[Long Nose]

"Once ferrous starts showing up it's too late for a rebuild". REALLY????

That's not what I have read. In fact, that's the whole point of the "guardian system", is to detect ferrous metal before an IMS failure. That's why you crack open your filter to check for metal each time you do an oil change.

JFP - on what basis would you say that a few metal flecks in his filter and this guy needs and entire engine rebuild? What are you a Porsche dealer or something?

I would say IMS for sure, but WHOLE MOTOR REBUILD??? C'mon...