Has your 996 or 997 engine had a major rebuild?
Poll: Has your 996 or 997 engine had a major rebuild?
Total Members Polled: 867
Discussion
HoHoHo said:
Don't think we'll hear from Baz with confirmed figures - he's a businessman and the thought of people being frightened and spending money with him is far better than the truth that there isn't really a problem.
Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz
If you based your post on any genuine research at all and posted what you know as fact rather than what you think it would be a help to you and other PHRs.Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz
People who work on and around these cars know there are issues, ask some ring a few indys and specialists!I have inspected many with past and present failures and many with replaced engines,Ive spoken only recently to a small indy in Kent who has changed 3 engines this year (SORRY 2011),the facts are undeniable.
Its not nice to patronise Baz after all the work he puts in on here trying to educate people with his knowledge.
You actually have called him a liar in so many words "Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz" Which TBH is way out of line liar he isnt IMO.
chocolate engine said:
ok lets ask Baz if he wouldn't mind.
how many d chunks have you fixed ?
how many scored bores have you fixed ?
How many IMS?
How accurate do you think this survey is with none in the d chunk section?
Do you think Porsche should be fixing low mileage engines ?
How bad is it for there image?
Do you see this happening more and more ?
Why not just read the topics on PH?how many d chunks have you fixed ?
how many scored bores have you fixed ?
How many IMS?
How accurate do you think this survey is with none in the d chunk section?
Do you think Porsche should be fixing low mileage engines ?
How bad is it for there image?
Do you see this happening more and more ?
Gary11 said:
If you based your post on any genuine research at all and posted what you know as fact rather than what you think it would be a help to you and other PHRs.
People who work on and around these cars know there are issues, ask some ring a few indys and specialists!I have inspected many with past and present failures and many with replaced engines,Ive spoken only recently to a small indy in Kent who has changed 3 engines this year (SORRY 2011),the facts are undeniable.
Its not nice to patronise Baz after all the work he puts in on here trying to educate people with his knowledge.
You actually have called him a liar in so many words "Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz" Which TBH is way out of line liar he isnt IMO.
However you look at it Gary, the figures don't stack up.People who work on and around these cars know there are issues, ask some ring a few indys and specialists!I have inspected many with past and present failures and many with replaced engines,Ive spoken only recently to a small indy in Kent who has changed 3 engines this year (SORRY 2011),the facts are undeniable.
Its not nice to patronise Baz after all the work he puts in on here trying to educate people with his knowledge.
You actually have called him a liar in so many words "Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz" Which TBH is way out of line liar he isnt IMO.
If he would be happy enough to provide actual confirmed figures I'd be happy enough to read his post (rather than simply writing a figure down on a forum). For the record I have spoken to a couple of respected Indi's who suggest this is over hyped bulls
t - happy now?I'm simply after some facts and figures - I can't remember the last time anybody started a thread about their car blowing up, but certain people are happy to discuss the problem and fixes it as if it's a major problem effecting a huge number of cars - and it clearly isn't.
It's equally not good practice to scaremonger if the problem is limited to a very small percentage of cars - so rather than suggest I'm patronising, why doesn't Baz produce some firm figures to back up his claims?
If he were changing 5 engines a week every week of the year and had been for 4 years, I'd agree it's a problem, but I doubt that's the case (that equates to circa 1040 units). I think he's probably changed maybe 12, possibly slightly more, maybe even 20 at a push last year. How many 997's are there running about according to Wiki? 'The 997 is the most commercially successful 911 of all time, having sold 100,000 units between its introduction in 2005 and July 2007'... and that's only up to 2007.
So on the assumption 5% would be deemed a high figure, that's 5000 cars and that's a lot of work/engine failures which we would be hearing about all day, every day, and not only on PH, but on other forums and we're not.
I rest my case......
Oh, and I placed a smiley after my last comment to Baz......
Edited by HoHoHo on Friday 13th January 11:38
Hohoho said "Don't think we'll hear from Baz with confirmed figures - he's a businessman and the thought of people being frightened and spending money with him is far better than the truth that there isn't really a problem.
Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz"
Look hohoho - I don't like the implication that we would not be truthful - we always have been (although many don't like to face it) and what gives you the right to state what my opinions are - you are treading on very dangerous ground and the Internet does not offer you protection to do so - there is a problem - small in number - large in cost!
