[88carrera]

Johan,

Let's look at the "fix" first. The very talented owner of the shop that has done my serious Porsche work for the last dozen years insists that in most cases a failing IMS bearing actually can be detected prior to failure by the high-pitched "rumbling" noise that it makes at idle as the lubricant begins to leak out and the bearings start to deteriorate.

The really loud sounds that are made last only a brief time and sound like a saw blade cutting into metal. This is the sound made when the IMS bearing assembly completely self-destructs, allowing the intermediate shaft to wobble at the end and cause the timing chains to jump, cut into engine parts and cause piston-valve contact. If this happens, you have a $15-20K problem because the engine is essentially trash.

So, if the IMS bearing in the car that you are looking at is just beginning to fail but has not yet taken out the entire engine with its demise, how can you tell and what can you do?

First of all, I would not even start this car up. let alone drive it again, until you know what is wrong with it.

If you have a sample of the oil analyzed by a place like Blackstone Labs (no affiliation, but I have used them for years), you can find out if there are elevated levels of metals that should not be in the oil. Also, if you could get the seller to allow you to take out the oil filter, you can carefully cut it open and examine it for metallic and plastic debris that would indicate bearing failure.

What you should offer for the car is up to you, but if you do not perform due diligence, you may well have a $15-20K problem as soon as you drive away with the title. On the other hand, if the owner cooperates with you in the problem diagnosis, you could get a very repairable car at a discounted price.

Good luck, and please let us know how this works out.

Jim