24k service - 993

[993buyer]

So I've had my 24k service done at the OPC (see other rants for details).

Given how unimpressed I was with this OPC and how rushed off their feet they seemed to be, is there any checks I can do that would reassure me they had actually done the work? (apart from checking the wheel nuts have been torqued up!!!).

Is there a list I can get online that details what a 24k service entails? I was quite surprised to have to pay extra for the transmission (tip) oil to be changed. And also to be told that the brake fluid probably ought to be changed too. It left me wondering what is included in a major service?!

The invoice just says something like - 24,000 mile service in accordance with Porsche spec plus optional transmission fluid change.

[aceparts_com]

Don't start me off again!

They forgot to change my transmission oil - I could clearly see that a new sump washer had not been used - when I drained the oil it was as black as a witches t#t.
Later (after a few track days) I drained it again and it was still clean.

24K consists off new filters
New plugs
New fuel filter
spray copious amounts of brake cleaner at the wall.

[verysideways]

I think trans (manual at least) is recommended every 3 years, brake fluid every 2 years.
24k is as Alan said, 2 oil filters, 2 pollen filters, one air filter, 12 spark plugs, a few o rings and things (involved in getting the engine oil filter off unless you have odd shaped hands like me) and obviously 12 litres of decent oil (you'd hope anyway).
VS

[A993LAD]

Is that it?

A couple of filters and spark plugs - for £900!!!

What do they do for the rest of the day(s) it supposedly took them?

[verysideways]

p.s. a 24k mile service kit for a n/a 993 is £75 inc vat from your local friendly OPC, and 12 litres of Mobil 1 is £105 from Halfrauds/Halfwits (who are NOT the cheapest by any means - try Costco).

But i think in total there is about 5 or 6 hours labour to go through the checklist of various things to look at (cv joint belows and grease nipples and what have you).

And have you ever tried changing the 12 plugs on an n/a 993? Or even the 6 on a turbo? They're a pain in the proverbial.

[aceparts_com]

A993LAD said:

Is that it? A couple of filters and spark plugs - for £900!!! What do they do for the rest of the day(s) it supposedly took them?

I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so I told you so

Sorry.

[A993LAD]

Well at least I got the message in the end.

and at least I stopped them from doing any of the other work and told them to get my car back to me asap

and I'm off to JZ Machtec in January to see the nice people there who really know what to do with a 993.

[993SIL]

I've just been given the following prices by my local OPC for 993 Turbo servicing costs

Annual 350
12k 580
24k 855
48k 1222

As these are 2005 prices, I was advised to add 15% to these(!)

I'd be interested in hearing what others have been quoted or paid recently for servicing, both at OPC and specialists

[police state]

A993LAD said:

Well at least I got the message in the end.

and at least I stopped them from doing any of the other work and told them to get my car back to me asap

and I'm off to JZ Machtec in January to see the nice people there who really know what to do with a 993.

If you do, be sure to ask them what engine oil they will put in it. If you're assuming it will be mobil 1. It won't be.

and you may want to tell them in advance not to road test your car, seeing as you have only brought it in for a service. Otherwise they will assume that you do want them to road test your car.

Edited by police state on Monday 15th January 17:48

[a993lad]

Hi,

You seem to have resurrected a rather old post from me here. So I have used JZM a couple of times since.

Have a made a big mistake?

I get the impression you are not giving them glowing tributes?

Surely it is advantagous to have them roadtest the car as part of them checking it for problems?

Mind you I sure one of their guys come back from doing a roadtest and he was about 25 stone!

So if the suspension was okay before he took it out, it probably needed an overhaul afterwards!

Seriously though, I was planning to use them regularly so please do give me the lowdown.

[911wise]

A car of that age you really should take to a reputable indy specialist. An OPC will not be coming into contact with many of these cars, and if the truth told dont really want to service them anymore. As a result they dont really know what they are doing with them, and you could be paying them £100 per hour to have them learning how to do a job. A good indy will charge 1/2 to 2/3 an OPC price and because they see these cars on a daily basis they really know what they are talking about with them.

