My car is back From Jake Raby's and his professionalism,service and attention to detail is every bit of what I read and was told. This man and his company have a reputation. It is all true. I have been dealing with automotive performance shops and have spent a good many years in the business myself and I have to say I am very very impressed with his shop. Those of you who have dealt with him know. Those of you who haven't I highly recommend him. I'm sure I could have found someone to install my solution closer to my Boston home but I am so happy I spent the money to have my car shipped to him. I can drive the car like I stole it now and that little noise in my mind that use to say " pray it doesn't go pop" always took the fun out of it. Not now, its all fun and no worries.

 

I checked mine personally and found a Japanese bearing installed. My bearing supplier said they are about 30.00

 

I dont know. I'd be worried if I was depending on a $30 Jap part to protect my $20,000 Germen engine. But hey, it's only money.

 

I know what your thinking but I felt no play in it, pretty sure its been in there since '02. I'll proudly save 900.00. Nothing wrong with Jap parts my Lexus is good for over 400,000 miles.

 

The "Solution" isn't possible for us MY99 owners since it's only for single row bearings.

 

Still I would measure the bore it goes in and to see if its deep enough and get that 30.00 dual row bearing and be pleased. I don't see it falling out or in cause of the flanges that hold it in. My opinion, I've built many engines not sure I'm ready for this yet.

 

I bought a 2001 C4 with 45K on the clock, Took it to a P car specialist shop for pre inspection with leak down test, they recommend replacement. after purchase they did a L&N replacement, oil/air separator, drive line complete fluid change

 

I'm sticking with Dr. Porsche and not a small shop in Iowa who who says they have a better solution. You have to figure the percentage of people who have had issues are the guys hanging around these forums. If it was an issue back in 2001 do you think Porsche would have kept using the same IMS bearing? IMHO.

 

I agree with you cheekybird!

 

I'm sorry Porsche is a business the 996 was designed to be cost effective that's why so many were sold. I'm sure they determined the cost to loss when building this engine. the number of failures in percent is very low. Most failures happened on low mileage babied cars. The turbo and last of air cooled engines I believe were oil feed. I bought a 01 with 45K on the clock from a Dr. who babied it no track time, no trips just to the office on sunny days. I had mine replaced it showed lack of lube seals were gone and some side travel. I was glad I replaced it because it will not be a garage queen I got one of those.

 

Everyone here has a valid point. I am sure most of us are car guys and ladies a lot of us have built engines. I have built many. The 996 IMS bearing in my opinion is a poor design. Will it work? sure. Will it fail? maybe? It's a personal and financial decision we all make. All that being said, It is still a poor design and a cheap way to save money. I still feel the solution in these engines is just that. The "solution". Thats my opinion and we all have a right to an opinion. In the end it is a personal choice.

 

I've caved and am having an IMS upgrade done on my 2000 C2 with 55,000 miles on it next week. Maybe then I can sleep. It's an upgrade anyway, right! My engine runs so good now, I hope I do not regret this.....I will have the clutch replaced for an additional $650 leaving the total repair at around $2700. I guess if it is an upgrade I am OK with it! In the past week I stopped by two Porsche repair shops unannounced and they both had a minimum of 2 996's sitting in there shop looking for new/replacement engines because of IMS failure, scary. I give, here's my money!

 

Money well spent. While there are other potential risks with this (and any other) power plant, the IMS is the most troubling and, more or less, addressable one to contemplate. I had mine replaced at a shade over 51,000 miles (also a model year 2000, C2), and while the removed (double race, but you cannot be sure on a 2000 until it is pulled) bearing appeared fit, I have not regretted my decision to replace it.

 

I have the complete set including tools of the LN Engineering IMS bearing upgrade/replacement from Pelican Parts sitting in my garage for almost 2 years now. I bought it as a prevention measure but decided to let it sit for a while because I haven't had any issues with my 99 C2 NB yet (fingers crossed).