Big Data

[Rickvd]

Thanks for your collective insight - I have a new to me 2004 Boxster S with 30K miles on the clock. Since I have gotten the car I have done a lot of research on the forum, PCA, Google on the dreaded IMS issue. While 8% is a higher failure rate than the original design, there is a 92% chance that it will not fail. Of course if you are one of the unlucky ones then dropping the cash for a pro-active IMS bearing fix is a no brainer... For now I will change the oil at an earlier interval, examine the filter for debris, keep an eye on this, and plan to do a replacement at some point the future.

[mikefocke]

Even the 8% failure rate cited in the settlement is suspect as it was based on prediction and a life cycle that all the 986 engines have now exceeded. I suspect Porsche agreed to a settlement $ amount based on a length of time so as to limit its liability forgetting these are Porsches and people keep them forever. There are bound to be random failures or failures based on use patterns that only show up after more years or miles of use. And the engine numbers and VINs shown in the settlement have been proven to be wrong in some cases so Porsche's own data is very suspect. Enough that the people who invented the IMS replacement insist on (or at least strongly suggest) an inspection to see which version you have before ordering a replacement kit.

I prefer to think of a 1% failure probability in any given year since the cars are beyond what the settlement was based on.