IMS question

[mikefocke]

and the size of the engine, there can be varying causes of problems. As with any engine in any make car. Many drive their cars well past the 100k miles mark...max I know of is a daily driver '02 at 230k...with never going inside the engine. Others have had multiple engines fail in their car.

There are starting to be aftermarket solutions to design problems available that can be installed as preventative measures.

As one who has documented many things about Boxsters including common problems and solutions, I own my second Boxster and it has been more reliable than my Honda, Acura, Mazda, VW, etc when measured in $ spent in repairs per month driven and/or frequency of trips to the mechanic measured over 5 years. Neither Boxster I owned ever left me stranded. Maintenance does matter...change the oil at least twice as frequently as they say to. My total expenses this year so far were $140 for a sensor that I really didn't need to change but just wanted a new one in to balance the age of the opposite one I replaced 3 years ago...the Honda dealer wanted $450 to replace the same part in my CRV.

Just because the Boxster/Porsche community knows all about their engines and shares the info freely, don't over-react to knowing so much. Other cars have their problems, their owners just don't care as much or share as much. Or maybe have as much fun.

More thoughts hhere

[Cloudsurfer]

I think it's safe to say it's certainly an issue, especially on cars before 06 when Porsche went to their giant bearing for the IMS. However, it is remediable with the fitment of an aftermarket bearing.

As to comparing a Boxster to an SC, they are totally different cars. The SC's are known to be bullet proof, and have all the charm (take that in both positive and negative light) of the older air cooled cars. The Boxster is a modern car, complete with it's high and low points.

[JFP in PA]

Any model that came with the M96 engine is at risk, regardless of the year, miles, or model. Even the OEM “final” upgrade to the bearing design is known to fail. The options remain to “cross your fingers” or drop about $3K to go to the LN design as a preventative (or alternative) to dropping about three times that if it lets go…… It is all a matter of perspective……..

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Any model that came with the M96 engine is at risk, regardless of the year, miles, or model. Even the OEM “final” upgrade to the bearing design is known to fail. The options remain to “cross your fingers” or drop about $3K to go to the LN design as a preventative (or alternative) to dropping about three times that if it lets go…… It is all a matter of perspective……..

Not all M96 engines suffer IMS failures...it was mainly an issue with the 3.2L,3.4 & 3.6L engines......I've only seen 1 2.5L IMS failure and a couple of 2.7L IMS failures....

[cnavarro]

No, all M96 engines can suffer an IMS failure. We have supplied IMS retrofit kits to dealerships who have seen '06-'08 engines with failures, although not as frequent, likely due to relative age. You don't hear about it as much as they are being fixed under warranty still...

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

Not all M96 engines suffer IMS failures...it was mainly an issue with the 3.2L,3.4 & 3.6L engines......I've only seen 1 2.5L IMS failure and a couple of 2.7L IMS failures....

Sorry, but they all are capable of suffering the problem, even the latter units with the supposedly "fixed" bearing assembly.

[Jake Raby]

I have a car on my premises now that came in with an IMS failure.. It has a reman engine installed from early 2007 with the 06 and newer IMS update from Porsche.

Its here due to a failed IMS bearing.

I've seen failures from every year and model up to 07 so far, the IMS syndrome is not prejudice what so ever to any particular years or models.

The early cars seem not to have as many IMS failures, they have other similarly devestating MOF..

[lardog]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Sorry, but they all are capable of suffering the problem, even the latter units with the supposedly "fixed" bearing assembly.

i have had 6 porsche,s with the M96 engines. 3 boxster S 's 2000 2002 2000 1 2001 996 and 1 2007 997 0 problems. NO RMS or IMS still have a 2000 boxster S and the 2007 997.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by lardog

i have had 6 porsche,s with the M96 engines. 3 boxster S 's 2000 2002 2000 1 2001 996 and 1 2007 997 0 problems. NO RMS or IMS still have a 2000 boxster S and the 2007 997.

Consider yourself fortunate; but non everyone else has had the same luck, some have actually had multiple M96 IMS failures in one car……………