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Hello, new newbie alert and I have questions

Joined
16 Apr 2018
Messages
3
Hi, I've just signed up as I'm about to purchase a 1998 c2 996 hardtop manual with cable throttle. She's got 113k on the clock with a FSH and is in good nick. She does have a couple of little niggles so I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making a schoolboy error in assuming they're fairly straightforward issues.

1. is the central locking. Apparently if you just press the lock button on the key once the alarm will go off after a few hours. To get round this current owner simply presses button twice which disarms the internal sensors. Sensors seem to be cheap but does this ring alarm bells for anyone ( no pun intended).

2. Condensers need doing apparently, am hoping this is a couple of hours diy on the drive or are there any complications I should be aware of? Looks like the main hassle is just taking the bumper off..

3. IMS not been done. Can anyone recommend a good cheap deal on upgrade service? However am considering running as is.

4. Main belt looks a bit discoloured and is due for change, is this major labour cost or not too bad?

Thanks for any help in advance. Looking forward to ownership!
 
:welcome:

Someone will be along shortly to give you a sensible answer or 4 :grin:

I'd just drive it for now, if you buy it, and worry about the engine blowing up IF it ever happens :thumb:
 
Don't worry about the ims on an early car like that.

Fit some bumper mesh when you get the bumper off so you don't have to replace the rads yet.again.
 
Scaramangasthirdnipple said:
2. Condensers need doing apparently, am hoping this is a couple of hours diy on the drive or are there any complications I should be aware of? Looks like the main hassle is just taking the bumper off..

3. IMS not been done. Can anyone recommend a good cheap deal on upgrade service? However am considering running as is.

I've done the condensers on mine - a couple of hours is spot on, Get the A/C de-gassed first. Venting to atmosphere is illegal and will scare you shirtless when it depressurises as you undo something :eek:

Read the lengthy advice from Hartech (on this forum) about the IMS - IMHO, it would have gone by now if it was going to go + older models like yours have a double-row bearing and (I hope Alex will confirm) that no member has had one of those go :thumb:
 
Welcome! Sounds like a nice early car, so no need to worry about the IMS as it's a dual row one.

Getting the front PU off is easy, there are just two annoying screws which you can only get off by removing some of the wheelarch liners.

If you are OK with DIY, the drive belt looks straightforward.

Cracking username by the way :thumb:
 
IMS

I bought a MY2000 C4 in 2016. It's got about 88,000 miles on it and I've not done anything with the IMS.

I do worry from time to time especially if I read anything by certain traders who insist on it being done but the whole IMS issue is, in my view, blown up out of all proportion.

Like the comments on here point to: double-row bearing and if it was going to go it probably would have by now. Enjoy it and put the IMS thing to bed for now :thumb:
 
Halcyon said:
Scaramangasthirdnipple said:
2. Condensers need doing apparently, am hoping this is a couple of hours diy on the drive or are there any complications I should be aware of? Looks like the main hassle is just taking the bumper off..

3. IMS not been done. Can anyone recommend a good cheap deal on upgrade service? However am considering running as is.

I've done the condensers on mine - a couple of hours is spot on, Get the A/C de-gassed first. Venting to atmosphere is illegal and will scare you shirtless when it depressurises as you undo something :eek:

Read the lengthy advice from Hartech (on this forum) about the IMS - IMHO, it would have gone by now if it was going to go + older models like yours have a double-row bearing and (I hope Alex will confirm) that no member has had one of those go :thumb:

:yeah:

Confirmed!

Forget about the ims, all smoke and mirrors.
 
I bought a 98 plate c2 3 years ago on 104k miles. Its now up to 136k and IMS is still original. My theory is just drive it. If something goes wrong it will be an excuse to turn it into a 3.7

Drive belt is a piece of p**s. 15 mins, whip out the airbox , counter rotate one of the tensioners (forget which one) and you can slip the old belt off IIRC
 
Slightly off topic, apologies.

If the failure mode of the IMS bearing is that it runs dry and fails (which seems to be the prevailing wisdom) what difference does it make whether it's dual row or single row?
 
Sounds like the car for sale in Falmouth? If it is I have seen it around as I am local to it. Seems like a good price too and as has been said, the work highlighted isn't too bad, but I would be pretty sure it will need more doing than just the things you have mentioned, as will all 996s of that age. If it is the Falmouth car, it was last serviced at Porsche Exeter in December 2016 and they will have a provided list of work that they recommend. Has the owner shared this with you? If not you could ring Exeter and ask about it.

Anyway, good luck and be sure to ask on here for advice. :thumb:
 
Griffter said:
Slightly off topic, apologies.

If the failure mode of the IMS bearing is that it runs dry and fails (which seems to be the prevailing wisdom) what difference does it make whether it's dual row or single row?

That's not really the failure mode. The majority were down to manufacturing tolerances overlapping causing too much initial excessive wear on the bearing, mixed with the grease packed inside created a lapping paste with would very quickly munch the bearing. Also centre spigot snapping under load was another failure mode. The sealed bearing in an oil environment was a flawed design but not the main culprit.

If one of the bearing rows fails on a dual row, you still have the other one limping along. On a single row, if it fails the lot is wiped out.

So I suppose you've half a chance of not smashing your engine to smithereens with a dual row vs. single.

But IMHO, IMS bearing failure is the last thing on these cars you need to worry yourself about!
 
...sorry Alex but you are talking rubbish in respect to the IMS and to the original thread starter...get the bearing changed!

3 months ago I purchased an immaculate 2003 3.6 Tip' with 69k miles 2 owners and a complete PORSCHE history with all associated invoices...as good a model as you could hope to find.

Phoned hartech to discuss the IMS issues and specifically if I should have it replaced..Grant told me that having read the stories I had scared myself...advise was just drive the car and forget about the bearing...

Last week as I was driving it I heard a rattling sound akin to a rattling exhaust...parked car up looked underneath and all of the oil was pouring out of the IMS bearing!...car was taken to a Porsche specialist where diagnosis revealed bearing issue...filter full of swarf ...thus full engine rebuild required... oh and on the same day coincidentally another 996 was towed in with a failed IMS...

So my advice to anyone reading this or considering a 996 or ruminating about their bearing is to ignore all of those like Alex and others who say "don't worry about" and get it changed...piece of mind and significantly cheaper than an engine rebuild!
You have been warned...oh and car was serviced just a few hundred miles before with Miller's Nano oil and filter was completely clean...
 
Its an early dual row bearing engine. Don't listen to CMG, his experience was with a single row bearing. Alex is totally right in what he's written. If you're feeling paranoid then then you next have the clutch changed, get the IMS bearing cover removed by someone with the correct cam locking tools, and get the bearing checked for play, then flip off and leave off the dust cover on the bearing.

I also have a 1998 C2 with a dual row bearing and perfect bores, and not problems, or suspicions of problems with ither despite similar milage to the car you're hoping to buy.
 
GMG - yours is the later 3.6 engine with a different bearing OP is talking about the 3.4. Sorry that yours went though. Horrible just thinking about it.
 

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