Chain Pad Wear and Cam Deviations

[thom4782]

All: I'd appreciate your advice...

I have an 01S with 106K. I am trying to decide whether to replace the IMS bearing with the IMS Solution. If I do so, then my major worry becomes chain pad wear.

My understanding is that there are two groups of pads. One set of pads is associated with the variocams. The other group I've heard people refer to as the chain paddles located in the IMS area.

I checked my cam deviations this morning. They are -6.16 and -5.83 respectively, which is right on the borderline of the M96 spec of +/- 6. The deviation values were absolutely rock steady this morning as they have been in the past. The first deviation reads the same as when I checked it one year ago. IIRC, the second deviation has changed over a year from something like -4.8 to -5.8. Again, values have been rock steady each time I've checked.

So here's my question. Do anyone see anything in what I've described above that would indicated excessive wear in either group of chain pads. And, if the answer is yes, would the change in deviation angle suggest the wear is in the variocam area.

Thanks for considering this question.

Thom