As a small business we have taken on a relatively enormous project to repair these engines (basically because by coincidence - I just happened to have the experience, qualifications and backgound to do so) - when the manufacturers that caused the problem have practically washed their hands of it and not only simply rebuild them but design, test and analyse the problems and try to find solutions so that our rebuilt engines are better than they were before - and if that were not enough we are also actively trying to find ways to help people actually avoid needing a rebuild by our supply of a lower temperature thermostat and research with Millers Oils into a suitable Nano oil to reduce cylinder friction. We have already invested more time and effort in this than we would need to - just to make money!
However when we started out fixing them many years ago we did not think about keeping a record of each individual rebuild and what was behind the failure (we had far too much on our plate with the problems and solutions at that point ans still have). Furthermore I don't feel I need to provide statistics anyway (just because you want them) and we are so busy repairing them I really do not have the time to read back over all the invoices etc to work out statistics. I don't think these simple facts deserve any cynical interpretations.
We do not try to frighten anyone - in fact - when a problem occurs and the owners discovers he has to spend around £15K to get going again with a Main Agent - he may feel very frightened about the consequences but then he may research and find out that we offer a better solution at a much lower price and with many options to suit his circumstances and future aspirations (sometimes including buying the car off him with the broken engine) - and most of our customers find this very reassuring and a huge relief - backed up by our guarantees etc (which we have a well earned reputation for honouring).
Not everyone is out just to make money (and going racing with 2 Boxster S cars this year certainly doesn't) and for some of us - doing a worthwhile job or providing a genuine service while making a living - is reward enough - although you probably would't understand that concept.
I can tell you that we repair several engines/week. They are a mixture of mainly scored bores (mostly), cylinder cracks, "D" chunks, IMS bearing failures, worn tappets (variable valve lift engines) and cracked heads.
The numbers in all of those categories are going up as are the number of engines we now repair for other specialists who take the engine out and replace it.
In additiona a few new probalems are emerging that are probably unlikely to repeat much - but cause us problems when the car came in as a non runner and thetrefore we do not know what else might have been wrong with it as well as the reason it stopped working. In this category we recently had a broken wire inside the loom fitting to a camshaft solenoid (providing erratic running that may have contributed to the failure) and even a faulty new spark plug with a loose centre that sounded like a big end failure. Sometimes a loose exhaust manifold bolt (often caused by corrosion) allows the pressure pulse to reach other cylinder via the ECG gallery and makes the engines snatch on tickover and make a metallic noise like a failed tappet - so analysing problems is becoming more and more difficult although the more we do and the more we see - the better we get at it.
We have continually tried to increase our capacity and once again have just increased our storage area, received a new automatic honing machine, and continued to develop and test new solutions and improvements in our own cars and diligently research and test all options before making them available to the general public. This is not the approach of anyone simply trying to frighten people to make money.
I am also - once again - confused about your logic - you suggest I frighten people to spend money with me rather than admit there is not a problem. People only spend money when they ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM - and then - we become the solution. However - prices of oldish cars of all makes are now falling much more than they used to (as people want and can afford more fashionable models) and some are now so cheap (considering the fantastic performance) that I do think the time will soon come when owners buy one and decide to have it rebuilt "future proofed" rather than risk a more expensive failure.
Finally - we also provide a very low cost "insurance" against the full cost of an engine repair through our Lifetime Maintenance Plan - in which we would pay for all the labour if an engine failed (hardly trying to exploit the situation - is it?).
When asked generally I always make the point that they are great cars and the failures are very small in number, but to suggest they don't actually occur is just a stupid head in the sand approach (or has other motivations).
Baz
Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz"
Look hohoho - I don't like the implication that we would not be truthful - we always have been (although many don't like to face it) and what gives you the right to state what my opinions are - you are treading on very dangerous ground and the Internet does not offer you protection to do so - there is a problem - small in number - large in cost!
