Dead Boxster?

[Jake Raby]

Though this one may not have been a true IMS Bearing failure, it does sound like a mode of failure that my IMS Guardian would have provided early detection of.

[Paul]

Jake,

Back when I was still flying, one of the alarm lights on a helicopter was "chip detector" and when it lit, it meant there were metal chips in the main rotor gear box.

Perhaps something like this for the main oil sump would be a good addition to your product line?

[mikefocke]

Patents take a long time (>1 year in my experience)

[Cloudsurfer]

Originally Posted by Paul

Jake,

Back when I was still flying, one of the alarm lights on a helicopter was "chip detector" and when it lit, it meant there were metal chips in the main rotor gear box.

Perhaps something like this for the main oil sump would be a good addition to your product line?

Being a pilot as well, I've often wondered why no one has thought to bring this over to the automotive world (oddly enough, for those who don't know, typically aviation technology is FAR behind automotive). Most all turboprop engines have chip detectors (at least all the Pratts do, never flown a Garrett), and if you ever see that light pop on in flight you better be feathering and shutting down that engine.

In any piston engine, obviously there shouldn't be metal in the oil, but, if anything starts to fail and makes metal, a chip light could potentially offer the same advanced warning that it does in a turboprop.

[Surfncpa]

One of the reputable shops here in Houston says they can install a rebuilt engine, with upgrades like the improved IMS (assumed that's Jake's) and other things to make the engine more dependable than a new one, for about $14K.

I'm leaning towards that route as I really don't want a car note that would come with a $35K-$45K certified pre-owned. I really don't want to do the "sensible" thing and get new or near new regular car either.

Am I nuts?

[Paul]

If they give you a couple of years of warranty, probably not nuts.

How's your roof, tires, struts, rotors, track arms, window regulators, etc. doing?

Your existing car will probably go for $3000 to $5000 with a dead motor, add that to the $14,000 that will probably become higher once they start and see what you can buy for $17,000 to $19,000 would be my suggestion.

[Cloudsurfer]

If I were in your position, I would either sell the car as a roller and go buy something else, or if you are set on putting a new motor into the car, go with a 996 based motor and enjoy the added performance. If you go the latter route, while everything is out, I'd freshen the gearbox and install an LSD.

For reference, the IMS assemblies are made by LN Engineering, and if you do go with a used motor, I would absolutely toss a new IMS bearing in the thing.

[Surfncpa]

It comes with a 12K warranty. Not much but that's a year of being covered and at that point I will turn it over to my son who won't be driving many miles.

The top is in good shape and so is the hard top. I just put on new front tires and the back ones are ok. Windows seem good. Brakes ok, prob will get those done within the next 10K miles. Needs a new windshield and a few minor things on the interior.

For $20K I could get another Boxster that would probably be in better shape than the one I have. But, I am thinking the engine would be a much bigger gamble than a rebuilt one with the IMS upgrade and a couple other upgrades. Am I wrong there? I'll get the specifics of all the upgrades and post them here.

The other thing is I can come up with $14K or a little more but probably not $20K and certainly not the $30K+ to get a certified preowned. I hate the idea of two car payments and the wife's car still has $25K to go to be paid off.

The car is an automatic and from what I have heard they are less problematic than manual. I have no idea what an LSD is. If I went with the bigger engine wouldn't the exhaust need to be reconfigured as well? I'm really not that concerned about performance just dependability.