IMS

Thanks so much for replacing info of IMS, I going to do it for pease of mind,plus I'll get a much longer lasting motor,Thanks so very much! Regards, E.J. Hines

I have done a lot of research on this IMS subject. I am now the owner of my third Boxster. I have never had any IMS problems. It seems the percentage of failure varies from about 7% to 20% depending on what you read. This effects all engines from 1997 up to 2008. Even the 911 engines are effected, but Porsche seems to squash that reality. I have seen ceramic bearing kits and direct pressure oil feed kits. The main cause of the bearing failure is lubrication, especially at high revs when the bearing gets starved for oil. With every Porsche I have owned (eight) I always start the car and wait a few minutes to get the oil pumping inside the engine and then start out slowly never going over 2500 RPM for the first few minutes. Considering your car already has 100K miles on it, I'm sure you are safe. You obviously have a good engine and I wouldn't mess with it. Whatever you have been doing has been working to keep your baby running good. So in conclusion, I say Mr. E.J. for your peace of mind you might want to do the work, but if you don't I think it's be OK.

Also....you must consider the value of your car. A 1998 Boxster Base with 100k miles is worth about $7-10,000 (price may vary depending on equipment). Do you really want to spend 25% of the cars value on an upgrade? You might consider selling the car while she is still running good and invest the $1500-$2500 upgrade money into a newer or better car. This is just a reality check thought here!

IMS can cause severe damage to your engine, so replacing it gives you a peace of mind. Certain model/year IMS bearing fails one day for no reason, no matter what the mileage is, and there are no warning signs. Shop that repaired my engine and installed IMS upgrade sells them for $400, here's a link to their site: www.mbmotorsportsrepair.com. They specialize in engine repair, and know everything about P-cars. I highly recommend them to everyone!

Less than 2% of Boxters have IMS failure ! My Porsche mechanic says the small problem has now grown into a massive one............helped my so called " Porsche Specialists" who are making a mountain of cash by scaring owners. He recommends Regular Oil changes ( 6000 miles ) Genuine Porsche Oil Filter and Mobil 1 0w 40 fully synthetic oil and forget about the stories !!

Gavin is correct about the odds of an IMS bearing failure. It's really more of a "Do I want to take the risk or not" issue. But I bet every time you floor the car, you'll be thinking about that bearing and is this the time it goes. Also, genuine "Porsche" filters are made by various manufactures. Stick with the German brand name filters and save 2/3 the cost. Any synthetic oil that meets Porsche's oil specs can be used. The crap about using Mobil1 is just that: crap. It's just the stealerships wanting you to come in and get ripped-off.

Great investment could save you 30000 or more

what's pathetic is that Porsche just turns their back on owners. They also do this with the 996 coolant tank. A known problem. Their answer - Just replace it when it needs it. $800. I've owned two 911's and was thinking of a boxster. But, this is making me look at other options, and that new Jaguar is looking like it might be worth a try.

My 1998 996 just stopped on the road yesterday , white smoke , oil everywhere no warning signs , m echanic thinks the the bearing has failed and f***ked my engine , 120 on the clock ,

From 2000-2005 models years the failure rate is between 8 and 20%, depending on who you talk to. 10% is the most common failure rate cited. Prior to 2000 and 2006-2008 have very low failure rates. The problem is that when it does, the repair cost can exceed the value of the car. It is a simple risk/reward calculation. Outside of the 2000-2005 model years, I wouldn't bother. I have a 2008 911 4S. I put in a magnetic drain plug, and I inspect the plug and the oil filter (by cutting it open ) for metal shards at each oil change. For a 2000-2005 model, it costs about $2500 to install a ceramic bearing IMS replacement versus the approx. $20,000 cost of replacing an engine. Say we have a 1 in 10 failure rate, that works out to $2000 per car (on average). As an alternate to putting in a new motor, the engine blows and you sell the car for parts for, say, $5000. If the car was worth $20K., you are out $15 K. If you change the IMS when you change the clutch (and might as well do the RMS (rear main seal) when there), the IMS change is only a couple of extra hours. Then your incremental cost is about $1000 for the IMS. That is definitely worth doing on a risk/reward basis. The risk/reward is about even in the first case, slightly favors a do nothing approach in the second and is definitely worthwhile if you are doing the clutch. From a purely mathematical standpoint, If you can afford the $15 - 20 K. hit when a failure happens, then don't bother with the IMS unless you are already doing the clutch. I think it comes down to whether you can afford to take the hit psychologically and financially. Most of us would rather take the hit on the new bearing rather than the 1 in 10 chance of a catastrophic failure. I am looking an buying an older Boxster in the 2000-2005 range. I am factoring in the cost of an IMS in my budget, even though it is not justified by the straight economics.