As a small business we have taken on a relatively enormous project to repair these engines (basically because by coincidence - I just happened to have the experience, qualifications and backgound to do so) - when the manufacturers that caused the problem have practically washed their hands of it and not only simply rebuild them but design, test and analyse the problems and try to find solutions so that our rebuilt engines are better than they were before - and if that were not enough we are also actively trying to find ways to help people actually avoid needing a rebuild by our supply of a lower temperature thermostat and research with Millers Oils into a suitable Nano oil to reduce cylinder friction. We have already invested more time and effort in this than we would need to - just to make money!
However when we started out fixing them many years ago we did not think about keeping a record of each individual rebuild and what was behind the failure (we had far too much on our plate with the problems and solutions at that point ans still have). Furthermore I don't feel I need to provide statistics anyway (just because you want them) and we are so busy repairing them I really do not have the time to read back over all the invoices etc to work out statistics. I don't think these simple facts deserve any cynical interpretations.
We do not try to frighten anyone - in fact - when a problem occurs and the owners discovers he has to spend around £15K to get going again with a Main Agent - he may feel very frightened about the consequences but then he may research and find out that we offer a better solution at a much lower price and with many options to suit his circumstances and future aspirations (sometimes including buying the car off him with the broken engine) - and most of our customers find this very reassuring and a huge relief - backed up by our guarantees etc (which we have a well earned reputation for honouring).
Not everyone is out just to make money (and going racing with 2 Boxster S cars this year certainly doesn't) and for some of us - doing a worthwhile job or providing a genuine service while making a living - is reward enough - although you probably would't understand that concept.
I can tell you that we repair several engines/week. They are a mixture of mainly scored bores (mostly), cylinder cracks, "D" chunks, IMS bearing failures, worn tappets (variable valve lift engines) and cracked heads.
The numbers in all of those categories are going up as are the number of engines we now repair for other specialists who take the engine out and replace it.
In additiona a few new probalems are emerging that are probably unlikely to repeat much - but cause us problems when the car came in as a non runner and thetrefore we do not know what else might have been wrong with it as well as the reason it stopped working. In this category we recently had a broken wire inside the loom fitting to a camshaft solenoid (providing erratic running that may have contributed to the failure) and even a faulty new spark plug with a loose centre that sounded like a big end failure. Sometimes a loose exhaust manifold bolt (often caused by corrosion) allows the pressure pulse to reach other cylinder via the ECG gallery and makes the engines snatch on tickover and make a metallic noise like a failed tappet - so analysing problems is becoming more and more difficult although the more we do and the more we see - the better we get at it.
We have continually tried to increase our capacity and once again have just increased our storage area, received a new automatic honing machine, and continued to develop and test new solutions and improvements in our own cars and diligently research and test all options before making them available to the general public. This is not the approach of anyone simply trying to frighten people to make money.
I am also - once again - confused about your logic - you suggest I frighten people to spend money with me rather than admit there is not a problem. People only spend money when they ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM - and then - we become the solution. However - prices of oldish cars of all makes are now falling much more than they used to (as people want and can afford more fashionable models) and some are now so cheap (considering the fantastic performance) that I do think the time will soon come when owners buy one and decide to have it rebuilt "future proofed" rather than risk a more expensive failure.
Finally - we also provide a very low cost "insurance" against the full cost of an engine repair through our Lifetime Maintenance Plan - in which we would pay for all the labour if an engine failed (hardly trying to exploit the situation - is it?).
When asked generally I always make the point that they are great cars and the failures are very small in number, but to suggest they don't actually occur is just a stupid head in the sand approach (or has other motivations).
Baz
hartech said:
Hohoho said "Don't think we'll hear from Baz with confirmed figures - he's a businessman and the thought of people being frightened and spending money with him is far better than the truth that there isn't really a problem.
Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz"
Look hohoho - I don't like the implication that we would not be truthful - we always have been (although many don't like to face it) and what gives you the right to state what my opinions are - you are treading on very dangerous ground and the Internet does not offer you protection to do so - there is a problem - small in number - large in cost!
It was tongue in cheek with a smiley - However, confirmed figures would be good.Why let the truth get in the way of making a few bob eh Baz"
Look hohoho - I don't like the implication that we would not be truthful - we always have been (although many don't like to face it) and what gives you the right to state what my opinions are - you are treading on very dangerous ground and the Internet does not offer you protection to do so - there is a problem - small in number - large in cost!
hartech said:
I can tell you that we repair several engines/week. They are a mixture of mainly scored bores (mostly), cylinder cracks, "D" chunks, IMS bearing failures, worn tappets (variable valve lift engines) and cracked heads.
