Philip Raby on 996/M96/IMS/RMS, etc.
09-19-2012, 11:01 AM
#17
Former Vendor
I have found that few people read articles and fewer understand what they are reading. This is one reason I have pretty much stopped writing them. We receive questions via email that are covered in depth within the articles on my site and I find it funny when people begin their email by saying "I love your site and all the info, but I have a question".
Philip and I communicate from time to time, he is a very passionate Porsche follower that lives a life much like mine and shares a ton of solid information.
My outlook on the engine failures is different, as I experienced the dark side of the reality on a daily basis. We don't see cars for service work or general maintenance, outside of a few elective procedures and reconstructions everything that we see comes to us blown to bits. We specialize in those scattered engines, so we see a heavier concentration of worst case scenarios. The percentage of failure canot be calculated as the pieces of the equation that are necessary cannot be accurately attained.
Philip and I communicate from time to time, he is a very passionate Porsche follower that lives a life much like mine and shares a ton of solid information.
My outlook on the engine failures is different, as I experienced the dark side of the reality on a daily basis. We don't see cars for service work or general maintenance, outside of a few elective procedures and reconstructions everything that we see comes to us blown to bits. We specialize in those scattered engines, so we see a heavier concentration of worst case scenarios. The percentage of failure canot be calculated as the pieces of the equation that are necessary cannot be accurately attained.
09-19-2012, 12:09 PM
#18
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Good to seeing this being discussion, and hi Jake 
Maybe it's not possible to calculate the percentage of failures but I think it's fair to say that the majority of these engines will be fine. It wouldn't stop me from buying one.
People like Jake in the US and Hartech in the UK are the ones to contact if you do experience trouble, as they can rebuild engines to a better than new standard.
Cheers
Phil
Maybe it's not possible to calculate the percentage of failures but I think it's fair to say that the majority of these engines will be fine. It wouldn't stop me from buying one.
People like Jake in the US and Hartech in the UK are the ones to contact if you do experience trouble, as they can rebuild engines to a better than new standard.
Cheers
Phil
09-19-2012, 01:31 PM
#21
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've a UK mag from at least 2 years ago residing in a basket in my loo, wherein Phil Raby opines almost verbatim the same as the snippet posted here.
Aside from Jake Raby's new mystery innovation there really hasn't been anything new said about the IMS issue that isn't pure conjecture. Accurate data/statistics simply do not exist that anyone can rely upon to make a truly informed decision as to how to proceed. All we really know is that significant numbers of the IMS bearings have failed (significant meaning, more than merely a hand-ful), when it does fail the consequences are catastrophic, and there engineering science to explain why the IMS bearing design itself is contributory to a weak-link situation.
The choices are limited and clear: Buy the car, or don't. Believe your IMS bearing might fail, or don't. Care, or don't. Retrofit an improved bearing, or don't. Purchase an extended warranty, or don't.
Aside from Jake Raby's new mystery innovation there really hasn't been anything new said about the IMS issue that isn't pure conjecture. Accurate data/statistics simply do not exist that anyone can rely upon to make a truly informed decision as to how to proceed. All we really know is that significant numbers of the IMS bearings have failed (significant meaning, more than merely a hand-ful), when it does fail the consequences are catastrophic, and there engineering science to explain why the IMS bearing design itself is contributory to a weak-link situation.
The choices are limited and clear: Buy the car, or don't. Believe your IMS bearing might fail, or don't. Care, or don't. Retrofit an improved bearing, or don't. Purchase an extended warranty, or don't.
09-19-2012, 01:38 PM
#22
Former Vendor
I've a UK mag from at least 2 years ago residing in a basket in my loo, wherein Phil Raby opines almost verbatim the same as the snippet posted here.
Aside from Jake Raby's new mystery innovation there really hasn't been anything new said about the IMS issue that isn't pure conjecture. Accurate data/statistics simply do not exist that anyone can rely upon to make a truly informed decision as to how to proceed. All we really know is that significant numbers of the IMS bearings have failed (significant meaning, more than merely a hand-ful), when it does fail the consequences are catastrophic, and there engineering science to explain why the IMS bearing design itself is contributory to a weak-link situation.
The choices are limited and clear: Buy the car, or don't. Believe your IMS bearing might fail, or don't. Care, or don't. Retrofit an improved bearing, or don't. Purchase an extended warranty, or don't.
