Dreaded IMS controversy

[boxstermike06]

Installation of a separate oil supply to a bearing that's sealed in grease? Sounds fishy.
Murphys Law applies in this situation...lol

[Lawnboy]

If you have 117k miles on your car and are seeing no contaminants with each oil analysis, I wouldn't worry about it. My independent Porsche mechanic told me that it is cars that have been driven at lower speeds and high load in too high a gear (lugging) that cause the biggest problem. In other words, by keeping the revs up and changing down rather than accelerating from low road (and engine) speed in a higher gear, you are least likely to have an IMS problem - regardless of year. He also mentioned that Tiptronic cars are far less likely to see IMS issues as the transmission will select the correct gear for the load and the mechanical design of the transmission also removes some of the load from the IMS Bearing.

[boxstermike06]

Yep higher revs, drive it like a Porscher!
Lol

[DBroadwell]

The problem with the IMS bearings in the M96 and M97 engines is that they are sealed "lubricated for life" bearings, so frequent oil changes doesn't help them. The M96 engine has a failure rate of 10% (so get it replaced, there are several alternatives) but the M97 engines have a failure rate of only about 1% so it's a reasonable risk to not change it. Failure if the IMS bearing is a $$$ rebuild.