OPC lesson learnt
Discussion
I know I've posted on this topic before, but just to show I learnt my lesson quickly.
When I bought my 993c2 a month ago, I booked it straight into my local opc for a service plus inspection. It took them 7 days to complete the work when they said it would take 2, but also presented me with a list of things that needed doing. Because I had lost faith in them I asked them to send the car back. Took it to JZ Machtech yesterday with the list and asked them to do the work. JZM just called me, having inspected my car thoroughly and guess what?...........
OPC - "needs new front wishbones sir - £500", JZM - "wishbones look fine"
OPC - "we'll have to do a full realigment if wishbones are done - £200", JZM - "alignment fine"
OPC - "rear bumper stays need changing - £200", JZM - "rear bumper stays are fine, and you get all kinds of trouble if you start messing with them unnecessarily".
Additionally, JZM feel the distributors/rotor arms definitely need changing and one of the rockercovers had an oil leak, whereas the OPC never spotted or commented on this.
Finally JZM spotted that the oil filter was leaking. I asked if this would have been replaced by the OPC when they serviced the car a few weeks ago. It seems they might not have fully tightened it!!
Anyway, the upshot is I have far more confidence in JZM and am pleased my pride and joy is at last in good hands.
When I bought my 993c2 a month ago, I booked it straight into my local opc for a service plus inspection. It took them 7 days to complete the work when they said it would take 2, but also presented me with a list of things that needed doing. Because I had lost faith in them I asked them to send the car back. Took it to JZ Machtech yesterday with the list and asked them to do the work. JZM just called me, having inspected my car thoroughly and guess what?...........
OPC - "needs new front wishbones sir - £500", JZM - "wishbones look fine"
OPC - "we'll have to do a full realigment if wishbones are done - £200", JZM - "alignment fine"
OPC - "rear bumper stays need changing - £200", JZM - "rear bumper stays are fine, and you get all kinds of trouble if you start messing with them unnecessarily".
Additionally, JZM feel the distributors/rotor arms definitely need changing and one of the rockercovers had an oil leak, whereas the OPC never spotted or commented on this.
Finally JZM spotted that the oil filter was leaking. I asked if this would have been replaced by the OPC when they serviced the car a few weeks ago. It seems they might not have fully tightened it!!
Anyway, the upshot is I have far more confidence in JZM and am pleased my pride and joy is at last in good hands.
Work creation is one of the biggest annoyances ever - tantamount to fraud in some cases.
I was going to be charged 9k by a Lotus Carlton service centre to remove the head 'to have a look' what a misfire problem was. They suspected valve issues.
Turned out it was a 50 quid set of ignition leads, a tweak to the waste gates and a throttle position sensor that was playing up. Fixed with labour at an independent for 300 quid.
9k vs 300 quid.
Feckin barstewards.
I was going to be charged 9k by a Lotus Carlton service centre to remove the head 'to have a look' what a misfire problem was. They suspected valve issues.
Turned out it was a 50 quid set of ignition leads, a tweak to the waste gates and a throttle position sensor that was playing up. Fixed with labour at an independent for 300 quid.
9k vs 300 quid.
Feckin barstewards.
I agree Dom. Actually I agree that it's not just OPC.
The worst case I have ever experienced personally was a few years ago. I had a new Merc as a company car. It had an auto box which occassionally would refuse to change up beyond 2nd gear. It was very intermittent, so they had trouble pinning it down. I created a hell of a fuss because it was under warranty. In the end they agreed to put a new gearbox in which had to be shipped from Germany. Anyway, they putthe new box in, and a week later it did it again. Turned out it was a leak in some hose on the turbo, which left the engine management system thinking the engine had lost power, which in turn told the gearbox not to change up.
The hose didn't even need replacing, just a clamp tightening up or something!!!
The worst case I have ever experienced personally was a few years ago. I had a new Merc as a company car. It had an auto box which occassionally would refuse to change up beyond 2nd gear. It was very intermittent, so they had trouble pinning it down. I created a hell of a fuss because it was under warranty. In the end they agreed to put a new gearbox in which had to be shipped from Germany. Anyway, they putthe new box in, and a week later it did it again. Turned out it was a leak in some hose on the turbo, which left the engine management system thinking the engine had lost power, which in turn told the gearbox not to change up.
The hose didn't even need replacing, just a clamp tightening up or something!!!
When I got my hands on the PET software (it's in the interweb somewhere) I decided to check the part numbers that appeared in my OPC invoices just to see if...
Well it opened my eyes.
Never again will they see a cent for me (except the parts store, when unavoidable).
In case any Porsche AG lawyer is reading this I just made up the above. I never had, don't have and don't know anyone with the PET besides the OPCs.
Well it opened my eyes.
Never again will they see a cent for me (except the parts store, when unavoidable). In case any Porsche AG lawyer is reading this I just made up the above. I never had, don't have and don't know anyone with the PET besides the OPCs.
raftom said:
.....................................In case any Porsche AG lawyer is reading this I just made up the above. I never had, don't have and don't know anyone with the PET besides the OPCs.
No need to 'make it up' as the PET is available to buy LEGALLY by anybody at any OPC (see link below) or you can view ANY model in PDF online (see 2nd link)
www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/classic/classic-originalparts/originalparts-partscatalogue/
www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/classic/classic-originalparts/originalparts-originalparts/
On what basis do you trust JZM over the OPC?
Perhaps JZM missed something important on the wishbones that the OPC spotted. Likewise with the bumper stays. Perhaps JZM are making work for themselves with the dizzy caps & rotor arms and in the process, eroding your confidence in the OPC??
Unless they can actually show you the problem yourself, and you know what to look for the how do you know for sure?
Having said all that, I've never had any work done at an OPC, in fact I've used JZM for the past 3 years and my car is running very well. Tellingly, the one piece of work they recommended (replace the oil filler neck) that I didn't get them to do, caused me no end of mess to the rear of my car - needless to say I got them to fix it sharpish.
Perhaps JZM missed something important on the wishbones that the OPC spotted. Likewise with the bumper stays. Perhaps JZM are making work for themselves with the dizzy caps & rotor arms and in the process, eroding your confidence in the OPC??
Unless they can actually show you the problem yourself, and you know what to look for the how do you know for sure?
Having said all that, I've never had any work done at an OPC, in fact I've used JZM for the past 3 years and my car is running very well. Tellingly, the one piece of work they recommended (replace the oil filler neck) that I didn't get them to do, caused me no end of mess to the rear of my car - needless to say I got them to fix it sharpish.
Looking at JZM's servicing costs for a 993 it would appear that there's very little cost advantage any more from taking your car to them - They used to be competitive, and now charge virtually OPC prices for 993's.
Of course there is the quality factor, but for those of us who don't live in the south east it becomes prohibitive. Besides, Chris Denning still works for Cardiff OPC - He's been there donkeys years and there's nothing he doesn't know about 993's - lucky for me really, seeing as there are no decent independents in this area.
Chris
Of course there is the quality factor, but for those of us who don't live in the south east it becomes prohibitive. Besides, Chris Denning still works for Cardiff OPC - He's been there donkeys years and there's nothing he doesn't know about 993's - lucky for me really, seeing as there are no decent independents in this area.
Chris
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