Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery....

LakeCleElum · 06:09 AM

My neighbor has drooled over my 2 longhoods for several years.....Started talking about buying his own Porsche someday.....I was patient, gave him my old Excellence magazines and guided him with my limited knowledge. He was all over the place and I thought he was just a tire kicker.

Tonight, a transport truck pulls up and unloads his purchase from Ft. Collins, Co.....A 2001 Boxster S with only 14,000 miles........It truly looks like new. I had told him about the opinion of not buying a low-mileage car with possible IMS issues?

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/4645719422

afterburn 549 · 10-22-2014, 08:20 AM

I have followed that problem for awhile. The consensus seems to be the cars babied have the most problems because they do not get enough "oil slush" according to some re-builders.
Thats the short answer why some do some dont have the problem.
Tell him to go beat it ! lol

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

IMS bearing issues are great Internet hysteria fodder. Like ebola, fatal, but not that common.

My mechanic has replaced a bunch of perfectly good IMS bearings because customers insisted.

Replacing a tested factory part with something made in a little shop somewhere may seem wise to some, but never has to me. and I've owned 3 Boxsters...

speeder · speeder's Garage

It's so difficult to get a true reading on the frequency if that problem because of the web and Porsche not releasing data, (obviously).

Another anecdotal example, but true, is a guy I know who is on his 3rd engine in a 2007 997S he bought new. Porsche has replaced the engine twice for failed IMS. Just over 100k miles now, IIRC.

afterburn 549 · 10-22-2014, 10:18 AM

I have a saying " i know nothing most the time and i can prove it" LOL
From what I think i know - the failures come from lack of use.
According to the re builders- if the car is driven by the grand ma types , it is a lot more likely to fail.
If it is driven in a "spirited way" there is no problem.
So maybe a survey needs to be done.
"As to How do you drive?"

black_falcon · black_falcon's Garage

The IMS total failure rates - dual 1% (1997-2000) and single 8% (mid 2000 onwards) - were provided by Porsche during the IMS class action lawsuit. So his 2001 has a 92% chance of being trouble free. The general consensus is to enjoy the car and replace the IMSb when its time to replace the clutch.

For the extra leery, you can buy the IMS Guardian and for about $400 it will give you advanced notice of an impending failure.

IMS Guardian

FAQs | IMS Porsche Settlement

afterburn 549 · 10-22-2014, 10:58 AM

I guess that ends the gossip !

pmax · pmax's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

I guess that ends the gossip !

You know what they say about statistics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_falcon

The IMS total failure rates - dual 1% (1997-2000) and single 8% (mid 2000 onwards) - were provided by Porsche during the IMS class action lawsuit. So his 2001 has a 92% chance of being trouble free.

I interpret the numbers differently.

If the IMS has not failed yet at the end of that period, then the 2001 is in the 92% category i.e. it is 100% "trouble free" at that point in time.

But that says nothing about the chance of being trouble free as the miles pile up.
There's no data on that !

afterburn 549 · 10-22-2014, 11:30 AM

True enough.
I think in 2009 they changed the design again . Hopefully that fixed it.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Few of us own a car for its entire lifetime. So divide whatever defines "lifetime" by actual miles you use. The odds only improve.

The Boxster I just sold at 98K miles was a rev 3 IMSb design. If the service life of the car is 140K miles, my exposure was 17K miles, or a fraction of the total failure rate (around 1%). I was willing to take that risk.

SilberUrS6 · 10-22-2014, 11:55 AM

If one is going to own the car for quite some time, and one is prudent, the replacement of the bearing can be considered insurance. In addition, a documented replacement might add to resale value, should the need to sell arise.

black_falcon · black_falcon's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

In addition, a documented replacement might add to resale value, should the need to sell arise.

No might about it. The first question knowledgeable buyers ask is "has the IMS been done" and keep moving when you tell them no.

sugarwood · sugarwood's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

The consensus seems to be the cars babied have the most problems because they do not get enough "oil slush" according to some re-builders.

What is oil slush?

afterburn 549 · 10-23-2014, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarwood

What is oil slush?

Dont ask me, i am repeating what the famous fixers of IMS bearings have said.
But the context was a Hollow tube ( IMS shaft) oil in it, not enough to lubricate IMS bearing.
By driving it spirited it helps lube the IMS bearing.
I am only a product of what i have read (in this instance )

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Dont ask me, i am repeating what the famous fixers of IMS bearings have said.
But the context was a Hollow tube ( IMS shaft) oil in it, not enough to lubricate IMS bearing.
By driving it spirited it helps lube the IMS bearing.
I am only a product of what i have read (in this instance )

Well, therein lies the problem. Reading about this stuff on the InterWebs is like getting your news from InfoWars.

The IMSb is sealed. It doesn't benefit from any oil, 'slushy' or otherwise unless the seal breaks.