A local dealer wants $1,600 for a 30K service on my '01 996 Turbo with 22K miles. Car is driven on track so I don't mind doing the service early but I do want to make sure that the charges are reasonable.

BTW, apparently the plug change on its own is $1,200.00.

 

reasonable plug job is about 4 hours labor + parts. not sure how much is ur dealer rate but seems like they charge $300 an hour...

 

plug change should be maybe $300.00 to $375 tops total

 

i think i paid $800 for my 30k service - DTLA porsche.

even the auto gallery (rip off) only asked for $1100.

 

what are you actually doing for your service? 30K mile service costs pretty close to that

 

Auto Gallery in Woodland Hills is currently running a special for $499.00 for plug change.

 

That is rediculous for a 30k service. Of course I dont know what one should costs, but if $1200 is for the plug change, they are raping you.

 

Let's see:

plugs: 6 x $7 (bosch fr6ldc or the right one..)
labor 3 hours (what I was told @ 90/h (indy)
filter, stock on amazon 26. About 30 minutes for me.
Cabin filter....has to be done just right, 3 minutes, about 25 dollars via amazon.com.
Inspections...
Not sure what else....

Oh yeah, oil change. I bring my 10 quarts....

One hour. Fine by me...I did it at home and the gusher experience was so much fun.



So, 500 max perhaps. Unless they find a problem....say they do brake work/hydraulic stuff...it could go up. I saw you at the track, you probably can do it all. The plugs are a PITA... I checked...450.

JB

 

Man, I like this dealership a lot and specifically the head tech. I don't mind paying a premium but I really don't want to be foolish about it. I may check a couple of other dealers in the area and see if this is close to market.

Certainly I can do the work myself, but I'm getting too lazy in my old age
Other than plugs it didn't seem too extensive in scope.

 

IMHO, anything over $1000 is foolish territory.

Part of the high end car mystique is this impression that snappily dressed SAs come whipping out to your car in the drive, offer you an expresso, then usher your little baby into the back where highly trained technicians will critically inspect a myriad of intricate details and then proclaim your car 'safe' and 'perfect' for your intended use of ...[pick one- hauling kids, hauling gear, hauling *** on the track]'

The truth is that a 30k service is an opportunity for this dealer to make $1000+ in pure profit: his parts cost is perhaps $150-200, labor costs 100-150 or so. They give it a quick 20 minute inspection while doing the other stuff- primarily to find other things wrong that they can then charge you for.

Next time I do my plugs I will time it. I expect two hours with a 16 year old helper to do the bumper.

GL

A

PS My estimate included a brake flush. If you track, consider tranny fluid change at 30k.

 

Although I think Ard is a bit low on some of his estimates in general I agree with him.

I JUST did a 30K service 2 weekends ago on my car and having no idea what I was doing I got the plugs done in about 5 hours. Now that I know my way around I bet I could do it in about 2.5 to 3 hours. Most dealers however will charge 8 hours for the job because that is what the computer estimates the job at. It's not a terribly complicated process. There is just a lot of sh*t to take off to get to the plugs. Then of course you have to put all that stuff back

Other than the plugs the rest of the 30K service is a joke. Checking this and that. I did it all by the book, but none of it is brain surgery.

 

Way too much!

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to make a few calls today.

BTW, I can do the work but I just don't want to. Do you know how hot it is in Texas this time of year?

Here's a picture of my old 996 cab getting a new 3rd radiator. I only had a small box of parts left when I was done

 

Couldn't be hotter than in Las Vegas....

 

It's hotter in Florida, so I cut a hole in my garage wall and installed a 15,000 BTU a/c unit, Aragon amp, DVD player and Sony XBR. I can now work in 72 degree comfort while watching the races.