IMS Engine Blown Question

[GeorgeDean]

HYPOTHETICAL....

Lets say my base 2004 engine (stick shift) totally blows from the IMS....

How much does it cost to get the car back on the road? I can't do the replacement myself.

I assume one could buy a USED engine? a reconditioned one? new one?

Just doing some more thinking about doing an extended warranty, proactively doing IMSR, and doing nothing.

George

[Zeke]

AFA the extended warranty, You need to be sure it covers what you want it to. The engine will be more expensive than any warranty I've heard of. Used engines are not too cheap either.

You could buy and install the monitoring system as well as upgrade the bearing. Doing nothing will be on your side percentage wise, but that's percentage wise.

[feelyx]

Lets see 2.7L x user fees + 54,000 - the rotation of the earth= WOW! thats alotta' money!!! If your afraid of the IMS blowing, either change it now, or get a warrenty that covers it later.
That way you can sleep at night.
Tim

[recycled sixtie]

Or get an IMS guardian installedIf it works as it is intended to do, then this is the cheapest route(for me $1000 for unit and installation inclusive). Good luck with what you decide and let us know what u do

[cnavarro]

We had an email yesterday from someone who had their 03 Boxster with 120,000 miles and he had a failure at 4,900 miles (on a 5k interval). An IMS Guardian would have told him he had problems, where at the last oil change his magnetic drain plug had zero debris (same as the filter). It's looking like a 3k interval may be necessary on later cars with single row bearings if not fitted with an IMS Guardian since the bearings can go without warning so fast.

[mikefocke]

here are your options

What Can You Do If Your Engine Is Blown - mikefocke2

None of them particularly cheap.

If you are going to worry over the possibility of an IMS failure, you probably won't enjoy the car so I'd suggest you sell now. Keep in mind any car you drive can fail at any time.

I've had more trouble with my last 4 Japanese-manufacturer cars (2 engine replacements, one transmission replacement, one power steering pump replacement, 5 brake cylinder replacements, 3 bent wheels, 2 cars rusted out, etc) than I have with my 2 Boxsters (one O2 sensor aged at twice the mileage the one on the Honda did the same. Replacement cost for the Boxster was only 2/3 the cost of the same Honda part, labor the same).

There are multiple causes of failure (22 for the Boxster engine have been identified) and you probably can't afford to protect against all of them (see flat6innovations completely rebuilt with thought to be improved parts motor prices).

You are more liable to crash the car than for an IMS to fail yet we don't obsess over that possibility...

[ronster]

If you get a warranty ask a lot of questions and read and reread the fine print. A friend of mine bought an extended warranty that he was told included engine replacement from IMS failure (among other things) and sure enough the IMS failed. The insurance company would not replace the motor with a new one they found a used one in a wrecking yard that met their criteria and that is what he had to settle for. So he's now driving around in a car that can suffer the same occurrence and the company canceled the warranty. My $3600 warranty was worthless as the first time I used it the company claimed preexisting condition and wouldn't fix the claim. The cost of replacing the IMS with a ceramic one is $,1800-2400 depending on whose doing it and much less if you do it yourself. Weigh that cost against a warranty that the insurer will pick and choose what is replaced and with what is used to replace. Insurance companies are in the business to make money not to spend it.

[GeorgeDean]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

here are your options

What Can You Do If Your Engine Is Blown - mikefocke2

GREAT write up!!!

Thanks Mike.

Just curious the price range one would be looking at.... seems like $4K to $20K

George

[mikefocke]

More like $2500 to $40k depending on what option...and I know which one I'd want.

I don't know about the Costco-sold warranty but I don't know of any Extended Warranty I'd want for reasons explained here. The short version is the insurers are an unreliable lot and even the best know the odds and make money so the odds can't be good for you. But then I'm a risk taker...and way ahead over 50 plus years of buying things without accepting those warranties they try to sell you.

[Larry_Ratcliff]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

More like $2500 to $40k depending on what option...and I know which one I'd want.

I don't know about the Costco-sold warranty but I don't know of any Extended Warranty I'd want for reasons explained here. The short version is the insurers are an unreliable lot and even the best know the odds and make money so the odds can't be good for you. But then I'm a risk taker...and way ahead over 50 plus years of buying things without accepting those warranties they try to sell you.

