IMS Failure on my '04 C4S - with a silver lining in my black cloud

racerman911 · 11-20-2009, 08:46 PM

Friday a week ago I suffered the dreaded IMS failure on my 40K mile vehicle.

While I was driving down the highway wanting to enjoy what I expected to be one the last really beautiful days in western PA I felt the engine "buck" and then a loud set of rattling in the back. Best description that I've heard and agree with is that there was a bucket of bolts rattling around in the engine compartment (I subsequently learned that those bolts were ball bearings.)

Pulled off on the side of the road and turned off the engine. Flipped open the boot and looked in - from top and bottom. Not sure what I was expecting to see but it all looked normal. Restarted the car and it sounded like normal. Continued to my office parking garage - parked - and went into the office for a few hours.

Planned to meet a client for lunch, pulled out and started to drive away. A very nice guy driving a pickup pulled up beside me and told me that I had a big puddle of something dark at the back of my car when I pulled out (didn't see it myself - I approached the car from the front.) I nicely thanked the guy and drove directly to my local dealer located along the lovely ohio river.

The service manager greeted me as usual with a smile and asked how my day was. “I suspect that you’re going to tell me, here’s what happened…” After my short story the manager said “oh, that’s not good.” I asked “how not good is it?” “Really not good. I suspect you have an IMS failure. If that is correct, you’ll nee a new engine. We’ll need to put it up on the lift to confirm.”

“What will this cost?” I asked. “Well, a new crate engine is 12K cost. Since your car is 18 months out of warranty Porsche would typically not cover all of the engine replacement cost. We’ll need to see what they will cover.” “You have been a really good customer, you’ve been diligent with services, we’ve done everything by the book, you’re here between every one of your track events for inspections, fluid changes, etc. – we’ll go to bat for you and see what we can make happen.”

I made 2 calls – one to cancel my lunch meeting and the 2nd to my wife asking that she come retrieve me and buy me lunch. Later that afternoon the service manager called to confirm – the engine was history.

The weekend came and went. Our track committee had our yearly wrap-up review on Saturday morning and our region had our yearly black-tie affair that Saturday evening. I told my story of woe and stated that I was starting to collect donations to my “engine replacement fund.”

Monday I received a call from the service manager. He asked me if I’d be interested in upgrading to the X51 package. I asked how much the additional engine cost would be – he said approx $2,500. I said, “Hell, if I’m already in for at least 12K what’s another 2.5K – Sure, let’s do it.” He completed the appropriate paperwork necessary for Porsche and we then began the waiting to hear back.

Tuesday morning came and went – no word. Tuesday afternoon as well. At one point in the afternoon I received a call from a buddy who just rebuilt his 1978 911 engine to the tune of 18K.

Wednesday morning I received a call from the service manager. “Really great news, Porsche will cover 100% of the engine cost. They agreed to that level if we agreed to provide the labor at cost which we will. You have been a good customer for a long time and we went to bat for you.”

Long story now short – I have an X51 engine on order – which will be installed over the next 2 weeks. The total cost to me (upgraded engine, labor, new clutch, fluids, etc.) is looking to land around $5K. An X51 option for $5K – I’m a happy camper!

Sometimes dark clouds do have silver linings!

Flat-6 Performance · 11-20-2009, 08:53 PM

wow...great to see them step up. You're going to love the new engine, the X-51 is a great upgrade too congratulations.

racerman911 · 11-20-2009, 08:55 PM

Thanks - looking forward to experiencing the additional power.

Michael-Dallas · 11-20-2009, 09:02 PM

No joke, that's an awesome story w/ an awesome ending! What part of Western PA are you at? My fiancee is from the Greenville area (between Pittsburgh and Erie).

///Michael

M3 Defector · 11-20-2009, 09:11 PM

An IMS failure...how rare. WTF? I'm going to bar myself from this site. Too stressful!

GNR996 · 11-20-2009, 10:05 PM

wow, best possible out come, congrats.

Thundertub · 11-20-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3 Defector

An IMS failure...how rare. WTF? I'm going to bar myself from this site. Too stressful!

Ahhh, many times I have had this same thought. Yet, I return, day after day.
Here we have a wonderful contra-tail to the numerous ones of woe and devil-driven dealerships. I love a fairy-tale-come-true story now and then. Keeps my hopes up against the tide.

If my time comes, I will test the 20 years and 7 new cars relationship I have with my local dealer twixt the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. I hope they offer me that same X51 package at the same final price.

fbgh2o · 11-20-2009, 10:15 PM

Nice! You are a lucky man.

ArneeA · 11-20-2009, 11:14 PM

lucky! congrats!
enjoy the x51!

I guess we should call IMS failures as X51 upgrades.

Van · 11-20-2009, 11:19 PM

Note to self: if I ever hear that "bolts in a can" rattle noise, shut off the engine and don't restart it! No matter how inconvenient it is!

