In the OPC for Sports Exhaust & Service

[Peter_Bull]

Yesterday afternoon I left my car with Bolton OPC for its major service and also to have a Sports Exhaust fitted "" oh and not forgetting the obligatory brake fluid change just to help out with the OPC cash flow !!

Anyhow I feel like a big kid all excited, waiting in anticipation, and can hardly wait to collect the car on Saturday and play with the new sound system!!

I asked to meet the technician who will be working on my car and chatted to him about how I treasure my pride and joy etc just so he would get a feel as to the type of Porsche "˜spotter' I am (yes I said it before anyone else got there!!!). He was telling me how some cars come in for work in a real mess, owners not caring for their cars at all, and he (and service manager Dave) said how refreshing it was to do work for an enthusiast. Seems a really good set up at Bolton and I will let you know how I get on when I collect the car "" fingers crossed all goes well and that no further work is found. At 13k miles I hope not!

The new 997 4S cab in black / black and the used orange 997 Turbo are just mouth wateringly beautiful. One day eh!

 

[Rotorhead]

PSE transforms the 996 []

 

[Dylan1]

He was telling me how some cars come in for work in a real mess, owners not caring for their cars at all, and he (and service manager Dave) said how refreshing it was to do work for an enthusiast.


They shouldnt be allowed their cars back after servicing unless they PROMISE to take more care of their beauties!![]

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

You'll LOVE the PSE. Immediately after the large grin appears the first time you drive it, you will be thinking "why didn't I do this before?"

 

[Peter_Bull]

Thanks guys

Got the usual phone call yesterday with a whole list of things they found that they brought to my attention and "....would I like to attend to these sir...".[/i] Err - no thanks, I'll check them out and get them done at an independent if necessary!

I have never been one to pay much attention to the must do this at year 2, 4 etc [/i]because of the low mileage I have done to no. Some years its only covered 1K miles so to do a major service when it was 4 years old and with only 3K on the clock was pointless. It's just throwing good money away and in low mileage cars just unnecessary IMO. Eve now it's just having the minor service done as they informed me that the only difference was the spark plugs and air filter!

These were:
1. Wear on the inside of the front 2 tyres - needs tracking and two tyres!!
Mmmm nice try - sort that out myself thank you.

2. The car only done 13k miles and we recommend that you change the spark plugs
Mmmm - IMO spark plugs don't go down after that short of mileage - leave them in thank you. They are normally replaced at 48k mile (or four years) so how that can deteriorate sat there doing nothing is nonsense.

3. The car needs an air filter change
Mmmm - same as spark plugs really but why not - go ahead - but before you do
what will be the cost.
"... that will be £200 inc parts and labour..." Err .. ahammm ... thanks for the offer but no thanks! Do it myself.

4. Polyrib belt need changing
What! The car has done 13K miles and sat in a garage all its life - no thanks!!

5 There[/i] is evidence of some staining around the water pump and we suggest replacing the pump!
Mmmm ..it has never used any water and never overheated. Seems like there are being very over cautious"¦... no thanks guys.
Check it out myself first and use an indie if necessary.

I guess these guys are only doing there job "" but could you imagine what the cost of doing that lot would be!! And in the most part really unnecessary!!

Just an update. Pick the car up tomorrow. []

PS On the upside - NO RMS FAILURE !!!!! (yet)

 

[rob.kellock]

Good luck, hope there are no complications!

Wear on the inner shoulders of the tyres can be hard to spot until the car is on a ramp. I was disappointed to learn at MOT time that my rears are quite badly worn in that regard - particularly after I paid Bolton to sort out the wheel alignment when it was serviced (and had new tyres). They were very competitive on tyre prices though, particularly with PCGB discount.

Dean and I are going to Bolton next Saturday for the demonstration drive weekend - I'm booked in a C4S Cab at 1pm and a Cayman at 3. Dean is getting a Cayenne Turbo at 2 and a Cayman S at 3. Would be nice to see you if you're going.

 

[Peter_Bull]

Hi Rob
Not sure about this coming Saturday - not much I really want to drive at the moment. I had a Cayman off the OPC from Wed > Sat last week and quite enjoyed that - but for me I will keep the 911 faith - for now!! I'll see what the boss has planned for Saturday but I may be pushing my luck s we plan to go to Cornbury House on the Sunday. I did say plan however!!
I will let you know if I decide to go.

 

[Peter_Bull]

Collection Post Service and Sports Exhaust "" report

What great service these guys at Bolton OPC give! The technician that did my car was a fantastic guy "" Paul Correl - took me and the wife around the car whilst it was up on the ramps and explained what he had done showing us the new exhausts and other places under the car. Paul was a real enthusiast and I know he looked after the car for us as if it was his own.

