a tale of great service
Discussion
I bought my Cayman S back in March 24.5K miles from a high end marque (but not Porsche dealer), after a couple of months I was not entirely happy
the performance was I thought a little flat, it was using a lot of oil (1 litre / 500 miles) smoked a lot on start up and was making a ticking noise and had black sooty exhaust tips 
So after a lot of thread searching on here and planet 9, and a phone call with Barry at Hartech who was really helpful (thanks Barry), enter my local OPC who wasted no time at all in relieving me of a couple of hundred quid for a borescope examination (their suggestion) which revealed, yep you guessed it a badly scored bore (number 4)and an estimated bill of £11,500 for a rebuild
I questioned the wisdom of this approach as I thought a new engine at a tad over £12k was a better option but then realised there is over £4k labour in the rebuild which I guess the dealer gets, to say that I was a little deflated was a huge understatement, this was my first Porsche after all, as I have been a devouted fast Audi driver for many years, and for the past 6 years I have had (and still got) an Audi RS4 turbo with 460 modified hp which has been given a hard life and covered 124k miles (75k since modifcation) without issue, drama or failure and is as smooth now as it was 100k miles ago.
But no problem the Cayman was covered under warranty with the dealer but then I read the small print, the dealers warranty had a 4k limit
so after a nervous phone call to the dealer who after asking for a couple of days to sort out a plan rung me back to arrange collection of the car, they said that they would work with Porsche GB, the warranty company and their own OPC (they have a couple in the parent company chain) to resolve the issue, they even rejected my offer of contibuting to the cost saying that it was their issue and I had been inconvenienced enough, they even left me a brand new Jag 
as a courtesy car.
So nearly a month after I first contacted them I collected the car this Friday, it was rebuilt with new crankcases, pistons & rings and a few other parts, still seems strange that they did not fit a new engine but they suggested that this is Porsche's current advice for these problems.
So on OPC advice to take it easy (below 4000rpm)for 500 miles or so I (and the car) are a lot happier, it still smokes a bit on start-up but then again a lot of them do that (so they say), but it pulls a lot cleaner, feels more responsive and simply sounds better.
So I guess I can count myself lucky for having chosen that dealer, from the moment I first contacted them to finally collecting the car they have been exemplary in their professional approach to customer care.
So I am looking forward to having the bedding in period behind me a hearing that engine sing again.
Am I a little worried about the fragility...yes, am I worried about it happening again..yes a little, but its a great car, it gets under your skin, its handling is sublime, with great braking (its got PCCB)and the right options boxes ticked for me, and of course that flat 6 sound (wish I had a PSE, but rare on a Cayman) and if all things go well will keep me occupied until a GT3 comes along, but as a little insurance I asked the repairing OPC to perform the 111 point check and put the car under a two year warranty so I bought a little piece of mind, it prevents me from modifying of course which is a pain but a small price to pay I guess.
Happy days are here again
the performance was I thought a little flat, it was using a lot of oil (1 litre / 500 miles) smoked a lot on start up and was making a ticking noise and had black sooty exhaust tips So after a lot of thread searching on here and planet 9, and a phone call with Barry at Hartech who was really helpful (thanks Barry), enter my local OPC who wasted no time at all in relieving me of a couple of hundred quid for a borescope examination (their suggestion) which revealed, yep you guessed it a badly scored bore (number 4)and an estimated bill of £11,500 for a rebuild
I questioned the wisdom of this approach as I thought a new engine at a tad over £12k was a better option but then realised there is over £4k labour in the rebuild which I guess the dealer gets, to say that I was a little deflated was a huge understatement, this was my first Porsche after all, as I have been a devouted fast Audi driver for many years, and for the past 6 years I have had (and still got) an Audi RS4 turbo with 460 modified hp which has been given a hard life and covered 124k miles (75k since modifcation) without issue, drama or failure and is as smooth now as it was 100k miles ago.
But no problem the Cayman was covered under warranty with the dealer but then I read the small print, the dealers warranty had a 4k limit
so after a nervous phone call to the dealer who after asking for a couple of days to sort out a plan rung me back to arrange collection of the car, they said that they would work with Porsche GB, the warranty company and their own OPC (they have a couple in the parent company chain) to resolve the issue, they even rejected my offer of contibuting to the cost saying that it was their issue and I had been inconvenienced enough, they even left me a brand new Jag as a courtesy car.So nearly a month after I first contacted them I collected the car this Friday, it was rebuilt with new crankcases, pistons & rings and a few other parts, still seems strange that they did not fit a new engine but they suggested that this is Porsche's current advice for these problems.
So on OPC advice to take it easy (below 4000rpm)for 500 miles or so I (and the car) are a lot happier, it still smokes a bit on start-up but then again a lot of them do that (so they say), but it pulls a lot cleaner, feels more responsive and simply sounds better.
