Geometry Advice

[norbertc]

Folk

Are my local OPC trying to shaft me???

Very suspicious after a visit for a 48K service to the local OPC yesterday.

Apparently my car (996 C2) has uneven tyre wear and I therefore need a Geometry check doing. Wear was on fronts 0 on inside and 3mm on outside... variation of approx 2 or 3mm inside to outside on rears also. Checking previous posts it seems that this is normal...

Question is how normal is this or should I get the Geometry check done?..

Bearing in mind that I got pretty much all of the standard OPC money spinners yesterday (plus a few more maybe?) I am a bit confused as to whether I should believe them or not.

They charged me for the wrong service (got that credited back this morning...no apology!), told me I needed new disks cos they were corroded, told me I needed new pads too at a total cost of 680 fine english pounds, told me they couldnt get the same tyres I already have on but could sell me 4 nice new ones then quoted me a price for tyres and when I told them I didn't want them cos they were too expensive it turns out that apparently they had added the VAT in twice! (needless to say did not agree to do any of this until I have checked it out)..

Maybe I am being overly suspicious but my conclusion is that these guys are tugging my plonker ... so am looking to get some opinions on the geo etc.

Your views much appreciated, Do I need to buy the guy a new calculator and a special jacket to hide his sharky fin or are these geniuine coincidences?

[willdew]

They sound like they're good at winding the bill up. However, if you do have uneven tyre wear they may be correct. Is it the front or rear? Could just be tracking, which is obviously an easier (and hence much cheaper) job to do than full 4 wheel geometry.

Why not inspect the tyre wear yourself, and if it needs it doing, book it into an independent specialist to do the job? Will mean you can inspect it yourself, get away from a dealer that's good at charging a lot of money, and get a second opinion from a reputable specialist?

[norbertc]

Thanks will

Had come to a similar conclusion myself. Just as well I was awake yesterday!

[2something]

Very similar experience at local OPC during 48k service. They advised about 2.5k worth of stuff, I told them I didn't want any of it doing and I needed the car that evening. Several similar threads on here in the past.

I only went there as I was combining it with the 111pt check for a warranty and must admit, I wish I had done the service elsewhere. Went to JZM and spent £500 for new discs and pads on the front, they said everything else suggested was fine.

On the geometry front, when I got mine done at JZM last year, they give you a before and after printout so you can see the changes that were made. Can't say I am enough of an expert to help you on whether you might need it done or not.

[fiscracer]

Both Feltham Tyres and Micheldever Tyres have 4 corner laser geometry machines, I've used both and they're considerably cheaper than an OPC.

My local OPC (in a well known town in central/west Surrey) told me all four discs and pads needed replacement in 2004. I've done nearly 8,000 miles since and reckon the front pads will need doing soon.........

I even know of an Audi salesman who left this particular OPC after less thyan a month 'cos he couldn't stand the lies and deception. I can't understand why people still use them with JZM and Camtune available.

R

[apriliaR]

All four of my tyres (996 C4S) have worn the same as yours, actually even more extreme. From previous posts i don't think it's unusual. I had an alignment check 18 months ago as the previous tyres had done the same.

OPC quoted me £1800 for discs and pads (400 miles ago and they have lasted till now) but I'm having mine done with official parts at an independed for just over £1,000 tomorrow.

I think you should be suspicious of OPC finding all sorts that needs replacing, this is my experience too.

[wildoliver]

Can I just ask a question? Why does anyone pay these horrific prices just for discs and pads?

Front Pads
£48.80 £48.80
Front Disc (each)
£62.00 £124.00
Rear Pads C2/4 / Boxster
£39.90 £39.90
Rear Disc (each)
£68.80 £137.60
Brake Pad Sensor Front
£9.80 £19.60
Brake Pad Fitting Kit Set Front C2/C4 / Boxster
£28.80 £28.80
Brake Pad Fitting Kit Set Rear C2/C4 / Boxster
£28.80 £28.80
Brake Pad Sensor Rear
£9.80 £19.60
Brake Pad Squeal Discs (4 Required) Front
£5.80 £23.20
Handbrake Shoe Set Turbo/924S/944/928/996/Boxster
£40.00 £80.00
Subtotal £550.30
VAT £96.30
Total £646.60

Thats using a well known supplier, the first one I went to, and no hint of discount, deal etc, think what can be done with shopping round, plus there are things on there that are not necessary, The handbrake shoes for a start are very unlikely to need renewing (and I guess the quote does not include it), also the brake pad sensors are usually saveable, the anti squeal shims can be rebonded but for £20 its not really worth the hassle, and not quite sure what the "fitting kit" includes but I'd wager it either includes the shims or is the pin set which should be fine for re-use anyway.

Of course the OPC/INDY price includes labour, but the job is incredibly simple, requiring only basic tools, that you could actually buy and still have change left over, it's a job that can be entrusted to a local garage even, it doesn't take much figuring out to work out what 2 hours labour at circa £30 an hour on top of that price is.

Yes I know doing the job yourself or using a non Porsche garage doesn't leave that same warm fuzzy feeling of being parked in amongst lots of lovely Porsche's, but surely the £700+ change leaves a nice warm fuzzy feeling of its own?

[norbertc]

Thanks for the replies folks... got the car checked out by my trusted local spanner man today.

Turns out disks and pads do in fact need replacing.

So got some disks, pads, damping shims, sensors etc of t'interweb for £320 all in. Will get my man to fit them for me as do not have time myself and I have saved myself approx £300 off the £680 the main stealer wanted.

From now on my logic is as follows

Services (for stamp in book and ease of warranty process etc) - OPC
Everything else either specialist or for consumables like brakes and tyres get parts cheap and do myself or use local guy.

The only reason the stealers keep charging big numbers is cos people fall for it.

PS watch out for them charging for the wrong service off the standard pricing. Mine is a facelift and they tried to charge me an extra £127 for fuel filter which they did not do. I suppose that was just a conincidental mistake and they would have phoned me once they had realised the error?

[hartech]

Just one important add on. Without mentioning the manufacturers, check your new tyres for tread depth because believe it nor not, many new tyres are made with the outside depth to the inside of the tyre tread depth face less by 2 or 3 mm than the measurement accross the rest of the tyre. When wear eventually makes the measurement below limit at the edges - the rest of the tyre still has 2 or 3 mm and the owner assumes that the geometry was out - but the manufacturer sells more tyres - about 25% more than if he had cut deeper in the first place on that outer edge first groove inwards - check it out yourself! - but you can only do it on a new tyre!

Baz Hartech