So not all from scored bores or D chunks and some for other dealers - thus you may be busy, but not every Indi is the same.But yet again it appears the scored bore and D chunk isn't a major problem and Porsche engines suffer from similar problems that all manufacturers engines may suffer from, from time to time - tappets, rusted bolts for example
hartech said:
I am also - once again - confused about your logic - you suggest I frighten people to spend money with me rather than admit there is not a problem. People only spend money when they ACTUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM - and then - we become the solution.
A poster last week who's car had done over 100,000 miles mentioned even though he didn't yet have a problem he was curious when he should book his car in to be seen and have preventative measures taken against possible problems - so it does happen, people will spend money before they need to.hartech said:
Finally - we also provide a very low cost "insurance" against the full cost of an engine repair through our Lifetime Maintenance Plan - in which we would pay for all the labour if an engine failed (hardly trying to exploit the situation - is it?).
A good insurance policy I know and it's priced as it is simply because you know it's not going to cost you a lot, and you are a business - there to make money, not lose it! If you were spending thousands every week on warranty claims, you'd put your policy cost up to cover your losses I'm sure.hartech said:
When asked generally I always make the point that they are great cars and the failures are very small in number, but to suggest they don't actually occur is just a stupid head in the sand approach (or has other motivations).
So you agree the failures are very small in number, and those who write we should all be sitting at home terrified that our engines are about to implode are incorrect?I've personally never suggested they don't occur, I simply believe this whole engine problem has been blown totally out of proportion, and in order to get understand the severity of the problem I would simply like to see figures.
Edited by HoHoHo on Friday 13th January 12:10
HoHoHo said:
I can't remember the last time anybody started a thread about their car blowing up
I remember this thread at about the time I was thinking of buying one.http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I don't think the engine problem has been blown out of proportion - it's just that it's garnered a lot of exposure due to the fact that the majority of people buy Porsches because of the engineering and reliability that the brand as a whole stands for. Thus, when things do go wrong they (quite rightly) get bent out of shape.
STiG911 said:
I don't think the engine problem has been blown out of proportion - it's just that it's garnered a lot of exposure due to the fact that the majority of people buy Porsches because of the engineering and reliability that the brand as a whole stands for.
There has to be a reason it's discussed so much more than the Corsa VXR which had a habit of burning a hole in pistons, or the Corsa 1.2 (i think) which has a habit of snapping a cam shaft.People had come to expect top notch engineering from Porsche. German reliability and all that. To overcome that reputation of being bullet proof is no mean feat. That doesn't happen even because of a few engine problems.
TVR owners accept that the speed 6 engine has issues and many will not last as well as you'd hope. The difference here is we have an engine that has gained a similar reputation, but from a marque with a reputation for reliability. That didn't happen by chance or 1 or 2 instances. It's clearly an issue that has raised it's head with many owners.
It seems to me, some people are putting more weight on the reputation of the brand, and using that as some sort of proof to "gloss over" the reputation of the engine.
looks like the muppets are out again
after suffering ims failure 5 years ago on a low mileage well looked after from new 986s.i have read extensivly on the internet about the problems of the m96/7 engines and yes there are problems.why do you think porsche totally redesigned the engine in 2008?
agreed failure is not huge number of cars say anywhere between 1-5%
as for Hartech he does a sterling job helping fix the cars and finding solutions to stop the problems occuring in the first place(low temp.thermostat)
after suffering ims failure 5 years ago on a low mileage well looked after from new 986s.i have read extensivly on the internet about the problems of the m96/7 engines and yes there are problems.why do you think porsche totally redesigned the engine in 2008? agreed failure is not huge number of cars say anywhere between 1-5%
as for Hartech he does a sterling job helping fix the cars and finding solutions to stop the problems occuring in the first place(low temp.thermostat)
Firstly - I think it is very sensible to have an engine with known weak points rebuilt at some mileage for preventative maintenance - especially when the bores going oval will not go away for anyone. Anyone doing so would not be a "frightened man" but a very intelligent and wise one - taking sensible steps to protect his investment - in my view.
