The IMS issue can potentially affect all M96 series engines. The earlier, double bearing IMS motors are almost immune, but it seems that the 01-up 2.7, 3.2 and E-Gas 3.4 cars are the most vulnerable when they went to a single bearing IMS. The IMS was updated for the 3.6 and the 997/987 series motors and seems to be much better.
As to the other failures, early 2.5's had slipped cylinder sleeves and D-cracks. The 3.4 and 3.6 have thinner cylinder walls than the 3.2 (same bore spacing, larger bore= less material left for the liner) and have suffered D-cracks also. The 3.2 actually has the thickest liners of all the M96 motors, so hypothetically is the lease likely to suffer from this failure.
As far as where I'm at, if I'm putting any motor in my car, it will be a 3.6, both from a power standpoint, and that it seems Porsche ironed out many of the issues by then.
Patrick
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