IMS intermediate shaft bearing

Engine / equipment

M96 and M97 in the 911 996 and 997 (Carrera, not Turbo or GT3), Boxster 986 and 987 and Cayman 987

Period mentioned

1997–2008 (highest risk 2000–2005)

Symptoms

Often none before it breaks. Sometimes noise or knocking and metal particles in the oil filter. When it fails it usually destroys the engine.

Possible cause described

The sealed intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing breaks. The single-row bearing, used mostly in 2000–2005, had warranty failure rates of up to 8–10%, against about 1% for the dual-row bearing. From late 2005 a larger bearing is used that cannot be changed without opening the engine. Turbo and GT3 models use a different engine without this problem.

Check for the garage

Identify the bearing type by year and engine, check the oil filter for metal particles and confirm whether a replacement bearing has already been fitted.

Cost cited in the source

Preventive replacement bearing (engines up to 2005): far cheaper than an engine; if it fails, the engine usually has to be replaced or rebuiltA rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database