Hi Timmy , Your right , it will never be worth the value when I fix it , can get a engine rebuild in the UK for about 5000 might have a look at that , boxster very cheap in Ireland at the moment , I had two , great cars underestimated in my opinion ,

Timmy nailed it. Looking for a used Boxster now, and it really comes down to risk you're willing to take or how much you want to pay for some assurance/insurance to put in an aftermarket bearing or shaft modification.

Timmy_O's response is bang on. The problem for me is that when any company positions itself as a premier product and prices it accordingly then the buyer shouldn't need to be a product or mechanical expert in order to make the purchase in good faith that the vehicle will perform as advertised. Two weeks ago my 2005 911 Carrera with less than 45,000 km's, experienced catastrophic bearing failure resulting in the need to replace the engine for a cost equal to the properly functioning car's value. There should have been a proactive recall for this issue or some kind of cost sharing program because Timmy_O is correct that the cost benefit analysis would conclude that my once in a lifetime purchase dream car is quickly becoming a jaded consumer beware nightmare. Shame on Porsche.

APS911, Ouch. As much as I want a Porsche, I'm now looking at 2009 or newer, which prices me out for the next year or so. A Miata is looking more compelling. Not saying a Miata is comparable, but their engines tend to be bulletproof.

First thing - check to see that the IMS bearing install was completed, there is a numbered sticker applied to the drivers rear door post when work is completed. Then buy your used Porsche if all is in order. The Miata is so underpowered unless your running at 5000 rpm. Good Luck!

Don't listen to anyone that says your fine ...do it this week It will cost $1500 to do it now, then you can sleep at night.Mine went I was an idiot for thinking I could catch it early,pulling oil filter every 1000 mil looking for metal, putting it off.BS I drive easy, change oil every 5000... IT WENT just like that. remember it will be a god- awful noise coming from the traffic around your car somewhere ..an then you only realize its you when you turn the key off in traffic and the loud noise stops! 02 996 3.6 75000 mil Rebuilding myself with oil fed ims bearing about $3800 parts total in garage .They want $10,000. I love my car, I'm keeping it.

Too many non-mathematicians on this board citing statistics about Porsche IMS failures. 20% is a really unbelievable number. They would not be in business if that many engines failed. They may be citing Rear Main Seal (RMS) failures not IMS failures. One statistic you can verify is by doing a search on cars.com of Porsche 911 and Boxsters in the 1997 to 2004 year range for sale with IMS upgrades. Enter "IMS" in the other search box. The number of vehicles mentioning IMS upgrades is 5% to 6% of all vehicles for sale. This is usually a sample size of 620 Porsche 911s alone which is a large enough sample size to represent all 145000 vehicles sold. If you look at the detailed listings you will see that most of them claim the original bearing was in good condition. Thus I believe the problem is overblown by bearing providers and independent shops pushing work. These same shops tell you to replace your water pump every 4 years and your spark plugs every 10,000 miles. Perhaps those whom replace their bearings tend to keep their vehicles but I do see a lot of owners whom install LNE bearings sell them shortly after installing them. Is that a lack of faith in the new bearing or did the excessive maintenance costs cause the owner to have to sell the vehicle while it was marketable.

Rear main seal failure is accompanied by oil leakage and possible clutch disc failure. IMS failure is catastrophic instant damage and noise. Important statistics notwithstanding, if you owned and appreciated a fine automobile, wouldn't you have the work done just for the piece of mind?

