Sorry for the 6yr hiatus but that's what 3 kids in 6 yrs will do to a man. Just picked up a new panamera turbo this week and dropped off my '03 996tt for some maintenance at the dealership

Besides being stuck with $2800 bill to replace the rear spoiler leaking cylinders(actuators), they are recommending little stuff here and there but the big one was to change the plugs for $1000. Does this seem on par? And necessary? Car now has 35K on the clock and gets driven about 1000 miles a year at most. I don't notice any issues but guess I don't drive it enough to notice

And yes I used to do a lot of my own maintenance and mods but now time is so precious that I'd rather be with kids, family or friends and pay someone else at this point in my life

Thanks for any recs

 

$1000 for plugs is WAY too much, even if it includes new coils.

IIRC, the procedure is:
- remove rear bumper
- remove a few bolts and drop some heatshields
- bend some other heat shielding out of the way
- remove coils/plugs, and reinstall

If you have the OEM muffler setup that might need to come off too for access.

Definitely not $700 in labor. New coils should cost about $250 and plugs are ~$30

Edit: Just to give you an idea of what I've had done for ~$700 in labor...
- coils, plugs
- all 4 O2 sensors
- boost leak testing (replace check valve)
- transmission oil flush
- window regulator and door latch replaced
- fuel filter
- motor mounts
- replaced coolant tank

 

2800$ for the spoiler is about par for the course. There is a post a couple days old at most from a guy that repairs the spoiler. You might want to check this one out.

Coils and plugs are part of the 30k miles maintenance. 1000$ for plugs is abusive. I bought 997tt coils and plugs and had them changed by my mechanic (along with new diverter valves), it took him a couple hours at most. Way less than 1000$. But if done at Porsche dealer, that sounds like regular abusive fees Porsche will charge.

Shop around.

 

Guy just bought a new Panamera Turbo, I don't think he wants to sift through the DIY threads on this forum.

OP I would find a good indie shop in your area and get all work on the 911 done there, no need to bring that car to the dealer anymore.

 

Yep I realized that after I posted. I thought the guy was "repairing" spoilers are not posting a DIY. My bad.

For a 996TT that gets driven 1000miles, I'd just use the stand offs (or whatever they call the device that keeps the wing in the up position). The thing is, the spoilers fail on cars that are not driven. If you use the car a lot, it seems like the spoilers tend to last longer. If the OP pays for a new spoiler hydraulics, chances are the system will fail in the near future. Seals like to be used some and sitting cars don't get the oil moving. Seals dry out and start failing.

I wouldn't pay for the spoilers if I didn't plan on driving the car much.

 

I pulled the plug on my spoiler and it just stays down. It's less distracting in the rear view mirror too.

 

You can get your complete spoiler hydraulic system overhauled and upgrade at this place for a about $700.00 with three years warranty!!! I got no affiliation with this company but hate to see a spoiler not working normally….The only thing, you have to remove and ship the motor with the 2 actuators…hickmaster2001 from Renntech is the first one I know that used this place and no problem since the work was done, over a year now!

Thread post#49: http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic...raulics/page-3

Place: http://cabriolethydraulics.com/porsc...hydraulics.php

 

I know of a few guys who have only had the bleed their hydraulics to get them fully functioning. The bleeding worked for me.

 

Thanks guys for the responses. In the past I had done most of the maintenance/repairs/mods on my Porsches but there's literally no extra time for that stuff right now with three kids under 6. My other problem is I live out in West TX and 5hrs from Austin, Dallas or San Antonio (i.e. Any quality independent shop). West TX PCA recommended a guy in Lubbock but he is not accepting any new work he's so booked. Only reason I had it shipped to dealer as they were picking up one of my cars I had traded in on the new Panamera and it piggybacked on in to the dealer

I'm a perfectionist and will prob pay for a new spoiler assembly. I will want it working perfectly. As far as the plugs go, is there a recommendentation on how often to replace or how many miles? I mean is this something I really even need to do? If so, I may just ask around for an independent shop in Dallas

Thanks for the help as always

 

Most people on here disagree but I do not believe plugs degrade with time but just use/miles. I would change the plugs if stock every 30k and that's being cautious as they should easily go 50k. The coils can get cracks and should be visibly checked and if I were changing plugs would put on new as they are relatively cheap.

 

If you decide to get the work done in Dallas, call Hans at RAC to get a price - they are excellent and do a ton of Porsche work (used to be RUF). Or you could try 5th Gear in Lewisville and ask for Mark - he came from RAC and does all the Pcar stuff.

Not sure how these dealers stay in business with the prices they charge - it's easily twice what the indies charge.

Your plugs should be changed due to time, not necessarily miles. I think it's a 30k mile service though.

 

plugs don't degrade over TIME LOL. they degrade over sparking
but any car that is tuned will burn thru em faster than one that isn't.. or for that matter one that sits. i'm gonna guess that absent symptoms of bad spark? they're probably ok after just sitting lol

i change mine religiously at roughly every 10k miles but wouldn't hesitate to change them more often if my car did... hesitate that is

but a dealership charging 1k to change em probably includes the filters/pollen/air/oil whatever.. they have to somehow justify the over-inflated costs and that is most easily accomplished by servicing customers that either don't know any better... or simply don't care, as it's a two hour job, bumper off. at most.

 

Unfortunately that $1000 doesn't include a lot of other things, they are suggested as well but separated as different estimates

BRAKE FLUSH 1.0 $153.75 $41.41 $195.16
ALIGNMENT 3.0 $210.00 $210.00
REPLACE FUEL FILTER 1.1 $157.76 $59.42 $217.18
REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT 1.1 $157.76 $120.20 $277.96
REPLACE SPARK PLUGS 5.6 $878.42 $89.24 $967.66

First column is labor hrs, 2nd column labor cost, 3rd column parts cost and last column being total

Sounds like I just need to get it flat bedded over to an independent shop...just frustrating but part of the game I guess

 

A serpentine belt is 26 dollars and less then half an hours work. The other prices are just as crazy I would find another shop or better yet make the time and do some of it yourself.

 

another way to look at the plugs ( and coils ) would be that the MAJOR ( i.e. 90k ) service at a dealership in a large metro area is in the range of $1800.00. so it's better to service the car to the factory schedule if you're dealing with a dealer, rather than piecemeal and "changing stuff" for the sake of it, which is actually what i do. once you can do oil/filters/plugs/coils etc in your driveway/garage, you'll do them all the time, since the car runs noticeably better for having done so. the downside to dealers beyond just their inflated rates, is they go by strictly by the book, and book time is "longer" than they need when it comes to actual labor estimates.. while being too long for parts to be in service! typical corporate logic

i threw away the book long ago and service my car bi-monthly or as needed. whichever comes first lol. but i do think you're wise to seek out a good local indie for the tt. otherwise the dealership will try to be made whole from all the dough they're gonna spend fixing your 4 door under warranty.

btw. theres no harm or shame in allowing a dealership to do everything/anything if expedience vs cost equalize the equation. indies's have downsides too e.g. they are NOT by the book lol and for many it's always gonna be ready "maņana"