How Worried Are You About IMS? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

blue2000s · 07-25-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

This forum has had at least four ims failures. given the small membership I think that's significant.

There are over 28,600 registered members of this board. 4 failures is less than 0.15% of that none of which is very scientific but it goes to show how incomplete statistics can be made to support any claim.

Perfectlap · 07-26-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue2000s

There are over 28,600 registered members of this board. 4 failures is less than 0.15% of that none of which is very scientific but it goes to show how incomplete statistics can be made to support any claim.

that would infer that all 28,600 have posted even once. I doubt more than 50 of those 28K ever regularly post (once a month) before they sell the car and abandon the log in. I didn't intend it to be a statiscal point on cars vs failures. More anecdotal on regular posters v. failures. If four IMS failures randomly happened to forum members here then it is what it is -- freaky coincidence. But everything else I've heard from people who work on these cars doesn't make it sound so random.

blue2000s · 07-26-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

that would infer that all 28,600 have posted even once. I doubt more than 50 of those 28K ever regularly post (once a month) before they sell the car and abandon the log in.

Like I said, you can use numbers to support any story. Now you're trying to slant it in other direction with the same data by rationalizing. Which is equally as useless as my example was.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

I didn't intend it to be a statiscal point on cars vs failures. More anecdotal on regular posters v. failures. .

That sounds statistical in nature to me.

blue2000s · 07-26-2011, 10:14 AM

Full disclosure - I've had my IMS replaced with the stainless/ceramic bearing. I know it's a weak point in the engine that can lead to a very expensive failure, so I decided to replace the stock bearing with one of higher quality materials. I don't really care what anyone else does or how much they think about it, but I like to have a robust solution in my car.

I'm just arguing that tying statistic data or anything that looks like statistic data to this without a formal study is misleading and irresponsible.

Perfectlap · 07-26-2011, 10:28 AM

okay so let me ask you this as hypothetical...

Let's say you just joined this this not often visited forum and over the next month 300 IMS failures from let's say 400 regular posters were reported, STILL statiscally insignificant both to the number of cars built and the number of forum members registered. And you're best friend unaware of these 300 failures, then came to you and said "I'm thinking of buying your Boxster" you wouldn't pause for a second? I mean rationally you have no reason to because those 300 failures still represent a sliver of a sliver. But yet it would certainly affect your thought process.

blue2000s · 07-26-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

okay so let me ask you this as hypothetical...

Let's say you just joined this this not often visited forum and over the next month 300 IMS failures from let's say 400 regular posters were reported, STILL statiscally insignificant both to the number of cars built and the number of forum members registered. And you're best friend unaware of these 300 failures, then came to you and said "I'm thinking of buying your Boxster" you wouldn't pause for a second? I mean rationally you have no reason to because those 300 failures still represent a sliver of a sliver. But yet it would certainly affect your thought process.

Yeah, of course. In fact, the few reported here gave me pause, the expense of a failure is extreme which is why I upgraded.

But I wouldn't go around telling people that the failure rate is 75% either. It would be irresponsible. I'm not saying you did this, but it was getting close.

Overdrive · 07-26-2011, 01:45 PM

Not worried about it anymore as I got the retrofit done recently, but I can definitely respect blue's stance on the matter. The way I see it, ~$1,500 sounds way better than ~$15,000, if you're lucky, and you'll be able to get in and out of the car without wondering if "this is gonna be the one" when you're 30 miles away from home on a joyride. Sure, there's still several other points of failure, as there is with anything mechanical, but at least the glaring one that is most likely to grenade your engine is taken care of.

C Three PO · 07-27-2011, 12:55 AM

I LOVE my 1998 986 with now...44K miles.

Was very excited to bond with the other Boxster owner at my company.

But, a couple of months later- I ran out to see his newer model (by a few years, albeit with some more miles) being towed away (with the big pool of synthetic being soaked up on the ground).

Like a bad crime scene, it's hard to get out of one's mind...

Clutch/Lt. Wt. Flywheel/Bearing Upgrade for about $2300 (when my clutch has more miles before needing replacement) or a Commuter Car to relieve the miles and some of the risk?

Again, I love the car...I appreciate it more every time I drive it or wash it.

I don't love the possibility of an engine failure that costs as much or more to fix than what I paid for it.

The IMS failure possibility is real to me. My car was not driven hard nor was the one I saw towed away.

So, my current plan is to get the IMS upgraded + an inexpensive commuter car + drive it hard when I want to.

Will be more than I bargained for, but the Boxster has turned out to be better than I bargained for too.

Hope it all turns out well.

MileHighBoxster · 07-21-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue2000s

There are over 28,600 registered members of this board. 4 failures is less than 0.15% of that none of which is very scientific but it goes to show how incomplete statistics can be made to support any claim.

And probably 90% of owners don't forum. That would be even a smaller percent.

Fnred98 · 08-10-2012, 08:37 PM

I have a 1998 driven at a spirited pace for 34,000 miles with the oil changed yearly. Not sure what to do, but strongly consider replacing the IMS. What comments has Porsche made about this issue? Any additional thoughts / suggestions from the forum ?

dennis · 08-11-2012, 03:03 AM

I think there is some truth to the frequency the car is driven, more thzn the miles put on it. I try to drive my car several times per week all year. It never sits for more thsn a week not driven. I dont think it matters that you put 20k on it in one yr if it sits for 1-3 months. I think the key is constant use and lubrication of the engine.

Bobiam · 08-11-2012, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis

I think there is some truth to the frequency the car is driven, more thzn the miles put on it. I try to drive my car several times per week all year. It never sits for more thsn a week not driven. I dont think it matters that you put 20k on it in one yr if it sits for 1-3 months. I think the key is constant use and lubrication of the engine.

But keep in mind that this is a SEALED bearing (what a terrible idea!). Some do speculate that as the seals fail and the grease drains away that oil sloshing can possibly lube the bearing, so who knows.
I'm in the same situation with an '01 at 47,000 mi. Anything can happen. Best situation would be the need to replace a clutch and get the IMS done at the same time.