A took in my car to the dealer for an oil change. Much to my dismay I am told my 2012 991 (19k miles) needs front and rear brake rotors for $1700 and also a clutch for $3246! I have never heard of any car, much less a new Porsche, needing a clutch at 19k miles. Mind you I never abuse the clutch so I am shocked at the diagnosis., They said there was "clutch dust" all over the engine compartment and air filters. Has anyone else had a similar diagnosis? Mine is a base 3.4 liter car, 7MT.

 

Wow. Sounds fishy to me. Did you inspect your rotors? Do they look worn? Do you notice any "clutch dust" in engine compartment? All that work at 19K miles seems a bit unbelievable. Maybe get a second opinion.

 

I am absolutely getting a second opinion. I did get the oil done and I asked them to replace the air filters too and to my shock those were $434!! Have I landed in the twilight zone? Is there something special about a $30 air filter that makes it cost $434 in a Porsche?

 

Sounds "fishy" to me as well based solely what you describe.... but honestly on an MT car you can destroy the clutch regardless of miles -- it is not impossible to do at mile 9 or 19000. There isn't a prevention mechanism or anything to idiot-proof the clutch. On the other hand, the PDK is apparently built to withstand repeated abuse, and is a replacement item when it does go.

However, destroying a clutch AND all 4 rotors at the same time is very suspicious!

Clarifying questions:

1. Are you the first owner?
2. Any track, DE events?
3. Are you sure others haven't driven your car hard?
4. Have you confirmed that in fact the "dust" is clutch?
5. What is the diagnosis on the 4 rotors? Warped? Cracked?

The combination of brake and clutch replacement is totally a red flag that a car has been launched and stopped hard, if not just driven very aggressively. Since you don't seem to be saying you did that, and are surprised by this, then either 1 or 3 above must have happened?

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

I am the original owner. I have valet parked my car several dozen times which was probably a mistake. Against my better judgement I let my 17 yr old nephew attempt to drive my car for about 5 minutes about a year ago but surely that is too short a time to damage a clutch. The rotors are not "destroyed" but I do have an audible brake squeal. The dealer said my rotors have "formed a lip". I am just aghast at the $435 air filter cost.

 

For me, oil change and oil filter alone is $350, so actually am not that surprised at the the $435 for oil change, oil and air filter. Nothing special about any of the filters, just part of the Porsche tax. And no - you have not landed in the Twilight Zone, you have landed in the Porsche Zone.

 

they wanted $435 ONLY for the air filter replacements!

 

Those have to be engine air filters. Still a rip off, but they do have to remove the rear bumper to get to those.

 

I suggest that you find a new dealer and perhaps filing a warranty claim for the clutch and rotors

 

I was waiting at my dealer to finish my oil change this week when I overheard a service adviser talking to the owner of a Cayenne, he wanted to "clean the bugs and cigarette butts out of the radiator" for $560 !!

 

I have valet parked my car several dozen times which was probably a mistake. Against my better judgement I let my 17 yr old nephew attempt to drive my car for about 5 minutes about a year ago but surely that is too short a time to damage a clutch.

Winnah! Winnah! Chicken Dinnah! There's your answer.

My Aston Martin Vantage (Manual trans) needed a clutch at 4,800 miles on the odo, a scant 40 days after I bought it from the AM dealer. Prior owner didn't know how to drive a manual. That was $ 6,000 on that car but the dealer agreed to pay half since I had only owned it a a little over a month and put 500 miles on it. A clutch CAN be destroyed in short order.

The rotors are not "destroyed" but I do have an audible brake squeal. The dealer said my rotors have "formed a lip".

Rotor squeal has nothing to do with rotor wear. There is a spec for the rotor thickness, and if its below that spec you need new rotors. Brakes and rotors are consumables on high end sports cars, that shouldn't shock you. Toyotas they are not.

I am just aghast at the $435 air filter cost.

Have you see the air filters on a 991? They are not $ 30...and the rear bumper cover has to come off to change them, so its a couple hours shop time.

Welcome to the world of Porsche!

 

30 minutes tops to change the air filters.

 

Plus one.

 

Are we talking cabin or engine?

 

Engine

Cabin under frunk about 30 seconds
Cabin in car about 5 minutes