How common is IMS failure REALLY?

[blinkwatt]

A 2000 shouldn't have an IMS failure.

[23109VC]

my dad is selling the boxster to get a newer car. he was quoted about 13k for a trade at one dealership.. causing him to reasses what his car is worth.

maybe he'd sell it to me for 10-12k?

it has 72k miles
it has 18" wheel.
full leather
M030 suspension
it had the steering wheel upgraded to the S 3 spoke, the one on 2001+ base cars
brand new Porsche top installed by the dealer under warranty a couple years ago
other than that he's had no problems with the car. he bought it used with about 20k on it. the original owner had RMS problems, got a new engine, bought a newer S model boxster and sold the base. my dad has had it since 20k miles up to now.

he is not a fanatic who takes it to the dealer all the time - but he doesn't abuse it either. he took it in for the routine services, oil changes, and that was it. dealer maintained by the same place that sold it to the original owner.

if i coudl get it for say... 10k. that would be akiller deal.
then just gamble that it doesn't blow up. drive it and enjoy it.
if it does blow up - then ig uess i could pay for a newer 3.4 motor and make it into a beast.. but the odds of that are low..

[fragdude]

If you can get it for 10k, go fer it!
Its nice that it has the m030 suspension and the 3 spoke wheel (I really don't like the 4...). Get what makes you happy, you only live once, and for 10k it sounds like a good deal

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

A 2000 shouldn't have an IMS failure.

Why do you say this?

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Why do you say this?

Probably refering to the redesign of the Intermediate Shaft for the 2001 MY.

In 2001, Porsche switched to a shaft with a single toothed sprocket and eliminated one of the bearings in the process, ostensibly to address issues with noise and vibration. It is thought that the elimination of this bearing introduced some flex to the shaft not previously observed. This allows the cam chain to sometimes slip and interupts the mechanical timing (not desireable - especially on an 'interference' engine).

The smaller rear seal on the original shaft allowed oil to leak more easily, so a larger seal was incorporated with the redesign. Also, the way the shaft is produced, oil is allowed to reach the threads of the seal cover bolts allowing oil to seep past them. This was corrected by the introduction of bolts pre-coated with thread sealant which seals the threads on installation.

As a result, IMS failures are almost exclusively reserved to the 2001 model and newer. It is very rare on an earlier car.

Autofarm UK makes a fix which replaces the single toothed sprocket with the original double sprocket while retaining the improved shaft, bearing and seal.