996 IMS Bearing Issues

[Lakefan911]

I am looking at all years of the 996.

Will a PPI tell you definitively about the IMS bearing and whether or not it is prone to failure?

All of the vehicles I am looking at have between 30-50k miles...I read where the 1999 version does not have an IMS issue...true?

[JFP in PA]

No PPI can tell you if an IMS bearing is prone to failure unless it is already failing when the PPI is done.

All M96/97 engine's that contain an IMS shaft have some probability of failure, the only difference is how high that probability is.

A 1999 should be a dual row unit, which is the best performing version, but they also still fail.

[a0128]

Was the IMS issue only localized to the Carrera engines or did it impact the GT3 engines as well?

[wiggle_puppy]

Originally Posted by a0128

Was the IMS issue only localized to the Carrera engines or did it impact the GT3 engines as well?

GT3s and Turbos use a different engine design without an IMS. They are closer to the aircooled cars than the M96 motors are.

I would recommend budgeting for a clutch, IMS, and RMS replacement unless it has already been done. You can do a clutch, flywheel, RMS, and LN-Engineering IMS for $2000-3000 parts+labor. You get piece of mind and a car that you can mercilessly beat on without much fear of failure.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by wiggle_puppy

GT3s and Turbos use a different engine design without an IMS. They are closer to the aircooled cars than the M96 motors are.

Actually, the Mezger designed engine does have a "lay shaft", which is basically what an intermediate shaft is, but in the Mezger it uses pressurized oil fed solid bearings, not unlike the LN IMS Solution system.

[craigmakes3]

2% failure rate on the duel row bearing for your year. just deduct $2000 from offer and replace the thing for piece of mind.