IMS and RMS with Tiptronic

[ddruker]

On my 2001 Boxster S, I'm just starting to see a new small oil leak - a few drops after each drive - coming from the area where the engine and the transmission mate together, just above the main crossbar where the front of the triangle pan and the retention cable are also located.



I spoke with my independent Porsche specialist (Reitmeirs Werkstat in Los Altos, CA) and they spec the job at about 16 hours, totaling $3,400 including an LN engineering bearing. That's about 30% of what the Boxster is worth!



There are not very many posts on this forum from folks with a Tiptronic doing the IMS and RMS jobs themselves, presumably because it's a pain to remove and replace the tip, and from a cost perspective I was not looking forward to having to purchase $500+ in special tools to take on both of these jobs.



I looked at the LN engineering website today, and was pleased to see they now offer loaner tools for free - they lend out the tools for both the IMR and RMS replacement at no charge. Very very smart of them!



The availability of free loaner tools is swinging me in the direction of doing the job myself - I also have a quickjack which should help, and I have the shop manual as well.



So my question to this most wise group is - is removing the tiptronic a reasonable project for an experienced home wrencher? Are there any additional special tools that I must figure out how to obtain? What am I likely to break when I remove the tip, and is there anything else you would recommend I replace or repair while I have the transmission out? Any other stuff I should look out for while I'm doing the job?



Just seeking your wisdom on whether it's reasonable or stupid to take this job on in my home garage.