Cayenne S Vibration

[ChrisCarter]

Hi ,
I bought a brand new Diesel V8 Cayenne S in June this year. I didn't test drive one before I bought it as the dealer didn't have one available (mistake 1) .. The first time I drove it I noticed a significant wheel imbalance and vibration at 70mph which on reducing speed didn't go until I stopped the car.
I've had it back 4 times to balance the wheels and the problem is still there. I then had a donor 18 inch set of wheels put on it to test (mine are 21's) , The vibrations were then far far worse, felt through the accelerator, seat, footrest and after driving just 30 mins my hands feel like they are vibrating even when I'm not still in the car.
I have taken the car back to the dealer and rejected it as faulty. They have loaned me a car while they investigated further , I lose count but I think this is their 6th attempt to get to the bottom of it.
I have been told that Porsche UK have reported that this is a characteristic of the diesel V8 and is therefore not a fault !!!
So, I am stunned to learn that a car manufacturer would build a car with a characteristic that makes it impossible to drive at the legal speed limit.
My question is has anyone else noticed this characteristic or am I being fobbed off ?

 

[Peter_Bull]

Hi Chris

You are being fobbed off and its totally unacceptable. My wife's parents have Diesel V8 Cayenne S, bought new earlier this year and its as smooth as silk. I have driven it myself and felt no vibrations at all.

Perhaps it could be a faulty steering rack, but I am sure there are others on this forum who may be more knowledgeable to point you in the right direction.

Have you compared this with another V8?

 

[simonmcconnell]

Hi Chris

I agree with Peter. I purchased a new V8S diesel in March this year having had a 3 litre diesel before. The engine is much smoother and whilst there is more of a low down rumble there is no apparent vibration felt at all. I have done almost 10,000 miles and a fair number of these have been on motorways/autoroutes so have driven at all speeds and not felt anything untoward. I would visit another dealer if necessary and ask for an accompanied drive to prove the point. I cant believe that Porsche UK would think it is a characteristic!

 

[ChrisCarter]

Thanks Guys,
I've driven 3 other V8's , and they were fine , albeit one was at the Porsche experience centre. The loan car I have on the drive at the moment is their V8, and I've driven 200 miles in it and its fine.
I'm going tomorrow to give them back their loan car and collect my 'characteristically vibrating one' They have agreed to change the car but I'm seriously considering not a cayenne , they do have a very nice 991 in the showroom and I recon with a roof transport system I'd have nearly as much boot space , although I will miss the electric towbar on my Cayenne, it is my favourite part on the whole car !!
The whole experience is getting me very frustrated , I'm hoping it gets sorted soon

 

[ChrisCarter]

Having decided that I don't like the characteristic vibration that Porsche have designed into the V8 Cayenne I have decided to sell the car after 4 months.
My dealer has offered me £30k less than I paid ! refuses my position to reject the car because they say its not faulty.
So , I bid my love for Porsche goodbye and will certainly never use that dealership again . They don't get to buy it back and make even more profit out of me , I've had a far better offer elsewhere.
Loved Porsche since I was 15 years old, never say never but I'm very unlikely to buy another.

 

[tscaptain]

This article reports vibration in the V8 diesel
https://www.whatcar.com/news/2014-porsche-cayenne-review/
and there are other reports if you Google it. Have you tried sport mode and is it the same? It appears to be a most don't but a few do type of problem. What seems most odd to me is that the vibration doesn't go until you stop, so nothing to do with wheel imbalance etc. More likely engine/transmission and the low rpms these cars have in "normal" mode?
Did you go out in the car with a senior technician at the PC and demonstrate the issue? I would contest that it is a "characteristic" if, as you say, it makes the car undriveable.

 

[Nickglengary]

I just find this indifencable of the OPC's
they seem to be of little help to owners
and enthusiasts alike. I've had various issues with Edinburgh maybe PCGB should try to assist ?? This ruining the
mark aftersales is king in my view any idiot can sell a car !!

 

[ChrisCarter]

Porsche UK refusing to accept any fault or liability and neither Porsche or dealer willing to compensate me in any way whatsoever.
Worse still , I went to an alternative brand but within the same group and they phoned my supplying Porsche dealer whom promptly offered them £8000 less for it than to buy it back only 4 hours earlier. Meaning I would actually be in negative equity. So basically I've handed them the keys to a pristine 911 and got absolutely nothing but some debt back.
Thankfully for me the Audi dealership were brilliant and totally disgusted with how Porsche treat their customers and did me a fantastic deal on a beautiful new S5 convertible.
I write this conclusion to my dealings with Porsche to warn others to be very careful, Oh and also to say that Audi's don't vibrate at 70mph, are faster and significantly more economical than their very much more expensive and not as well built brands in the group.
Good bye Porsche, it was fun for a while