Buying a 981, red flags?

[ATM]

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

Would they be able to see that you have opened it up?

They have paper seals you have to break to open the unit up.

Paper seals - surely someone on the internet can make replacements?

If it failed I doubt Porsche would inspect the unit too hard. They would just pull it out and replace. But yes it is a risk.

[elan362]

I added a Mr12volt carplay module to my PCM3.1 and haven't looked back. The newer ones also have oem mic integration which my older one does not have.
Yes, you have to open the PCM up to install the additional pcb and connect a few ribbon cables. Daunting... Yes, hard... No.
I also cloned the onboard HDD in the PCM and swapped it out for a SSD. The original HDDs are at the end of their serviceable life and are beginning to fail. I you do this before it starts to fail then it is straightforward , but if you delay and only think about it once it starts to play up, it's too late and your PCM will die,and a clone done at this point will also be corrupted.

[981Boxess]

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

Would they be able to see that you have opened it up?

They have paper seals you have to break to open the unit up.

Paper seals - surely someone on the internet can make replacements?

If it failed I doubt Porsche would inspect the unit too hard. They would just pull it out and replace. But yes it is a risk.

That isn't how it works, the OPC do the warranty claim and the parts replaced have to be returned, if they do not meet the warranty claim criteria the claim gets knocked back.

An OPC will not do any warranty work they may not end up getting paid for.

[981Boxess]

elan362 said:

I also cloned the onboard HDD in the PCM and swapped it out for a SSD.

Great idea and very tempting, I bet that speeds things up a bit, but again, potential warranty issue.

[ATM]

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

Would they be able to see that you have opened it up?

They have paper seals you have to break to open the unit up.

Paper seals - surely someone on the internet can make replacements?

If it failed I doubt Porsche would inspect the unit too hard. They would just pull it out and replace. But yes it is a risk.

That isn't how it works, the OPC do the warranty claim and the parts replaced have to be returned, if they do not meet the warranty claim criteria the claim gets knocked back.

An OPC will not do any warranty work they may not end up getting paid for.

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

[981Boxess]

ATM said:

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

They wouldn't do anything without checking the unit first, they are not going to just take the customer's word for it - would you?

[ATM]

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

They wouldn't do anything without checking the unit first, they are not going to just take the customer's word for it - would you?

If I was Porsche and charging people a fortune for warranty - YES.

[981Boxess]

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

They wouldn't do anything without checking the unit first, they are not going to just take the customer's word for it - would you?

If I was Porsche and charging people a fortune for warranty - YES.

Customer - my radio doesn't work

OPC - no problem sir we will order another one in VOR and book your car in to swap them.

Car comes in, the fuse has blown.

OPC wastes a load of time, has a unit to return and gets paid nothing.

[ATM]

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

They wouldn't do anything without checking the unit first, they are not going to just take the customer's word for it - would you?

If I was Porsche and charging people a fortune for warranty - YES.

Customer - my radio doesn't work

OPC - no problem sir we will order another one in VOR and book your car in to swap them.

Car comes in, the fuse has blown.

OPC wastes a load of time, has a unit to return and gets paid nothing.

Ridiculous argument

Service Service Service

Look after the customer

Make them feel loved

If they order new parts and they are not needed they can just return them

Porsche is a premium product and the warranty should be a premium service

They shouldn't be suspicious of customers with a Porsche under warranty

They should be bending over backwards to make them happy

[SV_WDC]

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

They wouldn't do anything without checking the unit first, they are not going to just take the customer's word for it - would you?

If I was Porsche and charging people a fortune for warranty - YES.

Customer - my radio doesn't work

OPC - no problem sir we will order another one in VOR and book your car in to swap them.

Car comes in, the fuse has blown.

OPC wastes a load of time, has a unit to return and gets paid nothing.

Ridiculous argument

Service Service Service

Look after the customer

Make them feel loved

Does this happen at OPC's anymore?

