[MikenOH]

It's my understanding--some experts can chime in here--that there have been IMS failures on all years through 2005 reported.

IIRC, there was a change on the IMS bearing assy. made in 2001(?) because of a different chain set up (?) to lessen the noise, which may have made for a weaker IMS assembly. Looking at the reports from all the forums, I see more cars reporting IMS failures in the 2001-2004 years than any . Having said that, there have been a number of 2005 owners that have had their engines replaced due to IMS problems.

Sometime in late 2005--10-11/2005(?) a change was made to the IMS shaft--larger diameter--in the hope that would lessen the failures; more things may have been changed that I'm not aware of. So, if you buy a car produced sometime after Jan. of Feb 2006, you've got a good chance of getting the latest IMS "fix. The real fix is a car with the DFI (direct fuel injection) motor which does away with the IMS altogether and is being released with the 2009 3.4L engine in the Boxster.

BTW,this problem has been reported on the 2.5, 2.7, and 3.2L motors.