OPC Break something on my car, then want me to pay for the repairs.
Discussion
During a major service of my 997 today, the mechanics at the OPC managed to break one of the nipples on a brake caliper.
They have told me that they cannot rethread the caliper and that I will have to pay more than £500 for a new caliper. They did however offer 10% off this price. They also offered to reduce their hourly rate for fitting the new caliper from £120 per hour to £90 per hour.
With my one year extended warranty it looks like my bill is going to be something like £3000.
What would you do??
They have told me that they cannot rethread the caliper and that I will have to pay more than £500 for a new caliper. They did however offer 10% off this price. They also offered to reduce their hourly rate for fitting the new caliper from £120 per hour to £90 per hour.
With my one year extended warranty it looks like my bill is going to be something like £3000.
What would you do??
If the bleed nipple snapped due to being corroded in the caliper then it's not the mechanics fault, but if it snapped as he over tightened it, then the dealer should pay.
There are ways of removing snapped bleed nipples rather than replacing the caliper, I'm sure an engineering company could sort it for £40-50
There are ways of removing snapped bleed nipples rather than replacing the caliper, I'm sure an engineering company could sort it for £40-50
What exactly is the fault with the nipple & caliper? Have you seen them?
It sounds as though it has been cross threaded if they're talking about the requirement for a new thread to be cut. If that's the case then it may have happened during the service (or the last one). Without pictures it's pretty difficult to offer advice.
It sounds as though it has been cross threaded if they're talking about the requirement for a new thread to be cut. If that's the case then it may have happened during the service (or the last one). Without pictures it's pretty difficult to offer advice.
Scott911 said:
There are ways of removing snapped bleed nipples rather than replacing the caliper, I'm sure an engineering company could sort it for £40-50
The OPC should be able to remove a snapped nipple with an easy out kit, it'd take about 5 mins for any half decent mechanic. If they're talking about re-threading the unit something else has happened.
I haven't seen the caliper. I just got the dreaded phone call to list the items that were wrong with my car. They said that the bleed nipple was corroded and that it had snapped when they were doing the brake fluid change.
They have offered me 10% off the cost of buying the replacement caliper. I had assumed that a Porsche dealership would buy parts then at a much bigger discount than 10%. It annoys me that they might still make a markup on the cost of the caliper.
They have offered me 10% off the cost of buying the replacement caliper. I had assumed that a Porsche dealership would buy parts then at a much bigger discount than 10%. It annoys me that they might still make a markup on the cost of the caliper.
They are a PITA when they snap - but not impossible to fix.
They don't just snap either - they tend to twist then snap and a good mechanic should stop before it snaps to look at how it can be solved before it snaps off leaving most of the thread in the caliper..
The more material you have above the surface the easier it is to get it out.
They don't just snap either - they tend to twist then snap and a good mechanic should stop before it snaps to look at how it can be solved before it snaps off leaving most of the thread in the caliper..
The more material you have above the surface the easier it is to get it out.
Hot air gun then tap with a small hammer for a tight bleed nipple......and yes you should know 100 percent when a bleed nipple or any bolt for that matter is going to break.........so in my opinion they are liable.I've drilled out plenty of broken bleed nipples on Porsches/ Ferrari etc......New Caliper is the the high profit option.
This can be the problem with OPCs. They don't fix, they only replace. And that costs.
I would speak to the Service Manager and say you are unhappy with their service and are considering taking your car out of the network and foregoing the warranty etc. Tell him that a specialist will do it for a fraction of their price and you just cannot justify 3k.
He may offer you something. If he doesn't, walk.
I would speak to the Service Manager and say you are unhappy with their service and are considering taking your car out of the network and foregoing the warranty etc. Tell him that a specialist will do it for a fraction of their price and you just cannot justify 3k.
He may offer you something. If he doesn't, walk.
Hi, this is something that seems to happen quite a lot. We have seen many bleed nipples snap off in the callipers.
It is normally something that you can feel with experience that it is about to break off BUT we have had on occasion it just fall off as some idiot has glued it on previously to hide it's snapped and secondly they have tried before to undo it and weakened the nipple and it has taken very little force and the head snaps off.
We have had to drill some out before and normally can remove them with out Heli-coils as drilled quite accurately. I will say this that the hole down the "middle" of the bleed nipple is not always the middle!
Do not try and use easy outs. I am not sure why these were invented as I personally think they are useless as all they do is expand the broken off bolt/nipple more into the threaded hole.
Mike
It is normally something that you can feel with experience that it is about to break off BUT we have had on occasion it just fall off as some idiot has glued it on previously to hide it's snapped and secondly they have tried before to undo it and weakened the nipple and it has taken very little force and the head snaps off.
