Who HASN'T done the IMS Retrofit (and why not)?

[NoGaBiker]

Simple math; I have no interest in working on this car (been there, done a buncha that with previous sportscars.) I would probably use Raby for the job since they're close, and it is appx $3500, or was last year when I checked. That is about 25% of the cost of a new motor. I do not believe there is a 25% chance that any random motor will go. I've owned this 2004 S since new, now have 39k miles, have kept up the oil changes more frequently than factory. Finally, if it goes, it goes. I won't be skipping with joy, but it won't change a thing in my life. Put a new motor in and be done with it.

And there's a good chance I'll trade it on a 981 if I really like them, and the LNE bearing won't bring me anything when I trade. If I decide to keep the 04, I'll wait till a clutch is needed, then install the LN bearing at that time, since the cost goes down dramatically and it statistically beginns to make sense.

[Soetekouw]

55K on my car and not planning on doing any repairs on it until it really needs it. As Madmods stated, "don't fix what is not broke." Bought the car new in 2007, change the oil every 5K, and drive it daily.

When I was a 'new' Porsche owner in 2007, this forum scared the hell out of me with all the predictions of IMS failures and water pump replacements, etc. I thought I had spent $70K for a piece of junk that could blow up any minute. Folks were recommeding to fix it now before it breaks. I was worrying all the time and seriously thinking about getting rid of this car and buying something more reliable - maybe Japanese. But, bottom line, those days are gone. I have accepted that this is just a car. It is still running and still being driven daily AND life is for living and not worrying about something that may happen.

Don't fix until it is broke and drive it like it is supposed to be driven.

[Topless]

My brother did his clutch 1.5 years ago and has no plans to get in there again unless something breaks. California car, 4k oil chg intervals, filter inspected and always clean.

I needed to replace the clutch and trans on my car last fall so while we were in there...
My old IMS bearing looked to be in very fine shape at 98k miles though.

[ketsa]

Have not done it. My car is 2.5L with a tip, never heard problems on that combo with a low mileage. Maybe then I reach 100 000km, I will change a new original style bearing and oils to the tip.

[Perfectlap]

my dual row bearing was in PERFECT condition when it was replaced with the LN IMS.

But I think that's almost irrelvant. If there's a shop that has enough business to go through the time-consuming and expensive process of inventing a contraption that will act as an early warning system, then clearly there is an above normal amount of catastrophic engine problems occurring.

Whether it was a manufacturing flawe or design flawe is also nearly irrelevant to me. The Porsche engineering dudes got their calculations wrong somewhere and then apparently, made things worse after they realized their initial error (single row bearing). Then you find out that you can spend $1,200 to do something about all this and you're still not going to? Personally I would do it with the clutch, even if you're old clutch is still good, and tell yourself you're good for another 100K miles with some engine maintenance as a side benefit.

[jcb986]

I am waiting for it to blow so I can get a new engine. Or, I drive it and don't worry as I was advised by a Porsche mechanic.

[backman_z]

Originally Posted by jcb986

I am waiting for it to blow so I can get a new engine. Or, I drive it and don't worry as I was advised by a Porsche mechanic.

Same for me. My wife would not support an engine upgrade, but if the engine fails..... She doesn't know my current engine is 2.7 and not 3.4 (or even bigger?).