Porsche 996 turbo OPC major service and spark plugs change
Discussion
My 911 had its last major OPC service and plugs at 47,000 miles back in 2014, it has a minor at 49,000 back in 2016 and at 53,000 it's now due another major. The OPCs seem to have dropped the plug change from the menu priced major service items. I have been quoted £625 for the service and £667 just to change the plugs. I checked the old receipt and previously was charged £750 for major/plugs back in 2014. The service adviser didn't seem to know a lot about what it needed, very vague.
I assume that Porsche's advice on when to change the plugs is not any different and they have literally just doubled the costs?
Whilst the plugs are 4 years old they have only done 6,000 miles. I would be interested to know whether other owners change them or leave them on cars with low annual mileages.
I assume that Porsche's advice on when to change the plugs is not any different and they have literally just doubled the costs?
Whilst the plugs are 4 years old they have only done 6,000 miles. I would be interested to know whether other owners change them or leave them on cars with low annual mileages.
6000 miles between major services seems excessive personally I'd keep to minor services at the required time (every 18 months?) until the major service mileages where reached especially with on a car that does so little mileage.....only my opinion others may / will say something different
OP , the first few lines of your query sound almost exactly like my query when booking in my 997 GT3.
The so called adviser tried to quote various sums of money for replacing plugs - even though the handbook makes it clear that they are required at the 8 year ( in my case ) major service and are already included in the major service price.
A few threads down ( under the 997 title ) is a helpful link to the fixed price serving schedule.
Whether plugs" need" replacing is a debate although personally and despite mine averaging only 1000 miles per year feel I would always get it done as per the handbook - especially as my car is covered under the warranty scheme.
The so called adviser tried to quote various sums of money for replacing plugs - even though the handbook makes it clear that they are required at the 8 year ( in my case ) major service and are already included in the major service price.
A few threads down ( under the 997 title ) is a helpful link to the fixed price serving schedule.
Whether plugs" need" replacing is a debate although personally and despite mine averaging only 1000 miles per year feel I would always get it done as per the handbook - especially as my car is covered under the warranty scheme.
Thanks for the feedback. This is where I would have expected advice from the dealer on the servicing requirements for low mileage cars, I have called three dealers and they all could nt help. I was looking through the service book last night and noticed it previously had two minors in a row because it had only done 2k miles in 2 years and was still later retailed as an OPC approved used. I even tried speaking to a Porsche classic partner OPC thinking they may have a better idea on the servicing requirements of these older cars, the adviser did nt even know that a turbo needed plugs for a major service. It's clearly listed in service book as a requirement. She said they would take the plugs out and check the condition.
blackmamba said:
Have you tried talking to an independent Porsche specialist? They may be able to give a more informed view as well as being much cheaper.
The car has 14 years of OPC service history and I don't want to spoil it. Also up until now the OPC servicing prices have been the same as the specialist and the OPC discounted the labour rate on repairs to match my local specialist! They have matched Formula 1 for tyre prices. All other work that I can't do myself is done by the local specialist. I'm assuming that your handbook says every four years, in which case it is technically due.
If the car is under warranty then I think your hand is forced on this matter as you need to strictly follow the schedule (despite the low mileage).
If not, then I would imagine any future buyer would accept a plug change at say 6 years and 10k miles as being reasonable?
If the car is under warranty then I think your hand is forced on this matter as you need to strictly follow the schedule (despite the low mileage).
If not, then I would imagine any future buyer would accept a plug change at say 6 years and 10k miles as being reasonable?
nw942 said:
I'm assuming that your handbook says every four years, in which case it is technically due.
If the car is under warranty then I think your hand is forced on this matter as you need to strictly follow the schedule (despite the low mileage).
If not, then I would imagine any future buyer would accept a plug change at say 6 years and 10k miles as being reasonable?
It's not under warranty and it's only doing 1500 miles a year, seems crazy taking practically new air filter, spark plugs out to bin them. I what to keep it in good health but not over service it. I am inclined to miss spark plugs until next service but do this new trimmed down major service. If the car is under warranty then I think your hand is forced on this matter as you need to strictly follow the schedule (despite the low mileage).
