84K Service

JCB.. · Dec 6, 2005

No problems other than the alleged return of the RMS leak. I say alleged as I've no oil on the floor.

As my clutch is still the one the car came with I will not be shelling out to have the seal replaced until the clutch needs changing.

It does grate a little when the service department, polite and charming as ever, happily inform you that they will prepare a quote for the work and not offer an apology for what is, afterall, a design flaw. [&:]

daro911 · Dec 6, 2005

ORIGINAL: JCB..

As my clutch is still the one the car came with I will not be shelling out to have the seal replaced until the clutch needs changing.

John ... excuse my ignorance but if ones clutch isn't slipping but they have the dreaded RMS weep is there any point in changing the RMS at that moment in time?

Also if one is having a new clutch fitted do they automatically replace your RMS even if it isn't leaking as to the uninitiated like me these 2 items seem to go hand in glove [&o]

penfold944 · Dec 6, 2005

Or based on my experience... they replace the clutch when the do the main seal... Curious that you got 84k out of the clutch so far.. mine got to about 30k before it had to be replaced.

THX911 · Dec 6, 2005

My understanding is that Porsche will replace your RMS at their expense, irrelevant of you having an extended warranty or high mileage as long as you put up a fight...

dawn lang · Dec 6, 2005

ORIGINAL: THX911

My understanding is that Porsche will replace your RMS at their expense, irrelevant of you having an extended warranty or high mileage as long as you put up a fight...

Agreed. Sometimes a jolly good moan goes a long way! [

]

JCB.. · Dec 6, 2005

ORIGINAL: penfold944

Or based on my experience... they replace the clutch when the do the main seal... Curious that you got 84k out of the clutch so far.. mine got to about 30k before it had to be replaced.

I guess it's down to my Alain Prost style of driving. [

]

JCB.. · Dec 6, 2005

John ... excuse my ignorance but if ones clutch isn't slipping but they have the dreaded RMS weep is there any point in changing the RMS at that moment in time?
Also if one is having a new clutch fitted do they automatically replace your RMS even if it isn't leaking as to the uninitiated like me these 2 items seem to go hand in glove [&o]

To the first Robert, unless you have an oil slick on the garage floor I would say "Live with it."

To the second I would say "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

I've never had any oil on the floor and I reckon that I have had to use less than a litre to top up between services. That's a litre in total not one per service. I may be a little cynical but I'm sure that in most cases OPC's see the RMS as a cash cow. [&:]

daro911 · Dec 6, 2005

ORIGINAL: JCB..

I may be a little cynical but I'm sure that in most cases OPC's see the RMS as a cash cow. [&:]

Whilst I am (very) cynical and agree with your cash cow theory fully, surely by now Porsche would have made this the official line too if no damage was being done [&o]

JCB.. · Dec 7, 2005

ORIGINAL: daro911

ORIGINAL: JCB..

I may be a little cynical but I'm sure that in most cases OPC's see the RMS as a cash cow. [&:]

Click to expand...

Whilst I am (very) cynical and agree with your cash cow theory fully, surely by now Porsche would have made this the official line too if no damage was being done [&o]

Robert

I'm not sure that Porsche have that much control over the franchises. AFAIK there have been very few, if any, serious RMS cases and I find the line about possibly contaminating the clutch a little hard to swallow.

I guess we need a good independant to give an honest answer.

My experience at Lovett's, both Swindon and Bristol, is that they will try and squeeze as much out of you as possible. I've even taken to pointing out that there is a full bottle of Porsche windscreen fluid in the front boot so that they won't charge me a fiver each time.

JCB..

russtbird · Dec 7, 2005

With all the scaremongering & talk about RMS, main shaft failure (I know of 2 cases) & OPC or independant warranties on the forum, I'd be interested to see a poll of just how many people have or have had the RMS problem.
Are any of the moderators up for some sort of poll like these: http://www.ppbb.com/board/boxpoll_archive1.htm
to see what percent of us have experienced (or are in fear of!) such problems??

