6 Year Service query

9114S · 24 Feb 2015

Hi all

Just had the 6 year service carried out on my Gen 2 2009 C4S by an OPC and have been left confused (not difficult at my age)!

When I went to collect the car, I was given a Healthcheck sheet - within this were recommendations for replacement of the drive belt, PDK clutch oil and air filter. None of this work was done at the service. Looking at the service book, all this work is additional work specifically required at the 6 year service, albeit at extra cost (indeed the space for the service stamp has a tick box to record replacement of the drive belt)....but service book not yet stamped as I forgot to leave it in the car!

I queried if this work was compulsory, as I have OPC warranty, and was told that it was "recommended". As the car is technically not 6 years old for a couple of months, I was told if I wanted the work done I could bring the car back in a couple of months. This is my first Porsche and I have only had it a year. But I would have expected this work to have been mentioned at the time I booked it in and discussed what work would be needed.

Anyone else had a similar experience with servicing, where part of the service work is carried out 2 months after the service? I also assume if there was a warranty claim and the work is not done, the claim would be rejected?

Any thoughts or experiences welcome. Still getting used to how the OPC's work, previously drove Mercedes where you got hit for everything at once then had some respite till the next year service was due!

Thanks in advance.

Gollom122 · 25 Feb 2015

Pretty slack of the OPC I'd say. I had similar service and the belt was certainly mentioned at time of booking -I'd had mine replaced at 4 years so declined their offer.
I also got a call while the car was in asking if I wanted brake fluid done and MOT while they had it (MOT only had a couple of weeks left).
I doubt you have lost anything by not having it done at the time apart from the inconvenience of taking it back - make sure you get a loaner to make up for it - pref a new 911.

Fox Terrier · 25 Feb 2015

Thanks for this thread. Just nudged me that I've got an intermediate due on 16th March. Looking through the additional maintenance schedule it looks like I'm due an air cleaner filter element replacement, a drive belt replacement and a PDK clutch oil change as well. For the first time in my life I feel that I now know what's happening when the 911 goes in for a service - quite a nice feeling (yes, I know, I'm a bit too easy going for my own good sometimes) :thumb:

Graemep · 25 Feb 2015

I'd agree with the slack comment, as it should have been queried by the service advisor at the time of booking.

My recent experience was the exact opposite, as I had the questions raised on the phone at time of booking, and a later call to query brake fluid.

My only criticism was the fact that the full service record wasn't held by Porsche, as some work had been done by franchised dealers and not Porsche-owned dealers so there are gaps, which in my case was identified.

Dhalsu · 25 Feb 2015

Had my 6 year done recently. Muppets missed out drive belt. Had to take car back a week later and made them do it for free.

Deffo needs doing at 6 years.

davidjf7 · 8 Jun 2015

Just had the exact same as the OP.

2009 C2S PDK booked in for minor service, brake fluid change and MoT.

Then got a call from the service department when it was there to say that the air filters needed doing too (£60), plus PDK oil change (£265) and main aux drive belt (reports says £125 but service advisor said £284 so need to clarify that...).

Whilst they are due, it would have been nice to know beforehand, especially as the car has to now go back in to have these bits done.

Do the prices seem reasonable? (All include VAT).

They also say the brake pads are getting low on the front and recommend that the discs are replaced at the same time. Is that normal? (Wording on service report is "front pads and discs required on red 3mm £919 incl vat", whatever "required on red 3mm" means!)

I also need new tyres, with the OPC quoting £205 per front and £313 per rear fitted for Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N2s (19 inch). I can get these much cheaper online through the usual suspects, but OPC would then want £40 a corner to fit.

Anyone ever trusted anyone like National Tyres with their porker?

Thanks chaps

Prime Porker · 8 Jun 2015

davidjf7 said:
Just had the exact same as the OP.

2009 C2S PDK booked in for minor service, brake fluid change and MoT.

Then got a call from the service department when it was there to say that the air filters needed doing too (£60), plus PDK oil change (£265) and main aux drive belt (reports says £125 but service advisor said £284 so need to clarify that...).

Whilst they are due, it would have been nice to know beforehand, especially as the car has to now go back in to have these bits done.

Do the prices seem reasonable? (All include VAT).

They also say the brake pads are getting low on the front and recommend that the discs are replaced at the same time. Is that normal? (Wording on service report is "front pads and discs required on red 3mm £919 incl vat", whatever "required on red 3mm" means!)

I also need new tyres, with the OPC quoting £205 per front and £313 per rear fitted for Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N2s (19 inch). I can get these much cheaper online through the usual suspects, but OPC would then want £40 a corner to fit.

Anyone ever trusted anyone like National Tyres with their porker?

Thanks chaps

Another example of the big OPC mark up and no this does not sound reasonable to me! I would not trust National Tyres or that ilk although it is relatively straightforward to replace the items you have listed above. There are plenty of Porsche Independents about and several which have been mentioned on this forum as providing good service at competitive prices. If you try to sell your car in the future I suspect a prospective buyer may be put off if a non Porsche specialist has serviced or carried out any mechanical work on it.

Master_Betty · 8 Jun 2015

davidjf7 said:
Just had the exact same as the OP.

2009 C2S PDK booked in for minor service, brake fluid change and MoT.

Then got a call from the service department when it was there to say that the air filters needed doing too (£60), plus PDK oil change (£265) and main aux drive belt (reports says £125 but service advisor said £284 so need to clarify that...).

Whilst they are due, it would have been nice to know beforehand, especially as the car has to now go back in to have these bits done.

Do the prices seem reasonable? (All include VAT).

They also say the brake pads are getting low on the front and recommend that the discs are replaced at the same time. Is that normal? (Wording on service report is "front pads and discs required on red 3mm £919 incl vat", whatever "required on red 3mm" means!)