So I guess I can count myself lucky for having chosen that dealer, from the moment I first contacted them to finally collecting the car they have been exemplary in their professional approach to customer care.
So I am looking forward to having the bedding in period behind me a hearing that engine sing again.
Am I a little worried about the fragility...yes, am I worried about it happening again..yes a little, but its a great car, it gets under your skin, its handling is sublime, with great braking (its got PCCB)and the right options boxes ticked for me, and of course that flat 6 sound (wish I had a PSE, but rare on a Cayman) and if all things go well will keep me occupied until a GT3 comes along, but as a little insurance I asked the repairing OPC to perform the 111 point check and put the car under a two year warranty so I bought a little piece of mind, it prevents me from modifying of course which is a pain but a small price to pay I guess.
Happy days are here again
Does take the shine off somewhat doesn't it.
I've had a Civic Type-R since 2005 that hasn't been in for warranty work once. In fact I drove it daily never even imagining that an engine failure would just happen without me at least being negligent in some fashion. I never even considered an aftermarket warranty on the car, and touch wood it has never skipped a beat...
Fast-forward to today and I too am the owner of a Cayman S and yours isn't the first account I've read just on here of scored bores on low mileage cars. The 90 day wait I had to endure before I could put an OPC warranty on mine was in some ways one of the most anxious periods of my life, every day when I started the engine I looked behind me to see if there was any smoke knowing that if I did I'd likely be looking at £thousands in repair bills.
I'm probably being a little melodramatic but reading about RMS issues and bore scoring on these cars just fills me with dread when it comes to ownership.
I've had a Civic Type-R since 2005 that hasn't been in for warranty work once. In fact I drove it daily never even imagining that an engine failure would just happen without me at least being negligent in some fashion. I never even considered an aftermarket warranty on the car, and touch wood it has never skipped a beat...
Fast-forward to today and I too am the owner of a Cayman S and yours isn't the first account I've read just on here of scored bores on low mileage cars. The 90 day wait I had to endure before I could put an OPC warranty on mine was in some ways one of the most anxious periods of my life, every day when I started the engine I looked behind me to see if there was any smoke knowing that if I did I'd likely be looking at £thousands in repair bills.
I'm probably being a little melodramatic but reading about RMS issues and bore scoring on these cars just fills me with dread when it comes to ownership.
Durzel said:
Does take the shine off somewhat doesn't it.
I'm probably being a little melodramatic but reading about RMS issues and bore scoring on these cars just fills me with dread when it comes to ownership.
What you have to remember to keep you sane is that the number of people that post on forums about these issues are a small minority of sales and can often amplify the reality of a problem.I'm probably being a little melodramatic but reading about RMS issues and bore scoring on these cars just fills me with dread when it comes to ownership.
"But no problem the Cayman was covered under warranty with the dealer but then I read the small print, the dealers warranty had a 4k limit"
Warranties are an illusion. Any purchase from a dealer is first and foremost covered by your statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act, designed to protect you and you only. Any so called 'warranties' are in addition to your statutory rights, hence the swift correction of your problem by the dealer; they had no choice!
SoGA was brought in to protect us but it is still suprising how many people are not aware of it's detail and how to use it if indeed you have been sold goods that are not fit for purpose.
Warranties are an illusion. Any purchase from a dealer is first and foremost covered by your statutory rights under the Sale of Goods Act, designed to protect you and you only. Any so called 'warranties' are in addition to your statutory rights, hence the swift correction of your problem by the dealer; they had no choice!
SoGA was brought in to protect us but it is still suprising how many people are not aware of it's detail and how to use it if indeed you have been sold goods that are not fit for purpose.
sportsandclassic said:
Hi,
Have you got a copy invoice from the opc...? If so you maybe able to get the warranty on the work they carried out.. Parts are covered for 2 years that we buy.
Mike
Hi Mike, No I dont have that invoice, they did say the parts are covered for two years, but thanks for the tip I will phone them in the morning for a copy, good job too as based on today's experience it may have to go back again!!Have you got a copy invoice from the opc...? If so you maybe able to get the warranty on the work they carried out.. Parts are covered for 2 years that we buy.
Mike
Its now covered 350 gentle miles as instructed since the rebuild and has started blowing really huge clouds of blue smoke again at start up and it has got progressively worse during the day, this is not just a little wispy puff but a huge choking cloud, so a trip back to OPC at weekend on the horizon.
I am really getting rather disillusioned with the whole Porsche experience at present
Its basically a new engine so you are likely to get smoke for a while until it settles.
Had the same thing on an old C20LET engine (Vx Calibra turbo), now that was a car with problems!
(but how I loved it so)
Fully agree with the statutory rights, you are covered for 5 years I think from the date of sale.
Thats why i don't bother with warranties on electronic items and reluctant on vehicles - especially short term 3/6 months.
Had the same thing on an old C20LET engine (Vx Calibra turbo), now that was a car with problems!
