get to immediately (after 3 other projects are done, haha), I don't know if IMS needs to be on that list.
Is there a tattle - tale for a car that's had this done already? Any way to easily inspect and determine?

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[Geof3]

Only way is if there happens to be the IMS Solution installed. There is a register for that setup, other than that, the trans has to be pulled. If it has been changed, you might be able to ID by the flange cover, but really, the only way to tell is to take the whole thing apart. Clutch, RMS and what not are the things to do while there. At that mileage, tough call what to do. If not a tip (auto) and the clutch is good, it is unlikely the clutch is original, and most people at least inspect the IMS for issues, and usually replace at the time.

Another thing that is possibly tell tale, and well documented, is to inspect your oil filter for metal, and get a run down on cam deviation with a purchased durametric, or take it to a dealer/shop to do a full engine diagnostics.

[sfkjeld]

My understanding having just replaced mine, there is no way really to know whether your IMS is original, good or bad shape, single or double row, without pulling it . And checking for shavings in the oil filter will only tell you if it’s too late. If you have reason to believe it has been replaced with an LN Engineering IMS bearing, you can check with them. If the bearing was registered properly they can tell you. They also provide adhesive number plates with their bearing that owners apply next to the VIN plate and in door sills.

At 140k, I’d just enjoy the car until you need a clutch. Then replace the bearing.

[maytag]

thanks to both of you for your responses. I've purchased a durametric with the intent of checking cam deviation. I just need to get some honey -do's out of my garage first! Haha.

Great thought about the clutch being non - original. The car seems to have been well maintained, so it's possible the ims was done at a clutch change. since that makes me feel better, I'ma go with that. Haha.

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[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by maytag

thanks to both of you for your responses. I've purchased a durametric with the intent of checking cam deviation. I just need to get some honey -do's out of my garage first! Haha.

Great thought about the clutch being non - original. The car seems to have been well maintained, so it's possible the ims was done at a clutch change. since that makes me feel better, I'ma go with that. Haha.

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As it is impossible to tell without taking the car apart, if you have no paperwork showing it was done, and your VIN is not on LN's website data base, assume it has not been done. We get cars in all the time with the same question, and the only sustainable answer is, "No provenance, no retrofit....".

[Geof3]

Yeah, I kind of wrote more about steps to a possible diagnosis of a potential problem, not so much a confirmation, or not, of a new bearing install. Sorry if that was confusing. It was late!

[mikefocke]

For the record

The LN database is accessed here.

[square-root]

First check if it has a replacement engine or not.

[dxterity]

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has heard of this but when I bought my '99, I immediately took it to a certified Porsche mechanic to have the IMS done. The first thing the mechanic did (before it wss even in the engine bay) was check along the inside of drivers side door for a sticker which Porsche mechanics apparently apply that indicates the if/when the IMS had previously been replaced and date the work was done. He told me this because he said they are supposed to be replaced every 6 years and it's a time thing not mileage. I dunno, maybe start be checking for this sticker/stamp, you might luck out.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by dxterity

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has heard of this but when I bought my '99, I immediately took it to a certified Porsche mechanic to have the IMS done. The first thing the mechanic did (before it wss even in the engine bay) was check along the inside of drivers side door for a sticker which Porsche mechanics apparently apply that indicates the if/when the IMS had previously been replaced and date the work was done. He told me this because he said they are supposed to be replaced every 6 years and it's a time thing not mileage. I dunno, maybe start be checking for this sticker/stamp, you might luck out.

.................................................. .

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by dxterity

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has heard of this but when I bought my '99, I immediately took it to a certified Porsche mechanic to have the IMS done. The first thing the mechanic did (before it wss even in the engine bay) was check along the inside of drivers side door for a sticker which Porsche mechanics apparently apply that indicates the if/when the IMS had previously been replaced and date the work was done. He told me this because he said they are supposed to be replaced every 6 years and it's a time thing not mileage. I dunno, maybe start be checking for this sticker/stamp, you might luck out.

The sticker would be there if (1) They used an LN Engineering retrofit, and (2) If they took the time to register the installation with LN. Then the VIN would be searchable in the LN online database as well.

[PaulE]

The sticker is for LN IMSB replacements and could also be under the trunk lid. It looks like this -



But not all installers enter their LN IMSB upgrades into the database. Mine wasn't entered, but I have my receipt, my sticker and my original IMSB. I don't know if all the manufacturers of IMSB upgrades provide stickers or databases like LN does. And even if there is a sticker, you'd still need to know that the same engine that had the IMSB replaced is still in the car. There are lots of other ways that these engines can fail besides the IMSB. JFB in PA is right about provenance.

