IMS Retrofit value when selling car

[Cloudsurfer]

I'm trying to sell mine and my IMS is the LN bearing....

[JFP in PA]

I'd have to say yes; while I have not personally sold a car with the upgrade, but several customer's have and judging from the requests for supporting documents and buyer's asking for verification, there has to be some level of value. If you think about it, if the car has been done, it is like having a $3,000 aftermarket sound system; you won't get it all back, but it does have residual value for the buyer................

[rob76turbo]

Many insurance companies use a valuation service from a company called CCC. They just look at "comps" or cars that have been sold (or are for sale) like your car in a given area. They just do not have the experience to handle something like an IMS upgrade and determine how it effects or impacts the value of the car.

That is the main issue I am running up against.

[davemon]

Hand them receipts for the investment. FWIW, I'd pay ~$1k for an upgraded IMS on a used purchase. But unknowing people won't value the work and probably think it is just tinkering for tinkering sake.

[Lil bastard]

Personally, I doubt it increases the value much, if at all.

I mean the car is expected to work and the LN fix does nothing to enhance performance.

While it definitely can stave off a disaster, I doubt people would be willing to pay more for it - are used Boxster owners, as a group, so knowledgeable before they own the car? I think not - they just won't appreciate the value of it. Sure, you may get an occaisional 'expert', but the average prospect isn't going to have a clue what you're talking about. Even if you do get an expert, I doubt this will shift the car any higher on their priorities list, a set of 19's or 20's, or a CF interior will likely have more juice.

What it may do is get the car sold faster. Then again, if you mention you had the engine rebuilt or worked on, that could just as easily be a turn-off for a prospect.

So far as Insurance valuation is concerned, it's likely that your ins. co. wouldn't value it and might even try to deny the claim based on the car having been 'modified' w/ non-standard parts (most policies have a clause regarding this).

But, a defendent's ins. co. may be more inclined to consider it just to limit the claim and get it settled quickly before that crick in your neck turns into something more serious and costly.

Cheers!

[Perfectlap]

I would not buy a pre-2009 996-997/986-987 Boxster or Carrera without one or I would have it immediately installed if I did.

There is certainly value in taking care of that hassle before the purchase.
Kinda like buying a house with a new roof vs. one that needs immediate repairing.
Although with this Porsche not every roofer knows how to or is even pertmitted do this job, including the one who built the flawed roof in first place.

But since you are dealing with an insurance company, you know how that goes.
People are easily swayed if you simply inform them of a potentially catastrophic Porsche problem that was never addressed by the Germans, send the potential buyer the Excellence articles on the subject and a receipt of your IMS upgrade. An updated IMS would be a very strong selling point to a second hand buyer if you sell it that way, and it's not like your making any of this up to get the sale.

[Burg Boxster]

sorry to hear of your misfortune

Unfortunately, no added value b/c of the unproven [flame suit on] new IMS you elected to have installed. I'd be careful even mentioning it... As Jim/L-Bastard said above, the car is expected to run. Plus, you'd have a helluva tough time getting Porsche to qualify the LN/Flat6 IMS as an acceptable OEM replacement part...

Sounds like you're already in an uphill battle for getting fair value for the car. Remember, just like in car sales, the adjusters are pros who 'value' totaled cars everyday for a living. As such, they want to give you the least amount possible. Based on the weak #s out there for Boxsters in general, you'll have your hands full pushing them for the most $.

Good luck and you may consider hiring a profession arbitrator/agency (if policy allows) to help even the playing field if their initial numbers are grim

[fatmike]

Good luck with your claim, and I hope you get a fair price.


Unfortunately, I don't think pointing out a band-aide on a serious engine design flaw is a positive.


So I had the engine in the car your about to buy torn apart and we put this thing-a-majig in the engine so now it wont grenade like all the other Porsches do...yes, really...trust me...your all good now...


I suspect that Boxster owners will get the best resale where there is no discussion of IMS at all in a sales cycle.





/

[mikefocke]

to an informed buyer? Yes. Few of them and they don't set the prices.

The only way I can think of to profit from your LN IMS upgrade is to sell the engine yourself to someone whose IMS just blew, to that person there would be added value. Otherwise it just becomes a commodity.

When I offered the settlement company the paperwork on my '99 when it was being totaled, they weren't even interested. They were gonna put it up for bid and take their money and run.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by fatmike

I don't think pointing out a band-aide on a serious engine design flaw is a positive.

The probability of having your engine self-grenade from an IMS failure is probably a long blink of an eye. The number of IMS upgraded engines that have imploded because of an IMS failure is probably microscopic. Of those who've done the upgrade I've yet to hear of more than one disgruntled Carrera or Boxster owner. A first time Porsche buyer over reacts to the slightest warning. In this day and age with Google and a long list of Porsche forums it will take about 5 minutes for a potential buyer to find out about the IMS issue. Any buyer who has done even a little homework will get hip to it, not pointing it out won't ensure a thing and when the buyer does ask about it you're going to say "yes I have the IMS upgrade". Particulary when the longest threads by number of pages and thus most search hits are for this very subject. Someone familiar with the internet and forums seems to be inline with the typical German sports car buyer. How many times has a potential yet leary buyer logged onto one of these forums asking about RMS and IMS failures? I've lost count. To date, this is the only action you can take for a flawe that could turn your entire investment into vapor by simply turning the ignition key.
The insurance company doesn't give a damn about all this or that you faithfully changed your oil every six months instead of every three years. They'll pay you the same for the engine. The value in an IMS upgrade is the usual value of buying an enthusiast owned and well-maintained car.