Main seal is going again

Helen Goff · Jan 4, 2004

have a nasty feeling the main gasket seal (oil patch on garage floor under car)is going again (was only replaced a while ago)it cost me £500 last time so im really pi55ed off.

Guest · Jan 4, 2004

are you commong up to a service? I found that mine would leak just before the service was due. Probably coincidence!!

My second was done with Porsce UK picking up the bill for it (first was under warrentee). Always been OPC serviced. Do not know if this helped

Good luck
Graeme

NicD · Jan 5, 2004

absolutely Helen, stamp your feet, Porsche Cars should pick up the tab for this.

Helen Goff · Jan 5, 2004

i'll try but my size fours don't make much of an impression[&o] OPC's seem to be able to walk all over me[

][

]

JCB.. · Jan 5, 2004

I find that hard to believe!

Helen Goff · Jan 5, 2004

I think I'm intimidated by the new posh show rooms.[

][

] or do they put something in the coffee?

Mark_Bennett · Jan 5, 2004

i think im intimadated by the new posh show rooms

Me too - I hate the new "unfriendly" showrooms. Now I don't go in nearly as much as I used to.

Guest · Jan 5, 2004

Helen.

Surely the replacement work for your original seal carries a warrenty of some sort. Normally 6-12 months?

Porsche should cover this as it's possible the new seal was dammaged during fitment. As for your size 4's It's not the size that counts, it's where you kick em!!! [

]

daro911 · Jan 7, 2004

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

Me too - I hate the new "unfriendly" showrooms. Now I don't go in nearly as much as I used to.

[

]So the concept has worked perfectly and stopped the chin waggers and bodywork touchers from entering the sanctuary

Mark_Bennett · Jan 7, 2004

So the concept has worked perfectly and stopped the chin waggers and bodywork touchers from entering the sanctuary

I thought that as soon as I posted it!

Trouble is, is that REALLY what they want?
To make it so intimidating and unfriendly that no-one goes in?

I would never have bought my Boxster NEW if I had not just wandered in one day (having had a couple of 944's)

daro911 · Jan 7, 2004

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

Trouble is, is that REALLY what they want?
To make it so intimidating and unfriendly that no-one goes in?

I think they don't particulary like the petrol head type enthusiast as these potential customers often know more than they do [

] They prefer the type of customer who will just listen to the Tony Bliar type spin and pay the prices being asked without bating an eye lid[

]

evoke · Jan 7, 2004

I totally agree with you, daro. I find talking to OPC in West London a real struggle at the moment. They hate having to answer questions - especially technical ones. I'm spending a grand with them next week (12K service + new windscreen) and a Lada dealer would have treated me better!

My Boxster is my pride and joy and I've worked very hard to be able to afford it but I think that the OPC's just want people with loads of money who don't ask questions. I used to have a Merc and was treated like royalty at Greenoaks in Slough (Merc dealership). The car cost 25K....compared to the 40K I forked out for the Boxster.

It really is hard work with OPC's at the moment...

daro911 · Jan 7, 2004

ORIGINAL: rumba

I totally agree with you, daro. I find talking to OPC in West London a real struggle at the moment. They hate having to answer questions - especially technical ones. The car cost 25K....compared to the 40K I forked out for the Boxster.

It really is hard work with OPC's at the moment...

*************************************************************************
I think when a product sells itself staff arrogance comes into play before they know it. Back in the early 90's when OPC's were really struggling to survive the next proceeding 5 years or so were a pure pleasure for the Porsche punter.

Calls would be returned, servicing costs were competitive and the customer was king.

Ever since the successful introduction of the best sports car in the world and it's GT daddy 996 [

] things have been sliding backwards, customer relations wise, quicker than a GT3RS can hit the once magic ton!

Guest · Jan 7, 2004

Would it be possible to build a questionnaire on this problem. Seems more widespread than OPCs lead you to believe. The Club should be able to make representations to get a fair deal for rectification. Crankshaft seals that fail within the life of the engine are definitely defects not due to wear and tear. Seems like an applicatioin problem. Does the 996 suffer from this problem?

It is reasonable to assume that no inherent defects should appear on an engine assembly in anything less than 50K miles and more like 100K. A well treated clutch should also last at least 50K and this is a wear part (like brakes) ! For mechanical failure the usual first thing to go wrong on a Ford is the alternator bearings ! And they are working on that and it is not that prevalent anyway. An internal mole in Ford once told me that it is Ford policy to make their cars "dealerproof". viz. The dealer should never be involved in actually repairing cars. Now what an idea that is !

Can the Club´s technical Director help with this crankshaft seal problem ?

Porsche should do better.

JCB.. · Jan 7, 2004

As the Club is reluctant to press OPC's to honour the fabled 10% discount on parts I wouldn't hold out too much expectation on any muscle being flexed over real issues like the RMS leaks.

Elliot Davies · Jan 7, 2004

As the Club is reluctant to press OPC's to honour the fabled 10% discount on parts

I make sure they give me my discount [

] Ive ordered parts over the phone before and said i will be along in 10 mins, they had it there waiting and the bill printed out ready, only problem was that my discount wasnt applied.............they reprinted it and i saved myself nearly £2 [

], almost a beer down this area !!

To be fair, since using my local OPC for parts they normally have the discount applied when the bill is made out for me.........Good on ya Reading [

]

Peter_Bull · Jan 8, 2004

the fabled 10% discount

John
Its not fabled - its fact.
Surely you can remember that I have explained all this to you some time ago.

Mark_Bennett · Jan 8, 2004

Its not fabled - its fact.

Not at OPC Reading it's not.
I ordered parts at the same time as a service.
There they were itemised on the bill - but no 10% discount.
When queried I was told "Um, we only do that on over-the-counter parts" Which was exactly what these were! I just happened to order them at the same time I took the car in! It was not like they were even fitting the things.

They used to give 10% off everything, servicing as well. I always used to forget to ask for it(!) When I DO remember they come up with this.

Just another reason I'm not going there for work again.

Guest · Jan 9, 2004

I have not had much experience of the after sales service from my dealer yet, but all this sounds a bit worrying. My pre purchase treatment was excellent and after sales so far no problem. I.e Front number plate mount (you know the black plastic thing) had to replace after some nice person backed into me was less than £4. (Not fitted). Have any of you complained to H.O about the service? Have you had ant response?

Maybe they have something different in the water down in Devon or maybe I'm in for a shock come my first service. I'll let you know in due course.

Guest · Feb 8, 2004

Ordered some parts from Porsche Retail Guildford (AFN) last week over the phone and tongue in cheek asked for club discount something that has always been refused in the past and was presently surprised to be given 10% , picked them up yesterday and ordered some other bits (coffee was very good too) not to sure about the new showroom, although every one was very pleasant and helpful, perhaps they are listening or reading this !!!!!!