IMS Replacement Survey

[Paul]

[Dave928]

just got mine back from the shop for the LN retrofit today - 2001 S, 85k miles.

IMS bearing (original double roller was fine, drive car moderately aggressive)
clutch, press plate, flywheel (the rubber buffer was failing)
RMS
AOS
oil change
($3,150)

water pump (was leaking from impeller shaft)
serp belt, tensioner and rollers
coolant tank and cap
brake flush
fuel filter
spark plug tubes/seals
987 motor mount (rubber was split about 3/4 way thru)
exhaust repair
check cam deviation (well within spec)
-----
$6,700 total

also had the windshield replaced while at the shop (w/factory glass)

Chris's German Auto, Bellevue WA :dance:

[fivepointnine]

mine is going into Chris's in a couple weeks for just the IMS and AOS, going to run me about 2200-2300 after all is said and done, I can probably find it done cheaper, but I want it done right and that shop seems to be one of the best around.

[Appleguy]

Had mine done when I bought the car with 50k on the engine. I only had the IMS retrofit and the RMS done as the clutch was in great condition. Cost was $1200. Btw the original one was ingots condition.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Appleguy

Had mine done when I bought the car with 50k on the engine. I only had the IMS retrofit and the RMS done as the clutch was in great condition. Cost was $1200. Btw the original one was ingots condition.

That's an awesome price, especially considering silicon valley location. Only like $500 labor?

[henry garcia]

Hi
im planing on haveing it one what place did u use
Thank you

Henry

[Tim01S]

My original quote from Indi shop in Ohio:

(1) clutch set OEM Pressure plate, $747.11
Clutch disc, rel. bearing
(1) Rear main seal $19.64
(1) Inter Shaft housing with seals $595.00
(12) Installation of above items $1,140.00

Total $2,501.75

shipping, shop supplies and tax not incl

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Tim01S

My original quote from Indi shop in Ohio:

(1) clutch set OEM Pressure plate, $747.11
Clutch disc, rel. bearing
(1) Rear main seal $19.64
(1) Inter Shaft housing with seals $595.00
(12) Installation of above items $1,140.00

Total $2,501.75

shipping, shop supplies and tax not incl

I don't know what you are getting for $595 but you should verify it is a new LNengineering ceramic IMS bearing!

[Tim01S]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I don't know what you are getting for $595 but you should verify it is a new LNengineering ceramic IMS bearing!

It was the L&N bearing and cover. That was their cost from L&N. Thanks.

[Brockmeister]

Just had mine done. IMS, RMS, clutch, flywheel. $3,500. It's a little higher here in the DC metro area.

[mikefocke]

Last I heard the LN kit price now included the latest RMS seal. The separate pricing is a maybe six month ago way of handling the same parts. Price totals the same.

You sure these guys have ever done one before/recently?

[Tim01S]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Last I heard the LN kit price now included the latest RMS seal. The separate pricing is a maybe six month ago way of handling the same parts. Price totals the same.

You sure these guys have ever done one before/recently?

What I recall at the time was that the RMS was included if you ordered online. They did not. So yes, I missed out on the free RMS. I think $595.00 was the 2011 price for the bearing kit, not including the associated "tool kit", which they already had.

The shop was Wright Motor Service in Milford Ohio, associated with Wright Motorsports in Batavia Ohio. (They prepared the Flying Lizards GT entry into the 24 hours race at Daytona this year.) I felt like they were qualified. I don't know how many they have done. There's no looking back now though. I'll just have to see how it holds up.

[harryrcb]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Last I heard the LN kit price now included the latest RMS seal. The separate pricing is a maybe six month ago way of handling the same parts. Price totals the same.

You sure these guys have ever done one before/recently?

the LN engineering bearing is $619 without the RMS the RMS is only about $23

[mikefocke]

Harry is right. LN confirmed the RMS was not included.

[Sumflow]

When the inner bearing seal deteriorates because of heat, the oil washes the permanent grease out of the bearings case. At low RPMs speed is not high enough to develop an elastohydrodynamic film to overcome surface irregularities. This metal-to-metal contact, leads to the failure of the IMS bearing and subsequently to a blown engine because the cam timing is off.

Little is known about the history of my car, so after all the scare story’s floating around Boxster forums, during a recent clutch cable installation, on #620323 probably the 323rd American Boxster, 68,000 miles. There is a shop here in Hawaii that replaced it as preventative maintenance with LNs lightweight ceramic hybrid bearing, made with tool steel races, and Timken sintered silicon nitride ultra-low friction roller balls.

It took about two hours plus the clutch job which took forever waiting for parts. Combined with the lack of rear grease seals, the new bearing is lubricated by splash, as well as submersion lubrication. Ceramic is designed specifically for poor lubrication, and high heat.

I had a lot of other stuff replaced, water tank, cables etc. Anybody needs a reasonable shop in Hawaii for Boxster's PM me. But you never know. The bearing that we took out was already an LN ceramic.

[AZCanna]

Just had mine done last month @ 61500 miles. Old bearing showed some wear but hard to tell if it would have failed or not. Was in for other maintenance as well (water pump, cv boots) clutch was still good.

IMS Replacement portion was $648 parts from Pelican and $1200 on the labor at an indy shop here in AZ.

[jdcorbitt3]

Just replaced mine. Old one had 70,miles on it. The seals wre in place and the bearing felt good. 03 boxster S engine.

[Bala]

Replaced a perfectly fine double row on a 2000 S. PP bearing kit.

kit - 150
LN tool - 150
clutch- 258
rms - 45 (messed up the first install but got smarter on the second)

[spdylw986]

I had mine replaced this week. 2002 with 32,000 miles on it. IMS looked fine. There was no play in the bearing at all. I got it last year and 4000the miles ago, so I wanted the prentative security of getting it replaced as I was unsure of how spirited previous ownere was.

Glad I made the move though as the flywheel and clutch were in pretty bad shape. Had those replaced as well.

I hope to now get many years of "worry-free" enjoyment out of her.

[opus69]

The following is a cut and paste from my post on another thread.

Just got my 2002 S out of the shop last week. I left the car on jack stands elevated in the rear for several weeks waiting on some brake springs. It may be coincidence but after installing the springs and driving a short distance the air oil separator failed with very loud sounds and what sounded like rotating metal on metal. It only lasted a short time and I was less than 1/2 mile from home. Service maintenance light came on. Replaced the AOS but it just did not seem to be running properly. Cam timing was about -2 and -5 but appeared to be steady. Took it to shop less than 2 mi home. The mechanic dropped the oil pan which was completely clean. I change oil faithfully, but one of the first oil changes had some very tiny metal flakes on the magnetic plug. (none since). The clutch needed replacement and having concern about the metallic grinding sound I had the mechanic go ahead and replace the RMS (minor leak that had been documented at the dealer over 2 yrs ago) and the IMS bearing. The bearing did not look too bad but it did have a very slight wobble. It am a firm believer in preventive maintenance. Clutch, RMS, and IMS bearing replaced (LN). Runs much smoother and quieter.