Gary I bought a 2000 Boxster S new. Each time I took it into the shop for repair, they gave me a cayenne to drive as my loaner car. I drove the Cayenne more than I did my Boxster S. My wife has a 2000 Boxster. It has 145000 miles on it. Since learning of this IMS problem, we don't know what to do with it. I think will drive it and if it blows up will sell it for parts. And then will just drive her BMW X.3 forever. After I had by Boxster S, I bought a 2005 BMW M3. I've had it since 2005 as a new car. I have never kept a car this long. It has 156,000 miles on it. It did need a new Vanos system, which I got actually as a rebuild. But worth it. I love this car and will keep it forever. Just a couple weeks ago, I got another raving complement in the parking lot at the grocery store from some guy who thought it was just gorgeous. I thanked him and agreed. I would stick with BMW M cars if you want a high-performance sports car. As for me, one thing I do know, is I will never buy another Porsche.

I have a 1999 Boxster. The IMS failed and fragged the engine at i year old. Porsche replaced the engine and tranny under warranty. At 80,000 miles and 10 years old I heard a gravelly sound from the new engine. I found the IMS bearing shredded but the metal chips were contained inside the intermediate shaft with no evidence of metal in the oil. I was lucky to not frag the engine a second time. Checking the oil does not work. The failure rate is much higher than 1%. Do the upgrade.

I run the maximum amount of oil, plus 1oz per quart (10oz) of Klotz Benol castor oil. The stuff is an awesome lubricant. Insurance, piece of mind, call it what you will. Still did the IMS bearing. The car runs great. 2000 Carrera Convertible.

All you people that say you do the math ..bullshit nobody knows my ims went. I'm just fixing it like thousands of other guys out there. I don't represent any product .I say just get a non ball bearing oil fed bushing in there and you will drive it forever. I love my car ,It's just a bad design. shame on Porsche.

nealfix, Great POV. The 20% number for 2000-2006 is considered wildly high by many. How do we know. It seems more likely the IMS on all those cars still out there will fail. It's a matter of when. And I agree - shame on Porsche. They could have had the most loyal customers ever and driven sales up like crazy if they had addressed this head on, admitted it was a bad design, and helped people get those cars fixed. I get that it would have cost a lot of money. It was a fantastic opportunity to set themselves apart from every other car company. Oh well... The good news for people like me is that I likely get a low mileage '05 or '06 for next to nothing.

my ims bearing went, no warning fully serviced . Would Ford get away with this ? Shame on you Porsche , you can ignore the problem but not word of mouth condemnation . tom uk.

I rebuild engines as a hobby I have rebuilt several 911 engines mostly my own. the 99 through 2008 911 IMS is a horrible design. it's not 7 or 20% its 100% will go it's just a matter of time .if you could see what I saw and understood you would agree. Your value will go up considerably if you have it done .I always install IMS solution pressure fed. It's pricey but now I drive my car no worries. I love how some of these guys say they've done the research and it's rare that it happens. Try doing more research the numbers are going way up.

2002 Boxster S a great car lots of fun. Up until 2-days ago i hadn't really heard about IMS failure - now i'm an expert minus my Porsche. Get it done, i looked after my car, drove it well and out the blue the car is history following the IMS failing - as a result unable to justify spending thousands to replace the engine.

Contact Parts Heaven in California for a used engine. Engine swaps are easy if you have a Porsche speed shop do it. Do not even consider a dealer, they'll take you over the coals. Make sure to have the IMS bearing installed when putting in the new (used) engine, and maybe a clutch. Good luck and I hope you get to keep your car.

I am in Montreal. My mechanic (big Porsche re-builder) was at a Porsche dealer event. According to the dealer, Porsche has new pricing, really aggresive pricing, on re-built short block M96 engines. $6.5 K ($CAD) for a Boxter, $8.5 K. for a 996. Full lower end re-build, new IMS fix, etc. Worth investigating...

Yeah, at those prices I'd say that's worth looking into. I'd go for the 996 set up, just for the HP increase. Check out the articles at "Pelican Parts" on what weight oils to run and change intervals, lower temp thermostats and a spin on filter adapter, all stuff to increase the life of a Boxster or 996 engine. I hope you do it!

IMS kit is a scam. $50 in commodity parts sold for nearly $800, and then the labor - everyone is making a huge buck. If it were a real problem, Porsche would have been litigated to death in a class action. BUT it wasn't. The shills and scammers might disagree, as would those who were suckered into spending $1200 or more for this fake upgrade.

Less than 2% of all Boxters manufactured & distributed WORLDWIDE had IMS problems !! Yet strangely 6% of all Volkswagen Beetles manufactured had faulty rear brakes ...no problems ......Enough Said !

