Local Dealer Recommendation

[Balpan]

Hope this is acceptable on this forum.

I am looking to get any feedabck and recommendations for main dealers in the birmingham / Solihull region. My immediate needs are to take out an extended warranty, 111 point check etc...(2004 C4s Cabriolet) and for future use with regard to servicing. Would appreciate any feedback on the two most local to me, Porsche in Dorridge and Sutton Coldfield.

Many thanks

 

[BruceLee911]

Hi,

I can't recommend any dealers in that area, but I would suggest looking at external checks/ servicing from an independent specialist and also again independent warranty.

I spent a long time deciding on this and found two local specialist (JZM and Daniel James - both in Essex) offering mutli point pre purchase checks (in fact both places employed ex Porsche technicians), servicing costs are much lower but they have all Porsche diagnostics and use all OEM parts. They gave a full check list (same used by Porsche themselves) and even fixed a faulty cup holder (that's all they actually found wrong with the entire car!)

I used the online Warrentywise firm - much cheaper then renewing the Porsche warranty that had just expired on the 996 C4S I purchased - includes wear and tear failure and additional options such as tyres, Media etc can be added. you can take it to any garage and you can tweak the excess etc. Just a thought. Also check the max age of car that Porsche will warranty - most companies including Porsche only offer warranties up to 8 years old I think. Also Porsche insist on the 111 point check prior to the warranty and all faults must be rectified or no warranty. Another frustrating point is when I bought mine I was told the PCM2 unit had been repaired a few months before on the then running Porsche warranty. however as the warranty from Porsche had now expired the SatNav was no longer under warranty even though they had put a new unit in?? It works 100% but if a problem did happen it's less than 12 months old but not covered? All very odd.

I think a car that has gone through any manufactures warranty for body etc (e.g. 5 or 6 years old) no longer requires dealership servicing. Many local Porsche specialists are looked upon as sometimes even better, get to know you and your car over the years etc - some may disagree. And of course for piece of mind and if you have then cash then stick with the dealers. I personally have spent the cash I have saved on stuff such as on track days, complete wheel refurbs, pro car detailing etc

 

[paulus]

Balpan,

I've used OPC Sutton Coldfield a few times now for initial 111pt check & warranty repairs, servicing & tyre replacement. Great service @ the standard OPC costs, but with Club discounts on materials (except tyres). Warranty work was "painless" & obviously free of chanrge.
They're a friendly bunch & even provided a Mercedes as courtesy car while the car was being serviced (Major 48k / expensive one !)
I've not used OPC Dorridge yet - even though their only a mile away from me - as the service from Sutton Coldfield has been so good, the car had a history with them & the drive there can be fun (15 miles of winding roads if I want) !

I've used PCT @ Coventry for an alternator replacement & would also highly rate their service & friendliness / helpfulness & knowledge @ much lower than OPC labour rates. They managed to change my alternator one Saturday morning for me in less than an hour & a half after ring them late the Friday evening before.
Their not an OPC, so I'm not sure whether they're approved for servicing under the latest Porsche extended warranty terms - as I stopped paying for the warranty about a year ago when the cost went through the roof.

Hope this helps,

Paul

996 C2 Anniversary (2004)

 

[Balpan]

C4PO, Paul

many thanks for sharing your experience. I too in the past have used an independent for servicing etc... and had been very pleased (two + two in Halesowen). In this instance with a much newer car and me being older (worry more), I feel that I need the piece of mind that a warranty brings and hence OPC.

Thanks