Worth buying a 2004 986 if the IMS isn't retrofitted yet?

[orangeandblack]

How's everybody doing?

I've always wanted to have a Boxster and I've decided to make it happen. However, I am not certain if the IMS has been retrofitted yet on this specific vehicle. It's a 2004 Boxster S with Auto trans. 70k miles.

I've read that if the IMS is going to fail, it'll be by the 50k mark, but I don't want to risk it with it being such a fatal issue.

What would you guys do moving forward if you were in my shoes? I've considered using it as a negotiating tactic, but I really don't feel like replacing the IMS myself and I really don't feel like paying someone else to do it for me.

Thanks for any responses, I really appreciate it!

[JayG]

need a lot more info on the car

As far as the IMSB, IMHO, I would not lose sleep over it
I have an 04 S that I bought 1/5 years ago with 58k and original IMSB. I now have 72k. I have done a lot of spirited driving, some AX and track. It will probably be changed when i do the clutch

There are 100,000's of M96 engines running today, many with more than 100k and some with more than 200k with the original IMSB. does that mean it can't fail, of course not. Does that mean it will fail tomorrow, of course not.

There are ton and tons of threads her and other forums about he IMSB. Bear in mind that you will find more post about failed ones than ones that are OK as people generally don't post my IMSB is fine.

As far as 50k being the magic number, well that is one opinion and opinions are like buttholes, we all have them , just some are smelly and stinky

Changing it yourself is possible, but a lot of work that requires some skills that you may or may not have

A Boxster, hell any Porsche can cost a lot of $$ to maintain and repair, or they may cost almost nothing, just like any car. Generally a Porsche is more $$ to repair than a Toyota.

If you are thinking of buying one, you need to be prepared to spend some $$ on it at some point

Again,read the threads here and it should give you some idea of the plus and minus of Porsche ownership

Its probably also better to do some research on your own by reading this forum before making your first post "should I buy this car"

[RandallNeighbour]

OP: It's a bit off topic, but don't settle for a base model. Shop for and buy an S. The added power is really worth paying for and waiting for and "I wish I had not bought the S" is something that has never been uttered by a Boxster S owner.

You're buying the right year model though... the 04's were great examples of a car that had many improvements made along the way from 1997 onward. Interior is improved, rear glass window in the canvas top, etc. The next jump up is to a 2007 because they had bigger displacement in the motors beginning that year.

[Coffinhunter]

I don't want to start this war, but..........

Get the PPI and if all is well, I say go for it. Yes the IMS is a concern. And getting the retro fit is great for piece of mind. I can only speak for me, but I haven't lost any sleep with my 03 S, and I haven't done the IMS. The failure rate is small, and I enjoy the car way too much.