Independent or OPC

[Jdhughes01]

Hi All
I have a dilemma and would welcome comments from anyone who has been in the same situation.
I am fortunate to own an 8 year old, 40k mileage, 997.2 C2 which is due its major service, oil change and 4 yearly plugs change and an MOT. The car is stock and has previously been serviced by the OPC which originally sold me the car.

After phoning around the two nearest OPCs and the local UK's leading independent Porsche specialist, the price difference between the lower OPC quote and the independent for all the above work is only £183 incl VAT.

I was planning to move this and future servicing to the independent specialist but now given the relatively small price differential I am having doubts. I would still plan to get any non service repairs/maintenance ( such as the corroded tandem pump cover replacemen) undertaken by the independent.

Thoughts most welcome and appreciated.

thanks John

 

[Lancerlot]

I would stick with your PC, particularly if you're going for Extended Warranty since they will carry out the pre-warranty inspection FOC (usually £190) if doing the service at the same time. Also, the 4 years service is a significant one for 997's and future buyers will be looking for that official stamp in the service book.
Regards,
Clive

 

[ralphmusic]

If you have or want warranty, OPC.

If you want to reduce OPC cost, supply oil yourself or ask them to price match. Opie Oil have 10% discount for club members (8 litres around £60 delivered) and Costco are cheaper still if you are able to use them.

Make sure your independent has serviced similar / same model before (a bit obvious but never hurts to ask)

 

[Robin M]

Mmm never thought to ask an OPC to price match. Not sure they would though to be honest. I used to supply my own Costco sourced oil but the OPC now refuses to use it Saying it must be oil they supply.....

 

[Jdhughes01]

Thanks All
I don't have Porsche warranty (that is a whole new question!)
Price is obviously important, but my other thought was that the Independent may have more experience of servicing 8 year old cars and the particular problem areas to look for, whereas the OPC has moved on 3 generations of 911.

John

 

[Blade_uk]

Hi

They might not price match completely but im sure they will come somewhere close, especially if they want to retain you as a custome.

As Ralph has said supply your own oil & also ask for NO screen wash, thats what i do over using an indy.

plus 10% on Parts and a loan car

regards
Karl

 

[JCX]

Lucky you! I just sought prices from Silverstone and Cambridge OPCs and a few Indies to do my 8 year service on a 997.2 Turbo.

For the service, plugs, brake fluid, belt check, and 111 point warranty renewal check Silverstone wants ~£1700. Cambridge wants ~£1300 and a number of well regarded Indies want ~£750 (minus the 111 point warranty renewal check of course).

Now i have the extended insurance (warranty) and the OPCs will NOT renew if an OPC did not carry out ALL service items.

'Rock' and 'hard place' spring to mind. As does 'barrel'...

Frankly i just feel mugged by the OPC because their prices are so far over the indy prices.

I asked Cambs to price match... and they declined, very courteously.

 

[Jdhughes01]

JCX, lucky you with a 997.2 turbo. Your and my car are at different ends of the porsch spectrum, but I don't see why you should be paying so much more. I was quoted £936 for all the work excluding the 111 point check, although Clive says it might be possible to get that FOC, I will enquiry when I book it in. it may be worth phoning Wilmslow OPC for a quote and seeing if the difference is worth a trip up North.

 

[JCX]

JCX, lucky you with a 997.2 turbo. Your and my car are at different ends of the porsch spectrum, but I don't see why you should be paying so much more. I was quoted £936 for all the work excluding the 111 point check, although Clive says it might be possible to get that FOC, I will enquiry when I book it in. it may be worth phoning Wilmslow OPC for a quote and seeing if the difference is worth a trip up North.

Thanks John. Yes i am indeed very lucky. I've had a few porsches over the years but this is my only turbo. It is an absolute weapon but i can honestly say i dont enjoy driving this one any more than i enjoyed driving the others and probably no more than you enjoy driving yours.

Cambridge did throw in the 111 check but Silverstone didn't.

i hear good things about wilmslow.

 

[Motorhead]

Joe,

I'm not sue where you're located but you could try getting quote from Hatfield. They were offering a Forever Porsche package to owners of cars 4-years and over but I'm not sure that it's still in force.

http://www.porschehatfield.co.uk/about-us/2016/forever-porsche/forever%20porsche~hatfield~~newsmodel~en

Might be worth a punt but I doubt if there'll be a big saving.

Jeff

 

[JCX]

mmm thx Jeff. I may call them.

cheers

joe

 

[DrSimon]

I've just checked the link and the small print says the offer's ony open until December 2016. What a shame.
Simon

 

[Motorhead]

Chaps,

Just to say that with the 10% PCGB discount, Hatfield have quoted me £931.84 incl VAT for the 8-year major service, sparking plug replacement and brake fluid change on my Cayman S, but this includes the replacement tyre sealant at £67.43 which I've declined. Also, they carry out the MOT on the premises for the statutary maximum fee of £54.85 incl VAT.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

 

[tscaptain]

My PC quoted £1400 for 8 year service on the turbo with 10% to come off that.
I think one of the big differences between the Carrera and turbo is the spark plug change. Much higher labour charge (over £600!!)

 

[Jdhughes01]

The 8 year service @ £936 on my C2 includes changing the plugs, perhaps the difference includes changing the turbo?

 

[tscaptain]

No, it's just that they are much harder (takes a lot longer) to get at, from what I've been told. I think a turbo change might bump the price up considerably higher![]

 

[JCX]

Chaps,

Just to say that with the 10% PCGB discount, Hatfield have quoted me £931.84 incl VAT for the 8-year major service, sparking plug replacement and brake fluid change on my Cayman S, but this includes the replacement tyre sealant at £67.43 which I've declined. Also, they carry out the MOT on the premises for the statutary maximum fee of £54.85 incl VAT.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

interesting. So maybe I can save ~£70 by telling them to keep their sealant.

 

[JCX]

I think the turbo intercoolers need to come off for the spark plug change. But that's not ALL of the difference in cost. A major service with plugs and brake fluid for a turbo is 5.5 hours.

 

[tscaptain]

Hmm.. well, according to my quote the plugs are down as "additional maintenance" and not part of the major service (which comes in at £635 + VAT). The plug replacement alone is shown as £643.90 +VAT -i.e more than the service itself! Then there's the bits and bobs like brake fluid etc. Think I will get clarification on the plug price.....

 

[tscaptain]

Further to that I have just dug out my 4 year major service invoice - quite a shock! The service, including parts was £284 +VAT and the plug change was £383 + VAT. So, on that basis, the prices have risen over 50% in 4 years! And the tyre sealant, which I wouldn't use anyway, has more than doubled in price. I think questions need to be asked.....