Warranty renewal - Rev range 4
- Thread starter Oggy
- Start date
Are there any reviews out there (sorry if I have missed something obvious...) about alternative warranty covers? I am not entirely averse to renewing my warranty with Porsche but if there was suitable competition I would definitely consider it, somewhat sparked by what I view as undesirable service experiences commented on here and elsewhere. My view is that the independents are just as good if not better than the OPCs for service, let alone costs - many of the mechanics are Porsche trained technicians, i.e. they are not unfamiliar with the vehicles, and if the experience is anything to go by from the 997 trip to Autofarm a year or two back, enthusiasm coupled with pragmatic advice, might be preferred by some to hearing the hard-line mantra that the manufacturer decides on service levels, not the dealer from whom you purchased the vehicle. I made a few calls to independents but so far I sense the focus is on warrantying cars for sale although some suggestion of working something out. JZM have a package (price quoted at 995/a for a TT) but I await the detail of what is covered etc. so not sure if like-for-like yet - the Porsche warranty also comes with a european breakdown package: not sure if that is a crunch point although makes things easy that all in-one.
Problem is that not all OPCs are created equal. In my own experience I wouldn't take mine anywhere else. Do the independants all have the latest software for the cars? Doesn't matter much on the older models but the newer cars......... There has been the odd thread on non-Porsche warranty schemes but I can't recall any being that much better/cheaper. A search might bring something up (but I wouldn't hold your breath!)[
]
What’s the software for? Maybe I’m out of touch with the detail but if I want the brake fluid and oil changed I don’t need software (apart from to reset the service interval counter). On a related note if I haven’t done a lot of miles I might not need to change the plugs. Independents volunteer this advice and the onus is not on the customer to work it out (or even know to ask).
This seems to be the key problem: if there isn't any competition customers are cornered, that is for those who want a warranty... If anyone has experience of alternatives, even if via a vehicle purchase, it would be interesting to hear more...ORIGINAL: tscaptain There has been the odd thread on non-Porsche warranty schemes but I can't recall any being that much better/cheaper. A search might bring something up (but I wouldn't hold your breath!)[
Just about every system on your car and it gets updated by Porsche. When I had the exhaust gas sensors changed on mine as part of a campaign it was plugged into their computer for about an hour while updates to the ECU and PDK were installed. However, we are all free to take our cars where we like to keep them maintained, whether to extend warranty with Porsche, some other company or not at all. Clearly your OPC does things differently to mine though.[
]
The OPCs only update software when they are told to do so or have a problem – I don’t think you get software updates as part of the service? Maybe because it takes quite a while to effect changes… In fact whenever I have taken software updates (guinea pig) problems have ensued, i.e. I now treat them with a no thanks unless there is a good need, e.g. service campaign. I feel sorry for the mechanics who are pressing buttons to execute the software changes, they don’t seem to have a back-out facility, and when things don’t work they call Reading who have little idea either except to unhelpfully advise that it works on their vehicle but no longer on yours, who then call Germany who have to get the code book out… A service manager told me about a Porsche which arrived in the UK for prep., mechanics ran a software upgrade and the whole vehicle was rendered dead requiring many hours on the telephone to Germany to re-start. To me that begs questions about the quality of the software… Apparently BMWs used to be like this… I am looking forward to understanding how different the 991 is in this respect…
marlin
New member
Hi Oggy, I wrote a rambling note which I have trashed, bitterness is a bad thing. Enough to say I was treated so badly by Porsche UK and the dealer I will not be a returning customer . As you say the cars are fantastic however I didn't drive mine for many weeks I was so gutted by the whole sorry saga. Don't get me wrong I am no shrinking violet and been in business going on 45 years but having my integrity brought into dispute was a experience that is not going to be repeated. []
]
keithpms
Guest of the Club
