Original IMS - 2004/Base/Tip, 76Kmiles, mobil1 0-40. Only owned 4months and one oil change, super clean filter. I will change every 5k or yearly, whatever comes first..........Cheers.

2000 2.7 the 64,000 miles with original IMS bearing. I will only replace when the clutch needs replacing or if signs of metal particles show up on oil changes. It has a Dec. 98 engine build date so it is almost assuredly a dual-row bearing. Oil changes every 4-5K miles with, originally Mobli1 0W40and most recently Castrol Edge SPT 5W40. I have a magnetic drain plug and I cut filters open after each change for inspection - no signs of problems to date.

Brad

The failure rate is anywhere from 1% to 8% according to the class action lawsuit against Porsche, which presumably was based on actual evidence from Porsche. And, if it's a good car, it darned well ought to have the original IMS (name any other make whose owners have to go into the heart of the engine and make changes as a preventive measure). Okay granted that some people are nervous nellies who make needless changes, but regardless, with the question you are asking, presumably you'll only get responses from people who have the original IMS and therefore your response rate ought to be 100%. I just don't get what that proves. At best it would be anecdotal evidence. Just going for a warm fuzzy feeling?

just testing the waters to see how many replace their bearings, i dont feel that i would care to replace mine unless i saw the shavings in my oil... thanks for the replys.

123,000 miles. Original IMS bearing. 1997 2.5.

Warm it up fairly carefully, then rev the snot out of it. Change the oil circa 5-7k usually.

My view is dual-row are best left. If I had single row, it would be a tricky choice.

2001, base, stick, 80000mi. same ims from factory

2008 Boxster S LE, 36K mi, 6sp, Castrol 5w-40, changed every 5K mi or once a yr (last 3 yrs has been latter)

2008 Cayman S Sport, 17K mi, 6sp, Castrol 5w-40, changed every 5-6K mi.

I sleep well at night when it comes to IMSB. I do have some concern about DEs with my Cayman and oiling issues, AOS failures, and PS over heating.

Jake, you have 2 things going for you - your Boxster's yr and trans. For whatever reason, conventional wisdom is Tips have fewer ISM failures than manual trans. Your year Boxster has the more solid IMSB. The change in 01 is when the problems really started happening.

2000S, 6-speed, 98K miles, Mobil1 0w-40 every 5K. Driven hard, autocrossed. Original IMS & RMS. Dry. If I ever put a clutch in then will decide then :)

This is my philosophy now. Lots of relatively gentle trips up into the higher RPM. Mine's a garage queen. Original IMS. 57K. 2002 BS. Had her for 6 months and put about 450 miles on her so far.

99 base with 155k miles.
Clutch just went out, so the car is going on the lift next week.
Going to inspect the bearing. If no play it stays.
The engine is leaking oil from every posibl location, so new RMS, new sales for the IMS cover, including incapsulated bolts for case.
If the bearing is bad, I will probably go with the cheapest duel raw bearing I can find.
My previos car got he LN bearing at 75K miles. Old bearing came out in perfect condition.

2001 base 2.7 manual 85000. Castrol syntec 10w40 per JFP's recommendation once a year. Have owned 18 months. New water pump, low temp thermostat, and AOS but original IMS as far as I know. If single row is found when clutch is needed, will update. Not likely will I mess with a dual row.

2001 2.7 stick. 68k miles. Original IMS and no RMS leaks. Fed on Mobil 1 and Castrol every 12-15k miles.

2001 S ~70K on original IMS (Dual row bearing IMS I think) and RMS,

Bone dry, no leaks or seeping. Gets the Standard Oil change interval.

I drive it hard frequently and bump redline now and then.

1997 Boxster, 5 speed, Mobil synthetic (I can't remember off the top of my head what weight I put in with the last oil change. Probably means, it's due for one), 92k

You want to see the some stats? Ask any Boxster owner who is NOT a member of a Porshe forum. Spoken to a few and there response......whats a IMS?

Thats what they say until they pull to a stop and their engine stalls with no apparent reason. Then they start it back and it sounds like ten thousand marbles in a can, moves 100 yards and dies for good.

Those are the ones that call us and can't believe that their perfectly maintained Porsche had an engine failure. It was just running perfectly 30 seconds before.

The informed generally don't have the issues.

That's right, folks. I wouldn't ask a real estate agent if he thinks I ought to buy a new house, nor ask a car salesman if he thinks I need a new car.

2001 Boxster base 46k miles. 3rd owner and I am sure it is original IMS. No issues with metal in filter. Change oil every 5k miles. Got IMS Guardian. I used to worry about it and now don't. I am in my 3rd year of ownership. If it blows up then I will face the music then decide what to do . $4k here for clutch, rms, ims is too much to spend on a second hand car.
Guy

58,000ish miles. Original (family) owner. Change the oil every 9-10,000 miles with Mobil-1. I check the filter every time and haven't seen a speck.

99 with 5-speed manual trans
133000 km
Castrol 5W40, changed every 5000 km
driven hard, redlined frequently

Might change it when the clutch needs changing, might not. Don't really want to have a perfectly good IMSB sitting on the shelf next t to that perfectly good water pump I changed. I guess it will depend on the mileage when I change the clutch and RMS and what I see when I go in there. Currently the car does not use or leak any oil.