Porsche Boxster and Porsche 911 996 IMS Bearing Replacement Cost: What You Need to Know

Replacing the IMS bearing in your Porsche Boxster or Porsche 911 996 can prevent costly engine damage. Learn about the IMS bearing replacement cost and what factors can impact the price.
If you're an owner of a Porsche Boxster or Porsche 911 996 model, you might be familiar with the well-known IMS bearing issue that has the potential to lead to severe engine failure. Fortunately, there are IMS bearing replacement kits accessible in the market, like those provided by LN Engineering, designed to mitigate this problem. However, before committing to an IMS bearing replacement, it's essential to grasp the associated expenses.
The cost of replacing the IMS bearing in Porsche Boxster and Porsche 911 996 models can fluctuate based on a few factors, including the chosen kit type and the labor charges for installation. Below are some approximations based on the prevalent IMS bearing replacement kits from LN Engineering:
IMS Retrofit: The IMS Retrofit kit comes in under $1,000, encompassing the kit cost while excluding the installation labor. This package aims to swap the original IMS bearing with a sturdier ceramic bearing, as part of regular maintenance schedules.
IMS Solution: The IMS Solution kit is priced below $2,000, encompassing the kit cost while excluding the installation labor. This kit is designed to replace the initial IMS bearing with a pressure oil-fed plain bearing meant to last the engine's lifespan.
It's noteworthy that labor costs can fluctuate based on location and the mechanic's expertise conducting the installation. Remember that while labor expenses contribute to the overall outlay of IMS bearing replacement, they play a pivotal role in securing the durability and dependability of your Porsche engine. Opting for a reputable and experienced mechanic for the installation is crucial to avert potential issues or oversights during the process. The average replacement time for the IMS bearing is around 10-14 hours, implying that the hourly labor rate significantly affects the total expense, adding approximately $500-$3,000 or more to the IMS bearing replacement cost.
Conducting the recommended IMS bearing replacement pre-qualification procedure can extend to 3-4 hours, involving actions like sump removal and bore scoping of cylinders for bore scoring. Performing the pre-qualification procedure prior to IMS bearing replacement is highly recommended.
For those who choose to carry out the IMS bearing replacement themselves, obtaining the replacement IMS bearing from LN Engineering, which includes a free IMS tool rental along with a rear main seal tool, can result in substantial savings.
Often, there's an overlap in labor tasks, making it practical to service or replace specific components concurrently. For instance, your Porsche's clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, throwout bearing, and rear main seal (RMS) should all be changed at the same time as the IMS bearing. Additional costs must also be factored in for necessary supplemental parts and their installation labor. Many also decide to replace their air-oil separator (AOS) and water pump alongside the intermediate shaft bearing. For the majority of M96 5-chain engines in 97-02 Boxster and 99-01 911 models, replacing their variocam wear pads is often necessary, ideally before IMS bearing replacement. These wear pads contribute significantly to the IMS bearing replacement cost, mainly due to increased labor, as the wear pads themselves are relatively budget-friendly.
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[@FriendM2010]

Hope Porsche fired the engineers that chose to install such a bad solution. 🤓👍👍👍. Not Porsche’s first design to cost Owners big repair costs…

[@lnengineeringllc]

Thanks for watching the video. Our goal is to educate as many people as possible to this issue so they can make an informed decision. We are still shocked to this day that there are people who know nothing about the IMS bearing issue.