I've just had my gen 1 turbo in for its warranty renewal check only to be informed they have discovered a category 4 over rev and so Porsche Cars UK are insisting on the usual compression checks, oil sample etc (at a "reduced" cost to me of £400) I've owned the car from new and it has 515 hours on the engine; the cat 4 over rev apparantly being at 220 hours. Assuming there is a correlation between engine hours and mileage (and on the basis that there is no other way of guestimating), it appears the over rev occured three years ago at or about the time of the car's 2 year service. I know for a fact that the OPC checked for over revving at warranty renewal on the last two occasions (the current one being the third), as they specifically told me there were no over revs recorded (which I now take to mean no over revs in the then unacceptable ranges; presumably 5 & 6). I note Gary is confident that now he has had his compression checks done and warranty renewed that is the end of it. However has anyone on here received an assurance from Porsche (OPC or UK) that they will not have to go through the same costly procedure each year. My worry is that even if I drive very very very carefully this year to make sure there are no over revs, the cat 4 over rev from 3 years ago will always appear at the annual warranty renewal check and give Porsche the chance to demand yet further costly compression checks (on the basis that the engine could still be compromised). My OPC has been unable to reassure me...... Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Oggy
New member
Hi Keith, Welcome to the overrev club [] I asked exactly same question and was assured by my OPC that as it was now on record that my engine has been checked out for this overrev incident, it would not necessitate any future checks. However, any overrevs after engine hrs of my compression test obviously would. Seems fair enough (providing it actually works out this way....will let you know in Nov !). This policy seems crazy to me ??? I wonder if ANY Turbo / GT3 engines have shown damage (or failed to be granted warranty) after a Cat 4 ??? If not (or if very low %)...surely it makes sense to move the threshold to a 5 and therefore save upsetting otherwise loyal Porsche owners....just a thought [8D]
] I asked exactly same question and was assured by my OPC that as it was now on record that my engine has been checked out for this overrev incident, it would not necessitate any future checks. However, any overrevs after engine hrs of my compression test obviously would. Seems fair enough (providing it actually works out this way....will let you know in Nov !). This policy seems crazy to me ??? I wonder if ANY Turbo / GT3 engines have shown damage (or failed to be granted warranty) after a Cat 4 ??? If not (or if very low %)...surely it makes sense to move the threshold to a 5 and therefore save upsetting otherwise loyal Porsche owners....just a thought [8D]
keithpms
Guest of the Club
Thanks Doug, I may just ring Porsche Cars in the morning to see what they have to say. It seems to me that they moved the goalposts last year (from cat 5 to cat 4) for no reason other than collecting more (easy) cash from customers who have no other option. What really annoys me is I genuinely do not believe I have ever significantly over revved the engine.....
keithpms
Guest of the Club
I have spoken to customer services at Porsche Cars UK who in turn have discussed with their "technical people" and sent me an email stating that as long as there are no further over revs in ranges 4-6 additional compression checks will not be needed next year. Gary, when you say you know when you achieved a 4, do you mean journey or actual event? If the latter, was it on an upshift or down shift?
garyw
Moderator
I was late on a upshift whilst travelling down hill, that is the only time that I felt it could have happened and the timings of 8 hours ago suggested that may have been the instance. At the time is was just like a normal instance of hitting the limiter but as said I feel the additonal momentum going down hill 'may' have just caused the over-rev. garyw
keithpms
Guest of the Club
I'm still confused over how a category 4 over rev can be achieved on an up shift, even if running downhill, unless they set the rev limiter too high. I recall my Porsche Experience Day at Millbrook where I was instructed to deliberately hit the limiter time after time comparing the effects in and out of sport mode. Heaven help anyone who subsequently bought those cars! I will keep quiet now until the results are in and Germany have made their decision. In the meantime I will drive the courtesy boxster like an invalid carriage. The turbo will be treated as a Gt in future rather than sports car. Gary, were you given any paperwork showing the results of the compression tests etc that you had paid for? It would be nice to have them for the cars history file (and minimise deductions on trade in/sale).
Warranty is NOT invalidated by track use, in my 997 GT3 there is even a section to tell you how to set it up for track use. Please correct this inaccuracy.
I was struggling to find which post said it was - and eventually found one by NickUSA. Needless to say the (extended) warranty document is suitably weaselly worded in that under the "What is not covered" section it says "There has been improper use or overstraining of the Vehicle including,but not limited to, use of the vehicle in speed-timed events or competitive motorsport events........ Make of that what you will.
I make it to cover track days since timing is not allowed and it's only competitive on the internet afterwards ! Still, I agree in part with you in that Insurance Companies will do everything to worm out of a claim sometimes.
Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members
Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions
