has Porsche let us down?

[stephen wilson]

Entending the warranty to 8 years is pretty good, though that still wouldn't help the majority of 986's now.

[Flavor 987S]

I'll take a broken Porsche any day over a running RX8.

[Kenny Boxster]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

I'll take a broken Porsche any day over a running RX8.

Take the RX8 than runs and sell it, then buy the working Porsche.

[Jake Raby]

I honestly believe that if the media picked up this story, Porsche would grudgingly offer a replacement or issue a recall, and at least admit to their engineering fault.

60 Minutes knows about it.. Their cameraman owned a Boxster since new and the engine failed at 38K miles. The car ended up at my shop and he didn't want to fix it, so now one of my employees owns it. The cameraman told his boss about the issues and then my phone rang, but I was unwilling to say anything about the issue. If that story hit the news and we shared all of what we know you'd not be able to give a Boxster or 996 away and it wouldn't help any of the people who have had failures, or would have them in the future. There is one bit of info concerning the IMSB that we've never shared, and it alone would flip the whole story upside down.

Yesterday we documented M96 MOF#24, failure of the Intermediate Shaft Assembly.. Not the IMS Bearing. We always knew this failure was possible due to the design of the shaft; but until yesterday, we had not experienced it first hand. Here is a video that you'll find interesting from the Morgue @ Flat 6 Innovations. This MOF has no preventive possible.
M96 Mode Of Failure #24 by Flat 6 Innovations - YouTube

On another hand w just saved another engine from total loss due to IMSB Failure today... Crazy thing is it had zero IMSB Failure symptoms.

Here are some pics. Lots more of others like it elsewhere on the Flat 6 facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.546148478746285.139684.184464434914693&type=1

That said... The "IMS SOlution" is being included in all of our builds in 2013 and will be debuted soon in Panorama and Excellence. Its the first and only commercially available design change for the IMS Bearing. It is another bit of combined technology offered by Flat 6 Innovations and LN Engineering. It changes the whole game, but you won't find any mention of it on either of our websites. Not yet :-)

[thom4782]

Jake: Now we're all curious. I was just talking this morning with my inde about replacing the IMSB in the next six months. Can't wait to hear about the new bearing...

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by thom4782

Jake: Now we're all curious. I was just talking this morning with my inde about replacing the IMSB in the next six months. Can't wait to hear about the new bearing...

In work since well before 2009... Its the true solution to the problem.

This one is a lot different than the retrofit arrangements as we are not selling it direct to the public for DIY installation. Cost is almost exactly twice as much as the standard retrofit, but it never needs future service, replacement or attention.

[Jager]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

In work since well before 2009... Its the true solution to the problem.

This one is a lot different than the retrofit arrangements as we are not selling it direct to the public for DIY installation. Cost is almost exactly twice as much as the standard retrofit, but it never needs future service, replacement or attention.

For 997-1 and 997-2 engines?

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by Jager

For 997-1 and 997-2 engines?

Details will be shared in Panorama in January 2013.

[Sanford_yee]

Jake...why not have the story told on 60 minutes? Sounds like the real reason is because you won't be able to profit financially....

[thom4782]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

\

This one is a lot different than the retrofit arrangements as we are not selling it direct to the public for DIY installation. Cost is almost exactly twice as much as the standard retrofit, but it never needs future service, replacement or attention.

Jake: What kind of service or attention might the current IMSB retrofit require. I was under the impression that after the retrofit was installed the odds of an IMSB failure were close to zero and no further service or attention was needed. I am asking because I was planning to have my independent install the current retrofit in my 01S in the next month. I don't know if my IMSB is a single or dual row bearing. Thanks

[rule1]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

In work since well before 2009... Its the true solution to the problem.

This one is a lot different than the retrofit arrangements as we are not selling it direct to the public for DIY installation. Cost is almost exactly twice as much as the standard retrofit, but it never needs future service, replacement or attention.

So when will this be available? I am considering having a retrofit done by my mechanic (RennsportKC) in Grandview, MO. If I wait will I be able to have them do this or are you the only one to do this new fix? Any advice would be great.

