Servicing, OPC or time for a specialist?

[koevoet]

I'm sure this has been asked before ( but I cant find it), my 981 Boxster S is now 6 years old, it's just passed 20k miles. Am I best to maintain the servicing from OPC or has the car now passed the point of that carrying as much weight? its not a financial thing, I am between OPC Edinburgh / Glasgow and Perth. But I have a specialist ( Stewart Roden ) very close by who service Ferrari or Porsche - Thoughts?

 

[ScottishSpyder]

Whilst I use Edinburgh OPC , Stewart Roden has very good rep and knows regular and exotica Porsches. I have found Brian Millar good in the past and others rate Dave Phillips. All good. With a 981 I would be tempted to use the OPC for a few years yet.

 

[koevoet]

Thanks Lawrence. I used to use Edinburgh, but since Scott moved to sales my experience has been less satisfactory, I took the car to Perth for new rear tyres due to a marked difference in communication...

 

[Wollemi]

if you have Porsche extended warranty then you have to use OPC. Otherwise a good independent especially if more convenient may be the way to go. Depends upon how much you want a Porsche as a courtesy car?

 

[Motorhead]

if you have Porsche extended warranty then you have to use OPC. Otherwise a good independent especially if more convenient may be the way to go. Depends upon how much you want a Porsche as a courtesy car?

I'm not sure that's correct Graham.

My understanding is that legally you can have the car serviced anywhere provided Porsche parts and recommended lubricants, etc., are used and that Porsche's recommended schedule of work is adhered to. Mind you, you'd have to defend your actions - backed up by documentation - if you needed to have some warranty work performed by a Porsche Centre.

Jeff

 

[koevoet]

Thanks Gents, the car is out of warranty these days, I had the usual soul searching do I don't I renew. Stewart Roden's son showed me around the workshop and the storage area, they had / have some stunning cars sitting there. The Techs are Porsche and Ferrari trained. Not fussed re Porsche courtesy car, can easily use the Wife's Disco Sport. The car sits in the garage half the year as I work overseas hence it's only just turned 20k miles after 6 years.
I was very happy with the service from OPC Perth recently, disappointed in new chap who's taken over from Scott at Edinburgh which has opened up the " I've got a specialist on my door step do I really need to ..?" question.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[Wollemi]

if you have Porsche extended warranty then you have to use OPC. Otherwise a good independent especially if more convenient may be the way to go. Depends upon how much you want a Porsche as a courtesy car?

I'm not sure that's correct Graham.

My understanding is that legally you can have the car serviced anywhere provided Porsche parts and recommended lubricants, etc., are used and that Porsche's recommended schedule of work is adhered to. Mind you, you'd have to defend your actions - backed up by documentation - if you needed to have some warranty work performed by a Porsche Centre.

Jeff

my understanding that the position which you describe applies to an original warranty as with a new car; I believe this to be EU law.

the extended warranty is a contract between you and an insurance company and they are free to set their own conditions. If you don’t like it then you don’t have to sign up. Its tough.

 

[D911ARK]

It depends on how long you are planning on keeping the car, what you hope any resale value will be etc.
You've mentioned it not being a money thing, which is fine, and if that is the case, for 6 years old, I'd go OPC and keep that dealer history, that, when yours is side by side for sale against an identical car, Im going for yours with an OPC history rather than Joe Bloggs, whose history is scattered. Also, with the lower mileage on yours, I'd argue an OPC history this will hold yours in better much stead in a furtehr 6 years.
Of course, there's also the hassle thing. Mine is going back to an OPC from recent Indy history, as A, Swindon Porsche was a better rate than the indy, B, it was closer and quicker to get to, C, it gets an OPC stamp back in the book for a Major service.

As many have said, some Indys have a reputation greater than some OPCs, but at sale time, Mr Joe Public for his first Porsche, may want OPC history.

HTH but just my two cents

Mark

 

[Peter_Bull]

Well said Mark that's a thumbs up from me too.

 

[koevoet]

Thanks to all for the replies and to Mark, a lot of sense in what you say. To put things in perspective, I'm looking at the car as a keeper - but then we all say that!- I have found the car to be a hoot to drive, and in the words of my Wife's current fave TV presenter Marie Kondo ( if you wife has not found her on netflix yet, your lucky!) " it brings me joy!" and with the way life as an enthusiast is being curtailed on our roads, I don't think I need anything quicker. I think on this occasion as its' just the intermediate service it's booked into Stewart Roden at the end of May. I'll see how that experience goes, but so far so positive.
Oh, Mark, car was bought from Swindon, one of my memorable motoring trips, collected from Rio flight at LHR by salesman, driven to Swindon OPC and collected car and drove back to Scotland, great experience and very helpful.

 

[ScottishSpyder]

Good choice. I know a guy with some serious exotica and he uses Stewart Roden for most of them. Look forward to your feedback.

 

[911hillclimber]

Just my thoughts:
I have a 2.9 Boxster, 987.2, nice simple spec car, fabulous to drive and quick enough for the roads here in the West Midlands.

Had OPC stamps until I bought it from PCT a few years back. Has 2 PCT stamps before they retired.
Considered going to OPC Wolverhampton to get the nice stamp but went to Zuffenhaus in south Birmingham for the service last year and will go back to them too next time.

Car is now 10 years old, 54K and after some work, DIY and Zuffenhaus, is as good as it will be.
Out of curiosity, I had it valued on We Buy Any Car. Com
There was only £400 between full OPC serviced car and non OPC serviced car value quoted. (£10,440 valuation best)

Tried the same with my Skoda Superb which is a 14 plate, 51K miles and full Skoda Dealer Service, same £400 difference, Factory or Indie service history.

I have found in recent years the value of factory service history makes no difference in part Ex values, it is always bottom book, and non of my cars are bottom Book condition.
A full OPC stamped book is of more value to a private buy who may not know of the Indie used, thus will not trust the stamps in the book.

 

[n8ony]

For what it’s worth, I suggest you get the menu pricing service at the OPC for the stamp in the book, and then get them to list any additional work needed, and get that done at an Indie at the lower hourly rate. Best of both worlds !!