Poll:IMS related engine failure

[Mr. Mike]

2000S 43,000 miles, no problems to date.

[cabjose]

Have a 2002 Boxster S with tiptronic transmission with 76K miles; car is daily driver but is AX periodically and has been driven regionally (20 hour nonstop trips) twice. No IMS failure yet; I have annual oil changes.

Any advise out there as to probability of an IMS failure with this mileage, type of transmission, and oil change schedule?

Any advise as to what I should do to avoid an IMS failure?

Many thanks for any replies. Cabjose.

[MikenOH]

Originally Posted by cabjose

Have a 2002 Boxster S with tiptronic transmission with 76K miles; car is daily driver but is AX periodically and has been driven regionally (20 hour nonstop trips) twice. No IMS failure yet; I have annual oil changes.

Any advise out there as to probability of an IMS failure with this mileage, type of transmission, and oil change schedule?

Any advise as to what I should do to avoid an IMS failure?

Many thanks for any replies. Cabjose.

On the preventative side, I'd recommend :
1) oil changes every 6k--I like Castrol Edge or Lubro Moly synthetic (both 5W-40)
2) Cut apart the oil filter and see if they contain metal fragments (a small magnet will help with this).
3) Take sample during an oil change and send to Blackstone labs for analysis--about $35--and they will give you a report indicating the kinds of contaminants found and condition of the oil (degredation/flash point).
4) Have a mechanic with the Durametric software do the "Camshaft Deviation test"; if you research that term on this forum it will give you information on what it does and how the information will be helpful.

[pjq]

Wow, there is a lot of wishfull thinking going on here. As long as the wish comes true every thing is rosey.
Its sort of like Russian Roulette, as long as your not the one who pulls the trigger when the bullet is in the chamber, the game is easy and you can keep playing for a long time, but just that once...., just once .....if it were to happen to you, Uhhhh shi......!
We all carry car insurance and house insurance and some may even carry life insurance all because of the "What If situation"! We hope we never have to use that insurance but we still buy it.
Well if you don't believe in the IMS failure hype then think of it as another piece of relatively cheap insurance. If you have it you won't have to read these Sad IMS failure forums wondering what to do after you've had an IMS failure.
The bullet was in the chamber, I did everything I thought possible to avoid it (oil type, Oil change frequency, driving revs, magnetic plug, etc.),except change the IMS. Mechanics told me what great shape my car was in. I had no indication there was going to be a problem. I couldn't find a mechanic that would change the IMSB. The car was running great.
2004 Boxster S 44,000 miles bought 2 years ago with 23,400 miles at the time of purchase. I've enjoyed every mile I've put on that car. Its a hot looking car and a kick ass driving car. You just have to feel great driving this car. I think Porsche made the "Love Affair " commercial with me in mind.
Last week 4hrs into a one week road trip to warmer places, oil filter change completed, I suffered the infamous IMS failure, Uhhhh shi......!
If you have someone to change your IMS just go get it done NOW why wait? Nothing good can come from waiting in this case. Every mile of driving the risk factor can only increase.
An IMS failure hurts!

[MikenOH]

Sorry to hear about his--a failure at 44K is way too soon.

After reading stories like this, if I bought a used 986 one of the first things I would do would be the cam deviation test, then either the IMS Guardian or just replace the IMS, depending on whether a clutch replacement made sense. The cam deviation test would give you an idea of where you were at the moment and the Guardian--hopefully--would allow you to turn the car off in enough time before the engine was reduced to scrap

On a 987, it's a different proposition--the IMS Guardian would just be signal for you to park the car and gather your finances for an engine rebuild of some degree--a much more expensive proposition.

[recycledsixtie]

I have a 2001 Boxster base and don't think too much about IMS failure as I have the IMS guardian installed. I notice the above poster has the 2013 Box on order so that must give a person peace of mind what with no IMS.
I may in several years time get the 2009 Box or newer as it has no ims. In the meantime if my Box blows up, then another engine from a wrecked Boxster or ship mine to Georgia for the upgraded engine.Sorry to hear the first post er having the IMS fail. A real bummer. Did u get a new engine? Where did u get it ?

[LuvTheBoxsterS]

Also sorry to hear about the 04 Boxster S. Have the same car with 44k miles. Did the IMS, RMS, water pump, 160 stat, clutch, and throughout bearing in July 2012. It was well worth the $4k. The shop showed me the bearing. Maybe could have gotten another 5 to 10k miles before she blew. Anyone just thinking about getting it done, just do it.

[twindrop]

Hi Guys,

First of all many thanks for the very elaborate responses. Just a quick question. I bought the car from Germany back in 2007 with 40K miles on the clock (now we are at 65K) 2001 S Model.

I had no idea whatsoever about RMS and IMS. Now that I found out I went through the service history and found out that the British "Renew rear main seal and IMS seal".

Does anyone have any idea what that means? Do I need to replace IMS or is the job done by the previous owner?

Many thx!

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by twindrop

Hi Guys,

First of all many thanks for the very elaborate responses. Just a quick question. I bought the car from Germany back in 2007 with 40K miles on the clock (now we are at 65K) 2001 S Model.

I had no idea whatsoever about RMS and IMS. Now that I found out I went through the service history and found out that the British "Renew rear main seal and IMS seal".

Does anyone have any idea what that means? Do I need to replace IMS or is the job done by the previous owner?

Many thx!

Sounds like they updated the IMS outer seal to the triple seal. This has nothing to do with the IMS bearing only the outer seal to prevent oil leaking out of the engine case. Hopefully the RMS seal is the latest version introduced in 2005 which is normally leak free indefinitely. For more info on the IMSB search the forum.