If I am being accused of things I have not done by someone who assumes he knows things he simply does not know (and cannot know) and is wrong about - and in the process damages my reputation - then I think I have a right to answer it by defending my position in any way I think fit. If you think it is an advert to explain what a very contientious business we are - to defend against unfounded accusations and snide remarks then so be it.
Hohoho is way way off on numbers by a masive factor (as anyone who has visited us recently can testify) - but not only do I not have accurate figures nor time to collate them - I don't see why I should divulge them even if I did - they are our intellectual property and if we want to keep them to ourselves for our own reasons (relating to investment, stock control etc) - we have every right to and that is perfectly normal and legitimate business practice does not justify others making up accusations nor interpreting that as hiding anything or being dishonest especially when the accuser is so obviously biased and unable to work out the most simple logical positions despite many others trying to help.
In business - getting technically ahead of everyone else is a massive benefit because it enables you to invest in the expectation of getting a high proportion of the available business. Anyone else interesting in getting in on the market later can then only justify getting a smaller proportion and therefore must restrict their own budgets accordingly and can never compete equally. That is why there are still many new ideas that have actually been under test for over a year and covered thousands of miles that no one else even knows about yet - and more just started and in the pipeline. It is a risk and how much of one depends on the capability of the people involved - but the statistics that would result (if I had time to equate them) would anyway be a valuable commodity to me. Our racing team using M96 engines is another way to find out weak spots and test solutions (and I don't see anyone else being so thorough or exposing their abilities in public in the same way).
Typically some others are now trying to get in on this business with cheap solutions that will be short lived - but offer nothing like the range, experience or most important of all - the satisfaction rate - and I intend to continue to be ahead of the game and hope to attract a lot of business as a result - if not it harms no one but myself, our shareholders and our staff - all of whom are confident in the outcome as a result of being spot on with our analysis and solutions from day one years ago. If I do continue to get a lot of business it will only be through helping a lot more people to solve a potentially very expensive problem in the process.
A rather irritated Baz
If I am being accused of things I have not done by someone who assumes he knows things he simply does not know (and cannot know) and is wrong about - and in the process damages my reputation - then I think I have a right to answer it by defending my position in any way I think fit. If you think it is an advert to explain what a very contientious business we are - to defend against unfounded accusations and snide remarks then so be it.
Hohoho is way way off on numbers by a masive factor (as anyone who has visited us recently can testify) - but not only do I not have accurate figures nor time to collate them - I don't see why I should divulge them even if I did - they are our intellectual property and if we want to keep them to ourselves for our own reasons (relating to investment, stock control etc) - we have every right to and that is perfectly normal and legitimate business practice does not justify others making up accusations nor interpreting that as hiding anything or being dishonest especially when the accuser is so obviously biased and unable to work out the most simple logical positions despite many others trying to help.
In business - getting technically ahead of everyone else is a massive benefit because it enables you to invest in the expectation of getting a high proportion of the available business. Anyone else interesting in getting in on the market later can then only justify getting a smaller proportion and therefore must restrict their own budgets accordingly and can never compete equally. That is why there are still many new ideas that have actually been under test for over a year and covered thousands of miles that no one else even knows about yet - and more just started and in the pipeline. It is a risk and how much of one depends on the capability of the people involved - but the statistics that would result (if I had time to equate them) would anyway be a valuable commodity to me. Our racing team using M96 engines is another way to find out weak spots and test solutions (and I don't see anyone else being so thorough or exposing their abilities in public in the same way).
Typically some others are now trying to get in on this business with cheap solutions that will be short lived - but offer nothing like the range, experience or most important of all - the satisfaction rate - and I intend to continue to be ahead of the game and hope to attract a lot of business as a result - if not it harms no one but myself, our shareholders and our staff - all of whom are confident in the outcome as a result of being spot on with our analysis and solutions from day one years ago. If I do continue to get a lot of business it will only be through helping a lot more people to solve a potentially very expensive problem in the process.