+1 I never buy the extended warranty on anything. However, I will say that I am likely to replace the IMS bearing personally.... That is my insurance. However, my car only has 52k miles on it and I wont do it until the clutch starts to feel iffy.

[Larry_Ratcliff]

Originally Posted by Zeke

AFA the extended warranty, You need to be sure it covers what you want it to. The engine will be more expensive than any warranty I've heard of. Used engines are not too cheap either.

You could buy and install the monitoring system as well as upgrade the bearing. Doing nothing will be on your side percentage wise, but that's percentage wise.

Dang I now see an official air cooled guru joining the water cooled side like myself. I still have a 69 911 in the works of restoration but decided I would like to drive a nice reliable modern car while that is happening. Glad to see you here Zeke.

[intakexhaust]

I'm guessing most of users of this board are hands-on DIY types but I wouldn't discourage others from buying an extended warranty. Of course much of this depends on the writer and reputation of the company.

I sold new Porsche's years ago along with other high-line brands and yes, the dealer made terrific profits on the 'back-end'. However, I don't ever recall anyone who had an extended warranty complain when they used it. Sure its a gamble, but if you have a good extended warranty, whats the big deal? You can relax and not worry about it, plus when you sell the car, most are transferable. Personally, I'd rather gamble and not buy an extended warranty but for those who don't have a clue of where the oil filter is located, they should buy a policy.

Also, this is not just about the Porsche Boxster but for any late model make or model. I know someone very well who purchased an 05 Chrysler mini-van and the power side doors motors were replaced three times! I think he mentioned it was a $1500 job but was covered under his purchased extended warranty each and every time. I can't imagine that it cost that much to repair but my point is, the warranty paid off for that owner repeatably and this is just a run-of-the-mill common problem Chrysler product.

(Final thoughts... I know of another case where one accidently curbed and bottomed out the bottom of the engine that got them a new one. I'd be concerned about that one if I was in the insurance industry these days).

[mikefocke]

Intake...any insurance that pays out at the ~30% rate Extended Warranties are said to by several independent sources (including Consumer Reports) can't be a good deal for the buyer except to a very few. It is like the casino, a very few will win big and tell you about it, but most have to lose for that to happen.

The previous owner of my '01S had an extended warranty which I could assume for a trivial cost or she could get a refund on her warranty and charge me a $3,000 lower price for the car. I took the lower price. When the warranty would have expired, I was at least $2500 ahead....and didn't have to worry about what was covered, if the insurance company would even be in business, would my shop accept the amount that the warranty might pay, etc. I was solely liable for the repair expenses but at least I could do them my way at a shop of my choice at a price we would negotiate and without delay. As the odds favored me doing it that way, so too did they turn out. You might not have the same experience.

I'd rather take the money, as I did and have the best mechanic in town go over the car in minute detail and do a major service (60/90k) and anything else they find needs to be done. I'd find one who had done IMSRs (Intermediate Shaft Bearing Replacement) before and, if I was worried, have him do the IMSR which now includes the RMS. You might pay almost as much as the warranty on this combination of services but you'd have a car whose major maintenance was addressed and whose maintenance history you'd feel confident in.

[JFP in PA]

As someone that runs a shop, perhaps I can add a different perspective. Many of the aftermarket "warranties" attempt to tell the repair shops what they can charge, and where they have to obtain parts from, in much the same vein as the insurance companies that cover your collision damage. Others insist on sending out an "expert", and I use that term very loosely, who has to inspect the car before any repairs are done. From personal experience, I can tell you that is not going to happen in my shop. We do not use parts from questionable sources, nor do we use junkyard parts unless that is the only option and/or is done with prior owner's consent, or at their direction. I also cannot afford to have a disassembled car sitting on a lift all day waiting for the warranty company's "expert" to make and appearance, which often happens a day or more after they say they will be there. I could tell you some real horror stories about how inept some of these jerks are. Even when the insurers do pay out, the can leave the shop hanging for literally months before they get paid, which is unacceptable.

As the direct result of this nonsense, we no longer accept any aftermarket warranty claims work; we will still fix the car, but the owner has to pay and then chase after the insurer. I have neither the time, nor the inclination to want to have to deal with them.