Originally Posted by dxterity

I'm interested to hear if anyone else has heard of this but when I bought my '99, I immediately took it to a certified Porsche mechanic to have the IMS done. The first thing the mechanic did (before it was even in the engine bay) was check along the inside of drivers side door for a sticker which Porsche mechanics apparently apply that indicates the if/when the IMS had previously been replaced and date the work was done. He told me this because he said they are supposed to be replaced every 6 years and it's a time thing not mileage. I dunno, maybe start be checking for this sticker/stamp, you might luck out.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

The sticker would be there if (1) They used an LN Engineering retrofit, and (2) If they took the time to register the installation with LN. Then the VIN would be searchable in the LN online database as well.

I had the tool and the retrofit sent direct to my mechanic in 2012. He did the install but did not register it nor did he affix the sticker. I have the paperwork from the installation and receipt from LN. I wish I had known then what I know now...

[maytag]

Thanks everyone, for your responses. looks like There's a few things I can check.

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[maytag]

Originally Posted by Geof3

Another thing that is possibly tell tale, and well documented, is to inspect your oil filter for metal, and get a run down on cam deviation with a purchased durametric, or take it to a dealer/shop to do a full engine diagnostics.

So I checked cam deviation this evening:
Position 1: 1.66
Position 2: 0.80
There is NO fluctuation as I rev the motor.
I'll be honest: with 147k miles on the car, I expected to see something quite a bit worse than that.... which makes me wonder if I did this right? hahaha.

What does this suggest? Does it suggest someone's been into the motor? (remembering that this car is new to me less than 2k miles ago)

[maytag]

I replaced the IMS bearing this month. So I was checking CAM deviation today: about DOUBLE what it was BEFORE I changed the bearing. I've got numbers at 2.47 (position 1) and 1.27 (position 2).
what gives?

sunnuva..... I knew I should've just left it alone. the bearing with 147k on it was BEAUTIFUL.

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by PaulE

The sticker is for LN IMSB replacements and could also be under the trunk lid. It looks like this -



But not all installers enter their LN IMSB upgrades into the database. Mine wasn't entered, but I have my receipt, my sticker and my original IMSB. I don't know if all the manufacturers of IMSB upgrades provide stickers or databases like LN does. And even if there is a sticker, you'd still need to know that the same engine that had the IMSB replaced is still in the car. There are lots of other ways that these engines can fail besides the IMSB. JFB in PA is right about provenance.

As far as I am aware, LN is the only supplier of IMS bearing replacements that serializes kits and provides a database of registered installations.

We are often asked about how to tell if the IMS bearing has been replaced and the first thing we recommend is to check http://imscheck.com/. If the Retrofit or IMS Solution installation was registered with LN, you can look it up there. However I will say that many do not bother with registering their installations, so the next thing to do is to look for the IMS serial number sticker which is provided with all IMS Retrofit and IMS Solution bearing kits.

One big thing I see over and over again are cars that had the IMS flange re-sealed at a dealership thinking that the bearing was replaced with a new factory IMS bearing by Porsche, when in fact they only replaced the o-rings or the flange itself and they still have the original bearing.

Another thing to be careful with is if the car is a late 2005 build or 2006-208 model year, as those will have the non-serviceable IMS bearing that requires complete engine disassembly.

One last warning is if the engine has been replaced, you'll see an X, Y, or AT in the serial number or we've even seen some engines that just say M9601 with no serial number. In that case, the engine will have whatever bearing was current for that model year in which the engine was built.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by dxterity

...he said they are supposed to be replaced every 6 years and it's a time thing not mileage.

Hmmm, this sounds fishy to me. JFP, care to chime in?

[spinjockey]

I’ve had my IMS replaced this year. You won’t appear in the LN IMS database and they won’t honor the warranty unless you mail in your old bearing.

The current LN warranty is 6 years or 750000 miles for the current generation IMS pro bearings. The IMS solution is still a lifetime warranty.

Do the current generation pro bearings need to be replaced every 6 years or 75000 miles? I don’t know. I think the real answer is change your oil and drive your car regularly. If you are going to do a new clutch every 50-75k miles, it’s a modest increase to service the bearing.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

Hmmm, this sounds fishy to me. JFP, care to chime in?

Last time I checked, the ceramic hybrid bearings from LN was 6 years or 75K miles. We have a lot of customers that have gone well beyond either bound without any apparent problems, so I would look at them as recommendation rather than hard lines in the sand…