DIY Maintenance
Discussion
you don't say which model of 911 you are planning to buy. I have been impressed with how simple my 993 is. (I can't comment on the later water cooled cars.)
The problem is most people would not want to buy a car that had been maintained on a DIY basis no matter how well the maintenance had been carried out. What you save on maintenance, you will lose on residuals. (Maybe this doesn't apply to the same extent to much older cars)
As with almost everything in life, this is not a black and white situation, rather it is a series of valued judgements you will have to make.
For example; I'm sure lots of people on this forum have changed their own brake pads and perhaps even fitted new discs. Few would suggest that this would reduce the value a car. Either they are fitted correctly or not and as a consumable part, any prospective purchaser can look at them and tell how much life is left at a glance. So the only question is about the quality of the parts fitted (and you have the receipt for that- right?)
But what about an oil change, or valve clearances, or a brake fluid change?
Was the job done at all? What fluid was used, the right stuff or some rubbish from Halfords? Was the job done correctly? Those expensive stamps in the service book and the sheaf of receipts give the prospective buyer some confidence that all is as it should be.
In summary, the cars are well made and rewarding to work on, most service tasks are not difficult (although some are a bit fiddly) however it may not be wise to do all the work you, are technically capable of, because a Porsche without a documented service history is always going to be hard to sell.
The problem is most people would not want to buy a car that had been maintained on a DIY basis no matter how well the maintenance had been carried out. What you save on maintenance, you will lose on residuals. (Maybe this doesn't apply to the same extent to much older cars)
As with almost everything in life, this is not a black and white situation, rather it is a series of valued judgements you will have to make.
For example; I'm sure lots of people on this forum have changed their own brake pads and perhaps even fitted new discs. Few would suggest that this would reduce the value a car. Either they are fitted correctly or not and as a consumable part, any prospective purchaser can look at them and tell how much life is left at a glance. So the only question is about the quality of the parts fitted (and you have the receipt for that- right?)
But what about an oil change, or valve clearances, or a brake fluid change?
Was the job done at all? What fluid was used, the right stuff or some rubbish from Halfords? Was the job done correctly? Those expensive stamps in the service book and the sheaf of receipts give the prospective buyer some confidence that all is as it should be.
In summary, the cars are well made and rewarding to work on, most service tasks are not difficult (although some are a bit fiddly) however it may not be wise to do all the work you, are technically capable of, because a Porsche without a documented service history is always going to be hard to sell.
I let, sounds rather pompous doesn't it...My Indie specialsit do all the oil/servicing work for exactly the reasons above.........a little stamp in the service book.
I'm more than capable/qualified to do the work, I've worked on engines far and away more complex, but if I were to sell my car, who knows me and my skills from Adam, truth be told they don't and that could put people off, or make it easier for them to negoitate a better price for them.
Do as I do, I do all the other work, suspension, brakes, calipers, hoses etc, the Indie gets to do all the routine work.
I get the stamps in my service book, and I also get the satisfaction of knowing that anything else that gets done has been done to my high standards, without that wallet opening-sinking feeling.
Kevin.
I'm more than capable/qualified to do the work, I've worked on engines far and away more complex, but if I were to sell my car, who knows me and my skills from Adam, truth be told they don't and that could put people off, or make it easier for them to negoitate a better price for them.
Do as I do, I do all the other work, suspension, brakes, calipers, hoses etc, the Indie gets to do all the routine work.
I get the stamps in my service book, and I also get the satisfaction of knowing that anything else that gets done has been done to my high standards, without that wallet opening-sinking feeling.
Kevin.
As the guy's say, you balance the value of the car against the cost of servicing. As with most cars the labour is the killer. If you intend to keep the car then do it yourself, keep all the reciepts and produce these as evidence of work done. Myself I believe a stamp in the book is worthless without the receipt to go with it. In the past I have phoned the main dealers who can verify that they did perfrom the service. I recently decided against a car (911) that had service stamps from some unknown local back street garage but no other paperwork. The value of the car against its history didn't feel right.
I will be doing all the service work on my 944 s2, and after a couple of years ownership it will have saved lots on labour charges and lost next to nothing on value compared to a car with full dealer history, but that is due to the relitivly low cost of these cars anyway.
I expect my journey into 911 ownership will be with a 3.2 or 964 if the have come down a bit by then and will do the work myself as well.
Makes the ownership all the more enjoyable !! :d
I will be doing all the service work on my 944 s2, and after a couple of years ownership it will have saved lots on labour charges and lost next to nothing on value compared to a car with full dealer history, but that is due to the relitivly low cost of these cars anyway.
I expect my journey into 911 ownership will be with a 3.2 or 964 if the have come down a bit by then and will do the work myself as well.
Makes the ownership all the more enjoyable !! :d
Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad some of the tasks are simple enough for a keen DIY person like myself. I love fiddling with cars and will find it hard not to do some work. But I understand how important a service stamp is.
In answer to what 911 I will buy, I'm after a 911 Turbo and will probably spend about 40k. This is my dream car and have always wanted one so will probably keep it forever.
Lastly what is the best source of information re maintenance on a Porsche. ie service manuals on ebay??????
Cheers
Andy
In answer to what 911 I will buy, I'm after a 911 Turbo and will probably spend about 40k. This is my dream car and have always wanted one so will probably keep it forever.
Lastly what is the best source of information re maintenance on a Porsche. ie service manuals on ebay??????
Cheers
Andy
Christ Andy,
I thought you were going to buy an older 80's model for 10K!!!!
If I could afford £40K for a car I'd like to think I could afford some one else to service it for me
For sure do a few odd bits yourself but keep the history up cause you might just need to cash in for an emergency and the service history will be all important especially on a turbo !!
Are there any other millionaire's out there who get there hands dirty
I thought you were going to buy an older 80's model for 10K!!!!
If I could afford £40K for a car I'd like to think I could afford some one else to service it for me
For sure do a few odd bits yourself but keep the history up cause you might just need to cash in for an emergency and the service history will be all important especially on a turbo !!
Are there any other millionaire's out there who get there hands dirty
Not a millionaire by about a million pounds but I do most of the work on my turbo myself, along with help from a very friendly garage I share a building with.
Engine's coming out soon for a clutch etc. I enjoy doing it myself as I know it's been done properly.
Suspension gets gone by Parr, as do brake fluid changes. If the time comes to sell it then I can happily pass on my savings (£1K a year) to the next guy.
Engine's coming out soon for a clutch etc. I enjoy doing it myself as I know it's been done properly.
Suspension gets gone by Parr, as do brake fluid changes. If the time comes to sell it then I can happily pass on my savings (£1K a year) to the next guy.
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