2000 Boxster engine number

[John from PA]

2000 Boxster, 2.7 liter, 5 speed. I'm the sole owner and no work has been done that would ever necessitate an engine change.

The engine number off a Porsche issued Certificate of Authenicity (CA) is 65Y06546 and the boss at the right rear of the engine likely agrees with that. I say likely becuase I can't make out one digit but all the others agree and are the same sequence. Build date, again based on the CA is 12/13/1999.

At the LN Engineering the IMS bearing retrofit site states engines up to M65112851 are likely dual row IMS bearing and after that single row. That number, at least to me seems to be a totally different format.

Anyone have any insight what type bearing I have. I'm thinking of doing the LN/IMS mod in the near future and would like to order the proper kit in advance..

John from PA

[JFP in PA]

You may have to wait until you pull the car apart on this one. 2000-2001 was a transitional period for Porsche, during which they used both components (dual and single row), and unfortunately the use of engine numbers has proven useless in determining which style bearing is in the engine, you simply have to look. From the LN website:

"MY00-01 vehicles may need either a dual row or single row Retrofit™ kit, so you must inspect the flange and compare to the photos of the dual row and single row IMS shown above to determine which kit is needed."

And for future reference, please do not double post, it is against forum rules.

[zodman]

I'd agree with what JFP suggests, waiting until the bearing cover can be seen. I'm in the same boat with a 2001s and though I'm 99% sure it is a double row, I'll wait until I see it before getting a new bearing.

Edited October 22, 2013 by zodman

[John from PA]

Well it turns out, IMO, my issue is the water pump and not the IMS bearing but thanks to all for your feedback. I was using a stethoscope to check various idler pullers, alternator, etc. and noticed a distinct wobble to the water pump pulley. Lucky me, as I'm observing the wobble, it stopped for a period of 30 seconds (more or less), and so did the erratic noise I was getting. This behavior was observed on a couple more occasions, and the noise is definitely related to a water pump pully wobble that can be visually observed. I had already opened up the oil filter and it is clean; I can't get so much a filing of any type on my magnet.

Also, based on the comments at http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/46267-single-row-vs-double-row-bearings.html it would appear I have the double row bearing based on the "Y" in the engine serial number which indicates the engine assembly occured in 1998.

JFP in PA, if I double posted, and I assume I did and hence your comment, I'm sorry. I do remember that once I had prepared my question and clicked submit, I seemed to wait quite an extended period of time and hence hit the submit button again. The 2nd time I got a progress bar, the 1st time I do not recall the progress bar.

Edited October 22, 2013 by John from PA

[JFP in PA]

Also, based on the comments at http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/46267-single-row-vs-double-row-bearings.html it would appear I have the double row bearing based on the "Y" in the engine serial number which indicates the engine assembly occured in 1998.

Don't bet on it; repeated attempts at using the engine coding for IMS type identification have been proven wrong more often than not. This is one of the main reasons LN started charging people for returned bearing kits, too many "guessed" wrong.