My car had the RMS sorted at 12k miles and the clutch was done at the same time (free labour).

JCB.. · Dec 8, 2005

Nic Doczi surveyed the entire register about a year ago.

About 25% of the replies reported failures.

Mark_Bennett · Dec 8, 2005

But how many replies did we get?
I'd be willing to bet most who didn't reply had no problem?

JCB.. · Dec 8, 2005

50% replied out approx 1000 sent out.

Unsurprisingly about the same ratio for the 996.

russtbird · Dec 8, 2005

Crumbs - that's quite a high ratio. I was thinking that it would be a lot less. If mine was done at 12k, I'm beginning to wonder when the second RMS replacement will be needed! I bet that wasn't covered in the survey[

]

Mark_Bennett · Dec 8, 2005

ORIGINAL: russtbird

... I'm beginning to wonder when the second RMS replacement will be needed! I bet that wasn't covered in the survey

Yes it was... [

]
If I recall, most cars had it done just the once.

THX911 · Dec 8, 2005

ORIGINAL: russtbird

Crumbs - that's quite a high ratio. I was thinking that it would be a lot less. If mine was done at 12k, I'm beginning to wonder when the second RMS replacement will be needed! I bet that wasn't covered in the survey[]

Repeated RMS, with an exception of few, is apparently rare. Allegedly the new tools and new seal claims to fix it all together but I think it is early days to get real world success data.

Rodney Naghar · Dec 9, 2005

NicD posted this............

996 RMS survey asd at May05

There seems a peak failure rate in MY2001, and drop off since.

Model_yr %fail Total, RMS_failure, No failure,
1998 20.6% 136 28 108
1999 21.2% 151 32 119
2000 23.8% 84 20 64
2001 29.4% 85 25 60
2002 16.0% 150 24 126
2003 14.3% 119 17 102
2004 5.1% 79 4 75
2005 0.0% 3 0 3

As for repeat failures, these seem mercifully low, with only 12 members over all
saying this. Of course, the data is only as good as the forms sent in.

I encourage members to send in any change, so we can keep the survey going, as
the statistics over time will be very interesting.

I have done an analysis by model year and date and mileage the RMS was reported.

This gives very interesting results.

BUT the results are probably useless because: current owner was maybe unaware of
RMS being replaced under warranty during first two years, or indeed by a
previous owner. data reported may not be accurate.

BUT here they are anyway (all for 996) BUT VERY APROX only

Overall average 3 years and 23,000 miles

For MY98 and 99, very few failures reported for first two years of ownership,
most after 5 to 7 years.

For MY00, the bulk reported after 4 to 5 years

For MY01 most at 3-4 years

For MY02, most after 3 years

For MY03, most after 2 years

JCB.. · Dec 9, 2005

ORIGINAL: THX911

ORIGINAL: russtbird

Crumbs - that's quite a high ratio. I was thinking that it would be a lot less. If mine was done at 12k, I'm beginning to wonder when the second RMS replacement will be needed! I bet that wasn't covered in the survey[]

Click to expand...

Repeated RMS, with an exception of few, is apparently rare. Allegedly the new tools and new seal claims to fix it all together but I think it is early days to get real world success data.

I knew my car was a bit special! [

]

THX911 · Dec 9, 2005

ORIGINAL: JCB..

ORIGINAL: THX911

ORIGINAL: russtbird

Crumbs - that's quite a high ratio. I was thinking that it would be a lot less. If mine was done at 12k, I'm beginning to wonder when the second RMS replacement will be needed! I bet that wasn't covered in the survey[]

Click to expand...

Repeated RMS, with an exception of few, is apparently rare. Allegedly the new tools and new seal claims to fix it all together but I think it is early days to get real world success data.

Click to expand...

I knew my car was a bit special! []

John,
Have you checked with Reading or even AG, it might be a world record for your RMSs and for once it may work in your favour
i.e. they may pay you to keep it as an internal museum piece after the end of its life...[8|]