996 C4S back from Service

[petop]

Just thought i would post this for people considering buying one and like me wondered how much Porsche ownership costs when you get it done at a OPC dealership.
69,000 miles and with a new engine at 48,000 its was due a Major.
So service (+brake fluid change) was 351.00 but then the following need doing after they carry out their Status report.
A/c leak requiring parts 177.00
Number plate lamp discoloured 39.00
Exhaust silencer replacement 1980.00
2 front tyres coming to end of their life 302.00
Front disc holes needed clearing 64.00
Rear pads and discs need replacing 797.00
Windscreen wipers noisy and worn 41.00
NS & OS front outer CV gaitors perished 621.00
NS outer rear bulb side light not working 26.00

The above includes labour which separately costs 1319.00

Now im not getting everything done as Im in Afghan at moment and ill do things like bulbs, cleaning brake discs etc myself and the silencer has been repaired and they said it was fine but of course anything to get some more money as a business so ill stick with my repair.
Yes, i could get it done a lot cheaper but im not home to do brakes like i did with the front ones before i came out here, the girlfriend is still driving it to keep it ticking over so i dont want to leave important things until i return.
So its a few grand but there is a reason im over here and its the money that goes into the bank at the end of the month!
The GF got a new Boxster for 2 days which she loved but was told in no uncertain terms that its a 997.2 or new shape Cayman next!




Sorry for not using Pound signs with figures but i work for a American company whose keyboards dont have pound signs.....heathens!!!!

[blueg33]

Some of the things on that list are piss takes - cleaning the holes in brake discs ffs, £26 for a sidelight bulb

Much cheaper than my Tuscan though. Small service on the Tusc every 6k miles averaged about £1000, and a big service every 12k miles averaged about £1700

[Tino]

How can a number plate bulb discolour?
If your partner isn't using the car daily, what is the wear in the rear pads? I suspect they will probably last until you get back. I also assume that they have wear sensors on them. You could also clean the front discs then.
Front tyres are probably still at 3mm plus I bet.
Wipers are probably OK if nothing has been noticed.
Rear bulbs are easy to replace. Pop into kwikfit or a friendly mate to take a look.
I would want to see the gaitors for myself..

[petop]

Understand what your saying. The tyres are 3mm below. Wipers were on their way out, passed MOT a month ago but wouldnt last until i got back. I was going to do the rears when i did the front discs/pads as they were close visually but no wear indicator telling anything, as for CV's yes they are maybe being over cautious but by end of year im going to look at part-ex'ing with well known Indy or OPC. If its my local one, i can go in saying "you know the car, its not wanting for anything and its only done XXX miles since service, so give me a better figure". The same for a Indy or even private sale. Im really paying for the piece of mind and what i have said above. Having gone through being a couple of thousand miles away before and having car problems its easier to pay out and money isnt a issue at mo, so easier to do.
Thing thats annoying me is the missus got to drive a new PDK Boxster S for a few days.

[mollytherocker]

There is little sense having a car of that age serviced by an OPC.

[petop]

Again yes, although its a 54 so towards the last of the 996's. But i still have Porsche warranty left on the engine until Feb 2014. And i also need to sell the "im getting a new car soon" to GF so its achieved it aim of getting her in a new shape Boxster/Cayman and agreeing.

[bullettneil]

My 2003 c4s gets serviced at the opc because its fpsh but that's all.the rest of the work is done by people I trust .even so called specialists have ripped me off before.

[BullyB]

petop said:

So service (+brake fluid change) was 351.00 but then the following need doing after they carry out their Status report.
A/c leak requiring parts 177.00
Number plate lamp discoloured 39.00
Exhaust silencer replacement 1980.00
2 front tyres coming to end of their life 302.00
Front disc holes needed clearing 64.00
Rear pads and discs need replacing 797.00
Windscreen wipers noisy and worn 41.00
NS & OS front outer CV gaitors perished 621.00
NS outer rear bulb side light not working 26.00

The above includes labour which separately costs 1319.00

Thanks for sharing, I'm after a convertable one of these around Dec/Jan.
I understand servicing at Porsche but a specialist or even a local trusted garage would be able to save you £1000's

[6C4GTS]

BullyB said:

petop said:

So service (+brake fluid change) was 351.00 but then the following need doing after they carry out their Status report.
A/c leak requiring parts 177.00
Number plate lamp discoloured 39.00
Exhaust silencer replacement 1980.00
2 front tyres coming to end of their life 302.00
Front disc holes needed clearing 64.00
Rear pads and discs need replacing 797.00
Windscreen wipers noisy and worn 41.00
NS & OS front outer CV gaitors perished 621.00
NS outer rear bulb side light not working 26.00

The above includes labour which separately costs 1319.00

Thanks for sharing, I'm after a convertable one of these around Dec/Jan.
I understand servicing at Porsche but a specialist or even a local trusted garage would be able to save you £1000's

I appreciate the new engine warranty..... but this is not representative of the cost of running these cars - it shows just about the most expensive way of doing it.

