Porsche Warranty Nightmare

geoffpfc · Sep 29, 2008

[&o] On the theme of Porsche Warranties - Have any of you folk been following the the rebuild project in the Total Porsche Mag. this is where Mark Dunsford has purchased a 996 very cheaply? and is restoring it to it's former glory, but for me the real story concerns the OPC who appear to be the villan of the piece and ably assisted by Porsche GB.
Mark does not say where the dealer is situated for fear of some litigation, but I think he owes it to all Porsche owners to let us know where the alleged despicable service is offered, so that we can give the OPC a wide berth - any ideas from anyone in the know?

Michael Downing · Sep 30, 2008

Yes, I'm following that, too.

It does make clear that there was litigation between the former owner and the OPC. No doubt the owner claimed that the OPC ran the car without oil and therefore it blew up. Presumably the OPC claimed that some other form of abuse by the owner had weakened the engine, that they ran it as they found it, and it blew up.

Unless there was a judgement in the litigation, I can't see that we can ever be in a position to distinguish between the two. In which case, it would be a little unfair to expose the OPC. I think I recognise some of the fencing in the compound, although it is fairly generic OPC style, but I'm not saying where I think it is.

geoffpfc · Sep 30, 2008

Hi Michael

One of the reasons that I have a particular interest is that a similar incident happened to me when I had an Audi with the 5 cylinder engine, I had it serviced regularly by an Audi/VW Independant and they were always conscientous, however after about a week of my wife driving it around town I took it on a 90 mile round trip and near the end of this trip I was cruising the motor way at about 95 mph, it was 01.00 hrs! when there was an almighty bang and I came to a standstill on the hard shoulder, on opening the bonnet there was a red throbbing mass where a conrod had smashed through the crankcase, when the AA arrived and we were surveying the damage we both noted the absence of any oil in the engine bay or on the road and the dipstick showed that the sump was empty, we concluded that the oil had never been put in at the service, the car had previously been treated with "Slick"oil additive, by a previous owner and they claim that an engine can be run for a period without oil, anyway the garage accepted liabilty and obtained a "short" engine and swopped over the head etc. I am under the impression that this 996 engine was run without oil in it and if the failure happened shortly after a service then I would expect a better response from any garage, it would be interesting to know what the other side of the argument is and also why the dealer did not take better care of the stored parts.

Diesel130 · Sep 30, 2008

I haven't followed this story, but I'm intreagued how a 996 can be run without oil in it when, every time you turn the ignition on, it shows the oil level on the dash ??

philippe · Sep 30, 2008

I am following the story in Total 911, quiet interesting

If someone without much care was about to road test the car i bet they just started the car without even looking at the oil level on the dash.

Phil

Richard_Hamilton · Sep 30, 2008

I haven't followed the story at all so I don't know the ins and outs but didn't someone notice the oil pressure warning light?

Michael Downing · Oct 1, 2008

ORIGINAL: philippe
If someone without much care was about to road test the car i bet they just started the car without even looking at the oil level on the dash.

If you just get in and turn the key, then the oil level check is cancelled.

I'm guessing that the OPC didn't look after the parts because they were subject to the litigation. Experts reports were mentioned in the article, so it would have been important for the OPC to be able to say that they didn't meddle with anything, but just left it entirely untouched.

Shame about the exterior condition, though.

geoffpfc · Oct 1, 2008

If they were keeping the parts as evidence how come there were parts in the box which did not even belong to this car? also if required for evidence then they should have been kept in a locked crate in a secure area, I think that the state into which the bodywork was let deteriorate is indicative of the appalling attitude of this OPC, which is why I would like them to come forward and defend their actions and then I could judge if they are a company I would entrust with my car.[>:]

Robertb · Oct 7, 2008

I've read the article and I'd love to know which dealer this is as they've treated this customer, his car and the parts in a very shabby and negligent way. For example, The car was covered in dents from where doors (of other customers' cars presumably) had been bashed into it; if that's symbolic of the respect with which they treat customers' "pride and joy" then they deserve to go out of business.

It has a grey warehouse-type building next to the compound with a yellow stripe on it if that narrows it down, and is somewhere south of Cirencester...