Reading OPC - special offer

[jdpef356]

Looking forward to you reporting back on your experience.

 

[matthewb]

I was contacted recently by AFN Reading OPC with an offer ...

All cars over 7 years old are in the "7 Year Club", which offers -

"¢ 15% off parts.
"¢ £75 per hour labour "" reduced from £145 per hour.
"¢ Bulbs and wipers free fitting (parts extra).
"¢ Free monthly car wash "" by appointment "" weekdays only.
"¢ Free annual MOT.
"¢ Free annual health check.


She's going in on Monday for three days (ish) maintenance work and then an MOT - with a courtesy car (a VW Golf Automatic, I think).

Not bad.

 

[matthewb]

Will do, John. I do have a wonderful indie but every now and again she needs to go to an OPC. Too many little things that need a different touch, if you know what I mean. I know that OPC labour can be expensive (if you're not on the '7 Year Club' plan) but the courtesy car and the fact that their size gives them flexibility can be very useful. Cardiff OPC were wonderful when my exhaust fell-off a couple of years ago (I live near Reading). And surely the '7 Year Club' shows they care about us - just a little - maybe. M

 

[clyde]

Is this a Porsche GB or Reading PC initiative Matthew?

 

[matthewb]

Good question, Clyde. You know, I was so stunned at the offer I forgot to ask - but since putting the phone down I have wondered if the offer's UK wide. I suggest everyone calls their local OPC and see if the offer is available and whether or not it's the same everywhere.

 

[clyde]

I'll try and remember to phone Edinburgh PC tomorrow

 

[Christopher I Ralph]

Hatfield PC charges £75 ph including VAT, and one obviously gets the 10% membership discount, sometimes more can be negotiated. This was for the 993 but presumably will cover all 'old' models.

 

[Gordon Attar]

ORIGINAL: matthewb Will do, John. I do have a wonderful indie but every now and again she needs to go to an OPC. Too many little things that need a different touch, if you know what I mean. I know that OPC labour can be expensive (if you're not on the '7 Year Club' plan) but the courtesy car and the fact that their size gives them flexibility can be very useful. Cardiff OPC were wonderful when my exhaust fell-off a couple of years ago (I live near Reading). And surely the '7 Year Club' shows they care about us - just a little - maybe. M

Matthew OPC special touches usually involve big bills, the guys round at Northways(£60/hour) are far more experienced on 993 than Reading. Though a free courtesy car and free MOT are obviously a plus point but you would get your car back in a day.

 

[szklarek]

Yes the guys at Northway's really know their stuff. I bought my 993 (used) from Reading OPC and had it serviced there whilst still under warranty. After that I started using Northway's, where incidentally the technician who often works on my car was the same guy who serviced it at the OPC. I've been using Northway's for well over ten years and never regretted it neither has my wallet! It's not that I was particularly unhappy with the OPC the decision to move was based on cost and the expertise of the Northway's guys.

 

[matthewb]

