RMS Replacement Cost

[964RS]

My suggestion is have the RMS done and under no way agree to get the clutch done. Accept this goodwill offer before the seal goes or you may find you are fighting over something worse and a definite clutch issue. []

 

[Ian Gilmour]

I took my 2004 C2S for a free inspection at our local PC on Saturday. It is only fivemonths since it had its 4 year service during which time it has only covered about 500 miles so I didn't expect them to find anything more than the items I was told about then, which basically were rear tyres and brake disc corrosion. However, as well as those things they showed me some 'dampness' on the casing below the rear main oil seal which they said suggested that the seal needed replacing.

I wasn't convinced but allowed them to contact Porsche GB to see whether they would be prepared to make a contribution to the replacement cost. The car is no longer under warranty as it expired just after the last service but it has a full PC service history. The service manager phoned me today and said that Porsche would contribute 100% of the parts and 80% of the labour (or was it the other way round?). Anyway, it would cost me £150 to have the job done. They would replace the clutch assembly only if it was needed (car has done 28k miles and shows no sign of excessive clutch wear) at a cost of about £350. For replacing the rear brake discs and pads they would charge £510.

The RMS job seems realtively good value, but I'm not sure it needs doing and I think I could end up being convinced to shell out for clutch which I don't really need. The brakes might need to be done - is £510 a reasonable cost?

I remain a little suspicious about the whole episode. The trusting side of me says get everything done because the costs are reasonable whereas the cynical side of me says that the PC is looking for work and will exaggerate any potential fault in an effort to find some.

Overall, I wish I hadn't bothered having the inspection as I have could end up with a potential £500 bill for a car that I thought was pretty much perfect apart from the tyres.

Anyone had a similar experience?

 

[garyw]

Ian I'd certainly take them up on the RMS offer being as they are offering the goodwill, mind you they do moisten themselves However like you I think that the OPC (if they have any sense) are generating some work for themselves. I'd get a Indy cost for a clutch whilst I'm at it but I think the OPC sounds like a bit of a bargain... at least a fair few more years of care free motoring.. The brakes I'd run them until I really needed them doing.. I know you feel that overall you wish you had never had it inspected but on the upside they 'may' have found something dangerous and saved your life [] and the coffee was probably very nice [8D] Mines on the ramp tomorrow, so I may be back hanging myself later [] garyw

 

[mex99]

It's a bargain - for another couple years hassel free...I'd do RMS and clutch but hold the brakes

 

[Geoff_Fields]

I agree with mex99. The RMS will then be covered by Porsche 2yr repair warranty. Make sure you go and look at the clutch if it is suggested that replacement is required. Forget the brakes, new ones will be rusty within 5min of getting wet!

 

[adrian996]

If the RMS does need doing I'd get it done before they realise they've been too generous!! [] (Are you sure it wasn't 8% of the labour?![]) Seriously, I've not heard of a better deal from any OPC - especially on a car that's out of warranty. Just make sure that you tell them that you want to be on site when the clutch gets looked at! Try to get au fait with how the clutch should look before hand and ensure they think you know what you're talking about (even if you don't!). Any oil on the clutch should be pretty apparent if there is any (this would be due to oil contamination from the leaking RMS). Otherwise this all sounds pretty good to me - especially from an OPC and, as previously mentioned, you'll have a warranty on the repair as well! I had my clutch done when I had my RMS done (about 5K ago) and I asked to keep the old clutch and clutch plate in case I decided to sell the car privately - just so I could present the evidence as well as the paperwork that it had been done! Just a thought. For what it's worth I was told that my brake discs needed changing 3 years and 11,000 miles ago!![] They might look a bit ropey on the inner surfaces but mine always fly through the MOT - so there's no way I'd change them for cosmetic reasons!![] It all sounds comparatively very good, Ian. Best of luck! Don't forget to tell them that you want to see that clutch coming out! Don't accept one that they (might have) dragged out of a bin![]

 

[drmark]

I'd go for it - and definitely have the clutch while you are in there unless it's in exceptional condition (which I very much doubt).

