Servicing Advice

[angusc]

Hi,

I have a 2006 997.1 C4S that was due its next service in February 2015, the service book is fully stamped at OPC regular / required service intervals. It has now covered 88,000 miles and while not required by Porsche service intervals, I would like to have a Major service to include brake fluid, spark plugs and the usual full oil change of Engine, Gearbox & Axles. The car has only had 2 previous owners with the last owner only holding the car for two months before selling to myself. I do not intend to ever sell this car and it will likely become a family heirloom (my 6 year old daughter is excited!).

So my question is this, would you recommend using the OPC for this major service or use an Independent such as Hartech? OPC will only do the major service but for less money at an independant I can have the major service completed plug a boroscope engine inspection and a full "engineering" report........

Thanx for any advice.
Chris.

 

[Gordon Attar]

There's no need to go to an OPC it will not effect the residual value of your car and will save you money, the only item that will be effected is the 10 year corrosion check which they probably haven't been doing anyway. Using a well known independant such as Hartech will probably be beneficial for you and the car.

 

[Stefan Wilczak]

A bit off beam as I know you have a good quote from Hartech. Always worth getting a quote in my view as you have done but I suspect it depends who the OPC is. I have just had a minor done on my 2005 car and the OPC (Swindon) was cheaper that a well known specialist nearest to me. In fact in the last year I have found this to be the case for an intermediate oil change as well. I get the feeling they like to see my car back as it has been serviced by them since new! They also give a PCGB discount.

I think the main dealers for all sorts are sharpening their pencils - I am about to pick up my Golf which is having a major and belt change £650 from VW and £850 from a local workshop. No brainer really.

 

[Tamer]

My 2005 997 was serviced by Bristol OPC last month and despite original quote of 550 incl VAT, I came away with a £820 bill for a Major service. The experience was faultless with very friendly staff at Dick Lovett in Cribbs Causeway.

I chose main dealer purely to retain full Porsche Service History hence residual value (although I note comments suggesting this is not necessarily the case) The extra costs crept in with the added Clutch oil change, Gearbox Oil Change and what I thought was a bargain; timing belt change for an extra 60 something pounds.

My budget didn't stretch to having a few other 'would have liked to' extras like new sparks, ignition coils and rusty exhaust clamps and bolts as I was quoted well over £400 for the set of bolts alone

If I'm to hold on to my pride and joy, I seriously need to consider a workshop of my own and some basic tools but this isn't economically viable for the sake of maintainining 1 car, even though storing my spare tyres somewhere would be a bonus.

I know that in the aviation business, people co own aircrafts and share maintenance costs and timesharing the aircraft provides access to more than the co owners could afford individually.

Does anyone at PCGB know of such a collaboration / group? Or interested in forming a shared ownership / access to such a workshop facility ? (I'm in R16 region) If there was 10 to 15 of us this could save us all a lot of money in the long run and we could all get more intimate with our vehicles