A rather irritated Baz
Not been on this thread for a little bit, but I find it bizarre that people are rubbishing Baz. He is a world expert and a first rate bloke. Of course he's running a business, but that doesn't mean he's a swindler or a liar. He is a highly professionsal deeply knowledgeable engineer and enthusiast. He has been entirely transparent with me and he and Grant have more than once recommended that I DO NOT have work done on the car that I would have paid for with them eg new brake pipes and suspension components. They have been very cost effective. I know the numbers I have well costed the scheme and I can afford not to be on the scheme if the worst were to happen. I travel from London twice a year and would continue to do so however much money I had. Hartech are completely up front and their pricing is transparent. People should note it costs more to have a 993 on the scheme and a lot more to have a 'bullet proof' 996 turbo on the scheme. Hats off to Hartech.
Baz - you have again missed the tongue in cheek remark! I don't for one minute think you are doing anything other than a good job helping people when they need help and no doubt working very hard at it.
Of course it's your business to or not to divulge figures, however you claim I'm way off the numbers so I can only assume engine failures are in the tens or low hundreds? (that said, it would be really interesting to know the numbers so we can make an informed judgement).
So assuming it's hundreds and as we know Porsche have sold in excess of 100,000 cars even it it were say 1000 cars over the last 5 years (that equates to nearly 4 engines a week, every week by the way!), that would only be 1% of sales volume which is tiny - albeit I accept irritating if you are one of the 1%!
I have been on enough meets now and spoken with like minded Porsche owners who are fed up with scare stories about an engine that is probably 99% reliable and guess what........depreciation!
Sorry if I offended you, it was not my intention (hence the smiley).
Of course it's your business to or not to divulge figures, however you claim I'm way off the numbers so I can only assume engine failures are in the tens or low hundreds? (that said, it would be really interesting to know the numbers so we can make an informed judgement).
So assuming it's hundreds and as we know Porsche have sold in excess of 100,000 cars even it it were say 1000 cars over the last 5 years (that equates to nearly 4 engines a week, every week by the way!), that would only be 1% of sales volume which is tiny - albeit I accept irritating if you are one of the 1%!
I have been on enough meets now and spoken with like minded Porsche owners who are fed up with scare stories about an engine that is probably 99% reliable and guess what........depreciation!
Sorry if I offended you, it was not my intention (hence the smiley).
hartech said:
Firstly - I think it is very sensible to have an engine with known weak points rebuilt at some mileage for preventative maintenance - especially when the bores going oval will not go away for anyone. Anyone doing so would not be a "frightened man" but a very intelligent and wise one - taking sensible steps to protect his investment - in my view.
If I am being accused of things I have not done by someone who assumes he knows things he simply does not know (and cannot know) and is wrong about - and in the process damages my reputation - then I think I have a right to answer it by defending my position in any way I think fit. If you think it is an advert to explain what a very contientious business we are - to defend against unfounded accusations and snide remarks then so be it.
Hohoho is way way off on numbers by a masive factor (as anyone who has visited us recently can testify) - but not only do I not have accurate figures nor time to collate them - I don't see why I should divulge them even if I did - they are our intellectual property and if we want to keep them to ourselves for our own reasons (relating to investment, stock control etc) - we have every right to and that is perfectly normal and legitimate business practice does not justify others making up accusations nor interpreting that as hiding anything or being dishonest especially when the accuser is so obviously biased and unable to work out the most simple logical positions despite many others trying to help.
In business - getting technically ahead of everyone else is a massive benefit because it enables you to invest in the expectation of getting a high proportion of the available business. Anyone else interesting in getting in on the market later can then only justify getting a smaller proportion and therefore must restrict their own budgets accordingly and can never compete equally. That is why there are still many new ideas that have actually been under test for over a year and covered thousands of miles that no one else even knows about yet - and more just started and in the pipeline. It is a risk and how much of one depends on the capability of the people involved - but the statistics that would result (if I had time to equate them) would anyway be a valuable commodity to me. Our racing team using M96 engines is another way to find out weak spots and test solutions (and I don't see anyone else being so thorough or exposing their abilities in public in the same way).
Typically some others are now trying to get in on this business with cheap solutions that will be short lived - but offer nothing like the range, experience or most important of all - the satisfaction rate - and I intend to continue to be ahead of the game and hope to attract a lot of business as a result - if not it harms no one but myself, our shareholders and our staff - all of whom are confident in the outcome as a result of being spot on with our analysis and solutions from day one years ago. If I do continue to get a lot of business it will only be through helping a lot more people to solve a potentially very expensive problem in the process.