[HighwayStar]

ATM said:

981Boxess said:

ATM said:

So they remove your old PCM and then the car just sits there while they wrangle with Porsche?

I'd assumed they just order in a new unit ahead of time and then your car goes in for a quick change over.

They wouldn't do anything without checking the unit first, they are not going to just take the customer's word for it - would you?

If I was Porsche and charging people a fortune for warranty - YES.

The warranty is actually amazingly cheap AND covers a surprising amount of stuff.
I’ve just renewed, warrant & Porsche assist for 3yrs… £2255. A McLaren warrant is £5k/year!!!
I don’t think simply taking the customers word without checking wouldn’t be a great move, wide open to abuse/costly.

[981Boxess]

ATM said:

Ridiculous argument

Service Service Service

Look after the customer

Make them feel loved

If they order new parts and they are not needed they can just return them

Porsche is a premium product and the warranty should be a premium service

They shouldn't be suspicious of customers with a Porsche under warranty

They should be bending over backwards to make them happy

Spoken like someone who has never worked in the motor trade in his life, if you had you would understand why what I posted makes perfect sense and what you posted is ridiculous.

[elan362]

My experience is most dealerships now want to investigate a problem to understand the issue before ordering parts and doing the repair (warranty or not) at a later appointment.
If the result of the investigatory appointment is it is a warranty claim, the parts would be ordered on this basis for the follow up work.

I guess the investigating garage has to take reasonable steps to ensure the warranty will be repaid by the manufacturer, so there are specific steps / checks the dealer will need to undertake before agreeing to a warranty claim to ensure they get paid for the work.

It is likely the manufacturer wants components Back for a few reason, fraud being one. But I don't think they will check the minute detail of each part unless a pattern starts to form.
There will be an acceptable failure rate on all parts . Where they will simply be recharging the cost to the subcontractor supplier for failures.

[GT3Manthey]

Im contacted my local OPC and asked about a warranty claim in the event I added CarPlay . They stated the car wouldn't be covered although I assume that's just for the PCM unit.

They also said they wouldn't be able to fit a compatible unit so it's a no go with the OPC.

I'll get the car and worry about the CarPlay thing at a later date .

[Youforreal.]

GT3Manthey said:

Im contacted my local OPC and asked about a warranty claim in the event I added CarPlay . They stated the car wouldn't be covered although I assume that's just for the PCM unit.

They also said they wouldn't be able to fit a compatible unit so it's a no go with the OPC.

I'll get the car and worry about the CarPlay thing at a later date .

And renewing the warranty is not going to happen either if you put in it if they check it.

[ATM]

981Boxess said:

Spoken like someone who has never worked in the motor trade in his life, if you had you would understand why what I posted makes perfect sense and what you posted is ridiculous.

I have never worked in the motor trade, correct. Is that relevant?

Have you ever bought a house, without working in the building trade?

Have you ever eaten in an expensive restaurant, without working in the restaurant industry?

Hotel?

Flown in a plane?

Do I need to go on?

My friend recently bought a 991.1 gt3 for 100 or 110k I can't remember. It comes with warranty. If he had a problem with the PCM do you really think they would suspect he has been tampering with it? That's ridiculous. They should surely want to make any warranty claim a simple pain free process. Because if they don't then surely the customers they annoy would just move on to another brand. The PCM unit will cost Porsche peanuts. The cost will also be under written by the warranty which should be based on some form of financial 'thing' which protects them just like normal car insurance or house insurance or health insurance or pet insurance. And before you ask, no, I have never worked in the insurance industry so i am being deliberately vague. But insurance companies never lose money. They just adjust their premiums accordingly. Feel fee to check with whoever you know who works in the insurance industry.

If Porsche start treating all their existing customers like fraudulent criminals they wouldn't have a business for long. This is my belief as a customer.