 

[DSM]

You know what puzzles me? Why do the inner brake disc surfaces seem to rust on the face but the outer don't? I know the rear is shrouded but don't see how that affects things.

 

[adrian996]

It puzzles me too. Someone told me that it's because the inner surfaces take all the crud from the road as they're more exposed to it compared to the outer surfaces: ie. the outer surfaces have the depth of the wheel to 'protect' them whereas the inners don't....? If anything I would have thought that the inner surfaces would be more protected than the outers by the disc guards?![8|] Either way both surfaces get polished and generally pummelled equally by the brake pads when you brake - so you'd think that they'd be equally polished. The only other theory is that they put a better quality polished surface on the outter side of the disc...? As I say, mine fly through the MOT each year and - most importantly - they don't eat the pads up either! The car's done 21K miles and I'm still on the original pads with loads of wear left on them! (Gives you some idea of how I drive it![])

 

[yan]

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=445484 I think this circles round on a recent post from myself enquiring about a corrosion band on an inner face (thanks) - I was also baffled that the contact area was not polished.

 

[Andy Rodgett]

At the inspection to renew my warranty it was again noted that the RMS was leaking so changed and am now on seal number 3! During the assessment the technician noted that the clutch felt heavy and recommended a review which led to the pressure plate and friction plate being replaced but nil else. Like you I wondered whether this was really necessary as compared to my elderly 911SC the clutch felt comparatively light! If I had declined the clutch work would my warranty have been affected?? Hmm.... Andy ps - the pressure plate was £363.82 ex vat

 

[Big Bob]

While they are in doing the RMS, this is the ideal time to replace the clutch as they are contributing to most of the cost to get to that point. So go for it. Like others I would stretch out the brakes to a later annual service etal. Big Bob

 

[paulfcraven]

Ian, I expect you use the same OPC as I do. My car had a 4yr service last Sept and was OK except that I was told the front discs were on the limit and needed changing. I declined. On the same day as the 4yr service the local Independent dealer said they were OK. Three months later it went back to have its Porsche 111 warranty check, which it passed, and no mention was made of the front discs.Go figure! Were I in your position, I would accept the new seal at their expense.

 

[porcar]

This seems a very generous offer and I would like to know which OPC you are dealing with. I took my car for a free check just after I bought it and when on the ramp the technician showed me where the RMS was weeping. He suggested that it is a very common problem and not necessary to replace unless it started to leak (pressumably oil drips on the garage floor) and if not to have it done when I need a new cutch . I have to say that I thought that this was a problem restricted to only the 3.4 engined 996 model which I had traded up from. I did change the RMS on that one which I had done by a great independent (Charles Ivey) and they changed my clutch at the same time for just the cost of the part. Not a bad result as it had done just over 50k miles. On the next service however the OPC noted that it looked like it was weeping again (after only another 5k miles) but wasn't sure as it may have just been oil that hadn't been cleaned off from the earlier leak. I am much more relaxed about this problem now and unless someone tells me I am stupid will continue to run it as is. However if someone offered me a replacement at the price you have been I would jump at it. I will certainly ask when my car goes in next. Cheers, Paul.

 

[johnk]

in general you sound suprised that a free inspection has thrown up a list on which (suprise suprise) has a rms issue with on it... if it is only a sweat/damp is it not worth waiting till the clutch is due...

 

[Ian Gilmour]

Just got the car back after having the RMS replaced. Clutch was OK and I didn't bother having the brake discs changed. Total cost £128.80 including VAT! To make the deal even sweeter, my loan car was a brand new Boxster S (with 7 miles on the clock) which was very impressive and which I kept over the weekend as my car wasn't ready as originally arranged. All in all a good result I think.

 

[adrian996]

All in all a good result I think.

...I'll say!! What a result!!