Best Clutch kit & IMS bearing for 2000 Boxster S 3.2L 6spd

[986man2015]

Hello all, I am new to this site. I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and recently had a family member purchase a 2000 Porsche Boxster S with 100K Miles on it. I'm wondering if you guys can help me out with a couple of questions. I have heard horror stories about the IMS bearings going out and ruining engines. Since I don't have much of a history on the car's service, do you think I should have the IMS bearing replaced? It's quite expensive but I have seen bearing kits online for around $600 all the way up to $1300. The car doesn't seem to have any issues when I drive it. However, I am afraid it will just blow up on me if that IMS bearing is bad. Secondly, IF we do replace the IMS bearing, I have been told we might as well replace the clutch at the same time. I have seen clutch kits on ebay for as low as $345. However, I don't know what brand to buy. There is a sachs kit and a Luk kit? Both of the are around the same price. Has anyone on here bought either one of these kits from ebay? If so, how well are the clutches holding up?

Any help sure would be appreciated. Also, if there are any members on here in the DFW area I sure would like to hear from you.

Thanks so much in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,

"O"

[KRAM36]

I see the fear mongering has gotten to you.

[Redboxs]

I had my clutch and RMS replaced when I bought my car. Went with OEM, including the flywheel ( crazy expensive ) it was around 4k out the door. The clutches in these cars are rather small and take a lot of abuse, I'd spend the money and get a quality clutch. Just my 0.02. As far as IMS goes.. errr we could talk about that for months... get a PPI done. That will tell you alot. Good luck!!

[986man2015]

What is a PPI? I may just take my chances on the IMS and NOT have the work done. The car runs fine and the clutch seems fine. I do notice a "ticking" sound but not sure if that could be a valve that needs to be adjusted or what? Any thoughts? It kinda sounds like a valve but not sure. It's not really loud but seems like it has maybe gotten just slightly louder (heck, I could just be overthinking it all).

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by 986man2015

What is a PPI? I may just take my chances on the IMS and NOT have the work done. The car runs fine and the clutch seems fine. I do notice a "ticking" sound but not sure if that could be a valve that needs to be adjusted or what? Any thoughts? It kinda sounds like a valve but not sure. It's not really loud but seems like it has maybe gotten just slightly louder (heck, I could just be overthinking it all).

OMG are you serious? You have not done a search on the "Tick of Death" or "Death rattle"?

[mikefocke]

Pre Purchase Inspection

[BRAN]

Mine blows white smoke, so called Boxster fart, once in a while...
Mine used to eat batteries ever 3-4 years... gone with tickle charging during longer stands
Mine drops oil when it stands longer...i get more worried now if it doesn't
and I am sure I heard loud rattling noises during start up twice within 14 years...

...and it still runs like a charm (ok...did not hit 50k km yet, but hey)...especially after dealership service every other year. It is the most reliable car I ever had.

After so many years, I still stay calm, relaxed and enjoy the rides..and if the engine blows, it blows, so what. A good excuse to upgrade to a bigger (PORSCHE) engine

ENJOY your Boxster

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by healthservices

OMG are you serious? You have not done a search on the "Tick of Death" or "Death rattle"?

He is pulling your leg lol.

These engines have a different idle sound to them, kind of like a sewing machine. Can you give us more info on the tick? Where do you hear it coming from, increase with RPM?

Possible you could give us a sound clip of it?

Water pumps are known to do this when they are going bad and if that car has the original water pump, it's life is about over.

[healthservices]

What, Kram, you don't know about it either????


Well it is April 1st... maybe I am kidding ...


or am I?????

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by healthservices

What, Kram, you don't know about it either????


Well it is April 1st... maybe I am kidding ...


or am I?????

When I bought my Boxster I knew nothing about them. I joined this forum to learn about the car. I was stricken and worried of the IMSB failing on my car with all the fear post on here about it.

Then I noticed something. The percentage of it failing is very very low. I also notice it was more common to garage queen cars that hardly get driven (low mileage cars). Oil sits at the IMSB and seeps into the IMSB from sitting for so long.

2 years and 17k miles later on a 116k miles engine and I've had zero debris in my oil, I no longer worry about it. In the years I've been on this forum I've only seen one person post on a actual IMSB failure, he even had a GoPro running when it happened. I've read numerous post of people upgrading the IMSB and come to find out their IMSB was perfectly fine.

We have members on here with 200k, 300k miles on the engine and never replaced the IMSB.

Although If you're replacing the clutch, yes I would do the IMSB upgrade at the same time.

[coreseller]

Sources for what you asked for.......

Clutch Kit:

Sachs Clutch Kit 2000 01 02 03 04 Porsche Boxster s 3 2L | eBay

LUK Flywheel if needed:

New Porsche Dual Mass Flywheel Boxster s 00 07 Luk DMF042 98611401206 | eBay

IMS Bearing:

Problem: IMS Failure. Solution: IMS Retrofit

I did mine myself on my back in my garage:

IMS, RMS, Tranny R & R Tips - 986 Series (Boxster, Boxster S) - RennTech.org Forums

If you do not think you want or could tackle it there are PLENTY of guys here from Texas who could point you in the right direction as to who would do a good job.

