The latest IMS loss. A true classic failure

[Terre Higgs]

My 2004 S Anniversary Issue Tiptronic died in Oct. of 2007. I had it for about two years and 4 months with 12,765 miles on it.
It gave me two warnings. It stopped running in the rain with heavy puddles on the interstate while in cruise. I was baffled and thought the cruise didn't like the wheel slippage. It started up and ran on for several more hours with no problem. The next morning when I started out to Petite LeMans it had a metalic clicking noise when idiling cold I just thought it was the cooler weather and went on. About 5 minutes later it died on the interstate to not start again. No Explosion and very little noise. The dealer in Atlanta said it had no compression. I figured the chain had given up or slipped off. The whole thing was covered by the warrantee. A new anniversary engine was flown in and installed. I was never told what the problem was because the dealer couldn't open the engine. It has been said that the replacement engines are bullet proof. I don't know about that but it might have an IMS bearing upgrade because it was 2007 when I got it.?
I then noticed that the new engine ran much smoother. I hadn't noticed a slight vibration before.
Now 16,000 miles more I will make more frequent oil changes. I drive it like a stick and used to down shift for lights, curves, etc and use the engine to help brake. I don't do that anymore, but have a lag problem if I let the Tip do all of the shifting.
Just recently I've noticed oil smoke sometimes when I start up. I don't know what's causing that but will have to have it checked out.
It seems to be always something. I really think Porsche has some exposure to these problems.
Terre

Originally Posted by seningen

Earlier someone mentioned that it must have been heard, look at the damage.

I could be wrong -- but it doesn't take long to create carnage when you have metal on metal.

It is possible that the majority of the damage was caused when the bearings
finally let loose.

I'm hoping that there is a method to see the failure before catastrophe.
However the only way I can see that happening in a realistic fashion
is hope for an audible alert -- and frankly those engines make so much
noise that I doubt you could isolate it consistently.
One other possibility is diligent oil analysis, looking for some tell tale sign.
Again, I'm not sure its the proper canary.

Mike