Porsche 911UK Forum

Welcome to the @Porsche911UK website. Register a free account today to become a member! Sign up is quick and easy, then you can view, participate in topics and posts across the site that covers all things Porsche.

Already registered and looking to recovery your account, select 'login in' and then the 'forget your password' option.

993 - Porsche Classic Partner servicing

frequentflyer

Member
Joined
7 Aug 2017
Messages
7
Hi,

Has anyone used any of the official OPC 'Classic Partner' centres to service their 993 - specifically Hatfield or Swindon? I have mine booked in at Silverstone but have not used them before - there are some references to poor service experiences in other parts of the Forum and I have no idea how well they know the air cooled cars - so wondering if it's best to use one of the above OPCs instead as they make a big deal about having German trained mechanics and "additional training" each year to become a Classic Partner. As the car is part of the Porsche Classic Register I'll need to get it serviced at an OPC. Based in home counties.

Many thanks in advance.
 
After a 'qualifying service' at an OPC you are put on the register.

A car that is on the Porsche Classic Register does not need to be serviced subsequently at an OPC.

If you choose to use an OPC your car attracts 'classic' discounts.

Therefore go with the best locally.
 
I'd wager that there are very few longstanding and trained air-cooled specialists that are still within the UK Porsche Group. Most have setup themselves or gone to specialists in the marque.

There's lots of info and recommendations in the 911/964 & 993 forums that will offer better value and understanding IMO.

OPC's are about the money and keeping their big shiny showrooms running, whereas a good marque specialist is more concerned with building a customer relationship and repeat business whilst offering classic expertise.

All IMO of course.

C.
 
After I bought my 993 in Aug-17 OPC Swindon did a post purchase inspection for me (I know, it should have been a pre-purchase inspection). The people on the front desk clearly know their 993 and they had three air cooled on the floor for sale.

Swindon probably know their stuff - nonetheless I use Northway, just outside Reading and within walking distance of a train station.
 
OPC Byfleet have had quite a few different flavours of air cooled Pork in their service bay over the last few months.

I was in their parts dept on Monday ogling the 930 LE the service guys were working on.
 
OPC Belfast regularly have a variety of air-cooled through their service area, so I do a mix of basic servicing with them and anything extra with my indy (who is the ex head technician of the OPC).
 
My turbo has been into Brookland/Byfleet for the last 2 services and they're pretty competitive on prices. At least one of their team is an aircooled specialist.
 
Ive just got mine back from service and though its always been serviced by an OPC and for the last five services, the same one; I'm not so sure its such a great thing.

Yes, you get a discounted labour rate, but then again I always have with this dealer before as they discount 'vintage' cars.

I replaced every single part of my suspension over two years, the oldest part of anything underneath is only 18K miles old. The rear discs and pads have covered around 6K miles, the fronts less than 4K miles.

So each year she goes to service there is always a bit of a small list classed under an 'Amber warning' ... things like tyre tread depth etc, but mainly just a few small items.

However, under the Porsche Classic Partner Scheme, the detail they seem to go to now beggars belief ............. and so their pricing policy to rectify.

This is the itimised list of Red and Amber I received. Just remember all the suspension parts and brakes have been replaced within the last three years .......

Red items:-

· The front left side lamp is in operative, advise replacement of both bulbs - £100

· The passenger window does not go up, will require investigation - £156



£100.00 to replace a sidelight bulb :what: :eek:

'The drivers window switch in poor condition', is 18 months old and came this OPC .. it was £30.00 and took less than 5 minutes to install and they want £125.00 :nooo: BTW, its still working, and so the passenger side, just a little lazy thats all... I'll buy another switch.

I came away deflated, more so because of their reduced rates in the past, and using i bit of common sense on pricing, I never really found my OPC that much difference in price than the better known Indies, plus the coffee and courtesy cars were better :D.

Now it feels like Porsche have got on the Classic Bandwagon, and are seriously looking at charging us for it. That will not happen with me as I can do some things myself, and I have a aircooled nut of a mecanic mate, who can do the rest... But not all people are so lucky/savvy.
 
:floor: :floor:

I'm lost for words but not at the least any bit surprised!

C.
 
@ wozy

I was chatting to the aftersales manager from my old OPC a few days ago and he was saying its a struggle to up sell work ( i work for an indy now ) but we dont seem to have the same problem .

Your post pretty much spells out what i said to him .

You have to have experienced mechanics to actually spot what needs doing and what to advise .

Advise means possibly next service or beyond .. it doesnt mean a pushy service advisor trying to sell it .

You need to have a sensible labour rate , not a cheap one for a service then revert to standard labour rates for everything else .

You need to get off book time.

Time taken doesnt = time charged .

Indys know all this and half of them are the old mechanics from OPC,s who used to work on these cars so know them Very well.

He was going to think about it.

You never know .. you might have a cheap OPC in the south soon .. or not !
 

New Threads

Forum statistics

Threads
124,354
Messages
1,439,440
Members
48,708
Latest member
JLav211
Back
Top