We have had to drill some out before and normally can remove them with out Heli-coils as drilled quite accurately. I will say this that the hole down the "middle" of the bleed nipple is not always the middle!
Do not try and use easy outs. I am not sure why these were invented as I personally think they are useless as all they do is expand the broken off bolt/nipple more into the threaded hole.
Mike
sportsandclassic said:
Do not try and use easy outs. I am not sure why these were invented as I personally think they are useless as all they do is expand the broken off bolt/nipple more into the threaded hole.
If used correctly they are fine. I removed a sheared bolt from a Pratt & Whitney PT6 gas turbine engine with one on Monday with no problem at all. So long as you are accurate with the drill you shouldn't have a problem.Of course the real issue here is that the OPC would rather the OP pay for a new caliper rather than them repair the original unit..
Edited by Deerfoot on Wednesday 26th February 07:22
sportsandclassic said:
Hi, this is something that seems to happen quite a lot. We have seen many bleed nipples snap off in the callipers.
It is normally something that you can feel with experience that it is about to break off BUT we have had on occasion it just fall off as some idiot has glued it on previously to hide it's snapped and secondly they have tried before to undo it and weakened the nipple and it has taken very little force and the head snaps off.
We have had to drill some out before and normally can remove them with out Heli-coils as drilled quite accurately. I will say this that the hole down the "middle" of the bleed nipple is not always the middle!
Do not try and use easy outs. I am not sure why these were invented as I personally think they are useless as all they do is expand the broken off bolt/nipple more into the threaded hole.
Mike
Mike, It is normally something that you can feel with experience that it is about to break off BUT we have had on occasion it just fall off as some idiot has glued it on previously to hide it's snapped and secondly they have tried before to undo it and weakened the nipple and it has taken very little force and the head snaps off.
We have had to drill some out before and normally can remove them with out Heli-coils as drilled quite accurately. I will say this that the hole down the "middle" of the bleed nipple is not always the middle!
Do not try and use easy outs. I am not sure why these were invented as I personally think they are useless as all they do is expand the broken off bolt/nipple more into the threaded hole.
Mike
You actually replaced a broken bleed nipple on my Cayman for me a couple of years back.
Jack
FWIW, I had exactly the same thing happen on my CSL a couple of years ago. The BMW dealer initially wanted to charge full price and labour for fitting the replacement caliper. After a polite chat with the service manager, they agreed to do it with no labour charge and at cost for the part. I'm sure the same should be achievable here ?
(I decided that the hassle of getting the car out of the dealer without working brakes made it worth just replacing the caliper, rather than trying to take it somewhere who would actually repair the broken one.)
(I decided that the hassle of getting the car out of the dealer without working brakes made it worth just replacing the caliper, rather than trying to take it somewhere who would actually repair the broken one.)
As I am also renewing my Porsche warranty I think that I have two accept that I need a new caliper.
But I really do object to having to pay the labour to correct something that they broke, and I object to the fact that I am effectively paying retail price for a caliper that they will be buying at trade price.
I rang another Porsche dealership who quoted me £450 (retail) for this part. This is what the OPC are suggesting that they charge me. I wonder what the trade price for a c4s caliper it is?
But I really do object to having to pay the labour to correct something that they broke, and I object to the fact that I am effectively paying retail price for a caliper that they will be buying at trade price.
I rang another Porsche dealership who quoted me £450 (retail) for this part. This is what the OPC are suggesting that they charge me. I wonder what the trade price for a c4s caliper it is?
I bet the cost to the OPC of that calliper is about £200 and that is one of the annoying things for me on this thread. The OPC will make a profit from "selling" you the calliper at a 10% "discount" it shows an absolute lack of integrity on their part in my opinion. The worse the OP should suffer is the calliper at cost to OPC and free fitting with a full parts warranty - and an apology!
Don't be too sore at them for breaking it - it could happen to anyone. If the brakes are bled every 2 years as per schedule and the nipples not overtightened, it shouldn't happen though. Options to prevent recurrence include wrapping the thread with ptfe tape. Offering the replacement caliper at cost would be a constructive gesture though.
£120 per hour is the cost of a junior barrister, accountant or solicitor (out of London). It is absolutely amazing what OPCs charge for labour.
It would cost less to launch a small High Court claim than have an OPC mechanic scratch his bum for 4 hours and then order a replacement part.
It would cost less to launch a small High Court claim than have an OPC mechanic scratch his bum for 4 hours and then order a replacement part.
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