IMS Bearing Questions on new to me 2004

[mjposner]

Just purchased a 2004 Carrera C2 with 50k miles.  PPI was clean, and seller says he had IMS Bearing done in 2013 (when he bought).  I confirmed with his mechanic (now retired), but no paperwork.  So its been 6 years and 13k miles since 2013.  Had oil change at PPI and filter was spotless, no metal bits at all.  My mechanic says he would do nothing until clutch replacement.  

 

Feedback appreciated.

[JFP in PA]

10 minutes ago, mjposner said:

Just purchased a 2004 Carrera C2 with 50k miles.  PPI was clean, and seller says he had IMS Bearing done in 2013 (when he bought).  I confirmed with his mechanic (now retired), but no paperwork.  So its been 6 years and 13k miles since 2013.  Had oil change at PPI and filter was spotless, no metal bits at all.  My mechanic says he would do nothing until clutch replacement.  

 

Feedback appreciated.

 

What is your concern?  If the IMS was replaced with a quality retrofit like the LN system, you have miles to go before anything needs to be done.  Go drive it like you stole it!

[NikitaUCLA]

I purchased a 2002 with 60k and no IMS fix. I'm currently at 120k still with no IMS fix and will never get one. I'll take my chances. If you have money to waste, go for it. Won't hurt. 

[Porschelibrarian]

I think the LNN is overpriced and have heard from more than a few Porsche shops that LNN doesn't stand by their product after the 1 year warranty is up.  I haven't heard of any failures yet from the EPS IMS upgrade/replacement.

[JFP in PA]

4 hours ago, Porschelibrarian said:

I think the LNN is overpriced and have heard from more than a few Porsche shops that LNN doesn't stand by their product after the 1 year warranty is up.  I haven't heard of any failures yet from the EPS IMS upgrade/replacement.

 

I’m not surprised that anyone would not honor any warranty after it has expired; that is why it has a date on it.

 

Also not surprised about your comment on the EPS bearing, falls into the rules of small numbers.

[Porschelibrarian]

38 minutes ago, JFP in PA said:

 

I’m not surprised that anyone would not honor any warranty after it has expired; that is why it has a date on it.

 

Also not surprised about your comment on the EPS bearing, falls into the rules of small numbers.

Do you actually know the numbers involved?  I"m surprised you think you have any idea what the actual numbers are.  

[Loren]

Enough - back on topic.

We can debate IMS bearings all day just like oil. The original posters question has been answered.

[mjposner]

" If the IMS was replaced with a quality retrofit like the LN system, you have miles to go before anything needs to be done"  Being the anal type (and a lawyer) without paperwork or registration (LN website shows no records), I wonder if it has been actually done.  That said,  running the numbers favors waiting (3k to fix now, or 15k x 5% risk of failure or $750).  

 

P.S.  This is my first 911 and it is a hoot.  I have owned 9 M cars and this is easily its equal.  

[Andrew911]

On 6/8/2019 at 2:58 PM, NikitaUCLA said:

I purchased a 2002 with 60k and no IMS fix. I'm currently at 120k still with no IMS fix and will never get one. I'll take my chances. If you have money to waste, go for it. Won't hurt. 

 

Manual or Tiptronic?  I've been told the Tips have a higher risk, but don't know for sure.

 

Mine is a 2003 with 61k miles.  Debating on whether to do it or save the $5,000+ I got quoted for IMS replacement.

[mjposner]

Mine is a manual.  I am going to wait for a clutch before I even consider.

[wyovino]

On 6/8/2019 at 3:24 PM, mjposner said:

Just purchased a 2004 Carrera C2 with 50k miles.  PPI was clean, and seller says he had IMS Bearing done in 2013 (when he bought).  I confirmed with his mechanic (now retired), but no paperwork.  So its been 6 years and 13k miles since 2013.  Had oil change at PPI and filter was spotless, no metal bits at all.  My mechanic says he would do nothing until clutch replacement.  

 

Feedback appreciated.

