Which IMS solution?

[austinporsche]

Betting this has been asked a thousand (ten thousand times), but thought maybe it was time for a refresh.

I am getting ready to replace/upgrade the IMS in a 2000 Boxster I just bought (2.7, 90K miles).**** Oil and filter were spotless, but want to put the pin back in the grenade before it goes off (car is flawless but sale price still reflected a $2-3K discount for an IMS replacement).**** I plan to****do the****clutch and RMS at same time as well.

I have a shop ready to do the work, but they want me to pick and buy the solution (this will be first time in 20+ years I've taken any of my cars to a shop -- just seems to make sense in this case given the cost of the tools to do a IMS, and the fact that I don't have a lift and don't want to do everything I have to do with say my '93 911T -- like removing bumpers, etc -- to drop the drivetrain when the car is only on jackstands -- I'm embarrassed and ashamed at how old and lazy I am getting).

First question:**** not sure if it is a single or dual row, is any way I can figure it out before dropping tranny and inspecting the IMS retainer?**** I know there are a lot of opinions about the accuracy of engine number lists, etc.**** Haven't crawled under it yet to find the engine number, but previous owner (longtime -- as in 40 or 50 years -- PCA member) said it was a November 2000 build.**** So let the opinions fly . . .****

Second question:**** what solution should I use?

So solutions as I see it (from cheapest to most expensive) are:

1) OEM replacement
2) LN engineering dual row****ceramic (still a sealed bearing, right?)
3) Technofix DOF (I would like this except it is relatively new and not sure of the quality of the bearing given how little they are****charging for it -- a case of reverse supply-demand curve)
4) LN plain bearing (like 10x the cost of an OEM bearing)

Is this the list or are there other solutions?

The mechanic I found does a lot of track cars driven here in Austin at COTA, has done 50+ Boxster IMSs over the years (probably even more 996/997s?), mostly the LN ceramic dual row, only a handful of the LN plain bearing upgrades (said it's overkill for all but the hardest driven track cars) and no OEM (I am guessing) or TechnoFix DOFs.**** He seems to prefer the LN ceramic as he's never had one fail****in 10 years, but still put the final decision/choice****on me.

Personally, I like the TechnoFix DOF, but it's pretty new, and the bearing itself concerns me (I've bought wheel bearings that cost more than what they want for the open bearing itself, so how could can it be is what causes me pause).

Again, let the opinions fly . . .