"Product updates"

[MarkK]

Our C4 got dropped off at Nottingham OPC today as we have been getting a warning light appearing with the 4wd logo and ABS)(since we got the car),it is all working fine(appears to be) but the lights do bug us,when i dropped it off i was imformed that they would be doing 4 product updates (recalls!!?)for free!
How cool is that, free work on a car that was built in 1990!Even though i am sure they will charge handsomely for fixing the warning light fault,that really impressed me.
MarkK
1990 C4

 

[964rh]

I had the same Mark, I just rang them and got a couple of recalls done when I popped in for some parts. one was AT07, can't remember the other. Rear spolier and something to do with the steering, no parts needed tho'.
You are brave dropping the car off at an OPC for the abs/pdas lights, from other peoples experiences it can take quite a lot of detective work trying to sort this problem. You'll have to post when you get the results.
Where abouts in Leicester are you?

Rob

 

[38F3E1]

FYI I wouldn't take my 964 to an OPC. There are some good independents in the Leicester area. Mine's in at one having a 12K service at the moment.

Ian.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Mark,

As Rob and Ian have already said - it takes a brave man to take a 964 to an OPC, particularly for something like an ABS/PDAS problem. I had an identical problem with my car when I first got it a little over 3 years ago and it took four visits to two different independents - not to mention several hundred pounds worth of ineffectual "fixes" before the problem was correctly identified (by J Z Machtech). If it helps at all, mine turned out to be badly corroded distributor caps and rotors with the odd worn plug lead. Nothing whatsoever to do with ABS/PDAS - but that just goes to prove the interactive nature of the 964 electronics!!!

I have no doubt the OPC will come back with recommendations about ABS relays, wheel speed sensors, hydraulic system bleeds, mismatched tyre sizes etc. etc. Been there, done that!!! Just get them to check the distributor caps and rotors before they start spending your money like water!!!

Regards

Dave

 

[MarkK]

Picking it up this afternoon ,they are are a great center generally and they have my Cayenne aswell at the minute for warranty work on a door seal had it for 3 days...not so bad though as i have been swanning about in one of their boxsters- 3.4 S[]They are actually very good with older cars there and have a guy especially for them,i have seen other aircoolers in there,928s,944s...OPCs have a time a place in my book.If i wouldnt have popped it in there wouldn't have had the recalls done after all,.thanks for the tips though[]

 

[jr2015]

Hi Mark, The bill will probably be as much as you paid for the car!
jr

 

[MarkK]

Er nope!,picked the car the car up last thing today a technician took me for a spin in her,no lights on the dash on the way home,they did this and the updates no money exchanged whatsover.The updates were checks on the steering shaft, a sensor of some sort,a resistor but the main one was a cover on the spoiler motor was fitted.The only comment was the clutch is heavier than it should be,but i already knew that,just want to drive i for now[]

 

[jr2015]

Hi Mark, Glad there was a happy ending.
jr

 

[MarkK]

[]Thanks!

 

[polar964]

Great to hear someone receiving top service. Better still is knowing that your 964 is in safe hands!

Regards

Paul
'Drive your passion .... drive a Porsche ...'

 

[colinb1]

This touches on a question that's given me pause for thought... I have a 1990 Carrera 4 and our OPC has a great deal on cars over 7 years of age... but I am uncertain what the level of knowledge may be on a car that's 17 years old. I am sure the technicians are excellent with the newer models but what's the feeling about older cars? Over to you! Thanks

 

[MarkK]

There are still guys working in OPCs that were around when the 964/993 was current,its a long time ago but not that long agoIUSWM,i saw the paperwork for the recalls and Porsche cars Reading was getting invoiced a fracky over 200 pounds for the work they did,they still have the parts,the knowledge and the factory backup to look after these cars from what i have seen over the past couple of days.i am maybe a bit tightfisted but free stuff is nice[]

 

[38F3E1]

My take on OPCs and 964s is this ....

If you can develop a good relationship with an OPC and the OPC in question can demostrate they have the expertise then they are worth considering. At the end of the day the quality you'll get at either an OPC or an indi depends on the mechanics in question ... there is no blanket point of view either way it has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Once you have done the 'experience' comparison it then comes down to labout cost. Some OPCs charge £100 per hour to work on 964s, some give a discount. Some independents can charge around £40 an hour and some up to £75. I have just had a full 12K service, new pads done and some electircal stuff sorted and the labour was 5 hours in total which is what I expected. At £40 an hour that would be £200 and at £100 an hour that would be £500.

Ian.

 

[MarkK]

I love a vist to an OPC for example if i need obscure trim part,i just replaced the linen gear gater for example,you can get orginal decals and bits like that,letting them have a poke around on the 4wd system proved beneficial on this occasion and i got the updates done all this for free,thats something hat only an OPC can do,when i originally got the car i wanted all the fluids and tappets doing so i know where i stood with the car maintenance wise and i took it to Promax who did a great job at a good price,but i will still use an OPC on an older car if i need help with something unexpected, especially as Porsche center Leicester is opening soon within walking distance of my workplace[]If it is slightly more expensive but saves time going back and forth so be it.My parents have a 993 that only goes to the OPC this paid off with a massive recall on the wiring loom recently,that was worth a fortune.My approach to all this is be flexible there are big benefits with both.

 

[chrism964]

I agree. Horses for courses!
The down side was the £997.45 quoted for a 24k service at my OPC in Sheffield! Needless to say I went elsewhere.
However, they have supplied endless amounts of parts that I thought I'd struggle to find for a 16 year old car and all at a price as cheap or cheaper than the mail order people (after PCGB discount).

 

[MarkK]

You just hit the nail on the head,lots of times i hear of people messing about trying to find a part for their Porsche and they don't even ask for a price at the OPC,who know their stuff,the parts are the right one,2 year warranty and are often the same or cheaper, lots of people i hear use Exeter who apparently do stonkingly good deals,Nottingham always look after me though,they had no probs finding steering componentsand a new Dashboard for my brother's 1972 911.