Ims question

[D.jameson7]

Hey there,
I'm a new 911 996 owner. I brought my car into a small independent shop who works on European cars cause I had a small oil leak which I suspected to be the ims.
Turns out it was and so I told the mechanic to proceed with replacing it with a ceramic ln version.
He called today and told me he thinks the engine may have been replaced or rebuilt as he cannot remove the ims. He said that he thinks he may have to split the engine to remove it. Is this correct? Can this happen, like would a replacement engine or rebuilt one have an ims part that would require splitting the engine in half?

I appreciate any help or incite!
Derrick

[TimT]

He said that he thinks he may have to split the engine to remove it

There was a series of engines where splitting the case is necessary to replace the IMS..

What year is your car?

[D.jameson7]

1999 carrera 4

[KNS]

1999 should not have to have the case split to replace the IMS, that was around 2006. I think if you go to the "How To" articles at the top of the page and search your car/procedure you might find the answer.

Edit: Just checked, the article is covered here on this website. If you're feeling adventurous you could do it in your garage without splitting the case.

[D.jameson7]

Also not sure if I need to mention it's tiptronic

[KNS]

Originally Posted by D.jameson7

Also not sure if I need to mention it's tiptronic

I don't think it makes a difference. Not sure how knowledgeable your Porsche mechanic is.

[D.jameson7]

I just don't understand why he is saying he would have to split the case. Does anyone have any tips why it could be stuck? Or what he may be missing.

Thanks,
Derrick

[Driven97]

You need a specialized tool to remove it, it's really not intended to be serviced, but the aftermarket figured it out.
Search our host's how-to technical articles.

The '99 dual row bearing typically doesn't fail, fwiw. It's the ~'01-'05 single row that causes the most trouble.

Also, this is an air cooled 911 forum. There's a 996 section on here that you may have more luck with.

[archstanton]

I believe sometime during the 2005 model year or maybe starting with 2006, replacement of the imsb requires that the case be split. Possibly you have such an engine as the replacement.