718 GT4 Service Costs

[TimG]

Good Morning,

I contacted my local OPC to see what the cost would be to drop and replace the oil, filter etc ready for the spring and summer (which I intend to have done annually anyway) and was quoted £507.00 to do the 1.6hrs job.

In addition, I'm bringing my service intervals forward to October to stay in line with warranty requirements as the anniversary falls during my intended overwinter storage period and was surprised to be quoted over £750 for the first service. This seems to have gone up in price from the figures I was verbally quoted when purchasing the car when enquiring about the costs for servicing and intervals. I vaguely remember these being a base cost of £400+ (@2 years) for the first service and circa £820 (@4 years) for the second at the time.

Clearly, I’ve bought a premium product and if what I’m being quoted is the rule of thumb (from a PC) then it is what it is but would welcome your views given I may have mistakenly remembered different figures quoted when I purchased the car.

Thanks

 

[Twinfan]

Morning []

Unfortunately Porsche service costs have risen quite a bit in the last couple of years. I was quoted (I think) £350 by my OPC for an unscheduled oil change. It's certainly not £500+ worth of work! I'd be looking to use a local Porsche Indy place for those kinds of things, and if they use genuine Porsche parts and the correct spec oil it won't affect your warranty.

The last published fixed price servicing that Porsche offered via participating Centres (at the end of 2019) was £625 for the 2yr service and £975 for the 4yr. That's what I'm expecting to pay when the time comes and they're inclusive of brake fluid changes each time and spark plugs at the 4yr service (hence the higher cost).

It's definitely worth shopping around as OPCs vary in price considerably, and check out the prices from Indys too as they can be used as bartering tools with your preferred OPC.

 

[edgiee]

It's an oil change not an engine re-build! If you've got a decent local garage who you trust, ask them to do it.

 

[Nick_USA]

You can save yourself a couple of shirts if you supply your own Mobil 1 too. Many PCs will accept this as long as the containers are sealed.

 

[Twinfan]

If you're doing that, make sure you get the correct oil: Mobil 1 ESP X3 0W-40

 

[Nick_USA]

That's the one, it's not the one that most are familiar with due to the car having a particulate filter.

Should cost around £90 shipped for 8 ltrs from a wholesaler (It's around 7.5 ltrs for the engine). I recall PCs charge around £20 per ltr

(Other watch out is unless you have one already is the PC will drop a ltr of oil in a nice Porsche bag into the front boot. You'll think how nice of them until you look at the invoice to find they have charged you for it)

 

[Motorhead]

Tim,

I know that some dealerships charge more than others (Porsche Retail Group in particular) but how can yours justify £507 for just 1.6 hours work, even given their labour charges of £150+/hour? The oil shouldn’t be much more than £100 and the filter about £20, say £150 max for parts. Dave’s figure of £350 for the work sounds more realistic.

I’d go back and question the figure and/or get an alternative quote for comparison. As said, any competent Porsche Independent will be able to do the job, probably for half the price.

Jeff

 

[MoC2S]

I've just assembled the most complex office chair in the IKEA catalogue in under an hour, so I think I'll set up as a Porsche independent .. [8D]

But there are a hell of a lot that weren't there a few years ago .. cheers, Maurice

 

[AndrewCS]

Tim,

Your figure of > £750 for first service is the same as I was quoted today, when I added the question to one for my 981 GT4. It was noted that a complete service plan cost for your model is as yet not available ... but is estimated to be ~ £100 above that for the 981 GT4

The Fixed Price Service system remains in place but is somewhat changed from that of late 2019, such that a comparison to the attached is not available

As regards the 981 GT4`s Fixed Price costs, they have increased by ~ £100 over the attached ... which, back in November 2019 was £300 less than the standard menu.

 

[Twinfan]

I think Porsche are going to price themselves out of the servicing market if they're not careful. When it was a small difference to an Indy it could be justified, but at twice the price?

 

[AndrewCS]

Captive market though ... fear of `falling foul` of dealer favour and warranty

For now, I`m happy sticking `with it` but paying £55 ex VAT / hour as for some of our other cars does appeal !

Using an Indie for some of our other cars has taught me one significant thing ... always insist on OEM and not Factor parts, far more reliable and durable. Our guys are superb ... always looking to repair over replace if possible

 

[Motorhead]

I think Porsche are going to price themselves out of the servicing market if they're not careful. When it was a small difference to an Indy it could be justified, but at twice the price?

I’m inclined to agree with you Dave. A few years ago the dealerships appeared actively to price competitively with the Independents but that now seems to have changed for whatever reasons, although I’m sure reduced throughput due to Covid is a factor.

My big 12-year service is due later this year so it’s going to be interesting to see what range of prices I’m quoted since I have three dealerships almost equidistant from me plus a few specialists.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

12 year is a biggie, Jeff. £1095 for a 981 GT4 on the last fixed price list according to my notes. Probably similar for a 987 if you factor in price rises.

Got to be half that for an Indy, surely?

 

[Motorhead]

Yes, the 12-year is the big one Dave: everything, including a gearbox oil change. It’s not due until late September so I haven’t yet checked but I reckon I’ll be doing well if I get quoted £1,200 or £1,300 for the job from the two non-PRG dealerships in my locality. Probably I could save a bit by declining the 1L of Mobil 1 and the useless tyre repair gunk … and I still have a collection of rarely used screen wash from previous services!

To date I’ve been loyal to Hatfield in the hope that the relationship would be beneficial in my (6-year!) quest to get an offer of a GT4 slot, but I’m not convinced that’s going to happen so I’m going to look elsewhere, including at a number excellent Porsche Independents I’m familiar with from Club visits and Member recommendations.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

Or you could just sack off the service and buy a nearly new GT4... []

 

[Motorhead]

Ha,ha! Yes that could work out a cheaper option Dave given the way Porsche service prices are heading. []

Jeff

 

[Allblack]

Maybe we should be looking to PCGB to secure a meaningful discount structure for all members at OPC's !!!!!

Rather than racing suits, boots and helmets that only a small % of members use...................Just a thought

 

[rowtietowers]

Not a GT4 but my 718 non S just had its 4 year service - £1,050 fixed price to include spark plug & brake fluid. If you had it done separately it was near to £1,230! They found a cracked coil pack so replaced that without additional labour (as they were in there changing spark plugs) - total bill £1,114.

Like others have said, the 1 litre Mobil 1 top-up plus plastic pouch (each charged separately!) is a bit rich as I still have the 2 previous bottles, both full. I’m sure if you asked them to take it off the bill, they would probably say it’s included in the fixed price.

Having said that, my Centre are very good and have a great relationship with PCGB so worth keeping in with them but totally agree pricing is getting rather steep. Mind you could own a TVR - if you think Porsche are expensive, when TVR were still going, main dealer service costs were pretty eye watering!

 

[MrDemon]

I think the 12 year will be more like £1800k these days.

MY 8 year was £1200, my 10 which is nothing I got quoted £900 odd so took it out the OPC network and got it done for £400 in all new Caliper nipples which had sezized as OPC don't do the job propley.

the new prices are eye watering, OPC wanted £1200 for a 1st service on my GT3 so GT TAX !!! got it for £850 odd in the end but it's still eye watering for oil and cabin filter.

 

[AndrewCS]

All inclusive , full price OPC service costs - 982 GT4 ... at today`s rates []

First - £913.20 Second - £1545.68 Third - £1261.99