Now that sounds like fun!!!

Can we then have a who totalled their Boxster while making out and driving at the same time thread?

2003 S with original IMS at 67k miles

I just bought mine 03 Boxster 5 spd has little over 71k miles 3 months ago. No service history. Clutch is still solid. No indication IMS bearing was replaced. I do feel uneasy but I will wait till needs clutch to do the IMS bearing. I do rev. up the rpm to 4000 plus when driving car most of the time fear that will lube the INS bearing.

Did mine at 50k. 2000 S, #113 double which was in good shape.

So you replaced it then....... :rolleyes:

Responses Need Statistical Analysis
 

Unless someone tabulates responses into a statistical analysis of failure incidence, no conclusions can be drawn.
My 2000 not-S seems fine. I doubt if former owner(s) replaced IMS bearing. Clutch is smooth at 104,000 miles, the last 1,000 by me often at 7,000 rpm wishing for another 1,000 rpm in second gear on Palomar Mountain.
I am so pleased with my car. It deserves top tires which I installed (Yokohama Nuevo AD08R).

I have had mine for the past eight years, MY 02 original bearing, currently at 94K and counting. I vote for a who has had sex in car, more interesting.

2001 Base, 45k miles, still going strong on original clutch and IMS. I change my own oil and cut filter apart every oil change, never any nasty shiny things. Maybe when I get a new clutch, no plan as of yet, I will consider a new IMS but not sold on that either.

1997 with 78K miles, bought last spring with no documented IMSB or clutch job, RMS is bone dry. Put almost 10K miles with no fear about IMSB, just keep the oil fresh and wind up the motor often to get things lubed up!

I have a 99 Tip have had it 4 years 84k have not changed the IMS.

1999 Boxster - 89K no IMS
 

Just bought this last year, from an owner who had for 7+ years. IMS was never changed oil changes do not show any flaking you'd see on a bearing breaking down.

Ims
 

2002 Boxster S, 96,600. I have had the car over 6 years now. As far as I know it has the original IMS, RMS, clutch, flywheel and water pump. It doesn't drop any oil or use any. I have put about a pint of water in the tank since I bought the car.

old 01s had oem bearing when sold at 90k
old 99 996 had oem bearing till 172k when hail totalled
current 03 has oem bearing at 53k currently

i think it's a hit or miss...i've been lucky i guess
paying 2-3k for an aftermarket bearing is a waste of money for me. I'd rather put that money into mods.
If it goes i'll deal with it then. Everyones priority is different.....

Just changed mine out just over 100,000 km the original bearing was fine

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1504661129.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1504661144.jpg

Mine looked pretty much the same when I changed it out in the spring of 2016. In fact if I am reading it correctly it is the exact same bearing out of my 03 S

I am currently in the market for a '97-'01 986 and won't even consider a car if the IMS has not been replaced. Definitely less cars to choose from, but this way I don't have the expense or the worry if a PO has it already taken care of.

Call me crazy, but not willing to take the 1%-8% chance on an original IMS car. I have spoken with 3 sellers already with new IMS that had them replaced along with their motors when the original bearings went out. :eek:

What the bearing looks like with the grease seal on is meaningless. Mine looked great after 147,000 miles, too. But when I pulled the grease seals off, there was just a slight amount of grease left, more a residue than actual grease on the balls.

I don't know how much longer mine would have lasted, but I'm guessing it wouldn't have been long. I feel relieved that I had the bearing replaced.

I understand your position, but what if the PO had the IMS bearing replaced without the proper pre-check to ensure it qualified for the aftermarket IMS bearing? There are stories out there about IMS bearing being replaced then the engine blowing due to another issue. IMHO, you would be better off finding the right Boxster, getting a PPI done then, if the IMS bearing hasn't been replaced, have it done.

Agreed and that's the plan. I am presently evaluating a 986 owned by my Indie shop (have another P-Car as well) that just had the clutch, flywheel and an LN Engineering bearing installed. They are currently in the process of going through the entire car for me right now so I will know where it stands mechanically prior to making an offer to purchase.

Well as it happens one of the guys has just had something let go in his engine which had everything replaced. Just because an IMS has been replaced doesn't mean the rest will be bulletproof.

The paranoia is real with you guys.