IMS Solution - still the best option?
 

The IMS Solution has recently become available in this country, so I am planning to have it installed soon in my 2004 Tip (46000 miles). I am just tired of worrying about the potential engine disaster!! Do people still see this as the best option, or is there something else I don't know about? Have many had this installed yet, or is the replacement bearing more popular? Also, what else should I get done while the engine is out, eg RMS, water pump ... ? I have done a forum search, but I would like some current opinions. Thanks guys (& gals).

The Solution makes sense to me.

I had the bearing replaced with the bearing. I didn't want to do solution as it was new and the shop I had mine done at wants to hear a lot more success stories before they go down that path. No problems with new bearing...knock on wood!

I have my engine completely dis-assembled due to an IMS bearing failure at 120K. I'm replacing any obviously worn parts. Those that still have service life will not be replaced, only cleaned and inspected. I had to buy a used IMS shaft and bearing on E-bay as the current dealer part has a larger unservicable bearing I did not want. The used IMS bearing that came along with the shaft I bought has clear signs of engine oil infiltrating the grease (very bad). So to the IMS bearing. I've been researching the IMS bearing for about a week now in my spare time and have come to the following. As you have a 2004, you and I likely both have the same stock IMS bearing - its an NSK 6204DU17 deep roller ball bearing. Its a single row bearing. I admit I've a bit to learn as I'd have coded the bearing as a "DDU" as it has two seals and I've not decoded the 17 yet (A little help anyone?). Could be a Porsche specific designation. This is a greased bearing that is running in an oil environment. I have a post on IMS failure in the "technical" section on this site with a youtube link that shows why I think these bearings fail. It is a lubrication problem, and unfortunately, it always will be. I believe I have a method to slow that down by venting the IMS tube (see the vid for an explanation) but that is not a complete fix AND the engine has to be split to do it. Sooner or later the IMS bearing will lose lube and fail. It is fair to assume every IMS bearing is losing its greased lube due to normal engine operation every time the engine has an on/off cycle. So on to the IMS Solution. It is a "plain bearing". This is the simplest, and perhaps most robust bearing design. It is used on the other end of the IMS shaft, which does not fail. The same concept is also used on your crankshaft and camshafts. You should contact Jake Raby to answer any specific questions on this as it is his design. If I had not decided to perform a budget rebuild (a challenge to myself) on this engine, with my own IMS bearing fix (another challenge), I would seriously considered the IMS Solution over all other options. I think it is fair game for you to ask Jake questions on how this was designed and tested, and why it is an appropriate design for the driven end of the IMS shaft (hint- different loading than the other end). Those are my thoughts. Oh yeah, and I'm still figuring out the no holds barred engine I'll build as a replacement to the one I'm learning on now. Whatever you do, I advise you change out the original bearing, cut it open, and post what you find to this forum. My bet is that it is currently full of oil, not grease.

I am biased... Of course. I will say that the IMS Solution is what I feel to be the best remedy available, IF you can afford the kit and the professional installation that goes along with it. This product is not cheap, its very difficult to manufacture and has taken years to bring to market in a fully developed form. Because of its retail price of 1,759.00 it cost more as just a component than many "cut rate" shops are now charging for a complete IMS Retrofit.

All of your questions concerning the invention, design and evaluation of the IMS Solution will be answered in the December 2013 issue of Excellence Magazine. We were interviewed for this "tech forum" feature a few weeks back and the questions were exhausting. (I suppose it will be December, but the exact issue is still TBD) The article even goes over our Certified Installer program that requires those shops to follow our installation regimen completely, right down to registering the product and sending in an oil sample from the engine that was retrofitted, along with the old IMS Bearing.

The team that wrote the story installed an IMS Solution and they will supposedly include their overviews in this article. I have not seen this yet, but heard it was 3,000 words+.

The IMS Solution was originally invented to only be used on my engines where it was originally applied. While it may be "new" to the public marketplace it is not a new design. In fact, the IMS Solution was the very first product that we invented for the M96 engine, it precedes everything else; including the LN ceramic hybrid retrofit bearing in terms of invention and development.

Choose any IMS "fix" with great care. We pioneered the IMS Retrofit and with over 10,000 IMS components in service today, all over the World, our reputation precedes us.

SSF Auto parts, the exclusive distributor of the IMS Solution, can't keep them in stock... If you can find one, you'll be very lucky, the last run sold out completely in less than 45 days (BWA Auto has them in Australia and has installed many of them so far). The next run will be delivered to SSF at the end of this month, if you want one have your shop call SSF and get one on backorder. These units are not available for retail sale, and are only for professional installation.

I have 1000 miles on my LN IMS bearing upgrade. When I get to the point of needing to replace it (hopefull a ways down the road!), I will absolutely be looking at the "solution" at that point.

I have the dual row LN ceramic bearing in my 2000 S, I had installed by the shop that did my PPI before I took possession. If anything ever happens to that car, I would love to get a 2004 Anniversary edition S and at that point I would get the solution. Just like I figured the price of the bearing retrofit in the 2000S, I would do the same for the "new" one. (Hopefully nothing happens to the 2000S though :) )

Steve

do it do eeeet

we have pjv and pjq on this forum? where's pjp?

pjv, you have an 04 tip and you're pulling the engine just to address the IMS?

I'm having The Solution installed right now at Callas Rennsport in Torrance, CA. If Jake says it's the best, then that's good enough for me.

He's not kidding though, it ain't cheap. With installation and an oil change, it's close to 4k.

Excellent. You chose a Certified Installer.

Thanks everyone for your prompt replies. Yes Perfectlap I am planning to do this because it worries me having the single row bearing with a presumed 10% failure rate. And my wife will tolerate the cost of the Solution better than the cost of a new or rebuilt engine! I don't expect any change out of $4K (US) but keep in mind the asking price of a good low mileage 2004 986 in this country is in the $35-40K range, and (hopefully) may be a little better with the Solution in place, so the numbers stack up better than they might in the US.

And thanks for your response Jake, I was planning to have the job done in a couple of weeks or so, but might wait for the Excellence article to come out. BWA Auto is in Sydney, which is a fair distance from here, and I am planning to have mine done by Weltmeister here in Melbourne, who tell me they have done a number of IMS Solution installations. And it is where I get my car serviced routinely.

[QUOTE=Perfectlap;366808]we have pjv and pjq on this forum? where's pjp?

Perfectlap, he's waiting for r,s,t,u to create a Perfect Run!!

Pedro's Garage now has a system to oil the IMS bearing. Check it out.:cheers:

OEM IMS bearings fail due to structural weaknesses, especially with respect to single row bearings, and leaking seals that compromise lubrication. Delivering more oil to OEM bearings doesn't fix these problems. The track record for unsealed ceramic replacement bearings shows that splash oil adequately lubricates these bearings over thousands of installations and thousands of miles.

[QUOTE=pjq;366826] I was just 'watching my P's and Q's':D

I meant to add to my earlier post, that while I have been considering IMS replacement for quite a while now, about a week ago I was driving the Box down the highway near home and found myself behind an unfamiliar ambulance with interstate plates. When I looked a bit closer I saw that across the back doors was plastered in metre-high letters 'IMS' !! Was this some sort of omen?? I am going out now (in the Box again), if that ambulance is still there ...