I'm a very happy owner of a 1999 Boxster now with 99,000. Before I cought the car I talked to guys/gals in a Porsche club, although they had never had the IMS bearing go in one of the member's cars they recommended the 1997-1999 model year due to the double row bearing. One owner has a 97 with 247,000 miles with the original bearing, and he's the original owner. He also tracks the car. No failures. Changing the oil is important, 3000- 5000 mile. Use either Mobil1 or Red Line oil of 10w30-15w50. I use 15w50, with Lubromoly Mos2 added in and Z-Max to help the oil get into the bearing and soak into it. I often keep the revs up during sprited driving and so far report a very happy engine. So if you are really bored or need to replace the clutch then it's not a BAD idea to go ahead with the bearing but the actual risk is very slight, at least on earlier double row bearings. I've talked to two Porsche dealership out of curiosity and out of the 1000+ boxsters from 2000- 2006 they have only seen 2 bearings fail, and that was with cars that had the obsurd 12,000 mile oil interval changes, not the wiser 3k-5k that you should.

so you base your information on what you've heard from a dealership ,The people that stand to make tons of money from your loss . you're changing your oil way too early doing all the things you wouldn't have to do if you had a proper oil flooded bearing in your Engine . Your life will come to an end when you hear the "Death rattle"sound of that bearing giving up the ghost. then you can't just change the oil you need to pull the engine and rebuild it like I did. When your engine goes feel free to contact me I'll give you all my contacts prices I paid etc. PS I say this with all due respect to a fellow Porsche lover. good luck .

Porsche Dealerships know far more about Porsche problems than their customers do ! I never use them due to their high prices but I definitely DO TRUST their factory knowledge !!

The problem lies in trust. It took a class action lawsuit against Porsche just to get an acknowledgement that their was a problem with the IMS bearings. You may trust factory knowledge, but trusting them to be forthcoming is a whole other matter.

I've looked at the recall bullitins for the Boxster from 1997-2006 and there is no bearing recalls. However if the car was still under warranty back when they were new they simply would have replaced the engine if the bearing failed. I did discover that Porsche had some early casting problems with there rather state of the art Lokisil technique that led to slow seepages of oil THROUGH the engine block due to porosity problems, but these engines were replaced if it arose under warranty. My question is if a class action lawsuit happened what was the outcome? I couldn't find anyone who got a new/better bearing replaced at intervals or a new engine who had a failure. Please let me know if I can get free work done...hehe:)

From what I understand if your car is less than 10 old and the motor goes and you pay for a rebuild motor ,Porsche will reimburse a portion of the cost.they wouldn't pay for preventing ims problems . This is why I think you take control of your own destiny ,repair it then your fixed for life .as I said previously get the IMS solution oil supply bearing it's a little more expensive but it will last a lifetime . I also agree with Stephen it really is a matter of trust how can a company like Porsche let down their customers as they did .it would be nothing to repair and replace bearings to preserve the good name and the value of their vehicles .Ball bearings have no place in an automobile engine it was a bad design .Porsche should own it. http://www.classactionrebates.com/settlements/porsche/

Thank you very much for the reply. I still think Porsche as a company is rare and the cars they produce are truly amazing and fun to own and drive. This bearing problem can of course be a major bummer for us working stiffs who saved up to buy our dream cars but I don't believe Porsche knew about it's possible faults until the warranty replacements started coming in. I am going to replace mine with either the LN Engineering ceramic bearing or the oiled one you recommend. The oiled one sounds more like a fix it and forget it repair but I don't like the idea of having to cut into the lower housing to run the oil line to it...I'll do this repair when I change the clutch soon.

Now I just read the settlement clause if you will and it effected only the 2001-2005 models. Although this seems in direct relation to the single row bearing cars I'm still going to go ahead with replacing mine. My boxster is a 1999 with the dual row bearing that is less likely but I really don't want to ruin my engine and a new replacement engine would cost a bundle. Again thanks for the link and advice.

I have a 2006 Boxster with 55,000 miles. Tonight the engine started to make a knocking sound, and it has me very concerned. I did not know about the IMS issues until I read this thread. If the sound is an IMS failure and my car is already knocking, does that mean I'm already too late. Or can it still be fixed?

Don't attempt to start it! Have it towed to your shop or dealer to have it inspected. Don't even attempt to turn it over by hand! It may be nothing more than a loose heat shield, but have it checked. Good luck.