Well - here it is folks - the list of work done by OPC Reading AFN - A grand total of £3118 including VAT. The special offer is officially known as "Forever Porsche Tech 7+". There is a similar (though not as generous) plan for cars over 4 years old - unsurprisingly it's called "Forever Porsche Tech 4+". There are some very nice leaflets available for these programmes but there doesn't seem much on the web. The car was in for 8 days (including weekend) - there was a lot of work to do and there were difficulties getting some parts quickly. Never mind - I had their Golf 2.0 TDi with double clutch and flappy paddles the whole time. Such fun. The technician assigned to my car was a nice young lad. He's worked at several classic restorers before joining Porsche - couldn't believe mine was on 165k. He loves the classic Porsches, and it showed - he obviously took great pride in the work he'd done. He spent over an hour with me, putting her on the lift and taking me through each item thoroughly. He thought the T-Light HID conversion and Carnewal Front Protection Bar were very elegant solutions. I haven't had a chance to give her a proper thrashing yet but she does feel great. Snag-list as given to Porsche - no VAT MOT • Expires soon Passed - flying colours. £0 Brake Fluid Change • Last changed 4 years ago - should be every 2 years. Now slightly firmer but nothing dramatic. £63 Differential Oil • Check oil in Wavetrac LSD is OK. OK. £0 Gearbox Oil • Check gearbox oil is OK. OK. £0 Passenger Window • Rattles when not fully-up and driving over rough ground. Concerned that something may be coming loose/undone. Not resolved - but have been offered another look gratis. £0 Rear-Screen Heater • The light illuminates on fascia but rear-screen doesn’t de-mist. Contacts broken-off under rear-shelf. Fixed. £113 Driver Seat-Cover Clips • The clips that hold the leather cover onto the seat don’t stay in place. 993.507.526.01 Fixed. So pleased. £114 Air Conditioning • Produces colder air than ambient but on a hot day it really struggles to bring the temperature down. It also smells a bit. A third of the gas had leaked (over many years) - re-gassed. Not been hot enough to really test but I think it's better. £146 Cigarette Lighter • Replace cigarette lighter with new one (supplied). Fixed. £23 Headlights • One side’s alignment had needed adjusting ‘all the way’ by local MOT/light shop. Find out why and fix. • Check both headlamp ‘levelling’ motors operating correctly (they both ‘work’). • Note – I have fitted the Bergvill T-Light HID upgrade. Reset. Fixed. Local MOT/light shop had adjusted them incorrectly. £75 Porsche Classic Radio Navigation System with TMC and 'PORSCHE' logo - 911.645.191.00 • Reception is very poor. • Can’t get TMC feature to work. Re-laid aerial cable under dash. Fitted cable that was un-plugged. Much better reception. Haven't fully tested yet. £0 Sunroof • Press the open button, the sunroof motor starts and it opens a crack - but that's it. When I press the close button, the sunroof motor starts and it closes completely. Deflector gubbins had broken and bits were jamming the rails. Fixed. £179 Geometry and Suspension • Check everything’s square (ball joints, bushes, top mounts) and set-up correctly. Geometry check and tweak - not too badly out of whack, considering. Now set-up as RS spec (KW v3 coilovers allowed this) - hadn't actually requested this but the engineer thought I'd appreciate it given I was more speed than comfort. £163 Annual Service 48k • See appended Done. Changed all 12 spark plugs - discovered that "the difficult 6th" was different to the other 11 - it's hidden under the air-filter and air-con, apparently. Someone sometime got lazy, I guess. £746 Extras - spotted in addition to my snag-list - no VAT • Replace o/s headlamp vent pipe (ripped off) Done. £9 • Replace both broken front brake air ducts Done. £58 • Replace corroded exhaust, cat and heat-shield fittings. Done. £511 • Fit new front tyres. Still legal 2.5-3 mm but winter's coming - also necessary for geometry check. Done. £327 • Headlamp washers not working. Fit new relay for headlamp washers. £75 • Driver's seat - one electric control not working. Connection had worked loose. Fixed. £0 • Health check. OK - I'd hope so given this lot. £0 • Wash and vacuum. Done. £0 48k Service Fault code analysis of diagnostic system Replacement of engine oil using Porsche recommended Mobil-1 0W-40 oil Air filter: Replace filter element Anti-pollen filter: Replace filter element Check condition and tension of the V-belt or Poly-rib belt Visual inspection for leaks: Oils and fluids Crankcase ventilation: Check tightness of hose connection Fuel system: Visual inspection for damage, correct position and tightness of connectors Intake air system: Check hoses, lines and connections for tightness Handbrake: Check free travel of handbrake lever Brake system: Visual inspection of brake pads and disks for wear Brake hoses and lines: Visual inspection for damage, correct position and corrosion, check brake fluid level. Clutch: Check play or final position of clutch pedal Throttle valve actuation: Check ease of movement and full throttle position Resonance flap and varioram: Check operation Steering gear: Visual check of bellows for damage Track rod links: Check play and dust caps Power steering/clutch: Check fluid levels Axle joints: Visual inspection of dust caps for damage Screw connections of suspension adjustment system: Check for tightness front and rear Drive shafts: Visual inspection of sleeves for leaks and damage Exhaust system: Visual inspection for leaks and damage Tyres: Check condition and pressure Door hinges: Lubricate Check door, lid locks and safety hooks on front lid for tightness and operation Safety belts: Check operation and condition Seals for doors, compartment lids and roof: remove abraded rubber and apply suitable lubricant Check operation of vehicle lighting; all headlights: check setting Horn: check operation Windshield washer: Check fluid levels and nozzle settings; in the winter months top up with anti-freeze as necessary Check operation of all other electrical equipment as well as indicator and warning lights Check operation of ignition circuit 1 and 2 Replace oil filters Toothed belt for power steering: Check condition Replace spark plugs

 

[matthewb]

Hi Gordon I'm sure Ray and co are smashing chaps - I've certainly not heard anything detrimental. But I try to show a degree of loyalty - no one likes a tart - so I treat my Porsche technicians like I treat my wife, i.e. I don't stray often but when I do I've got a good reason. I have detailed my 48k "Forever Porsche Tech 7+" experience on this thread. Best M

 

[JB 3.2]

Thank you for posting the details of work done, very interesting read.

 

[matthewb]

Thanks for being interested. It took a while to put together so it's nice to know someone noticed

 

[Wozy]

Those prices ex VAT look pretty good. I know Northway (I used to have my 964 serviced there years ago) however like old Alfas I used to own, sometimes the official channels were no more (and sometimes less) then the Indy. Always worth a cross quote. FYI. Swindon also a discounted rated for 'older' Porsche. PS Anyone been to Tewkesbury OPC yet? Some lovely older and very rare 911s sat in the showroom. Top people also, made me very welcome when I had the geo on my 993 reset.

 

[Motorhead]

ORIGINAL: matthewb The special offer is officially known as "Forever Porsche Tech 7+". There is a similar (though not as generous) plan for cars over 4 years old - unsurprisingly it's called "Forever Porsche Tech 4+". There are some very nice leaflets available for these programmes but there doesn't seem much on the web.

Yes Matthew, the offer is available at all Porsche Retail Group outlets, including Hatfield where I booked my 5-year old Cayman in for its (complimentary) MOT last Thursday. Unfortunately, owing to an administrative error, the technician was excluded from the appropriate site when he tried to login so no MOTs could be conducted that day, mine being the first. The embarrassed service rep was about to offer me a free MOT as compensation until I pointed out that it was complimentary anyway. A wasted morning but at least the free MOT will help offset the fuel costs for the 80-mile round trip. Sounds as though the work carried out on your 993 was at a bargain price compared with that charged for "modern" Porsches at the PCs. Jeff

 

[matthewb]

Hi Jeff I'm certainly not feeling ripped-off []