Lot PP720317: 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S

Great news regarding the IMS bearing question! No, this 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S does not have the IMS bearing problem.

Here’s why: This car is a 997.2 generation model (produced from 2009-2012), and Porsche made a significant engine change for this generation. The 997.2 switched to the 9A1 engine, which features a direct-drive cam system that eliminated the intermediate shaft entirely. Since there’s no intermediate shaft, there’s no IMS bearing to fail.

The IMS bearing issue primarily affected:

• 996 generation (1997-2005) with M96 engine
• 997.1 generation (2005-2008) with M97 engine

However, for the 997.2, Porsche completely redesigned the engine architecture. When buying a 2009-2012 997.2, you can breathe easier knowing that the notorious IMS bearing failure is not a concern.

That said, some 997 owners do watch out for bore scoring and coil pack issues, though these are less catastrophic than an IMS failure. Would you like me to tell you about the provenance of this particular Carrera S or help you understand any other aspects of the car?