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1st Service - OPC or Indepdent?

tc2584

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25 Aug 2015
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I have recently purchased my first 911 (a 2000 996 C4 Cab).

The car has a full Porsche service history.

A minor service is due and I am debating whether to go with official Porsche or an independent run by a close family friend.

If anyone could shed some light as to the possible negatives of going with the independent it would be much appreciated!!!

Many thanks,
 
:welcome: to 911uk and to 911 ownership.

The more comprehensive a service history is the better. Most cars are expected to show OPC servicing early on but once cars are out of the Porsche warranty period it doesn't matter so much if servicing is shown has having been done by a Porsche Specialist.

The key word there is 'specialist'. Servicing done by 'a.n other garage' or by a home mechanic will affect desirability (and value) of that car at a later date.

A lot of enthusiasts and owners of older mainstream 911s like to service older cars themselves or use local garages and can save themselves a few quid by doing so. To them the fact that the car may be less desirable to others at a later date is not so important.

If your car is relatively low mileage (say sub-80k), in good condition and has fPsh I'd stick with OPC servicing as it will maintain it's value / desirability.
 
So long as you have your service fully documented - for example: VAT invoice stating costs and work done, then I'd be getting your independent run by a close family friend doing it, so long as they know what they're doing.

Don't think these cars are something special with regards to servicing - they're not.

When I look back through the history and quality of work on mine, OPC has been shoddy and expensive (to the point they cracked my bell housing by putting a wrong bolt in a wrong hole).......and (some not all) 'specialists' are just expensive.

If you have someone you can trust - use them.
 
Further note .......

Rightly or wrongly it's really only the OPC SERVICE stamp that adds kudos and value. It doesn't seem to matter much as to who has done general repairs and replacement of consumables.
 
The OPC prices all include VAT. Specialist indys do not include VAT in their prices and stipulate all prices +VAT.
 
OPC was the cheapest for my minor service and I was very pleased with them , they just listed to few bits to car needed no hard sell.

OPC was much cheaper than all the indy's !!!

Where about's in the country are you ?
 
I just priced up a minor service £395 at Porsche Leeds
£250.51 at Porsche specialist including VAT.
I prefer to see a big wad of receipts rather than a stamped book. Main dealer or specialist makes no difference to me .
 
The OPC price is for a 997 I presume using fixed price servicing and assuming Leeds offers the scheme (which some OPC's don't). OPC work carries a two-year warranty on parts and labour (not that one needs to exercise it).

The Indy price inc. VAT is very low. Is the difference down to labour rates, the use of after-market parts (whether as good or not as OPC parts) or both?

OPC labour rate for modern classics is £75/hr + VAT (£90/hr inc VAT) which compares well against Indy typical rates at £70-£80/hr + VAT.

If the Indy labour rate is similar to OPC then any difference in price must be down to parts prices and the use of after-market parts.

Food for thought maybe. If a specialist charged £35-£50/hr + VAT and used after-market parts the combination of these will bring the lowest price to the customer.
 
cheshire911 said:
The OPC price is for a 997 I presume using fixed price servicing and assuming Leeds offers the scheme (which some OPC's don't). OPC work carries a two-year warranty on parts and labour (not that one needs to exercise it).

The Indy price inc. VAT is very low. Is the difference down to labour rates, the use of after-market parts (whether as good or not as OPC parts) or both?

OPC labour rate for modern classics is £75/hr + VAT (£90/hr inc VAT) which compares well against Indy typical rates at £70-£80/hr + VAT.

If the Indy labour rate is similar to OPC then any difference in price must be down to parts prices and the use of after-market parts.

Food for thought maybe. If a specialist charged £35-£50/hr + VAT and used after-market parts the combination of these will bring the lowest price to the customer.

You're correct. The £250 is the fixed price service at RPM in Knaresnorough. They use oe parts for the minor service.
 
Labour rate at RPM? None of the indys around here charge less than £70/hr + VAT and they use oem parts and can't do it at that price. The RPM site foes say the prices are at publication and to check latest prices.

So maybe RPM labour rate is £30-£40/hr + VAT?
The labour alone for this minor service must be 2.5 hours. The oil another £60 and the oil filter and air filter can be added to that (pollen filter is st major I think). Looks tight if labour rate is even £60/hr as I doubt it would be as low as £40/hr. Minor service exc labour is £208.

Labour 2.5 x £60 = 150
Oil = £60
Filters (say) £30
Total before VAT = £240

If they do it for £208 + VAT then its amazing and we can expect to see a big queue for the cats being serviced. Snap it up while you can.
 
cheshire911 said:
Labour rate at RPM? None of the indys around here charge less than £70/hr + VAT and they use oem parts and can't do it at that price. The RPM site foes say the prices are at publication and to check latest prices.

So maybe RPM labour rate is £30-£40/hr + VAT?
The labour alone for this minor service must be 2.5 hours. The oil another £60 and the oil filter and air filter can be added to that (pollen filter is st major I think). Looks tight if labour rate is even £60/hr as I doubt it would be as low as £40/hr. Minor service exc labour is £208.

Labour 2.5 x £60 = 150
Oil = £60
Filters (say) £30
Total before VAT = £240

If they do it for £208 + VAT then its amazing and we can expect to see a big queue for the cats being serviced. Snap it up while you can.

What I like at RPM is being able to watch the car being serviced and being able to chat with those working on the car.
 
cheshire911 said:
....Oil = £60....

As an aside, main dealers or independents buy their oil in bulk and it costs considerably less than you or I buying it from Opie or Halfords in 5L cans. I know that the run-of-the-mill 5W/40 fully synthetic stuff costs ~£1/Litre to the trade when buying in huge drums. They'll still charge you at the price you're used to seeing though.
 

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