(but how I loved it so)
Fully agree with the statutory rights, you are covered for 5 years I think from the date of sale.
Thats why i don't bother with warranties on electronic items and reluctant on vehicles - especially short term 3/6 months.
GezzerRS4 said:
Its now covered 350 gentle miles as instructed since the rebuild and has started blowing really huge clouds of blue smoke again at start up and it has got progressively worse during the day, this is not just a little wispy puff but a huge choking cloud, so a trip back to OPC at weekend on the horizon.
I am really getting rather disillusioned with the whole Porsche experience at present
That certainly doesn't sound right. I too would be very disgruntled in your position. I am really getting rather disillusioned with the whole Porsche experience at present
Sorry to hear about this, it does sour the experience a bit.
My Cayman went back under warranty yesterday. I talked to the OPC tech about the scored bores issue on the Cayman 3.4 and he said they've seen a few but they're not that common. He puts it down to bad driving and maintenance, low oil and ragged from cold etc. This is probably just the official Porsche speech on the issue but the chap seemed genuine.
My car smokes on startup quite a bit. Strangely it doesn't puff out smoke on immediate start up, it seems clear until I get to the end of my road at which point I stop at a junction and quite often see a trail of white smoke. I won't see any more smoke then until the car has cooled down overnight and is restarted. The car has only dropped one bar on the oil gauge in 5000 miles, sounds great and pulls well.
They put the warranty on it with no issues and they reckon the engine is good so this smoke must be normal?
My Cayman went back under warranty yesterday. I talked to the OPC tech about the scored bores issue on the Cayman 3.4 and he said they've seen a few but they're not that common. He puts it down to bad driving and maintenance, low oil and ragged from cold etc. This is probably just the official Porsche speech on the issue but the chap seemed genuine.
My car smokes on startup quite a bit. Strangely it doesn't puff out smoke on immediate start up, it seems clear until I get to the end of my road at which point I stop at a junction and quite often see a trail of white smoke. I won't see any more smoke then until the car has cooled down overnight and is restarted. The car has only dropped one bar on the oil gauge in 5000 miles, sounds great and pulls well.
They put the warranty on it with no issues and they reckon the engine is good so this smoke must be normal?
996GT2 said:
My car smokes on startup quite a bit. Strangely it doesn't puff out smoke on immediate start up, it seems clear until I get to the end of my road at which point I stop at a junction and quite often see a trail of white smoke. I won't see any more smoke then until the car has cooled down overnight and is restarted. The car has only dropped one bar on the oil gauge in 5000 miles, sounds great and pulls well.
They put the warranty on it with no issues and they reckon the engine is good so this smoke must be normal?
White smoke a while after start up sounds like condensation. The inside of the exhaust gets a coating of dew from overnight standing, car warms up and heats up the exhaust to cause the water to evaporate. If you aren't losing coolant, its nothing to worry aboutThey put the warranty on it with no issues and they reckon the engine is good so this smoke must be normal?
[quote=CrazyTurboBeast]Its basically a new engine so you are likely to get smoke for a while until it settles.
Had the same thing on an old C20LET engine (Vx Calibra turbo), now that was a car with problems!
(but how I loved it so)
quote]
Turbo Calibra, I had one of those, never had any issues with it, apart from some strange tendencies for the engine management system to call up more boost than it really needed, mainly happened when you really did not want it, pootling in traffic for instance,all of a sudden you were off like a greased weasel!! bit dangerous really, but I also loved it, and it started my love of turbo cars, hence my RS4 which I have told my wife I am selling for 3 years now!
as for the smoking Cayman, and being a new engine so it might smoke a bit, I tend to agree, but it is a LOT of smoke and its getting worse, I am intending to video it for the OPC at the end of the week so will post it for all too see.
Had the same thing on an old C20LET engine (Vx Calibra turbo), now that was a car with problems!
(but how I loved it so)
quote]
Turbo Calibra, I had one of those, never had any issues with it, apart from some strange tendencies for the engine management system to call up more boost than it really needed, mainly happened when you really did not want it, pootling in traffic for instance,all of a sudden you were off like a greased weasel!! bit dangerous really, but I also loved it, and it started my love of turbo cars, hence my RS4 which I have told my wife I am selling for 3 years now!
as for the smoking Cayman, and being a new engine so it might smoke a bit, I tend to agree, but it is a LOT of smoke and its getting worse, I am intending to video it for the OPC at the end of the week so will post it for all too see.
996GT2 said:
Sorry to hear about this, it does sour the experience a bit.
My Cayman went back under warranty yesterday. I talked to the OPC tech about the scored bores issue on the Cayman 3.4 and he said they've seen a few but they're not that common.
To support that my OPC said that he rarely see's Caymans with this issue, he has mainly seen the issue appear with 997.1 My Cayman went back under warranty yesterday. I talked to the OPC tech about the scored bores issue on the Cayman 3.4 and he said they've seen a few but they're not that common.
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