Ims ? Replacement bearing

[Tigerwallis]

Hi here's a quick question I've just bought a 996 Carrerra 2 3.6 tiptronic s 2003 and was wondering about the ims bearing replacement , it's done 87000 miles with full service history and it drives lovely. Is there anyone out there with a 996 that has still got the original bearing as I'm a bit worried about all the horror stories I've heard?????? , I spoke to an independent Porsche specialist and he told me that he has only known of one that went and he managed to save the engine !! And he said that even the replacement bearing has no guarantee that it won't fail either , so he said just enjoy the car and not to worry , any info on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[The Saint.]

My C2 is on 88k and had the rms and ims changed just before I bought it. Which was a selling point for me.
I know people say the mk1 996 was less likely to fail, but when I bought a C4 I begrudgingly had it replaced, and I was lucky, the ims was just starting to fail at 62kmiles. So if I was you I would have it changed as a matter of course. if it has never been changed. But it is up to you, I would have thought the ims problem was more likely with a bearing on 87000miles than a new replacement, but everyone has their opinion.
Good luck whatever you do, they are great cars, enjoy.

 

[mikethemechanic]

only thing will happen is ones rms ims seals go you know about it as your start get clutch slip

 

[JuliusF]

Ummm, not sure you are muddling up RMS and IMS there Mike - RMS failure is an oil leak, IMS failure (different part) is (probably) an engine rebuild!

Firstly, good advice from your indy! Drive it, drive it, drive it!

If you want to keep an eye on IMS instead of going to the expense of preventatively replacing it (around £1200), try an IMS saver instead - it replaces the existing sump plug and detects build up of excess metal being shed by the bearing and warns you before it gets terminal (that's the idea at any rate) - about £450.

On the other hand if you are only doing about 6-8K a year (like most of us weekend warriors), ask the indy to cut open the oil filter and check it each service (most experienced with the 996 do this any way) and check for metal particle development.

Also a good article here http://www.autofarm.co.uk/pdf/Total911_July06.pdf

Anecdotaly only about 5% of engines are believed to fail this way so the odds are in your favour - I've also been told that once you are over 85K miles probability of failure drops further (but to be fair this is a bar stool story....I want to believe).
I'm on 96K, original bearing and still spinning sweetly.

Good luck in whatever choice you decide to make!

 

[Tigerwallis]

Thanks for all your advice guys much appreciated;-))))

 

[JuliusF]

...just came across this online article as well - some interesting stats given in the table - allegedly form Porsche - still no adverse cause for worry though - rem they specialise in selling bearing upgrades....!

http://www.revolution-por...it-revolution-porsche/

 

[philippe]

I agree with Julius earlier post, well summed up.

My RMS has been dripping for 6 years, my Indi keep and eye on it and so do I and it has not got worse, never heard of this drip giving clutch slip, in which case it must be very bad and need replacing.

I have been over ways to prevent issues and thought on replacment bearings etc, and have decided to do what I have for the last 11 years and that is to get a yearly service, warm the engine before giving to many revs and just really enjoy it.

Cheer Phil