My car will be out of warranty by next year's major service. By then, it will be 4 years since I've owned it and no longer have any incentive to take it to the Stealer if my local independent can do it for less. So, I'll have them bid for my business and go to the cheaper one. I take my other 911 to the independent so I feel OK with their level of service.

By the way, on my 2006 manual, the 2 year brake fluid change is a separate service from the 20k, 40k, 60k mile etc. service. One is also supposed to do the Air Bag service (don't know what they do there) after 4 years and every 2 thereafter, change the spark plugs at 4 years if 60k miles haven't been reached and one is supposed to inspect, not replace, the drive belt. The drive belt gets changed at 60k miles. I think the tire goo canister needs to be replaced and the TPMS batteries also (this last I am not 100% sure). Seems like this 40k mile service is going to cost me a bit more than last year's.

 

here is what my 20k service looked like:

Parts:

Oil - 9 quarts - $77.40
Oil Filter Insert - $29.00
Alum Seal Ring - $1.16
Oil Screw Plug - $8.69
Air Cleaner/Filter - $50.39
Cabin Filter - $106.93
Wiper Blades - $57.29
Remote Battery CR2032 -$9.72
Washer Fluid - $5.95
BG 44K - $28.95

Labor = $390.00

At no "charge" was the 27 point inspection.

 

What are "Alum Seal Ring" and "Oil Screw Plug"?

 

Hey, with the 15% off and free detail (err...carwash n armour all) coupons my stealership sends all the time, it might just be a good deal?! (NOT )

The stealerships are like Costco. With Costco, you will be hard pressed to get out without spending a few hundred and with the stealerships, the $995 for whatever ~k mile services are only the minimum charges and without fail, they always tack on another 1k before I can pick up the car. Its almosts as if the SAs (aka service sales/advisors) have minimum ticket $ totals to write.

The education started with our first p-car, a boxster s and continued until I found an independent shop that showed me how they pressure bleed the fluids and catches them into a soda bottle!!!

These P-cars are designed well and considerable amounts of engineering actually went into make servicing them easier!

 

The screw/plug and washer for the oil pan.

 

I think I paid about half that amount at my local dealer.

 

Thanks for this info.

So I'm getting the feeling that most of you guys are against servicing the car at P dealers...
Anyone know of a good P mechanic/shop in the LA area?

Thanks.

 

BG-44 I believe is an oil additive which Porsche specifically says should not be used.

 

shop around for the best price, but when car is still under a warranty I service the car at a dealer. it is be more expensive for sure, but if it's only 2-3 hundred more it's not that much IMO. if you need to make a warranty claim it's good to have a dealer on your side. yes, I know the final decision is up to PCNA but having a dealer behind you cannot hurt

 

BG-44 is fuel injector cleaner like Techron.

 

..and a knobber

 

Not sure I'd be comfortable letting my dealer wash my car. Last time I looked, they had some buckets of wash water they were using that looked like they hadn't changed it for the last couple of cars that came through.

 

No doubt price gouging can exist. However having worked at a good number of reputable dealers and independents, I am compelled to defend some frequently misguided perceptions.

First, a PIWIS is an extremely expensive tool as is the training to use it. Discounting the expense incurred by the dealer or independent to provide you the diagnostic readout of trouble codes which could very well save you money by early recognition demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the value of that service. If you want "cheaper" service without the benefit of such technical excellence- jiffy lube offers such limited resources and respective technical talent.

Second, there is not a single sole who would not hold a repairer hostage for failure to bring defects to their attention, yet paying for the time to execute such a thorough inspection including a test drive again counts as a "zero" value offering. So, if that slight vibration at idle is not further examined after your "discount" oil change and your engine detonates due to a cam tensioner out of whack, you would be content in your choice of the discounted service and promise not to arrive stamping your foot in the service manager's office at their failure to bring it to your attention?

There is a reason these inspections exist. There is absolute value in having a trained professional equiped with the appropriate tools service your car.

 

I agree with farfinator. While a $750 bill for essentially an inspection and oil / filters change is a bit harsh, this is not a Honda Civic. The reality is parts are expensive on this car and so is labor. Look at my parts list, the total was $375.48. Anyone who has worked on cars should know that book labor can often times be as much as the parts being worked on are. And again, you're not likely to find a Porsche service department with labor rates below $75/hour. So assume $100/hour labor (probably optimistic still) and it takes them 3 hours to swap oil and filters and do an inspection, well that's a $675 bill right there.

Look at suspension installs, they are likely thinking it will take 4 hours of actual labor, and I think most people pay around $400 - $800 for suspension installs. Time costs money.

 

ditto, although you got great deal paying only $375 for the service