Buying with IMS replaced

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by jrgill

JFP - Why would you you be concerned about the sale of a 986 that recently has the IMS bearing replaced? I understand it's a red flag (why would the owner do that and not use for a period of time) but would like your thoughts on the issue.

Joe

More than once, we have been asked to do a PPI on a vehicle that had a very recent IMS transplant, only to find metal in the sump and filter, which is why the owner tried to do a quick retrofit and then dump the car. Considering what a retrofit costs, I am always suspicious of someone that does one and then immediately puts the car up for sale.

[jrgill]

JFP - makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the information.

Joe

[Nedlands]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

More than once, we have been asked to do a PPI on a vehicle that had a very recent IMS transplant, only to find metal in the sump and filter, which is why the owner tried to do a quick retrofit and then dump the car. Considering what a retrofit costs, I am always suspicious of someone that does one and then immediately puts the car up for sale.

So in my case, I would want to do the retrofit to help actually sell the car. This would be classed as a red flag? Just like no IMS retrofit is also a red flag! You can't win!
I advertised the car at the end of last summer and got lots of "Nice car but I think I will pass since the IMS hasn't been done!", not even lower offers. People have been driven to the point of paranoia by the forums and the "specialists" who profit from the retrofits. And if I get it done and use the EPS roller bearing retrofit or the Pelican parts retrofit will that be inadequate because it's not the LN version?
In reality, my car is probably worth somewhere North of $12-14k. I would price it to sell for what it's worth but almost feel I need to inflate the price to allow for the $3K discount that people will want since they "need" to do the retrofit?
Go buy a cheaper car and then spend the $ fixing that instead!!!

[pidj]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

More than once, we have been asked to do a PPI on a vehicle that had a very recent IMS transplant, only to find metal in the sump and filter, which is why the owner tried to do a quick retrofit and then dump the car. Considering what a retrofit costs, I am always suspicious of someone that does one and then immediately puts the car up for sale.

So why does it matter if there is metal present POST IMS change? When we detect metal, we swap the IMS (to alleviate the metal presence) - would more frequent oil changes and monitoring not clear the shavings? If not, then any metal presence would mean the engine is toast regardless of what was or is done, non?

It also begs the question about the $$ 'solution' option (oil pumped into bearing-less 'bearing')? Nedlands is right: What are you supposed to do? Doing it could be bad, not doing it is bad, metal shavings after doing it is bad .... bad bad bad.

[kk2002s]

Originally Posted by pidj

So why does it matter if there is metal present POST IMS change? When we detect metal, we swap the IMS (to alleviate the metal presence) - would more frequent oil changes and monitoring not clear the shavings? If not, then any metal presence would mean the engine is toast regardless of what was or is done, non?

It also begs the question about the $$ 'solution' option (oil pumped into bearing-less 'bearing')? Nedlands is right: What are you supposed to do? Doing it could be bad, not doing it is bad, metal shavings after doing it is bad .... bad bad bad.

If metal is present, it becomes a whole different ball game. Typically this would prevent a highly respected shop from performing the IMSB replacement without checking for damage and then cleaning the motor of debris if no damage found (Big time $$$). Otherwise this metal is flowing around and causing all kinds of destruction. That introduces another level of risk some can live with hoping that with many oil changes the majority of debris is removed.

Look I'm living with the risk. My 02 is in that higher risk range and I'm at 92k miles. My risk level is to wait until it's clutch time. I check filter & sump for metal but that only gives some level of comfort while not finding anything.

[pidj]

Understood. Is moving to the bearing-less oil injection solution better (I imagine it's more $$ - would you pay more for THAT Boxster?)? Does anyone know if it has a decent sample size to determine if it's effective?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by pidj

So why does it matter if there is metal present POST IMS change? When we detect metal, we swap the IMS (to alleviate the metal presence) - would more frequent oil changes and monitoring not clear the shavings? If not, then any metal presence would mean the engine is toast regardless of what was or is done, non?

It also begs the question about the $$ 'solution' option (oil pumped into bearing-less 'bearing')? Nedlands is right: What are you supposed to do? Doing it could be bad, not doing it is bad, metal shavings after doing it is bad .... bad bad bad.

Using an "open"style bearing such as the LN or some other retrofits on an engine with circulating metal debris quite often leads to very quick failure of the new IMS bearing. If the pre retrofit inspection finds metal, we stop the process and will not move forward. If the engine is full of metal, it needs to come out an apart for a full rebuild. Installing a new IMS bearing is throwing money away.

[pidj]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Using an "open"style bearing such as the LN or some other retrofits on an engine with circulating metal debris quite often leads to very quick failure of the new IMS bearing. If the pre retrofit inspection finds metal, we stop the process and will not move forward. If the engine is full of metal, it needs to come out an apart for a full rebuild. Installing a new IMS bearing is throwing money away.

the PO put in the Pelican Bearing (low cost - high end independent did the job). Staying with your thought, if oil changes continue to show no evidence of debris, then treat this bearing as OEM - what is the safe mileage again?


I appreciate marketing hype, but I also appreciate subtlety and appreciation for the demographics intelligence ... I just got a lot of 'the sky is falling!!'

Good points though ... especially the death one :P