A rather irritated Baz
I dont blame you Baz I doff my cap sir for your patience and being bothered to reply to.....well you know who I mean.If I am being accused of things I have not done by someone who assumes he knows things he simply does not know (and cannot know) and is wrong about - and in the process damages my reputation - then I think I have a right to answer it by defending my position in any way I think fit. If you think it is an advert to explain what a very contientious business we are - to defend against unfounded accusations and snide remarks then so be it.
Hohoho is way way off on numbers by a masive factor (as anyone who has visited us recently can testify) - but not only do I not have accurate figures nor time to collate them - I don't see why I should divulge them even if I did - they are our intellectual property and if we want to keep them to ourselves for our own reasons (relating to investment, stock control etc) - we have every right to and that is perfectly normal and legitimate business practice does not justify others making up accusations nor interpreting that as hiding anything or being dishonest especially when the accuser is so obviously biased and unable to work out the most simple logical positions despite many others trying to help.
In business - getting technically ahead of everyone else is a massive benefit because it enables you to invest in the expectation of getting a high proportion of the available business. Anyone else interesting in getting in on the market later can then only justify getting a smaller proportion and therefore must restrict their own budgets accordingly and can never compete equally. That is why there are still many new ideas that have actually been under test for over a year and covered thousands of miles that no one else even knows about yet - and more just started and in the pipeline. It is a risk and how much of one depends on the capability of the people involved - but the statistics that would result (if I had time to equate them) would anyway be a valuable commodity to me. Our racing team using M96 engines is another way to find out weak spots and test solutions (and I don't see anyone else being so thorough or exposing their abilities in public in the same way).
Typically some others are now trying to get in on this business with cheap solutions that will be short lived - but offer nothing like the range, experience or most important of all - the satisfaction rate - and I intend to continue to be ahead of the game and hope to attract a lot of business as a result - if not it harms no one but myself, our shareholders and our staff - all of whom are confident in the outcome as a result of being spot on with our analysis and solutions from day one years ago. If I do continue to get a lot of business it will only be through helping a lot more people to solve a potentially very expensive problem in the process.
A rather irritated Baz
hartech said:
Hi Dumpy, sorry but despite seeing and repairing loads of cracked and "D" chunked cylinders - it is difficult to know the exact sequence of all the vents.
If it is a crack it usually mainifests itself as pressurising the cylinder block and running hot - possibly a slight misfire first - but the problem is that if we do not see the "D" chunk cars until the "D" chunk has fallen out - there is no real way of knowing if they experienced the others sypmtoms first. Perhaps they don't want to admit it or perhaps they are not mechanically sympathetic and kept driving until if totally failed.
Thanks for the reply Baz! Best to just keep checking for water loss regularly then for now. I guess i am the one refferred to further up the thread as being scared into a rebuild. just for the record my thoughts on this have been.If it is a crack it usually mainifests itself as pressurising the cylinder block and running hot - possibly a slight misfire first - but the problem is that if we do not see the "D" chunk cars until the "D" chunk has fallen out - there is no real way of knowing if they experienced the others sypmtoms first. Perhaps they don't want to admit it or perhaps they are not mechanically sympathetic and kept driving until if totally failed.
1) Specifically bought a car i knew very well with miles on it as the mileage would put other people off and hence got it cheap. My thinking was say a half decent 911 is 17k. Pay 10k keep 7k back. Doing work myself like dropping engine taking ancilaries off, splitting box n engine (i.e time consuming donkey spanner work)and then sending engine to Hartech possibly box off to well known box rebuild chaps then putting it all back together with new low temp thermostat silcone hoses, clutch etc myself should be able (possibly) to get in on budget and have a 996 thatll keep me going for life. Budget is tight hence wanting to get it done before rather than after it spits metal all round the engine.
At present am content to run it as is, it uses no oil/water great oil pressure and know its done carefully warmed up motorway miles for a large part of its life. (Ive known the owner most of my life and the car 8+ years) so plan is to wait for clutch to go and do it all then. hence the interest in keeping an eye on liner cracks but sounds like from Baz's reply best just to be vigilant for water loss/overheating. May even get 150k out of it which frankly wouldnt be shabby for any high performace engine between rebuilds.