[thegoose]

As an example of one of the lowest cost things on that list - number plate bulb discoloured £39 - a whole new fitting is about £12 (it has a BMW badge on it, so may be cheaper from them) and takes under 1 minute to change - 2 screws. You could do it in less time than reading this post. I would imagine a bulb is quicker and costs about 50p. These little things with their individual labour charges really annoy me - that bulb can be changed whilst they're watching the oil drain out.

[petop]

I get the feeling that im being damned sending my car to a Porsche dealer to get repairs on my.....guess what, Porsche!
Yes it expensive and the cost of buying it (its expensive) relates to the cost of maintenance (its expensive) and looking after it.
Without people telling me "but you could save money sending it to "indy 1" or "indy 2" i fully agree but please understand im sat in a American base in Afghanistan. I have a G/F who is busy working in a hospital and looking after 3 kids. Living down in Bournemouth it isnt exactly full of Porsche Indys (i know JMG are not far) and for peace of mind and more importantly ease of the other half having to take time out to get my pride and joy to the garage then ill settle for the easier option if more money draining.
I agree that changing slightly discoloured bulbs is a bit of a piss take but its a business that they are running and i know someone will happily pay for that to be done. I didnt and as im communicating with expensive mobile phone calls back to the UK or emails (time difference comes into effect on both counts) i only authorised the bits that are important.
If i was back in the UK i would be shopping around but im not. But she got a nice new Boxster for 2 days which made her happy and i got some work done on my car which possibly will go some way in selling it easier when someone see's i have stupidly (!) paid for Porsche to work on the thing. I could of left all the work until Dec when im back but i want her to drive it safely before then other wise it will fester on my driveway.

[petop]

6C4GTS said:

I appreciate the new engine warranty..... but this is not representative of the cost of running these cars - it shows just about the most expensive way of doing it.

I agree, not the most sensible way of doing it but my original post was just to show people looking at buying a car like this how much Porsche charge to do run of the mill work on it.

[BullyB]

I feel for you as I used to spend 9 months out of the country per year, I now spend 6 months out but you can guarantee the cars always have problems when I'm away and not home.

Good luck!

[steve singh]

Guys - give the OP a break, he is serving in Afghanistan and ease/convenience is sometimes a neccesity in life whe you're away from home. He is sharing cost for information and not to be told ten times he could get it cheaper!!!

[tr7v8]

A 996 should get discounted servicing. Had a look & a C4S should be £395 Inc VAT.
Just had a minor on the Boxster with my local OPC. I bought tyres off them a while ago as it was in for a gearbox oil leak. Their price for tyres was a shade more than my local guy but cheaper than Black Circles etc. I get TIPEC discount on parts,I provided my own oil for the service as I don't want the oil they use. They picked up a few things but by no means a shopping list. A minor with a couple of spark plug tubes changed was £202. I reckon with discount they equal pretty much an Indie.
Since TIPEC membership is £50 for 2 years you'll probably save it on the first service!
They admit themselves that their brake prices are very high & I wouldn't use them for that, probably doing my own.

Edited by tr7v8 on Friday 16th August 08:23

[Pierscoe1]

petop said:

NS & OS front outer CV gaitors perished 621.00

£600 for gaitors?!?!? is that a typo?

[6C4GTS]

Have you considered storing the car while you are away?

When I "worked away" I used to store my PnJ. All you need is a garage and a trickle charger.

It worked for me as in my work there was no access to phone or email for the duration and it meant the lady at home could forget about having to deal with my PnJ - also avoids coming home to a surprise.

Does your lady need to use the car while you are away?

[petop]

The drama with that is i dont have a free garage, as in my garage is a now typical size which is big enough for a Micra and nothing else. I have big freezer and dryer and a few years worth of mil kit in it. I would also prefer it to be driven every now and then so dont mind my other half to drive it.

[bullettneil]

tr7v8 said:

A 996 should get discounted servicing. Had a look & a C4S should be £395 Inc VAT.
Just had a minor on the Boxster with my local OPC. I bought tyres off them a while ago as it was in for a gearbox oil leak. Their price for tyres was a shade more than my local guy but cheaper than Black Circles etc. I get TIPEC discount on parts,I provided my own oil for the service as I don't want the oil they use. They picked up a few things but by no means a shopping list. A minor with a couple of spark plug tubes changed was £202. I reckon with discount they equal pretty much an Indie.
Since TIPEC membership is £50 for 2 years you'll probably save it on the first service!
They admit themselves that their brake prices are very high & I wouldn't use them for that, probably doing my own.

Edited by tr7v8 on Friday 16th August 08:23

Your opc put in the oil you choose? When I had my car done they said they would only put in oil I supply if it is Mobil. I want to put the millers in really but I have fpsh on my 03 c4s and want to keep it up

[petop]

Ill assume its Mobil 1. Like previously mentioned the only input i have from out here is to book it in, arrange for a nice car for the missus, agreeing to any further work (which is happening Weds) and paying for it before she gets it back.
But, as the warranty involves the engine only, ill settle for whatever OPC put in.