Thanks, Jarrett

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by rule1

So when will this be available? I am considering having a retrofit done by my mechanic (RennsportKC) in Grandview, MO. If I wait will I be able to have them do this or are you the only one to do this new fix? Any advice would be great.

Thanks, Jarrett

A major distributor has already placed a huge order and will have the first units in hand in February and begin to distribute them to shops across North America and Europe.

We are accepting sign ups for the procedure carried out at our facility now.

I think I know this IMS SOlutions design. If it is what I think it is, I had a chat with one of the developers and it represents a bulletproof permanent solution to IMS bearing failure.

Then you would have had to spoken to me or Charles Navarro personally as we are the inventors and developers of the IMS Solution; no other individuals or companies have been involved. The only outsiders that know about the details are those who have purchased the unit and currently have it installed into their engines. A few members of the media have saw it, held it and have been blown away by it.

[Jaxonalden]

When are you going to reveal and let us know the cost of the "Solution"?

[recycledsixtie]

Trying to see something positive in the situation here . I would think that 2nd hand Porsches are cheaper to buy if they have the originial ims bearings in. People like me are not prepared to buy a new Porsche and therefore go out on the limb to buy a 2nd hand Porsche which can implode for many reasons. An ims scare can be enough to drive away many prospective buyers but it has not deterred me. My sympathy goes out to anybody who has had an ims failure. But in all fairness it is buyer beware
especially when the warranty is over. There is little doubt that the Boxster is relatively cheap used because there is a perception that they are high maintenance cars and can be really expensive if the engine lets go.

It is indeed great now that if your engine implodes you have choices, fix it, sell it as a roller or just buy another used one. It is a buyers market, especially here in the middle of winter!

[Ghostrider 310]

I don't think that is why they are cheap. The cars are affordable because they didn't sticker that high to begin with and are now over a decade old. They have survived in plentiful numbers and are too new to be collectible. Most potential buyers just assume the car will be dependable as most car owners don't know squat about their car's technology or engines. I could tell you very little about the Escape engine other than it being twin overhead cam and dependable and I'm an enthusiast of cars. Some people just love driving Porsche's and that is where the love affair ends, not all want to jump into the car and wrench on it. Those of us who have know the pitfalls, how to save money and when to bail on a repair that cost more than the car is worth.

[thstone]

Porsche let me down the day that they sold their soul and built the Cayenne.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by thstone

Porsche let me down the day that they sold their soul and built the Cayenne.

Those massive Cayenne profits (I think it's Porsche's #1 volume seller too, next to the Pano) is funding great stuff for the Boxster, Cayman, and 911 varients.

[Sanford_yee]

Jake-It's not hate...I already have my car retrofitted with your bearing. I am proactive with my maintenance. What I am saying is that I don't see a down side to having this reported through 60 minutes. Expose the problem; make it mainstream. Didn't they do a piece on BMW HPFPs? Look what happened...now my HPFP is warranted until 100K. This happened after the 60 minute episode.

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by Sanford_yee

Jake-It's not hate...I already have my car retrofitted with your bearing. I am proactive with my maintenance. What I am saying is that I don't see a down side to having this reported through 60 minutes. Expose the problem; make it mainstream. Didn't they do a piece on BMW HPFPs? Look what happened...now my HPFP is warranted until 100K. This happened after the 60 minute episode.

Good luck finding a Judge and a jury that gives a rat's ass about a poor old Porsche owner. Not gunna happen. The problems are not safety related. Small in number.

This offers no solace or relief for those owners that have suffered. But a great business opportunity for great (and smart) vendors like Jake and L&N. Good for them. And good for the owners that are not so risk tolerant.

[Meir]

maybe its just me.
as being a positive guy, i try to look at the "full half of the glass".
i knew about the IMSB, issue before i purchased my car.
i decided to by it anyway, and the retrofit is going on it next month.

without the IMSB issue, these cars would probably cost double then what they cost today (if not more).
not sure if i would have bought a boxster if the price was double .
not because i don't think its worth it. just because i could not afford it.