Then he started the car "" wow!!! - what a sound that sports exhaust gives "" there is no way that it will be switched off "" even for the neighbours!!! I love how it quietens in the mid cruising range between 3500-4500 rpm and then comes in again. An awesome sound "" well worth the expense.

The service picked up a few items that I mentioned above and the tracking needs sorting ASAP and I hope to be able to find someone near to Preston as the OPC price was just ridiculous. It's a menu priced item at £245 (+vat ??)

Whilst the car was on the ramps in the workshop and ready to go I did asked them to fit new plastic spark plug tubes as it was quite obvious from the staining that they needed doing too. They did tell me about this when they called me the day before and would have fixed it for me, but as I misunderstood what they said to me so it was my own fault. Paul stayed past his finish time for another hour to fit them "" that is what I call service and a credit to the OPC.

One final thing.
The day before I picked up the car the service adviser called me and asked me if I wanted the car washing "" he said that Paul had noticed that I used Zymol and didn't want to wash it without my consent. No worries I said, as long as the sponge is clean go ahead. As it turned out he washed the car the day we picked it up using his own wool mitt and bucket brought in from home. Now that is not only excellent service "" but dedication too.

Needless to say a letter of commendation has been sent to the dealer principal.

All in all an expensive visit, but well worth it and overall a very pleasant experience.

 

[Diesel130]

Hi Peter,

Sounds like a great upgrade (no pun intended)! And what excellent service you received. Out of interest, when you say it quietens at 3500 to 4500, do you think it is as quiet as the std exhaust at that speed, or just quieter than itself at other speeds?

 

[Peter_Bull]

Hi Diesel
Too be honest I am not that sure - I think its almost as quiet but I only drove it straight home and into garage as it was poring done. I suspect that as its controlled by the cars computer managment system (and not just the switch) then it will be like the standard one. I need to try it some more!!!!

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

That quiet band (25-30mph??) is for noise regulations in places like Switzerland. Most people disable that feature by removing the speed sensor wire from the exhaust relay.

 

[Diesel130]

ORIGINAL: Peter Bull

... I love how it quietens in the mid cruising range

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

That quiet band (25-30mph??) is for noise regulations in places like Switzerland. ...

I see - speed related, rather then rpm related then ... So, Peter must cruise at about 28mph then !!!

 

[Robertb]

I drive mine in noisy mode on the motorway most of the time- it is not boomy at all, in fact the only reason I switch mine to quiet is when I leave first thing in the morning or driving through past houses at night (believe if or not, not everyone shares our love of flat 6 engine notes!) If you switch the bypass on and off there is a v small difference in noise level at cruise but not much- the real difference is under acceleration.

You will want to have the auto-switching relay disabled. It sounds a bit odd to me as you accelerate away when it suddenly shuts up at 30. Also, you lose the lovely over-run pops and crackles when burbling past high walls at 30ish...

 

[philippe]

I use to turn mine off when leaving early in the morning, then one of my neighbours drives his TVR with a sports exhaust which sounds like he has no exhaust at all. The Porsche system on motorways is quiet until you put your foot down and it wakes up, never turn mine off now.

I do find it a pain that it cuts out at 27Mph, if i want to disable it, can anyone point me in the right direction as to which wire to disconnect, does the switch still work??

thanks Phil

 

[Robertb]

The dash switch still works. In fact, its worth excercising the valve from time to time or it might seize open.

Sorry don't know how to disable the auto-switch, I think it involves snipping off a diode, it was done when I had the exhaust fitted.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=2470&view=findpost&p=11386

You can either snip the diode, or remove the grey/pink wire from the relay board that goes to the auspuff relay.

 

[robbosliding]

Just out of interest on the price of tyres how much did you pay for your rears?. I was unfortunate enough to get a screw in a rear tyre half way through its life a couple of weeks ago and had it plugged, it didn't seem to seal. I rang around pitting tyre distibutors against each other and eventually got 2 Continental Sport Contact 2 for £180 each all in. It pays to work them hard, they would have been happy to take £240 each!
On a plus side in the interim of the tyres arriving the plug has sealed and I've popped the new tyres on the shelf til I need them.

 

[Diesel130]

ORIGINAL: robbosliding

... and had it plugged, it didn't seem to seal. ... On a plus side in the interim of the tyres arriving the plug has sealed and I've popped the new tyres on the shelf til I need them.

Oooh errr ... not sure I'd trust my life with a dodgy plug - especially if tanking on at 130+ mph .... :-O

 

[robbosliding]

With the "over pressure" what could possibly go wrong? []

I know some people have hesitation re plugs but given the design of it I cannot see it is going to come out. I of course don't exceed our national speed limit and so therefore believe any rapid deflation would be controlable.......

 

[Diesel130]

... was thinking if you took it to Germany and/or track day.