[AJAX50]

I've used JZM for my 993 for the past 3 years,very knowlegable and reliable. Happy to trust them with my car. Light years ahead of my local OPC who once offered to change the brake fluid in compensation for damage they caused during a service which should have included a brake fluid change!

[police state]

a993lad said:

Hi,

You seem to have resurrected a rather old post from me here. So I have used JZM a couple of times since.

Have a made a big mistake?

I get the impression you are not giving them glowing tributes?

Surely it is advantagous to have them roadtest the car as part of them checking it for problems?

Mind you I sure one of their guys come back from doing a roadtest and he was about 25 stone!

So if the suspension was okay before he took it out, it probably needed an overhaul afterwards!

Seriously though, I was planning to use them regularly so please do give me the lowdown.

It wasn't deliberately resurrected. '993SIL' relit it and it was near the top of page 1, I read it, and felt inclined to respond to your older post, without noticing that it referred to January last year!.

Anyway, I was merely pointing out that you won't get Mobil 1, fully synth like you would with an OPC. They will use Magnatec as an alternative. I was slightly miffed they didn't point this out to me, pre booking/service. One of the senior staff there assured me that it was the same/equivalent quality as Mobil 1. I don't believe that is true.

Regards the road test. When I picked the car up, they told me to wait a mo as someone wanted to talk to me about the gearbox (tip). He mentioned that some 'error codes' had come up on testing. 'Would I like them to sort it?'. slightly perturbed by this news, I ask the service man what the codes were, or what they meant. He mumbled that he wasn't sure what the codes were..., and wasn't really sure what the fault/s were either. All uttered in a none eye-to-eye tone that suggested that if I agreed to have the work done, then they will be in a position to know what the exact codes were, viz the fault. When I got the car back and drove off, the 'box' and pickup felt very different to what my attuned mind has always known. It simply drove very differently. I may have been very wrong, but had the distinct impression that it had been 'properly' road-tested. A small point, but I had to walk back into their office, and ask them to actually stamp the service book...

Following future services, I will never again allow anyone to 'road test' it. I've often watched the way various OPC's and indy staff get in and out of customer cars. Let's just say that with regard to 993's, I’m not surprised that door check strap failures often crop up. If I could change the plugs myself, it would never go anywhere for a service other than my garage.

Maybe it's me, Maybe I'm just paranoid, maybe I'm too precious about my cars. I'm just not entirely convinced that any of these service agents OPC's or otherwise adhere to a quality standard that they can actually deliver, consistently. I think it's as much the luck of the dice as to which individual works on your car, which ultimately determines the level of service.

Edited by police state on Tuesday 16th January 12:57

Edited by police state on Tuesday 16th January 13:00

[AJAX50]

JZM used a fully synthetic Castrol product in my car, can't remember the name. They may quite correctly use a different spec lube in high mileage cars. As I said before great confidence in them.

[smiffack993]

I recently had 24k service at a local specialist (Northway Porsche). They charged £430 and that included a full checklist of everything others have mentioned. These guys will dedicate time and effort to telling you about your car, stuff you never knew and will offer excellent advice on anything you wish.

Can't help but to expect an invoice if I ask any questions at an OPC.

The dealers specialise in the older cars and have much more experience.

Even if money were no object, - I would still choose a reputable specialist EVERYTIME.

[silver993tt]

AJAX50 said:

JZM used a fully synthetic Castrol product in my car, can't remember the name. They may quite correctly use a different spec lube in high mileage cars. As I said before great confidence in them.

Sounds like Castrol "RS" synthetic, 10w-60 me thinks

[MauriceC2S]

silver993tt said:

AJAX50 said:

JZM used a fully synthetic Castrol product in my car, can't remember the name. They may quite correctly use a different spec lube in high mileage cars. As I said before great confidence in them.

Sounds like Castrol "RS" synthetic, 10w-60 me thinks

More probably Castrol TXT Softec, a 'workshop only' Porsche approved oil ...