I also need new tyres, with the OPC quoting £205 per front and £313 per rear fitted for Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N2s (19 inch). I can get these much cheaper online through the usual suspects, but OPC would then want £40 a corner to fit.

Anyone ever trusted anyone like National Tyres with their porker?

Thanks chaps

I would be inclined to get the first list of jobs done at the opc, but get tyres done at 2/3 of the price at a reputable tyre place and do the brakes myself with Oem quality parts. The mark up on changing discs and pads at opcs is ridiculous. Check gsf car parts, eurocarparts etc.. To see what the prices are. I think gsf offer 25% off everything to pistonheads folk with the piston25 code too.

Frenchmeister · 8 Jun 2015

Nuts !
paying those prices, recently fitted a new aux belt which cost circa £15 and took me 10 minutes max, front disks available for around £200 oem and pads circa £100 about half an hour a side to change, if your not handy with the spanners take it to a trusted independent and keep the receipts or bring it to my house with 2 decent bottles of red !
It will not affect re-sale value, my car is overserviced by me recent coil packs £130 plus a couple of hours to fit, aux belt, plugs, an oil change, it will go to a trusted independant in the next couple of months for an oil change and a look over and a stamp in the book, i keep all my receipts in a folder if and when i come to sell.
The cars are an absolute doddle to service and maintain no need to pay barrister prices, get the basics done at OPC to keep your service record up and pay an independant to do the other stuff or DIY.

9114S · 9 Jun 2015

For comparison my PDK fluid change was £254 and the air filter/drive belt replacements £230 (inc VAT). For the inconvenience of having to bring the car back, I did get 10% discount on this price, and a new 911GTS demonstrator for the day as a courtesy car!

Still can't get my head round how replacing an air filter is an "additional" item in a service!

davidjf7 · 9 Jun 2015

Thanks for all the replies chaps :thumb:

Managed to negotiate the OPC down to within £80 of National Tyres for the two rear tyres, so am having them fitted by the OPC on Friday.

They failed the MoT, as despite having 4mm on the outside and 2.5mm in the middle, they are down to 1mm on the inside - something worth checking for those who don't know how much more quickly the inside edges wear on these cars.

The fronts are similar, (down to 2mm on the inside), but I'm tempted to get National Tyres to do those for me with their mobile service on my drive, with me standing over the fitter to make sure he looks after my wheels :grin: . (Couldn't do this with the rears as they couldn't come out quickly enough before the free MoT retest period expired).

Prime Porker - being currently under warranty I wanted the work done at an OPC, but the next service will probably be a specialist.

Master_Betty - I think I'm going to do exactly that, and do the discs and pads myself. Thanks for the tip on the discount code :thumb:

Frenchmeister - thanks for the offer! I'm reasonably handy with spanners, but some time in Cumbria with red wine is very tempting!

9114S - Thanks for the prices you paid, very useful. Will ask for a discount too (although I bet I don't get a GTS! My OPCC seem pretty reluctant to give cars nowadays).

Porschekit · 9 Jun 2015

Frenchmeister

You wrote:
Nuts !
paying those prices, recently fitted a new aux belt which cost circa £15 and took me 10 minutes max, front disks available for around £200 oem and pads circa £100 about half an hour a side to change, if your not handy with the spanners take it to a trusted independent and keep the receipts or bring it to my house with 2 decent bottles of red !
It will not affect re-sale value, my car is overserviced by me recent coil packs £130 plus a couple of hours to fit, aux belt, plugs, an oil change, it will go to a trusted independant in the next couple of months for an oil change and a look over and a stamp in the book, i keep all my receipts in a folder if and when i come to sell.
The cars are an absolute doddle to service and maintain no need to pay barrister prices, get the basics done at OPC to keep your service record up and pay an independant to do the other stuff or DIY.

I agree ! I would say the older your car gets, the less you need it doing by an OPC, mine is 6 years old now and I have moved to Indy's who do just as good a job. If I could do certain stuff myself I would, but my wife wouldn't stand the oil stains in front of the house ! So you may be getting a visit, two bottles of red in hand, but i would have to "help" you drink them :grin:

Did I meet you at the Fastlane recently in Hexham ?

Cheers
John (Meteor Grey Metallic 997.1 C4S)

Frenchmeister · 9 Jun 2015

John,
Yes that was me

better bring another couple of bottles then if you plan to help be making them disappear

Best bit about the OP's comments was OPC wanting £100 + or possibly £200+ to fit an auxillary belt, a Continental belt is circa £15 one socket and 10 mins to fit with a smoke break !
Changing the oil on these cars is the easiest car i have owned to do this task on.
Agree that the lads with warranty need to keep OPC stamps but that should just cover the service get the rest done elsewhere, that said some so called well known specialist had been at my car before i bought it and frankly the work was shoddy, we nearly had the smash the oil filter housing off because they had well overtightened it on refit, some of the coilpacks were cracked when i was under it with no mention of it on the service sheet.
Along with a few other issues, i also know of shoddy work with cars marked and things broken after being in OPC.
I trust me to work on my car :thumbs:

mzmini · 9 Jun 2015

Yep we changed the belt a piece of wee wee total cost under a tenner ,where oh where do OPC get £250 labour for a ten minute job !!!

Frenchmeister · 9 Jun 2015

mzmini, a good friend of mine has a timewarp Mini Cooper S, a 60's car bought new, fitted with an extra fuel tank and an Aldon Automotive power kit with receipts, Tartan Red with a Black roof, it sits under a gazebo in his garage and hardly se's the road which is a shame though when he was a young un he used to take it to Cornwall with his Missus.
Sorry for being OT Misters :grin:

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