As to whether or not to deal with it, that is your call. Statistically the numbers are in your favor regarding your IMS not failing, but if it does you will definitely get stung dollar wise. Kram's statement above is a bit misleading, from my recollection there have been quite a few members who've experienced IMS failure over the years, many have since moved on or sold their cars.

If the car is nearing a clutch replacement anyway probably a good idea to replace the IMS Bearing and Rear Main Seal while everything is accessible with the transmission out, Good Luck........

[KRAM36]

Originally Posted by coreseller

Sources for what you asked for.......

Clutch Kit:

Sachs Clutch Kit 2000 01 02 03 04 Porsche Boxster s 3 2L | eBay

LUK Flywheel if needed:

New Porsche Dual Mass Flywheel Boxster s 00 07 Luk DMF042 98611401206 | eBay

IMS Bearing:

Problem: IMS Failure. Solution: IMS Retrofit

I did mine myself on my back in my garage:

IMS, RMS, Tranny R & R Tips - 986 Series (Boxster, Boxster S) - RennTech.org Forums

If you do not think you want or could tackle it there are PLENTY of guys here from Texas who could point you in the right direction as to who would do a good job.

As to whether or not to deal with it, that is your call. Statistically the numbers are in your favor regarding your IMS not failing, but if it does you will definitely get stung dollar wise. Kram's statement above is a bit misleading, from my recollection there have been quite a few members who've experienced IMS failure over the years, many have since moved on or sold their cars.

If the car is nearing a clutch replacement anyway probably a good idea to replace the IMS Bearing and Rear Main Seal while everything is accessible with the transmission out, Good Luck........

It's not misleading. I said in my years here on the forums. I have only seen one person post an actual IMSB failure.

If you decide to do it, do it with one that will never need replacing.

Porsche 911 Boxster Intermediate Shaft Bearing Update Kit IMS Solution 996 986 | eBay

IMS Solution for Single Row IMS MY00-05 - IMS - Products LN Engineering

[itsnotanova]

Mayo Performance Specialties
Auto Repair Shop
Address: 1521 Baccarac Ct, Euless, TX 76040
Home

I know you're looking for suggestions on what parts to buy, but incase you wanted to bring it to someone for a second opinion. They are in your area and I highly recommend them for anyone in the Dallas area. I don't really know the owner of the garage but I do know two of the mechanics very well. They're brothers and both race spec boxsters along with their dad. One if not both has attended Jake Raby's classes.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

Mayo Performance Specialties
Auto Repair Shop
Address: 1521 Baccarac Ct, Euless, TX 76040
Home

I know you're looking for suggestions on what parts to buy, but incase you wanted to bring it to someone for a second opinion. They are in your area and I highly recommend them for anyone in the Dallas area. I don't really know the owner of the garage but I do know two of the mechanics very well. They're brothers and both race spec boxsters along with their dad. One if not both has attended Jake Raby's classes.

Chris at Mayo is the only IMS Solution Certified Installer in Texas.

[2K-986-S]

I am going thru the process now replacing my IMS / RMS and Clutch on my 2000 Boxster S, with only 14k mile on the clock.

A couple thoughts:

-Having the local Porsche dealer (Sunset Porsche, OR) do the work using Porsche Parts and the LN IMSB would cost around $4K. Doing the work myself and using the same parts will cost me roughly $2900. If I would of purchased the LUK Flywheel and the Sachs Clutch kit from Pelican Parts the price would of been roughly $2450.

-When I removed the IMSB I was surprise how good it looked. Although, I have not taken the bearing apart, it seems to move just as smooth as the new LN bearing with no signs of wear. Mine has the Dual Row Bearing.

-Also, checking the Cam deviation values along with the oil filter and oil for metal might help with your decision in having the IMSB replaced.

[986man2015]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

Mayo Performance Specialties
Auto Repair Shop
Address: 1521 Baccarac Ct, Euless, TX 76040
Home

I know you're looking for suggestions on what parts to buy, but incase you wanted to bring it to someone for a second opinion. They are in your area and I highly recommend them for anyone in the Dallas area. I don't really know the owner of the garage but I do know two of the mechanics very well. They're brothers and both race spec boxsters along with their dad. One if not both has attended Jake Raby's classes.

I sure would like the information on whom to contact for the repair work. Thanks for everyone's help. Also, any idea what it will cost me if I take the parts to them?

[986man2015]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Chris at Mayo is the only IMS Solution Certified Installer in Texas.

What do you mean by "Mayo"?

[986man2015]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Chris at Mayo is the only IMS Solution Certified Installer in Texas.

Got it! Thanks so much for the information. I will take it to them and see if they can give it an overall checkup and give me some sound advice on the car's overall condition.

I will update on here on what they had to say.

[mikefocke]

Repair shops don't like to install someone else's parts. If they are responsible, they generally like so supply their own parts. Why get involved with a third party if a part is bad and the car is on the lift.

817.540.4939

[winter.k]

You should be able to find the Sachs clutch kit and the Luk flywheel for well under $400 each.