I would expect if my friend had a problem with the PCM in his Porsche he would go in and show them. They would press buttons and see it doesn't work. Then they would probably - I am guessing now - order whatever bits they need like a replacement PCM unit and arrange either there and then - or later when the parts have all arrived - an appointment for the car to be returned for the repair which should be only an hour or so and possibly even while the owner waits. Then what would happen to the old PCM, no idea, but I can't imagine Porsche having a department of engineers who check broken PCM units for signs of tampering. The cost would outweigh any potential benefits. The garage get paid with warranty coffers for an hours work to swap the PCM. Customer leaves happy. Tells all his friends and they all think hmm maybe I should buy a Porsche next.

[GT3Manthey]

Youforreal. said:

And renewing the warranty is not going to happen either if you put in it if they check it.

Tks, having been around in Porsche circles now for over 30 years i suspected that might well be the case. That said would the entire warranty be invalid or just anything related to the PCM unit ?

I think I'll look for a unit I can attach somehow without making a mess of the interior .

As an aside, my car has the front grills which I suspect are an aftermarket item and not permissible under the terms of the Porsche warranty so i guess come warranty time I'll have to pop those out .

Edited by GT3Manthey on Friday 29th March 06:03

[981Boxess]

GT3Manthey said:

That said would the entire warranty be invalid or just anything related to the PCM unit ?

I think I'll look for a unit I can attach somehow without making a mess of the interior.

The official line is the car should be left as is and if you need the warranty you then won’t have any issues.

The unofficial line is as long as an OPC gets paid for any warranty work they do they could not care less what any owner does, but obviously they will not tell you that. They are not going to go out of their way to block warranty work, they get paid for it.

If not having CarPlay is going affect the enjoyment of your new car, have it. In the unlikely event the PCM packs up for whatever reason you just take it out and get it repaired.

[GT3Manthey]

981Boxess said:

The official line is the car should be left as is and if you need the warranty you then won’t have any issues.

The unofficial line is as long as an OPC gets paid for any warranty work they do they could not care less what any owner does, but obviously they will not tell you that. They are not going to go out of their way to block warranty work, they get paid for it.

If not having CarPlay is going affect the enjoyment of your new car, have it. In the unlikely event the PCM packs up for whatever reason you just take it out and get it repaired.

Tks mate . It's just the convenience of having it and what I've gotten used to . Let's get the car and go from there .

Cheers for the tips and advice .

Bon weekend all

[Armitage.Shanks]

GT3Manthey said:

elan362 said:

You cannot upgrade to a PCM4 IN a 981 if you have Bose (or I think Burmeister) audio as the PCM output / amp input is in MOST25 with the PCM3.1, but MOST150 in the PCM4.

Ah tks . I do have Bose.

More research needed . I was told at Harbour cars for around £750 there is a fit but I need to find out a little more.

I've gotten used to CarPlay and will especially miss not having the ability to voice text and use Spotify .

Quite a few places do supply and fit for c£700 and are well regarded on taking the car apart with care. Once installed to the uninformed is undetectable as you can default back to the normal display so unless OPC went looking for it they wouldn't know. That said doing a full scan via the OBD 'can' pick up anomalies when it comes to firmware updates and I don't know if the install in PCM3.1 is affected. However as mentioned any warranty claim on the PCM unit would be voided. Only issue I know of with the PCM3.1 are reports of hard drive failures as mentioned. Usual upgrade is to install a SSD replacement at the same time the unit is opened up if you're risk averse.

We can't be far off Porsche offering a new upgrade PCM in line with their upgrades for classic car series.

Note CarPlay will not show maps etc in the RH instrument binacle. I've a 718 which as PCM4 so CarPlay install can be done by remote for £50 and running waze through it is a gamechanger. Whoever does the install has to go th extra mile so it won't show when Porsche do a scan of the car - many don't. On my 981GT4 I never bothered because I didn't use it enough

Edited by Armitage.Shanks on Friday 29th March 13:20