Not sure what to do. I have a 2000 Boxster with 52,000 miles on it. No problems but last oil change ( 3000 miles ago) we installed a magnetic drain plug and when we changed the oil today there were some metal filings attached. Mechanic said it could just be a normal accumulation over 52,000 miles since we just began using the magnet. To replace clutch, flywheel and upgrade to ceramic bearing the cost will be $3500 or more according to numerous shops. Other than that my car looks new and runs well

Change oil & Porsche filter every 6000 miles ! Ignore the bullshit about IMS bearing failure Independent engineering shops scaring Boxter owners into spending thousands of $$$$$. Enjoy your Porsche...........less than 2 % of 986's ever had a problem !! FACT

I own a 2002 996 Carrera 4 cab . Had the IMS replaced at 99k, but had that fail last month. Dealer replaced my engine with a German factory rebuilt motor . Took 2 weeks and cost $24k. Very painful. Since that is what the car is worth I intend to keep it indefinitely. On the plus side, it runs like a new car. Now hav 1100 miles on my new engine. Mileage is 140k, so the IMS lasted 40k....

You must have more money than brains !!

Better than having no money brains or upgraded IMS.

Well it's been almost 4 years and I hope things worked out for you either way. This thread was very entertaining to read. You all sound like a bunch of Democrats and Republicans on here. No one agrees on anything! I own a 99 with 111K on the clock and have never had an issue with my IMS...having said that It could go tomorrow! I change my oil every other year at about 10-12K miles. Owning the Boxster has been a pure joy over the years and I'm about to upgrade to a low....er mileage 2009 edition with the 7 speed PDK. I'm getting old and tired of shifting gears. If I were in your shoes back then I would have taken the chance and not changed out the IMS mainly because you already had a 100K and the value of the car verses the actual risk, makes it a bad investment. For the record, I live in Florida with no homeowners insurance! Don't forget to clear out those drain holes! Best to all my peeps

I agree with the part that this thread has been very entertaining. I just purchased a 1999 Boxster with 54,000 miles on it, I think that I will hold off on getting IMS replaced seeing that the clutch was just replaced. I really appreciate all the responses a lot of different opinions, for $7000 it’s not cost-effective to pay for the upgrade I’ll just take my chances !

Motherrose. You're going to be fine. You've got the double row bearing which fails at a rate of 1-2%. Change the oil fairly often and drive the car like you stole it and the Boxster will take good care of you. I've had mine for a while now ans appreciate it more every day. Just purchased another 2003 5Speed Boxster with 32K on the clock. I decided against the PDK as I'm not ready to give up shifting yet. Best of luck to you and your new car!

I believe a fellow in Florida who has an oil fed upgrade stated that babied cars fail more often and tracked cars rarely fail, so maybe one should run the crap out of them. I wondered if parking the warmed up car in a steep grade would cause the oil to cover the bearing and maybe penetrate it with oil. I lift the seal on idler bearings etc. and inject oil to loosen rough bearings. They last for years.

When you do the clutch have the IMS bearing and the rear main seal replaced. Cheap insurance compared to blowing up an engine. BTW - That 1-2% failure rate us at 100k miles, The percentage will go up as you drive more.

How many of you have replaced the IMS bearing yourself without tools,and did you have a difficult time because of that? How many hours to do if no experience with VW/Porsche etc? What are the difficult part of it and what basic tools, jacks etc will be required? I have pulled and rebuilt engines, transmissions and straight axles, but am away from home and would have to work with a friend who has limited tools and 25 miles from Tucson. Thanks. Anyplace else online that covers this? Is there a consensus on which replacement is most reliable? It would seem like an oil feed would be very desirable, and maybe roller bearing vs ball - if any offer that.

I would just go with the stock bearings provided they are the double row. If your engine has the single row bearing I would be looking at upgrading it.

i want another boxster(had a 2001) but don't want to have to deal with losing sleep that the engine might explode from the ims. so i guess if I buy a 2009 or newer boxster and change the oil regularly then i should be good right?

If that is your concern do not buy a M96 or M97 engine. Get a car without the IMS (9A1 engine).

Volker, when you replaced the IMS, was it stock or aftermarket IMS?

I have an early 2000 boxter (78 k ml) on which I have pretty much decided to have the ims replaced. Mechanic pretty sure it's a double row bearing. Question is shop wants to replace clutch and flywheel which will double the cost, is it worth it? Dave.

It would be best to do the clutch while you are at it. Not sure why they want to replace the flywheel. If you think the price is too high, shop around.

Does Automatic trans cars also have IMS?

Well, I have an 03 with automatic and if it doesn't, the previous owner wasted $3400 replacing it. BTW, rather than seamlessly shifting up into the next gear, mine allows the revs to increase a bit before engaging the next gear. Is this normal? If not, can it be adjusted for a crisper or more immediate shift without the rev? It goes rrrrr ^^^ next gear engages. BTW, I wonder if auto cars have more IMS failures as they say easier driven cars are more prone to failure and an auto car probably doesn't get the routine revs a manual does. If so, does babying to go easy on the bearing actually increass the probably of failure?

Have a 2002 base changed the ims to retrofit at 64000 miles service writer at dealer recommended . Dealers do not do aftermarket retrofit . So his recommendation was based on car history not making money. Retrofit at 2500 dollars is cheap insurance vs 13000 repair . Car is fantastic

I wonder if Porsche feels any shame about this very obvious design failure. Is this a medium DIY por expert level? How much for the ceramic bearings and tools, anyone?

Having the IMS bearing replaced at a shop is a scam - they charge thousands, and yet they don't bother to do a complete engine overhaul at the same time. As someone who has rebuilt many engines, this is a ridiculous practice pursued by owners that don't have any idea what they're doing. It is a complete waste of money.

Really "James"...you said above..."Great investment could save you 30000 or more" Unbelievable how these wannabe bully Porsche mechanics are trying to scare people with boxsters. You can get an engine for $1900 all day long online just google it. It's another thousand to do the install. Don't take it to a Porsche dealership, take it to an independent European auto mechanic that has good reviews online. And don't worry about the engine number not matching the body. If a collector or Boxster enthusiast buys the car somewhere down the road he or she is going to want a new engine in it anyway if they know anything at all about these great cars. Above all, drive and take care of your Boxster cause it's only going to start increasing in value.

I have a 2000 Boxster S with 62000 km and shiftronic, I don't plan on changing the bearing but instead change the oil every 3000km, the vehicle may have the double row bearing. I don't agree with the $1900 replacement cost for the engine. It looks like a good one would cost about $7000.

again, it is my understanding that oil changes will not affec failure likelihood since the housing for the IMS is sealed. failure is just that, a failure. engine rebuild is about $13000. My IMS cos me $2500 two years ago. as I noted before, the Porsche service writer recommended. they do not no retrofits with aftermarket stuff. very pleased. you can read all about it through a paper published by the president of the Oregon Boxster owners association, published several years ago. i have met several other boxster owners who feel the same way. been two and a half years now. car runs great.

"I own a 2002 996 Carrera 4 cab . Had the IMS replaced at 99k, but had that fail last month. Dealer replaced my engine with a German factory rebuilt motor . Took 2 weeks and cost $24k. Very painful. Since that is what the car is worth I intend to keep it indefinitely. On the plus side, it runs like a new car. Now hav 1100 miles on my new engine. Mileage is 140k, so the IMS lasted 40k...." I could be wrong but it seems your mistake was doing the IMS bearing work in the first place. It lasted 100k miles without out!

This is all intended to help people decide whether to replace or not replace. Is it actually going to be an issue if I don't? I can only imagine that if this was a huge enough deal with it going out there would be a whole lot more testimonials of people replacing the motor. I've had my 2003 boxter s for 2 years at 75k ish. Drive it like I stole it! These cars are fun. Just like any sports car stuff breaks. You gotta push it to find the weak points. Replace as needed. Always upgrade replaced parts. Drive fast take chances. BTW I'm just a working Joe. Don't make a bunch of money. I won't be replacing until something blows up

If the IMS goes you will be looking at a new engine as opposed to a new bearing. You decide.

Tough call. A 2003 Boxster S base has a KBB price of $9K. Worth putting in the $2500- 3000 or roll the dice? Andrew, it's hard to say. Some estimates say 20% of all Porsche IMS engines will have it fail. Some say not driving it hard is the issue because it starves the IMS of lubrication. No way to know. How many more miles do you expect (or hope) o get out of the car?