In short not that much of a victim. Just a well researched 3.4 ginger lighted 996 driver
Thanks for the support chaps - what a huge variety of opinions there are on this subject!
The main question. Is it better to be informed or not and is it better for there to be solutions or not?
Also are you mature and rational enough to handle the information (as some demonstrably are) or too irrational, insecure and emotional - only capable of hitting out at the undeserving if your world is not as perfect as mummy said it was?
We are only one small provider - there are more in the uk - other solutions - and all the new engines fitted by main agents and others - and this is World wide. We have fixed engines for 12 other Counties (including Australia and Korea), are well over three figures annually for replacement liners and engine rebuilds and it is growing..
There are several ways to make money, the easiest being to present an image to suggest you will provide a good service then provide less than that - use the extra profit to promote that image and renage on promises and guarantees when it backfires. This scenario is so common in the motor trade that the market price is being influenced by the sheer numbers of poor service providers - making it very difficult for ethical providers to survive and continue to provide reliable services at the market price.
We do not resist the temptation to cut corners to make more money because we are naive - but because it is not in our nature or our policy - but it is very annoying to be lumped together with those that do when our main reward is the satisfaction of doing a job we can be proud of and not the amount of money we can extract from customers.
We are however human and want to be successful and to be able to afford to invest in making our business better and our staff and shareholders well rewarded. We do this by very high quality management.- continual re investment and putting more of our resources into that than over staffing and expensive flashy decor, buildings and adverts.
The problem with British industry in the last century has always been short term strategy and reward structures and too many distant shareholders who can move their funds as lack of long term investment gradually makes one business uncompetitive into another one still growing.
We buck that trend and reinvest a huge proportion of our turnover into our business annually - into research, reorganisation, training and new ideas and solutions. We may be a very small business but we are well enough managed to demonstrate that it is still possible to provide high quality at reasonable prices and survive and prosper - but it is very hard work - something that fewer and fewer seem prepared to undertake when the alternative of marketing yourself well enough to con money out of customers - is becoming more widespread.
Hence irritation, frustration and indeed anger to be accused of being a part of that admittedly well established practice when we work harder than most to make the opposite possible.
Baz
The main question. Is it better to be informed or not and is it better for there to be solutions or not?
Also are you mature and rational enough to handle the information (as some demonstrably are) or too irrational, insecure and emotional - only capable of hitting out at the undeserving if your world is not as perfect as mummy said it was?
We are only one small provider - there are more in the uk - other solutions - and all the new engines fitted by main agents and others - and this is World wide. We have fixed engines for 12 other Counties (including Australia and Korea), are well over three figures annually for replacement liners and engine rebuilds and it is growing..
There are several ways to make money, the easiest being to present an image to suggest you will provide a good service then provide less than that - use the extra profit to promote that image and renage on promises and guarantees when it backfires. This scenario is so common in the motor trade that the market price is being influenced by the sheer numbers of poor service providers - making it very difficult for ethical providers to survive and continue to provide reliable services at the market price.
We do not resist the temptation to cut corners to make more money because we are naive - but because it is not in our nature or our policy - but it is very annoying to be lumped together with those that do when our main reward is the satisfaction of doing a job we can be proud of and not the amount of money we can extract from customers.
We are however human and want to be successful and to be able to afford to invest in making our business better and our staff and shareholders well rewarded. We do this by very high quality management.- continual re investment and putting more of our resources into that than over staffing and expensive flashy decor, buildings and adverts.
The problem with British industry in the last century has always been short term strategy and reward structures and too many distant shareholders who can move their funds as lack of long term investment gradually makes one business uncompetitive into another one still growing.
We buck that trend and reinvest a huge proportion of our turnover into our business annually - into research, reorganisation, training and new ideas and solutions. We may be a very small business but we are well enough managed to demonstrate that it is still possible to provide high quality at reasonable prices and survive and prosper - but it is very hard work - something that fewer and fewer seem prepared to undertake when the alternative of marketing yourself well enough to con money out of customers - is becoming more widespread.
Hence irritation, frustration and indeed anger to be accused of being a part of that admittedly well established practice when we work harder than most to make the opposite possible.
Baz
Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff