Spark Plugs

[rodneyhj]

My 981 GTS is due for a 6-year service in January having done 34,000 miles. I bought it when it had 25,000 miles on the clock and, according to the records, the plugs have not been changed. PC Colchester advise they should be changed every 4 years and want to charge £236 for the privilege. What is the thinking on this? I know it is a requirement in order to extend the warranty.

 

[Motorhead]

Rodney,

As Colchester have pointed out the recommendation is that plugs are changed every 4-years/40,000 miles, although this isn’t part of the standard service. Personally I would get them changed if only because 6-years is long time for the plugs to be in place and it’s a good idea to make sure that they haven’t seized in position. You could always just get them reseated, but at 34,000 miles they’re quite close to the recommended replacement mileage anyway.

If you don’t want to pay Colchester’s exorbitant prices you can always find a local Independent whose labour charges probably are half those of the dealer’s.

Jeff

 

[AndrewCS]

You don`t say what service records - history you have (is it OPC ?) and what year - where you purchased ?

I`d be investigating further in case they have been done but not noted

 

[rodneyhj]

Point taken Jeff however there is the question of the potential warranty extension. It was serviced by PC Leeds in January 2020 when, according to the service record they were not changed. I bought it privately just after that.

 

[Motorhead]

Maybe I’m missing something here Rodney but I can’t understand what is your issue. Are you saying that Colchester require the plug change for the 111-point check and warranty extension? In which case:

[ol][*]Assuming an Extended Warranty currently is in place, presumably the previous owner managed to obtain it from their Porsche Centre without a plug change;[*]You might as well have the plugs changed at the 6-year service anyway for the reasons I’ve given above. If you leave it until the 8-year service you’re going to be over the 40,000 miles recommendation.[/ol]Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

It sounds like the warranty was previously extended without a plug change, which was an error. If you want to extend the warranty you'll need to have them done.

Unfortunately, you'll also have them done again in two years at the 8yr service if you want to keep up the Porsche servicing schedule and/or extended warranty...

 

[rodneyhj]

Jeff,

PC Colchester say they require a plug change as part of extending the warranty. I'm not sure about the 111-point check. It does seem as though PC Leeds let it through without a plug change at the 4-year service, something I didn't pick up on when I bought the car a month after the service. I know the warranty is in place right now as I had it transferred and PC Colchester confirmed it's valid until 20th April 2022.

I take your point though about getting them done.

 

[AndrewCS]

PC Leeds should explain why they did not do the change and pay for it now ...

 

[Motorhead]

Rodney,

You could always do as Andrew suggests and ask the question of Leeds PC but since they didn’t sell you the car I doubt that you’ll get anything from them. Caveat emptor and all that stuff! []

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

PC Leeds should explain why they did not do the change and pay for it now ...

I suspect the owner turned the "optional" work down, not knowing the implications? Not OPC Leeds' fault if that's the case.

 

[Motorhead]

Agreed Dave, but maybe only if the owner didn’t take out the warranty at the time of the service; and even then you could accuse Leeds of being insufficiency thorough.

I know it’s all about individual choice but actually I find it rather annoying that such things are optional. If something requires replacing or work needs doing at a certain time/mileage it shouldn’t be optional. Granted, it makes Porsche’s headline service prices look (marginally!) better.

Jeff

 

[John Sims]

Agreed Dave, but maybe only if the owner didn’t take out the warranty at the time of the service; and even then you could accuse Leeds of being insufficiency thorough.

I know it’s all about individual choice but actually I find it rather annoying that such things are optional. If something requires replacing or work needs doing at a certain time/mileage it shouldn’t be optional. Granted, it makes Porsche’s headline service prices look (marginally!) better.

Jeff

Interesting stuff. Son has been phoning around Porsche Centres to get prices on Servicing and the conclusions we have come to are:-

Minor service involves - Changing oil and filter, changing pollen filter, looking at some stuff, driving your car and washing it afterwards. Major service is the same as the minor service except they look at more stuff. Everything else; belts, spark plugs, other fluids, pads, discs and anything else you can think of are extras.

He wanted a Porsche stamp and a good sort out of his new car to ensure it was as lovely as it could be, new belts, plugs, fluids etc. and Porsche Centres (who are seemingly owned by the same people who own Mercedes Centres*) manged to accrue estimates IRO £4K. * Our experience with a Smart Car and Mercedes Centres meant we vowed never to own a Mercedes product again.

We agree that Spark Plugs are £250 ish. Discs and pads (not on Peters list) about £1000 per end apparently.

And what ever you do don't loose your spare key as a replacement is £350.

It took him a week to get quotes and the conclusion is "If you are asking how much then you can't afford it."

Not that this is anything of a surprise. Just because his car cost him under £15K it is no different in terms of work to a car that cost the current owner £100K. I do feel there is a degree of charging what they do because they can, and have sufficient Clients who will pay what ever asked irrespective.

 

[911hillclimber]

IMHO, get the car as straight as you can, all these bits-n-bobs sorted.

Secondly, find a good indie you can trust to be sensible and reliable and you can talk to.

They will give simple advice, transparent and justify their take on what is needed. If required, their advice can be checked on here.

I took this route after a disappointing time with my local opc and the Indie has bee good as gold. "No need for a service yet" to "Yes, time for plugs and brake fluid with the major service, sorry, it's a big one, £500 inc vat, no surprises either"

They asked me where I wanted the oil level setting on my Boxster, and did exactly as I asked, they drove the car and reported their thoughts, they did not waste my money by washing it, and they allowed me to wait while it was done.

I told them about the Euro Tour Plan for 2022, and suggested a quick visit for a look over before hand. It is a 987.2 2009 70K miles not bought from them.

Well maintained, who needs an OPC warrantee?

 

[Twinfan]

Your son needs to shop around a bit, John. Some Centres still partake in what used to be called the Fixed Price Servicing scheme whereby everything was included in the price you are quoted. Others operate more like a menu system with recommended or optional items. So can prices vary a lot between OPCs.

The key thing for me that people don't always understand is that for Porsche it's not a simple minor/major alternating service system. There are different parts that need checking/replacing at different times so each service is almost unique and prices differ accordingly:

https://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/porscheservice/serviceandmaintenance/maintenance/

Your son needs to ask specifically for the 6yr service price on a 981 plus the addition of spark plugs as they are overdue. The franchise OPCs (i.e. non-Porsche GB owned) will be cheaper.

 

[John Sims]

.... The franchise OPCs (i.e. non-Porsche GB owned) will be cheaper.

I agree with all the other points except the above. The most interest, enthusiasm and best prices have been from Reading. The only centre we have found so far that is actually owned by Porsche.

It does occur to me though that, where they are charging just shy of £200/hr a minor service gets you 2 hours or a mans time, with an extra hour for the major "service". For the same money you can get an Indie to spend a day fettling.

 

[John Sims]

The whole thing is self sustaining though. Assuming you want to maintain a warranty, or extended warranty, you have to have work done at an OPC; so the services are almost like an insurance premium. You don't want to not have a warranty because the work is spectacularly expensive and it is spectacularly expensive because they can charge like a wounded rhino as people wish to maintain their warranty.

It is a bit like pet insurance and the spectacular prices of pet care ... because it is paid by insurance.

 

[Twinfan]

Sorry John, I didn't mean to imply that all franchise OPCs will be cheaper - I just meant those that use the Fixed Price scheme.

I'm surprised Reading are the cheapest for you!

 

[Motorhead]

John,

Guildford, Hatfield, Mayfair, Reading and West London form the Porsche Retail Group. My experience of Hatfield is that they are always significantly more expensive than my other “local” Cambridge (Jardine) and Silverstone (Sytner) Centres which can only be accounted for by higher labour charges (>£150/hour +VAT?).

Incidentally, I’ve found that Cambridge and Silverstone give a (small) discount to PCGB Members, and not just on parts.

Unless your son really wants an official Porsche stamp in the service booklet, as Graham has pointed out Porsche Independents give much better value and - arguably - a better and more personal service too.

Jeff

 

[Twinfan]

If you want to run the extended warranty, you'll need to use OPC servicing. Although the plugs were missed the last time by the sound of it, my understanding is that they usually insist that the complete service schedule is up to date including the optional items and that the last service prior to renewal was at an OPC.

 

[AndrewCS]

I`ve not come across anything described as `optional` in the vehicle maintenance booklet / in discussion with OPCs

There are different levels of maintenance for the ongoing time / mileage segments, the maintenance required is clearly identified

What is being noted here as `optional` is described as `additional` in the maintenance booklet