I would never buy a used Boxster unless the IMS service had already been done.

F_O_R, Why is that? It's a catastrophic so if it hasn't failed there's no engine damage from the bearing. If the price is right what the difference between having it done yourself or buying one that was done. Not following your thinking here.

Because failure is virtually always catastrophic and the bearing upgrade is not cheap. A well maintained car would have it done. Not having it done makes me think the owner is a cheapskate or ignorant of proper maintenance.

I've been researching the ims issure for some time. Its amazing all the repeated facts and stats about having it done and of course many people with major miles on their cars with no issues. Its seems like the camps are fighting to do or not to do. What I'm interested in is the various upgrades out there and what is going on with them. Yes LN does a wonderful job with their upgrades, but what about other alternatives. Is there anyone out there who just might have some info that is reasonable.

Why would we even have to deal with this manufacturer FU? This IMS failure is a well known and enduring issue with the Boxsters and the fact that they are not recalling the effected cars is a bad mark on Porsche.

That's an excellent question. When I was looking at Boxters/Caymans I couldn't make the math work and I just jumped ahead to a more recent year without an IMS. Problem solved. Porsche could handled this much better. But they're in business to make money, and it would be hard to argue that they made the wrong business decision given how their sales are doing now. The gambled that largely ignoring this problem would not hurt them long term, and they appear to have been right.

Looking at a 2000 Boxster S and seller claims IMS bearing issue is not applicable to this engine. Is that accurate?

I've had porsches for 50 years, it seems there is always an issue. The 356's had many issues and the early 911's had their issues. I'm presently finishing the 2nd restoration on my 75 911 (lst I did 25 years ago). The lst restoration I completely rebuilt the motor (2.7) which had many problems, studs, etc. I addressed the problems and the motor still is perfect just needs some resealing but the cased will not be opened. I had a 81 911 3 L. in which the engine was famous for broken head studs. Back then someone came up with a solution and you fixed it. As I see it the ims is just another problem and you fix it. The problem is now the confusion, hype, name calling and not to mention the cost. I will fix my ims bearing myself, I'm just trying to get some imput on like people who have done theirs and their choices. Interestingly I recently purchased a 2000 boxster with 3800 miles on it, sorting the car out and the ims is on the list. Talked to a couple of service folks who want somewhere is the neighborhood of 3000. to 5,500. for the job. The higher end wanted to remove all sorts of stuff to see if the bearing was failing. I mention I had just gotten an oil sample analysis and it was perfectly clean. Reply was for the warranty they have to do the extra work. And it seems the warranty only covers the part and not labor. So I will spend the weekend replacing the bearing myself.

Not possible. The model of Boxster made from '96-'04 is the 986. All 986 model cars have an IMS bearing. This personal selling the car is either ill informed or lying. I would ask why it's not applicable? Page showing which models are affected: https://autohaushamilton.com.au/news/ims- bearing-the-facts-made-simple Boxster wiki to see the model number for the 2000 Boxster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_Boxster/Cayman

dvresh. They are lying or ignorant.

jb356. Get the tool or borrow one if you can. If you are talented enough you can make one but don't ask me how ;)

There is no official data released by porsche services for a real %, what is clear is that USED PORCHES with NO replaced IMS from 2001-2005 and arguably 1997- 2005 should be considered NOT well maintained. Plain Simple. This is from a guy with a 1999 and 2002 in his life NEVER with a problem ever. But its a 1500-2000 service preventing a 20,000 problem. Its a no brainer.

On the television show " Wheeler Dealers" on Motertrend, Who specialize in euro cars they did a show on replacing the IMS. They give their recommendation on what kit to use. They use a solid bushing with a oiling system. Replacing a sealed bearing with another doesn't fix the problem since it's a lack of lubrication. There is no oil going to this bearing thus the use of the "sealed" bearing. Extended warm up of the engine will not help. It's a sealed bearing. If you possess decent mechanical skills and access to a lift then you can do it yourself. The kit is roughly $1500. It is easy to install but getting to it is the labor intensive part. You may be able to go to the motor trend app and view the show on "2000 Porsche 996".

@neilfix i see you have a TT as well I have a TT coupe and considering getting the Quattro roadster either 225 or v6 or a boxster or boxster S Which one would you get ?