Looking to buy...

[mdawson]

Always liked the boxster, finally in a position to afford one. Have been reading everything on the flat 6 and LN engineering sites and here about the IMS failures/D chunk/RMS...
Any particular model years/engine sizes the IMS in particular occur least on?

Have been looking in the 2000-2002 S range. Ideas/comments welcome.
Thanks

[JFP in PA]

Basically, any M96 engine with the intermediate shaft can suffer a failure...........

[sd_boxster]

It is my understanding that any Boxster, especially any 986, can die of IMS failure, although I've seen a number of vague claims that it happens more with "earlier" Boxsters.

My plan is to hope for the best, save for the worst (in case it happens after my warranty expires in another 18 months), and remember that the worry is far outweighed by the FUN.

I'd hold out for an '03 instead of an '02 so you get a glass window instead of plastic.

Good luck!

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by sd_boxster

I'd hold out for an '03 instead of an '02 so you get a glass window instead of plastic.

agreed! if there were one thing i would want to change on my box would be the window ( in fact plan to get a gahh sometime this year ).

at first i thought "eh, so i have to 'check' the plastic when i put the top down. big deal. well it is. get in, open the top, stop. get out, check the window, do the boxster chop, get in, push the button, look at the plastic, get back out, check everything, move it around, get back in, finish pushing the button... it is worth it not to have the plastic just for that!

[mdawson]

Thanks for the info guys.
So no engine (2.5, 2.7, 3.2) appears to be any better off than others IMS wise?
Yes, glass window would be nice to have, but it's not a make or break thing for me. Definitly not willing to pay the extra few grand just to have 1 model year newer when I could get an entire new top for 1000 from gahh.
thanks again.

[941MXVET]

Originally Posted by mdawson

Thanks for the info guys.
So no engine (2.5, 2.7, 3.2) appears to be any better off than others IMS wise?
Yes, glass window would be nice to have, but it's not a make or break thing for me. Definitly not willing to pay the extra few grand just to have 1 model year newer when I could get an entire new top for 1000 from gahh.
thanks again.

People have noticed that the double row IMS bearing cars may have a lower failure rate then the single row, not that they never fail, but they might fail at a lower rate.


Those would be the '97, '98, and some '99's from what I recall.

[ramo80]

I was under the impression that Tip cars have lower failure rates. Is this correct. Can someone confirm or deny this?