So glad your dark cloud has a silver lining!

ivangene · 11-20-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3 Defector

I'm going to bar myself from this site. Too stressful!

been there - get over it.......

WTG on your bad day - thats a silver lining if ever there was one

kevjandon · 11-21-2009, 02:32 AM

Just goes to show that sometimes paying the little extra a dealer charges for service can pay off big.

We've had similar experiences with our Toyota minivan. We use one dealer to fix and maintain everything on it. Ironically we bought it from a rival dealer.

But the dealer on the maint. side gets just about anything I want fixed, fixed. He always finds a way so that I don't have to pay a dime. He must charge the hell out of Toyota when he bills them.

Good story and good to see Porsche do the right thing as motors should last more than 40K freaking miles.

Oh yeah

on the X51 upgrade.

Barn996 · 11-21-2009, 08:12 AM

Nice story racerman911. Seems like your dealer went to bat for you.(Sewickley Motors dealership??)

AndyK · 11-21-2009, 08:21 AM

Nice! I never saw an IMS failing story where the car was out of warranty, and the dealer actually convinced Porsche to foot the bill.

My car only has 21k miles, so I have another 20k before I have to worry - right!

deckman · 11-21-2009, 08:38 AM

I wish more stories had endings like this but am afraid this is the exception and not the rule. We're all really happy this has turned out about as well as could be hoped for.

11-20-2009, 08:46 PM	#1
racerman911 User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western PA Posts: 7	IMS Failure on my '04 C4S - with a silver lining in my black cloud Friday a week ago I suffered the dreaded IMS failure on my 40K mile vehicle. While I was driving down the highway wanting to enjoy what I expected to be one the last really beautiful days in western PA I felt the engine "buck" and then a loud set of rattling in the back. Best description that I've heard and agree with is that there was a bucket of bolts rattling around in the engine compartment (I subsequently learned that those bolts were ball bearings.) Pulled off on the side of the road and turned off the engine. Flipped open the boot and looked in - from top and bottom. Not sure what I was expecting to see but it all looked normal. Restarted the car and it sounded like normal. Continued to my office parking garage - parked - and went into the office for a few hours. Planned to meet a client for lunch, pulled out and started to drive away. A very nice guy driving a pickup pulled up beside me and told me that I had a big puddle of something dark at the back of my car when I pulled out (didn't see it myself - I approached the car from the front.) I nicely thanked the guy and drove directly to my local dealer located along the lovely ohio river. The service manager greeted me as usual with a smile and asked how my day was. “I suspect that you’re going to tell me, here’s what happened…” After my short story the manager said “oh, that’s not good.” I asked “how not good is it?” “Really not good. I suspect you have an IMS failure. If that is correct, you’ll nee a new engine. We’ll need to put it up on the lift to confirm.” “What will this cost?” I asked. “Well, a new crate engine is 12K cost. Since your car is 18 months out of warranty Porsche would typically not cover all of the engine replacement cost. We’ll need to see what they will cover.” “You have been a really good customer, you’ve been diligent with services, we’ve done everything by the book, you’re here between every one of your track events for inspections, fluid changes, etc. – we’ll go to bat for you and see what we can make happen.” I made 2 calls – one to cancel my lunch meeting and the 2nd to my wife asking that she come retrieve me and buy me lunch. Later that afternoon the service manager called to confirm – the engine was history. The weekend came and went. Our track committee had our yearly wrap-up review on Saturday morning and our region had our yearly black-tie affair that Saturday evening. I told my story of woe and stated that I was starting to collect donations to my “engine replacement fund.” Monday I received a call from the service manager. He asked me if I’d be interested in upgrading to the X51 package. I asked how much the additional engine cost would be – he said approx $2,500. I said, “Hell, if I’m already in for at least 12K what’s another 2.5K – Sure, let’s do it.” He completed the appropriate paperwork necessary for Porsche and we then began the waiting to hear back. Tuesday morning came and went – no word. Tuesday afternoon as well. At one point in the afternoon I received a call from a buddy who just rebuilt his 1978 911 engine to the tune of 18K. Wednesday morning I received a call from the service manager. “Really great news, Porsche will cover 100% of the engine cost. They agreed to that level if we agreed to provide the labor at cost which we will. You have been a good customer for a long time and we went to bat for you.” Long story now short – I have an X51 engine on order – which will be installed over the next 2 weeks. The total cost to me (upgraded engine, labor, new clutch, fluids, etc.) is looking to land around $5K. An X51 option for $5K – I’m a happy camper! Sometimes dark clouds do have silver linings!