Aside from Jake Raby's new mystery innovation there really hasn't been anything new said about the IMS issue that isn't pure conjecture. Accurate data/statistics simply do not exist that anyone can rely upon to make a truly informed decision as to how to proceed. All we really know is that significant numbers of the IMS bearings have failed (significant meaning, more than merely a hand-ful), when it does fail the consequences are catastrophic, and there engineering science to explain why the IMS bearing design itself is contributory to a weak-link situation.
The choices are limited and clear: Buy the car, or don't. Believe your IMS bearing might fail, or don't. Care, or don't. Retrofit an improved bearing, or don't. Purchase an extended warranty, or don't.
Phil and I probably aren't related by blood, but we share a name synonymous with Porsche passion :-)
09-19-2012, 01:39 PM
#23
Drifting
Thread Starter
Or lowered the 'hood' on a convertible...
Or opened the 'bonnet' to look at the engine...
Or replaced a 'wing' after an accident...
Or owned a 'shooting brake"...
Or bought 'petrol'...
Or cleaned the bugs off the 'windscreen'...
Or tightened a nut with a 'spanner'...
Or lost to Italy on PKs in the Eurocup...
OK, perhaps that last one was a bit cruel.
09-19-2012, 01:50 PM
#24
Rennlist Member
09-19-2012, 02:17 PM
#25
Racer
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good to seeing this being discussion, and hi Jake
Maybe it's not possible to calculate the percentage of failures but I think it's fair to say that the majority of these engines will be fine. It wouldn't stop me from buying one.
People like Jake in the US and Hartech in the UK are the ones to contact if you do experience trouble, as they can rebuild engines to a better than new standard.
Cheers
Phil
Maybe it's not possible to calculate the percentage of failures but I think it's fair to say that the majority of these engines will be fine. It wouldn't stop me from buying one.
People like Jake in the US and Hartech in the UK are the ones to contact if you do experience trouble, as they can rebuild engines to a better than new standard.
Cheers
Phil
09-19-2012, 02:27 PM
#26
Yup. And yet message boards like this persist in populating the internet with content that makes a 996 look like a bad idea, despite - as you say - there being nothing new to say about it for years now. Kind of sad.
09-19-2012, 02:37 PM
#27
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Cheers
Phil
09-20-2012, 12:39 PM
#29
Pro
>> Believe your IMS bearing might fail, or don't. Care, or don't.
My '99 smokes on startup, leaks oil, blows a little coolant.. the chains rattle ... the DM flywheel rattles, and yet about once a month, for a full weekend, all day, it pulls hard beyond 7000 RPM and teaches $120,000 GT3s what it means to brake hard and corner faster
Just drive the damn things hard and you will be rewarded. If you idle around hoping to save your motor you are missing the point of Porsche ownership!
My '99 smokes on startup, leaks oil, blows a little coolant.. the chains rattle ... the DM flywheel rattles, and yet about once a month, for a full weekend, all day, it pulls hard beyond 7000 RPM and teaches $120,000 GT3s what it means to brake hard and corner faster
Just drive the damn things hard and you will be rewarded. If you idle around hoping to save your motor you are missing the point of Porsche ownership!
Last edited by Apex996; 09-20-2012 at 01:36 PM. Reason: typo
09-20-2012, 03:09 PM
#30
[QUOTE
My '99 smokes on startup, leaks oil, blows a little coolant.. the chains rattle ... the DM flywheel rattles, and yet about once a month, for a full weekend, all day, it pulls hard beyond 7000 RPM and teaches $120,000 GT3s what it means to brake hard and corner faster Just drive the damn things hard and you will be rewarded. If you idle around hoping to save your motor you are missing the point of Porsche ownership!
[/QUOTE]
Well said! Exactly right also. If you don't drive it like you stole it at least once a day, don't own one. The damage done to these motors from just lugging around and being garage queens, far outweighs the IMS issue. IMO
My '99 smokes on startup, leaks oil, blows a little coolant.. the chains rattle ... the DM flywheel rattles, and yet about once a month, for a full weekend, all day, it pulls hard beyond 7000 RPM and teaches $120,000 GT3s what it means to brake hard and corner faster
Just drive the damn things hard and you will be rewarded. If you idle around hoping to save your motor you are missing the point of Porsche ownership![/QUOTE]Well said! Exactly right also. If you don't drive it like you stole it at least once a day, don't own one. The damage done to these motors from just lugging around and being garage queens, far outweighs the IMS issue. IMO