If the replacement IMSB is one manufactured by LN Engineering, you may be able to verify it on LNE's website. They have a database of replacements. But, if you don't find it in their database, it doesn't mean it wasn't done.  Many early replacements weren't logged and newer replacements are only logged if the shop doing the work follows through after the installation.

Edited June 18, 2019 by wyovino

[wyovino]

On 6/10/2019 at 6:06 PM, Andrew911 said:

 

Manual or Tiptronic?  I've been told the Tips have a higher risk, but don't know for sure.

 

Mine is a 2003 with 61k miles.  Debating on whether to do it or save the $5,000+ I got quoted for IMS replacement.

That's not something I've ever heard or read (about Tiptronics). Regarding the $5k quote, that's likely for the IMS Solution, which is the one that never needs to be replaced.

[NikitaUCLA]

This topic has been discussed thousands of times. I can sleep at night knowing I’m on the original IMS with 119,000 miles. 

 

If you can’t, go get it done. 🙂 

my boxster is a manual and my 911 is an auto. 

No exploding engine 

[mjposner]

My oil test came back from Blackstone and the report states:

 

Wear from the IMS bearing shows up as iron, and the 9-ppm in this sample is just fine. Keep in mind, the IMS bearing is a sealed unit so we don't see any metal from it until the seal fails. Watch for an oil leak near the rear main seal or oil filter metal as symptoms of IMS trouble. Universal averages show typical wear after ~3,700 miles of oil use. Wear metals are fine so we don't suspect any mechanical issues. The 5.0 TBN shows lots of active additive in the oil. We consider 1.0 too low. No fuel or water was found, and oil filtration is fine with insolubles at 0.3%.

 

"If the replacement IMSB is one manufactured by LN Engineering, you may be able to verify it on LNE's website"  Mine is not listed (I think my prior owner had a private deal with shop (cash) and so no "paperwork."  Shop was sold over a year ago.  Spoke with former owner who said he did the ims in 2013.

 

"If the IMS was replaced with a quality retrofit like the LN system, you have miles to go before anything needs to be done."  I believe its a mileage 40-60k or time interval 4-6 years between replacements, so not sure low miles matters.

[JFP in PA]

2 hours ago, mjposner said:

My oil test came back from Blackstone and the report states:

 

Wear from the IMS bearing shows up as iron, and the 9-ppm in this sample is just fine. Keep in mind, the IMS bearing is a sealed unit so we don't see any metal from it until the seal fails. Watch for an oil leak near the rear main seal or oil filter metal as symptoms of IMS trouble. Universal averages show typical wear after ~3,700 miles of oil use. Wear metals are fine so we don't suspect any mechanical issues. The 5.0 TBN shows lots of active additive in the oil. We consider 1.0 too low. No fuel or water was found, and oil filtration is fine with insolubles at 0.3%.

 

"If the replacement IMSB is one manufactured by LN Engineering, you may be able to verify it on LNE's website"  Mine is not listed (I think my prior owner had a private deal with shop (cash) and so no "paperwork."  Shop was sold over a year ago.  Spoke with former owner who said he did the ims in 2013.

 

"If the IMS was replaced with a quality retrofit like the LN system, you have miles to go before anything needs to be done."  I believe its a mileage 40-60k or time interval 4-6 years between replacements, so not sure low miles matters.

 

Current LN recommend replacement interval is 75K miles.

[mjposner]

JFP, its no just miles and also depends on what was installed.  For me it is one of these:

IMS Retrofit™
Classic
4 years or 50,000 miles

IMS Retrofit™
Single Row Pro
6 years or 75,000 miles

So either way, by time I am ready for replacement despite only 13k more miles.  

 

[JFP in PA]

2 hours ago, mjposner said:

JFP, its no just miles and also depends on what was installed.  For me it is one of these:

IMS Retrofit™
Classic
4 years or 50,000 miles

IMS Retrofit™
Single Row Pro
6 years or 75,000 miles

So either way, by time I am ready for replacement despite only 13k more miles.  

 

 

Or install the IMS Solution and be done with it forever...…………..