If not, then I would imagine any future buyer would accept a plug change at say 6 years and 10k miles as being reasonable?
666TUR said:
The car has 14 years of OPC service history and I don't want to spoil it. Also up until now the OPC servicing prices have been the same as the specialist and the OPC discounted the labour rate on repairs to match my local specialist! They have matched Formula 1 for tyre prices. All other work that I can't do myself is done by the local specialist.
By this, do you mean that you get the service done by the OPC, just to get the stamp in the book, but have a mixture of Indie and DIY on non service matters?Doesn't this sort of render the service record, as less valuable??
There is a strong opinion amongst many, that with older vehicles, there is more value to be had by service work being carried out, outside the OPC network, as there seems to be little "hands on" experience of 996 and pre, in the OPC network.
Got my Turbo back from a service last week. My last major & plug replacement was February 2014 (13k miles ago).
I have a minor service every year, but this one was a major, with plugs, which as I understand, are a standard job under the 'major' service. Also had the Drive belt replaced. Cost of major was £550 +vat. Also had brake fluid changed, as that's every 24months.
I use a local independent. I trust them & they're very knowledgeable & it's good to know who's actually working on your car.
I can't see that having a full OPC history is preferable to an independent history.
I have a minor service every year, but this one was a major, with plugs, which as I understand, are a standard job under the 'major' service. Also had the Drive belt replaced. Cost of major was £550 +vat. Also had brake fluid changed, as that's every 24months.
I use a local independent. I trust them & they're very knowledgeable & it's good to know who's actually working on your car.
I can't see that having a full OPC history is preferable to an independent history.
Nobby Diesel said:
By this, do you mean that you get the service done by the OPC, just to get the stamp in the book, but have a mixture of Indie and DIY on non service matters?
Doesn't this sort of render the service record, as less valuable??
There is a strong opinion amongst many, that with older vehicles, there is more value to be had by service work being carried out, outside the OPC network, as there seems to be little "hands on" experience of 996 and pre, in the OPC network.
I see it as the OPC service history demonstrates the car has been through the manufacturers checks/service regime all its life. Anything done or found is recorded too in the paperwork too, kind of another MOT! Having everything done at the dealer is like burning money, I could nt do it. I enjoy doing brake pads, happy for a good specialist to change the starter motor and let the dealer do the servicing. I am fussy about history and provenance of a car, generally staggered how uninterested the dealers are. I went to a well know porsche specialist to look at a turbo. There was gaps in history, even a receipt tucked in the paper work for a cheap remap and they didn’t know. Didn’t care. Someone else would buy it was their attitude. Doesn't this sort of render the service record, as less valuable??
There is a strong opinion amongst many, that with older vehicles, there is more value to be had by service work being carried out, outside the OPC network, as there seems to be little "hands on" experience of 996 and pre, in the OPC network.
mr pg said:
£550+vat is exceptionally cheap for a major. When I had my turbo a major was about £1100 inc vat with an indy.
What is crazy is that the op is only doing 1500 miles a year in a car like that!
If it’s any better it’s 1500 miles a year of hammering around North Wales or similar. My mates marrying vile alpha females who can’t cope looking after their own kids has ruined our road trips!What is crazy is that the op is only doing 1500 miles a year in a car like that!
mr pg said:
£550+vat is exceptionally cheap for a major. When I had my turbo a major was about £1100 inc vat with an indy.
What is crazy is that the op is only doing 1500 miles a year in a car like that!
Yes, not bad at all, £550. Total invoice considerably more, though. Was a major, with plugs & drive belt, plus a brake fluid change & a new centre rad, which is a few quid & 2 or 3 hours work. They also addressed some loose dash trim, totalling £1700. Wonder how much that would be at an OPC.What is crazy is that the op is only doing 1500 miles a year in a car like that!
1500 miles on Welsh roads is better than 1500 miles on the M25, but still room for improvement!!!
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