12 year service for 981 how much?

12 year service for 981 how much?

Author
Discussion

paulguitar

23,451 posts

113 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
ChrisW. said:
paulguitar said:
Youforreal. said:
paulguitar said:
Youforreal. said:
So when you get your car who are you going to use?
I already have a Porsche, there are some well-respected indies within a reasonable distance that I will continue to use.

I wouldn't even consider going to an OPC.
So the 981’s you have considered, you won’t maintain the warranty if you buy one? Even the oldest has close on 5 years achievable on it, you won’t get that without a visit to your OPC at some point .
No, I think they are at an age where it just makes more sense for them to go to a specialist. I've seen enough behaviour from OPCs that I consider them untrustworthy.

I also think it won't work out financially to maintain a Porche warranty. The figures they quote for basic jobs are so far from making any kind of sense, and also they seem to have a habit of recommending work that is unnecessary. Another good example, on the very car we've been discussing. The OPC recommended changing all of the tyres at the last service. The lowest recorded tread depth was 4.7, with most of the other measurements being over 5mm. So right there would be an unnecessary four-figure bill.
How old were the tyres ??
2021.

ChrisW.

6,314 posts

255 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
That is taking the M ....

FMOB

863 posts

12 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
At this age I wouldn't be using an OPC because I think OPC's are useless and expensive, a 12 year old car is just too tempting for them. You'll get a service and a recommended repair list to 10x the service cost.

I have concluded based on 6 years of OPC experience I would not use them ever again, their incompetence is heads and shoulders above any other vehicle maintenance incompetence I have ever experienced.

If my 911 broke down outside an OPC I would call recovery to take it away rather let the OPC butcher it.

Armitage.Shanks

2,278 posts

85 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
ChrisW. said:
DIY a PDK oil change ? I understand that there is a process for this ... and PDK problems might be an expensive risk ... but ??
That's a misnomer. Watching that video of the Australian chap who has two 981 and stripped one complete car down his explanation of the PDK service is enlightening.

There are two 'calibration' procedures within PIWIS depending on what parts are changed. The lighter calibration 'can' be done after a fluid change but based on his findings I certainly wouldn't unless the shifts become harsh after the fluid swap and even then I'd think twice. The upshot was calibration should only be done if a new box is fitted or key (major) components are changed.

In answer to the initial query, I'd go independent. Having a full OPC history on a 12yr old high mileage 981 isn't going to give a premium over one with subsequent Indy servicing. Oh, and well done for using it and clocking up the miles

elan362

150 posts

37 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
I’m interested in this thread, my 981Boxster S is coming up to its 11yr birthday at 40,000 miles and is still under OPC warranty. The next service (next year) will be the big 12yr one, so I will need to decide what to do as well.

Youforreal.

335 posts

4 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
Tbh I don’t fully trust any of them! If I still have my gt4 at 12 years old I’ll possibly just start doing the maintenance myself and keep a full record of everything bought to carry it out.

If you are any way handy they are simple to work on, only real way to guarantee a bit of care and attention has been taken…..do it yourself.

elan362

150 posts

37 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
I had my tensioner and pulley replaced 8 months ago at the OPC (under warranty) after the tensioner pivot bolt headed in the block. I had to pay for the parts and the OPC did the labour.

It seems wasteful to replace that again after 18 months and 4000 miles just because it is a service schedule item at 12 years. What is the thoughts on that?

SkinnyPete

Original Poster:

1,420 posts

149 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
Thanks for the comments so far.

Contrary to some posters, I've mostly had an excellent experience with Porsche dealers overall, and getting a nice courtesy car to dump miles on when things go wrong can make up for the few not-so-great experiences.

I've had a couple of less-than-ideal experiences with Porsche independents, though, even for things like tyres, which is really offputting because their labour rates aren't much cheaper than those of an OPC.

If I were to take the car out of the OPC network, I'd probably be tempted to service myself or get an OPC to do the PDK box if it needs a computer plugging in. That's where my head is at anyway; I need to get some accurate pricing first.


stanlow45 said:
You can renew warranty up to 15 years or 125,000 miles. If you’ve been paying it this far what’s a couple more years at the usual opc rates?

It may be cheaper to take out of the network, but at that age I’d have thought a major component failure is more likely hence the high opc servicing and warranty cost is even more likely to pay back?
This is a fair point.

I think what you are referring to is called the bathtub curve. Although my car seems to have gotten more reliable as it has gotten older, I've had my money's worth out of the warranty every year.

Engine and gearbox failure are the ones I'm really insuring against, though. The car has already had a flywheel under warranty, and from memory the part alone was about £1k and £2k for labour.



elan362

150 posts

37 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
^and PADM failure if you have Sports Chrono

SkinnyPete

Original Poster:

1,420 posts

149 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
elan362 said:
^and PADM failure if you have Sports Chrono
I do, but my car is an early car before the faulty design.

elan362

150 posts

37 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
SkinnyPete said:
I do, but my car is an early car before the faulty design.
my car is 2013 with PADM... when did the faulty design come on the scene?

SkinnyPete

Original Poster:

1,420 posts

149 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
elan362 said:
SkinnyPete said:
I do, but my car is an early car before the faulty design.
my car is 2013 with PADM... when did the faulty design come on the scene?
I can't remember off the top of my head but the dates of the units affected have been posted not so long back. I remember reading them and thinking my car was built before the affected batch.

Armitage.Shanks

2,278 posts

85 months

Wednesday 20th March
quotequote all
elan362 said:
I had my tensioner and pulley replaced 8 months ago at the OPC (under warranty) after the tensioner pivot bolt headed in the block. I had to pay for the parts and the OPC did the labour.

It seems wasteful to replace that again after 18 months and 4000 miles just because it is a service schedule item at 12 years. What is the thoughts on that?
Why would they need to do it again given that part, evidenced in the history was changed at what will be 3yrs old at the 12yr service?

I've had drive belts changed early (my choice) and when it comes to the scheduled service item they've ignored it as they can see its been done earlier and still within its life expectancy.

elan362

150 posts

37 months

Thursday 21st March
quotequote all
Armitage.Shanks said:
Why would they need to do it again given that part, evidenced in the history was changed at what will be 3yrs old at the 12yr service?

I've had drive belts changed early (my choice) and when it comes to the scheduled service item they've ignored it as they can see its been done earlier and still within its life expectancy.
I’m not saying it will need done - i hope there is a degree of pragmatism when they see it is only 20 months old when they quote for the 12 yr service rather than just give a flat response of ”the service schedule says it is required” Irrespective of the mileage.



FMOB

863 posts

12 months

Thursday 21st March
quotequote all
Well I thought the first OPC was okay until the car needed £5k of bodywork to fix their efforts so used a different one after that.

But when they mess up, they really mess up! Used the second OPC for 5 years and out of the blue the car is returned after the 12 year service with defective brakes.

That ended using official Porsche for anything especially as the report to Porsche UK ended with the thick as pig poo customer rep having to ask colleagues if no brakes was a serious problem or not! Never did get any response to the complaint.