guys, many thanks for taking a look at my ims failure concern:

I just have purchased a 05 997s with an m97 motor --car build date 2/05--from my research, it was built 600 engines BEFORE the beefier ims upgrade may have gone into effect.

Going to take it in for a ppi tomorrow. I got a good deal and love the car.

But I have the ability to return the car by Thursday and get my money back--on general principles I could, and just wait for another deal, and get an 06 or 07. For that matter, could also plunk down some more money to just be safe (997.2?)

I just want to be able to sleep at night and won't be for the next couple nights until I figure out what I should do.

Thanks in advance for any advice. It's do or die decision time for me!

 

IMS fail rates are very low, even in the 05. You can do the LN retrofit or get an aftermarket warranty for peace of mind. If you've got a car you like, 2005 should not be an issue.

 

Do you worry about dieing from:

Self-intentional harm?
Cancer?
Falling down?
Motor Vehicle?

If not, then you shouldn't worry about an IMS failure. Vegas wasn't built on winners. Seriously, if you can't sleep at night, then upgrade to a 997.2

 

If it worries you, and peace of mind is a major issue, then you could jump for a 997.2, but it would be a big chunk of change just for worry about a design detail. Since you like this car, and you have a good deal in hand, let me suggest you spend a very much smaller amount of money on the LN retrofit, or even just a minuscule amount of money on the device that monitors metallic content of the oil in real time. LN sells that device as well, but you can get the dealer to install it, and if his people are any good it will look like a factory instrument -- or so I've heard.

Look at it another way. These are toys. Big pricey toys, but just toys, and you're not going to be flying the Atlantic with that IMS bearing, so it's not a life-critical item. It's just a few bucks at stake. So few that you could buy the car, lose the IMS bearing next month, replace the entire damn engine, and still spend less than some people spend on a night in a casino having 'fun' in less tangible ways. In fact, you could do that twice and still spend less than it would cost to change your choice to a 997.2 right now.

Cars are cheap. Life is expensive. Might as well enjoy the one as a garnish for the other.

Gary

 

Replace the bearing with the LN and enjoy your new car!

 

I had an '06 2S with the bigger bearing, but the IMS issue did worry me constantly. It all depends on how devastating the pinhole risk of a $20k bill would be to you personally. To some it would change their lifestyle, to others not at all.

My advice is, at the PPI to have them change the oil filter, get the old one and cut the ends off and inspect for ferrous metals in the folds. That's the best non-invasive way of diagnosing an incipient problem with the IMS bearing, as far as I know. You could also do an oil analysis from LN, but you don't have time for that.

If its due for a clutch soon, plan on doing it right away and swap out for the ceramic LN bearing. You'll sleep soundly at night and will have saved a bundle versus a 997.2

 

An entire brand new engine is around 14k. You'll spend more than that going to a 997.2. Drive the car, enjoy the car. Spend your money IF you have to LATER.

J

 

Is the seller a dealer of some sort? If so, tell them you will return the car unless they give you a 1 year warranty that covers everything bumper to bumper. The worst that can happen is they say "no".

If thats the case you can still keep the car. At the PPI have them check the oil filter for metal. If there is ANY, walk away. If not, get the LN magnetic drain plug and install it the next time you change the oil, then change your oil frequently. Use the types of oil that LN recommends, like 5W40 instead of 0W40, etc. If you want to spend the money you can get the LN system that sounds an alarm if the magnetic drain plug picks up any metal. It doesn't prevent the IMS bearing failure, but it tells you when it starts to happen so you can save the rest of your engine. As someone else already mentioned, if you're still worried upgrade to the LN ceramic bearing kit, change the clutch while you're at it.

Most importantly, drive the car, a lot. According to the LN website the cars that have the highest incident of IMS failure are the ones that are treated like a family heirloom where its parked in the garage 363 days out of the year. When you do drive it they recommend choosing a gear where you keep the rpm's at or above 3,000. That ensures the IMS is getting plenty of oil.

 

"they recommend choosing a gear where you keep the rpm's at or above 3,000"

Not to threadjack, but in that case I have nothing to worry about

 

The IMS should not be getting any oil. If it is, you are already on your way to a problem. The bearing is supposed to be sealed.... with grease as the internal lubicant.

 

+1 . . . . When motor oil gets into the bearing it displaces the bearing grease and promotes failure.

 

I don't get the worry over this problem. The fail rate is so low it's not worth talking about. I certainly wouldn't fix it unless it was broke, or I was already in the crank case. It is the only thing that ever fails, so everybody talks about it. You're more likely to get in a car wreck than to have this happen, but your not driving a Suburban right? Enjoy the car. The IMS isn't going to fail.

 

Follow your namesake's advice: Yeeahhhhhhhhhhhhh, boy!

Get the car.

 

Better to have peace of mind than worrying if it's bothering you that much....better off putting the cost of fixing the engine if it happens ($15k from what someone noted) into just getting the 997.2 to begin with

 

Fear breeds bad decisions.