RMS Rears its Ugly Head Again

[Ian W]

I took my 997S (just over 2 years old, 20,000 miles, serviced at 17,000 by Porsche Leeds) into Porsche Wilmslow this morning for a 111-point inspection with a view to getting a warranty on the car. I just had a call to inform me that the Rear Main Oil Seal is leaking and it's going to cost me over £800 to get it replaced! W.T.F? I thought this was well and truly sorted on the revised motor - new seal design, additional crank bearings etc.

To be fair the dealership has said they will ask for some goodwill from Porsche and has lent me a Cayman for the weekend until the work is done. They seem to be trying to help. However they tell me they can't guarantee anything (sorry for the warranty pun)! What should I / can I do to help matters along and get Porsche to stump up the labour on this one? I just can't believe this old, old problem from a previous generation car still exists.

And just to add insult to injury they want £150 to replace one of the twin-tone horns (the front PU has to be removed). How on earth can a horn prevent them issuing a warranty?

Ian

PS - Time to be self delusional - it does at least let me get my clutch renewed for parts-cost alone (whilst the gearbox is off). Back to reality - that's not a bonus, it's just even more money to Porsche. Damn, I'm starting to hate Porsche and the crappy build-quality cars again. This will definitely be my very last one - a fifteen year old Ford would be more reliable.

 

[Alex L]

Had my first 2 year service this week also.

The RMS was also leaking a little but they just replaced the seal, all under warrantee.

I had the 111-point inspection done at the same time as the service so didn't cost me anything extra. So I now have an extended warrantee for another year - although I only really need 6 months before the Turbo comes in as its replacement.

 

[THX911]

As far as I know they have not delined anyone just outside warranty (or even well outside warranty) a goodwill on RMS... at 2year and 20K your clutch should have plenty of life left, is it already playing up?

The horn is covered under extended warranty, so I guess they have to make sure it is working in the first place... One of my horn was replaced while we had a free health check at one of the club meets at the OPC and they did not need to remove my front PU to replace it or was it just the fuse they would have replaced?

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

Had my first 2 year service this week also.

The RMS was also leaking a little but they just replaced the seal, all under warrantee.

I had the 111-point inspection done at the same time as the service so didn't cost me anything extra. So I now have an extended warrantee for another year - although I only really need 6 months before the Turbo comes in as its replacement.

You don't need a 111-point check if you are continuing the extended warranty immediate after the 2 year warranty, so that is why it didn't cost you anything i.e. they didn't do the point check.

PS: if you sell it privately then that extra 6months warranty will definitely help it sell as it will be passed on with the car to the next owner...

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: THX911

ORIGINAL: Alex L

Had my first 2 year service this week also.

The RMS was also leaking a little but they just replaced the seal, all under warrantee.

I had the 111-point inspection done at the same time as the service so didn't cost me anything extra. So I now have an extended warrantee for another year - although I only really need 6 months before the Turbo comes in as its replacement.

You don't need a 111-point check if you are continuing the extended warranty immediate after the 2 year warranty, so that is why it didn't cost you anything i.e. they didn't do the point check.

PS: if you sell it privately then that extra 6months warranty will definitely help it sell as it will be passed on with the car to the next owner...

Would rather sell to the OPC than go through the lottery of selling privately. The few extra grand I would save are not worth the stress and hassle, to me at least. I will see if I can make a 'deal' though given the extra 6 months warrantee and the fact that I am spending 6 figures on a new Turbo with them.

 

[garyw]

Alex, I was similar to yourself.. as in that I traded in to the OPC to save the torture of people turning up just to drive the car etc..
I also had extended warranty that was only a month old.. they refused to give me any money back on it and said to them (the OPC) it was worthless as they would have to renew/give another 12months when they sold the car on anyway.... which is true.

I have since found out that I should of been offered a full refund as it was within a certain period and no claims were made, however I fully realise I was completely ripped of by the OPC in more than a few ways at the time...[:'(]

I certainly hope your OPC is fairer to you than mine were...

IanW, as your signature says, "A new mistress I'm just getting to know! ", well Mistresses can be expensive to have [] ..
I hope the dealer comes good and does the seal under warranty.

garyw

 

[Dylan1]

gary
once again,very useful info which i will store for 9 months time when i get to 2 yrs and am thinking of going the trade-in/turbo route
thanks

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: garyw

Alex, I was similar to yourself.. as in that I traded in to the OPC to save the torture of people turning up just to drive the car etc..
I also had extended warranty that was only a month old.. they refused to give me any money back on it and said to them (the OPC) it was worthless as they would have to renew/give another 12months when they sold the car on anyway.... which is true.

I have since found out that I should of been offered a full refund as it was within a certain period and no claims were made, however I fully realise I was completely ripped of by the OPC in more than a few ways at the time...[:'(]

I certainly hope your OPC is fairer to you than mine were...

IanW, as your signature says, "A new mistress I'm just getting to know! ", well Mistresses can be expensive to have [] ..
I hope the dealer comes good and does the seal under warranty.

garyw

OPC's shoot them all [][][]

IanW was it early 05 model - I heard noises that the early 05 models still seemed to have some RMS problems

Hope its all sorted under warranty

Again - one for me to store away for my turn at servicing/ warranty extensions plus engine upgrades or a new Turbo

 

[YvesD]

So, what isn't covered under the extended warranty then ? My two years grace is up Sept this year and if I am to keep the car, there is no way I wont be renewing it on the offchance that I wont need it.

Thats just handing a loaded gun to the OPC and saying, please don't shoot ! ( but you can if you want too )

Yves

 

[Ian W]

ORIGINAL: THX911

... at 2year and 20K your clutch should have plenty of life left, is it already playing up?

I've not had the car from new - only bought it (privately) a few weeks ago so I've no idea how the clutch has been treated before. It isn't 'playing up' exactly - it's just a lot heavier than other 997S's I've driven. My Independent (R&D Automotive in Eccles, Manchester - very highly recommended, ex-Porsche dealer trained, really take their job seriously - they've even recently invested many thousands in a PIWIS tester) tells me that a heavy clutch on 996 / 997 = time for replacement. The only other thing I never checked is the clutch booster spring. If that fails it could also account for a monster-heavy clutch.

Anyway, assuming it is the clutch plate/cover, if Porsche GB does offer me some goodwill on the RMS problem, I suppose it is a good way to get it replaced as cheaply as possible.

 

[Alex L]

Are you sure you are not compairing against the lighter clutch of a 3.6L 997?

 

[Ian W]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

Are you sure you are not compairing against the lighter clutch of a 3.6L 997?

No, definitely other S's! The pedal on mine is (hopefully 'was' by now!) VERY heavy indeed (my girlfriend could barely use the car).

Ian

PS. Is anyone aware of a TSB / recall or some other info relating to geabox cables and brackets causing poor quality changes in 1st and 2nd? I'm sure I read something about this elsewhere.

 

[Ian W]

ORIGINAL: garyw
IanW, as your signature says, "A new mistress I'm just getting to know! ", well Mistresses can be expensive to have [] ..

LOL!! [][]