Should "Captain Slow" pay ?

[paulbox]

I have just read James May's column in this weeks Telegraph which is focusing on Porsche Boxster brake corrosion. Following 20 months ownership his brake discs have been diagnosed as being corroded and all four need changing at only 9000 miles.

Is this a common experience or will it be down to James's infrequent gentle driving style?

At the end he asks "Should I pay or fight?". What do you think?

Paul

 

[oliver]

He should have them skimmed (they'll be plenty thick enough).

And, he should use it more often.

 

[THX911]

It is probably store in a non-heated/non-ventilated garage; it would be better off in the open where the moisture gets carried away by wind movement... Cold garages and leaving the car stored in them after a wet drive or a wash seems to be the main cause...

 

[TJW964]

He used to park his Jag about 6 miles from his house and cycle there.
Perhaps he has moved to a house with a garage since then (that was one of the first top gears he was on).

At least one of them owns a Porsche. I know some of the presenters from Fifth Gear do as well (pics at Ace Cafe).

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: TJW964

He used to park his Jag about 6 miles from his house and cycle there.
Perhaps he has moved to a house with a garage since then (that was one of the first top gears he was on).

At least one of them owns a Porsche. I know some of the presenters from Fifth Gear do as well (pics at Ace Cafe).

Think Hamster has several Porsches in his collection and recently got the 997 Turbo... The photo at Ace (below) was of Tom Ford and that was a press car he had for a week or so; Jason Plato has a 997 turbo too...

James May lives in or near Chiswick...

 

[John Maddox]

I don't think James should have to pay. I think to be charged £1000 + for discs when a car has done less than 9000 miles and still under warranty is not on. Unless a car has been abused it should be covered imho.

 

[paulbox]

Should I budget for disks at my first (987) service? What are other peoples experiences of needing to replace disks?

Paul

 

[gdavison]

We have never kept a Boxster longer than 3 years .. (dont ask why.. its a 3 year change car thing) ....... all have been low milegae "garage queens".. All have had the car wash .. stick in garge treatment and within those 3 years we have never had any "warning" on disk corrosion during a service

 

[Black80XSA]

ITs worth finding a friendly exhaust centre of service bay that will let you put your car up for 10 minutes at the end of the car - its the only way you can see the inside faces of the discs for yourelf - well worth £10 of anyones money prior to taking to the OPC for a service.

The corrosion seems more prevalent on the cross drilled discs - my old 986 2.7 never seemed to corrode even when washing the car. My 987S discs go brown at the first sign of moisture - wear and tear item for sure, but if only 1mm or less has been worn away, and the corrosion is pitting to a level deemed unsafe by the OPC, then they should be replaced under warranty. I know a few people who managed this on low mileage 986S models.

If they won't stump up, then he should get them skimmed.

Another OPC scam !

 

[glewis]

This is definitely a problem on Boxster disks, (particularly the cross-drilled ones on the "S"), and has been the topic of another on-going thread on the forum. (Do a search for "Rusty disks").

My advice is use the car regularly, always take it for a run round the block to dry the disks after washing and when they do eventually corrode, consider having them skimmed, as I did - it will save you a bundle. (www.autotune-tvr.co.uk offer this service, as do a company in Birmingham and another in Bedford).

If you keep the car long enough for the disks to corrode again, you can then have them replaced at an independant garage using genuine Porsche disks, (available from www.eurocarparts.com for about £95 each).

As for Captian Slow's dilema, I'm sure his local OPC will tell him that disks are a wear and tear item and therefore not covered by the warranty, but given his ability to give Porsche adverse publicity, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't offer skimming or new disks as a goodwill gesture.

 

[Mark Elder]

My answer: Fight. He has the power to cause a big fuss and debate and get some responsibility back into manufacturers.

While I accept that disks are a "wear and tear" item, corrosion is NOT a wear and tear issue. The wear and tear on disks is about WEAR, not about sitting around ready for use and just dissolves of its own accord.

It is an O?C scam (not not Porsche)

 

[peterfrost]

I don't think he'll get anywhere-as its derived from his use.
As you say a skim should sort.
I had 2-986 S's and are just about to get a 987 S and as long as theyre braked dry and garaged it was never an issue-I think the manual covers this.
I think you'd get away with street parking but only if used daily.
As for making a fuss-if Richard -Top Gear producer had to buy another Cayman because of unresolved issues with the first-what hopes there for the rest of us.
Its a business,there's no goodwill left.

 

[pearj1]

I got caught out on this one too when I had my car serviced by a local independent before Christmas. The car, an S was 5 years old and had just done 22k, but was/is stored in a non-heated garage. I'd been warned at the time I had the MOT done that there was corrosion on the insides of the disks, but that garage felt it would clear with some hard braking. Clearly not. I never experienced similar issues during 7 years of owning an old SC, so was a bit disappointed (mild understatement) to get hit for four replacement disks!

 

[Guest]

2 other stories in same issue of DT in Honest John column re bad OPC experiences including a 911/996 with various warranty issues