11-20-2009, 08:53 PM	#2
Flat-6 Performance Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 763	wow...great to see them step up. You're going to love the new engine, the X-51 is a great upgrade too congratulations. __________________ *Jordan* 1997 993 Carrera 2 6sp Glacier White On Black Fresh Motor, Rennsport ECU, FDM SSK/GR, PSS9's, RS Clutch/LWF, TRG Sways, RSR Droplinks, Corner Balanced, Wevo Engine Mounts, Walrod Bushings, HID's, Fister Stage III Sport Exhaust, 18" Kinesis K28's, Alpine/MB Quart/JBL Sound Previous - 1987 911, 1999 996 C2, 2001 996 C2

11-20-2009, 09:11 PM	#5
M3 Defector Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 188	An IMS failure...how rare. WTF? I'm going to bar myself from this site. Too stressful! __________________ 2000 Arctic Silver 911 Cab Colored Wheel Crests, Hi-Fi sound system, Without rear model designation, Heated Seat Pkg includes adjustable heating range, Aluminum Instrument Dials, Shift Lever/Brake, Handle-carbon and aluminum, Hand painted steering wheel crest, H+R lowering springs, Red calipers, Mille Miglia S/S, Exhaust, Rennline:Track Mats, Floor Boards, Adjustable Pedal Set, Fire Extinguisher Mount, Gauge Surround, S/S Sill Plates, Strut Brace, Lightweight Battery Mount Kit w/ Kill Switch

11-20-2009, 10:05 PM	#6
GNR996 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Posts: 1,265	wow, best possible out come, congrats. __________________ Geoff '03 Carrera black/black PSS9's H&R sway bars '07 FJ Cruiser for winter and off road fun '04 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR expert for exercise

11-20-2009, 11:14 PM	#9
ArneeA Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: 91x15 Posts: 2,522	lucky! congrats! enjoy the x51! I guess we should call IMS failures as X51 upgrades. __________________ C4S - PSS9's, Fabspeed intake, Evo headers, Cargraphic 200cell cats, PSE-style Bypassed Exhaust, TE rollbar, Work Brombacher, B&M SSK S500 - Full Lorinser body kit, Lorinser Exhaust, Loriser Lowering Module, 20" MRR HR3 E430 - Full Brabus body kit, Brabus Exhaust, H&R/Bilstein, 19" AMG 5-spoke, JL Audio Sub X5 4.8is - AFE intake

11-20-2009, 08:55 PM	#3
racerman911 User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western PA Posts: 7	Thanks - looking forward to experiencing the additional power.

11-20-2009, 09:02 PM	#4
Michael-Dallas User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 323	No joke, that's an awesome story w/ an awesome ending! What part of Western PA are you at? My fiancee is from the Greenville area (between Pittsburgh and Erie). ///Michael

11-20-2009, 11:19 PM	#10
Van Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Woodstock, NY Posts: 5,086	Note to self: if I ever hear that "bolts in a can" rattle noise, shut off the engine and *don't* restart it! No matter how inconvenient it is! So glad your dark cloud has a silver lining!

11-21-2009, 02:32 AM	#12
kevjandon Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Vegas Posts: 311	Just goes to show that sometimes paying the little extra a dealer charges for service can pay off big. We've had similar experiences with our Toyota minivan. We use one dealer to fix and maintain everything on it. Ironically we bought it from a rival dealer. But the dealer on the maint. side gets just about anything I want fixed, fixed. He always finds a way so that I don't have to pay a dime. He must charge the hell out of Toyota when he bills them. Good story and good to see Porsche do the right thing as motors should last more than 40K freaking miles. Oh yeah on the X51 upgrade.

11-21-2009, 08:12 AM	#13
Barn996 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kittery, Maine Posts: 1,794	Nice story racerman911. Seems like your dealer went to bat for you.(Sewickley Motors dealership??) __________________ MY99 996,C2 Coupe,LSD,black/savanna beige, 6 spd., US MO3O suspension,black 3 spoke steering wheel,leather sport seats,TC, rear seat delete, FisterD exhaust... Repairs/maint. since 9/06 purchase date(35k miles); front wheel bearing(drivers side), brake pads,oil & filters, change transmission oil, nonsmoker's kit added, console hinge repair kit, replace coolant cap,4 new Blizzaks 1/09,2 new Sumitomo rear tires 6/09,Interstate battery 7/09, current miles 48k

11-21-2009, 08:21 AM	#14
AndyK Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 6,173	Nice! I never saw an IMS failing story where the car was out of warranty, and the dealer actually convinced Porsche to foot the bill. My car only has 21k miles, so I have another 20k before I have to worry - right! __________________ 2000 996 C2 - Arctic w/ Black full leather, 22k miles '89 944 S2 - SOLD '88 944 Special Edition - SOLD PCA NNJ

11-21-2009, 08:38 AM	#15
deckman Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MD Posts: 742	I wish more stories had endings like this but am afraid this is the exception and not the rule. We're all really happy this has turned out about as well as could be hoped for. __________________ Sig by Chads996 2003 C2 - Gone