I should stop correcting misinformation on Porsche IMS issues.

"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
08/02/2016 at 16:42 • Filed to: None

I’m less than three months away from 997 shopping (TDI buybacks look to start on Nov. 1st). I want values to stay as low as possible until I find the right one!

DISCUSSION (21)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 16:52

Misinformation on IMS issues? Relevant to my interests; girlfriend wants a Boxster.

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 17:10

Didn’t think Freddy could stoop to new lows, but he certainly did today. Most uniformed piece of garbage, click-bait yet.

RallyWrench > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 17:12

I saw your comment in that clickbait BMW article. There is a lot I could say to that article, but it’s just not worth it.

I’ve seen two fail, but the IMS is not as big a problem as the internet makes it out to be. It pretty much only happens to cars that sit for extended periods of time (with low miles) or have very poor maintenance. If the car has over 60k miles and has been used regularly as most of them have, it’s probably safe. Nonetheless, I’ve had several clients insist on doing it to maintain their resale value because it’s the first question any prospective buyer asks. Nothing $2500 won’t fix though, and other than some head gasket seeps the M96 & 7 has proven to be a really good engine. In the M97 it’s not even worth doing the IMS bearing because it requires a teardown of the case.

Saracen > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2016 at 17:15

There are three types of IMS bearings that ‘can’ be an issue.

1999 M96 (and some ‘00-’01 models): double-row IMS bearing.

This one is quite robust and has a very low failure rate. Easily serviceable.

2000-2005 M96 & M97(including 05.5 997): single-row IMS bearing.

This is the most problematic revision, and is typically the one associated with most horror stories. Like the double row bearing though, it’s easily serviced, and therefore easy to retrofit with the IMS Solution kit.

2006-2008 M97: larger, more robust single-row IMS bearing.

This is as robust as the ‘99 double-row bearing. Failures in these cars are extremely low (less than %1). They are also non-serviceable; you can do the retrofit, but engine dissassembly is necessary to do so.

In all cases it appears that regularly driving the car and getting the oil pressure up (i.e. in a spirited manner) with regular oil changes helps reduce the risk.

Sam > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 17:17

The problem with prevention via getting the oil pressure up is the original owners probably put very few miles on them. But yeah, it’s scary, but not *that* scary.

Saracen > RallyWrench
08/02/2016 at 17:18

I’ve commented before on IMS in the past, and yeah it isn’t worth it anymore. My indy mechanic is a Porsche specialist and he said he hardly ever saw them, even on later model 996 cars. Furthermore he said most problems like misfires are fixed with an italian tune-up.

It certainly helps me as a prospective 997 owner.

Saracen > Sam
08/02/2016 at 17:19

Yeah, exactly. A higher mileage car with a complete maintenance history will generally be healthier than a low mileage garage queen!

nermal > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 18:11

Just quit being a pleb and get a Turbo. They don’t have the IMS issues.

Problem solved!

Saracen > nermal
08/02/2016 at 18:14

Of course I know they don’t, and if the budget allowed for it (unlikely) then I would.

Actually, if the budget allowed for it I would just get a GT3, but the damn things bottomed out seven years ago and have only been climbing ever since..

nermal > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 18:20

Just checked prices and they have indeed gone up, $45 - $50k seems to be the bottom for a decent Turbo.

Even the regular 911s are $30k for a nice looking one.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 18:26

And cheaper!

Torq5teer > Saracen
08/02/2016 at 18:35

I was in the same boat 2 years ago, fraught with 997 IMS paranoia. Then I realized that at least 80% of all internet “noise” about the IMS was generated by those entities that had an interest in fixing IMS bearings, or their proxies. The 997 M96/7 is solid.