Dual or single row
 

How can I tell if my motor is a single or double row. I have a 2000 model base.

Thanks

1. If the engine was built in 1998, it will by definition have a double-row bearing (again, a Y preceding the last 5 sequential digits in the engine serial number) as the single-row bearing was not introduced until the year 2000.
2. If the engine was built in claendar year 1999, it will also have a double-row bearing (denoted by a Z preceding the final 5 sequential digits). This will include 2000 MY cars assembled early in calendar year 2000, until the dual-row bearings ran out. It may also include cars assembled for release as early North American MY 2001's (just as my engine, although built in 1998, was installed in a 2000 model year car that was assembled in August 1999.)
3. If the engine was manufactured in calendar year 2000 after the introduction of the single-row bearing (and presumably, after they had run out of all remaining dual-row IMS bearings), it will have a single row IMS bearing. This would include late 2000 MY's, as well as the remaining early to mid 2001 MY's. The serial number for engines built in 2000 (which interestingly, is also when Porsche changed from letters to numbers to signify the year), have the number 0 prior to the final 5 sequential numbers in the engine serial number.

see this thread:

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/46267-single-row-vs-double-row-bearings.html

Thank you. I found my vehicle ID but I haven't found the engine number yet. My car is a 2000 model and is suspect. It's running great right now but the IMS fault bothers me not knowing for sure. I have a 109k miles on the car.

You're welcome. You can enter your VIN here to see if you are covered. But I guess if your not covered, does it mean you have passed the 10yr mark or does it mean you most likely won't have a problem. Confusing to say the least. My car 2001 with 37k miles, Conclusion: This is not a Class Vehicle.

Class Vehicle VINs | IMS Porsche Settlement

....

Need to read the links provided, but what about 2004 S? Where is the engine SN?

127k and running great!

On a 2000-2001, you cannot tell without taking the car apart and looking. Could go either way.

Thanks JFP....They don't want to make this easy do they. I was hoping that a engine number would tell me what I had without taking it apart. As far as my car being covered under the class action, I suspect it does not as it is now 14 years old.

When Porsche made the change over in 2000-2001, they kept no real records of what bearing was in what engine, so you have to look at the flange to determine which one is in the car. All of the so-called lists of VIN's and engine numbers have repeatedly been proven wrong............

Visual inspection required.

If I have found the right number, mine has a 3R after it. It was on the passenger side near the spark plugs: 986 104 227 3R. So my engine was built in 2001? And my VIN has a U in it so built in Scandinavia?

I don't believe that's your engine's serial number. This might be helpful: http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/44248-understanding-vin-codes-engine-numbers.html