IMS Solution... Price?

[southernstar]

Mike, I have bills from the original owner and the engine numbers match the body (to the extent that they would denote a very early 2.7) so I feel safe in concluding that the engine was not replaced. I agree that, as engine numbers are not reliable, one is supposed to disassemble to determine whether it is a dual or single bearing. In the past this was not a problem as the ceramic bearing was available for both. Now they are only available for the earlier (double) and hence, after disassembly by my mechanic, I can only order a bearing if I have an earlier d. If not, I need to have the car re-assembled and shipped (or the engine removed and it and the transmission shipped), to and from Ontario, Canada. Or am I missing something?

Brad

[Meir]

Originally Posted by southernstar

Mike, I have bills from the original owner and the engine numbers match the body (to the extent that they would denote a very early 2.7) so I feel safe in concluding that the engine was not replaced. I agree that, as engine numbers are not reliable, one is supposed to disassmble to determine whether it is a dual or single bearing. In the past this was not a problem as the ceramic bearing was available for both. Now they are only available for the earlier (double) and hence, after disassembly by my mechanic, I can only order a bearing if I have an earlier d. If not, I need to have the car re-assembled and shipped (or the engine removed and it and the transmission shipped), to and from Ontario, Canada. Or am I missing something?

Brad

as far as i know, the ceramic bearing from LN is available in both the single and the double raw configuration.
order the bearing only after the flywheel was removed, and you can see which one you need.
the "final solution" is available only for the later style single row, and contently available only at flat6.
so this way or the other, your mechanic cant do the job for you (yet).

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by southernstar

Mike, I have bills from the original owner and the engine numbers match the body (to the extent that they would denote a very early 2.7) so I feel safe in concluding that the engine was not replaced. I agree that, as engine numbers are not reliable, one is supposed to disassmble to determine whether it is a dual or single bearing. In the past this was not a problem as the ceramic bearing was available for both. Now they are only available for the earlier (double) and hence, after disassembly by my mechanic, I can only order a bearing if I have an earlier d. If not, I need to have the car re-assembled and shipped (or the engine removed and it and the transmission shipped), to and from Ontario, Canada. Or am I missing something?

Brad

Unfortunately, with a 2000-2001 car with the original engine, there is always some question which style bearing is in the car. That said, it is not that much of an issue to take the car apart and then overnight the correct unit. There is not much recourse to doing it this way, other than to buy both styles and try to return the unused unit.

[southernstar]

No, there is no problem with disassembling then couriering the part. I had understood that as of now, one could only order the upgraded ceramic bearing for the double row. If you can order either, then there is no change and I won't need to ship out the car if it turns out to be the single.

Brad

[mikefocke]

You can order the ceramic bearing from LN for the single and/or double (an engine eligible for The Solution can get the ceramic LN bearing and even Jake recommends it rather than The Solution if you aren't planning on keeping the car and engine beyond another 50k miles. You can't return it IIRC so figure out which you have before ordering.

Porsche is known to have used what I call third generation IMSs in rebuilding/building replacement engines for 2000-2004 and even early 2005 cars that had dual row second generation bearings originally. So those people who own cars in those years and who didn't know their engines have been replaced get the unpleasant experience of disassembling their engine only to find out that the bearing can't be replaced without cracking the case. The good news is they have a seemingly better original bearing that may not fail as often/soon (not that any of them fail that often but, if it is yours, on is too many)

[Jake Raby]

JFP in PA, the installer says he thinks they would have put a 2003 engine in a 2003 Boxster, even in 2006.

Incorrect. Unless that replacement engine was on the shelf for 3 years it would not have the earlier bearing.

Remember, if you bought a replacement engine for a 1997 Boxster in 2007 it would have the M97 bearing installed.