Comparing parts prices of the 911 and other cars

[sugarwood]

When I mention owning a 911 to other car guys, a common reaction is, "Parts prices must be through the roof!"
While some parts do seem crazy, other parts have been more reasonable than you'd expect.

I thought it could be interesting to spot check a handful of consumable parts prices across a few different cars
(not exceptional niche parts like an OEM Fuchs, steering wheel, center console, etc)

Feel free to add your own, if you think this thread could lead to interesting discussion.
It may also be useful for new people who are considering a 911.

To start, I went to Amazon for some basic consumables....

Air filter
Honda: $13
BMW: $18
911: $11

Oil filter:
Honda: $6
BMW: $8
911: $13

Shock absorber:
Honda: $20
BMW: $100
911: $200

Brake Rotors:
Honda: $35
BMW: $60
911: $75

Valve Cover Gasket set
Honda: $30
BMW: $22
911: $22

Spark Plug wires
Honda: $35
BMW: $50
911: $137

[masraum]

You'd be better off checking parts prices for Porsches HERE at Pelican Parts than on Amazon.

The other thing that I wonder is if you are checking prices for similar years of the different makes.

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by masraum

You'd be better off checking parts prices for Porsches HERE at Pelican Parts than on Amazon.

The other thing that I wonder is if you are checking prices for similar years of the different makes.

+1

Parts may cost a bit more but the labor is where you can really save, if you can DIY.

I maintain our vehicles and found that Honda parts can be just as costly as Porsche.

[sand_man]

Yeah, the info reported is a bit of a generalization. Which 911? I'm assuming the '86 from the signature line. Parts for the 993 aren't all that cheap with twin-plug ignition and two oil filters. But I'm sure still cheaper to maintain than the F355 I nearly pulled the trigger on!

[Embraer]

F355 prices....lol. I melted a set of headers. (Common issue....they have a 25k mile lifespan)....ill be happy to keep it under $4k for replacements. My labor, of course. Shocks? You don't buy new....significantly cheaper to have them rebuilt by Bilstein. Think oil filters are around $50. I just changed mine back in July.

I needed to replace an upper cooling hose this summer. Yellow box price was close to $200. I took the hose to O'Reilly, and they took me to the back to pick out something the same size. $11.

Exhaust flange gaskets? $50 in a yellow box, made by victor reinz. If you buy the same victor Rienz gasket at Napa, it's $3.

Us F355, diy'ers have a parts cross reference that significantly cuts down on cost. The engine is all Ferrari.....but the other stuff not so much. Example...some switches in the cockpit have FOMOCO part numbers.

[Embraer]

I've owned the car 4 years, put roughly 20k miles on it, driving it "spirited." Not including my initial belt/waterpump service (about 8k) I've put less than $1500 in mx. The headers will change that. Next time the belts are due, I'll do them myself. I wanted to pay to have the initial belt service done, because I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it. That being said, the car has nearly tripled in value since I've owned it

[manbridge 74]

Lol.

The Porsche oil filter must have four times the filter surface area as the Honda one.

Spark plug wires are solid core at least on pre 1984 911s having an almost infinite life if treated with care and you get rid of the resistor ends.

A lot of it has to do with economy of scale.

Of course anything NOS or NLA is thru the roof on any make. Had a 93 Dodge one ton dually crew cab 4wd that I needed front hubs for in 2004. They quit making them. Unless they've since tooled up to make more, it is sort of a drag when you can't get parts for a perfectly functioning vehicle.

[Nickshu]

During the 14 years I had my 911 (2000-2013) I observed the cost of many 911 parts across the board went up by nearly 2x and many things became NLA from Porsche as new parts leaving only used as an option unless you could find NOS. I had an '82 SC, so I suppose that goes for classic 911's 74-89. After that I can't comment.

[djmcmath]

I remember when the alternators on both my '84 Honda Civic and my '86 911 failed within a few weeks of each other. The replacement costs were similar, within like 10%, and the alternator on the 911 was much easier to operate on.

[fastfredracing]

Start comparing internal engine parts, or trans hard parts, and the spread grows pretty quickly

[sugarwood]

Alternator:
Honda: $116
BMW: $129
911: $142

[johnsjmc]

Having driven 911,s off and on since about 1973 I have observed normal wear items like brake rotors, pads, filters and plugs etc are fairly reasonable.
Internal engine and trans parts or body parts which seldom wear out (or are typically covered by insurance) can be outrageous . Thousands for a set of pistons and barrels ,a thousand for a bumper over rider (square rubber block),
A thousand dollars worth of trans parts will fit in a zip lock sandwich bag.

[sc_rufctr]

Youy want expensive?

Subaru and Suzuki, both truly ridiculous!

[Justin@Athens]

Originally Posted by Embraer

I've owned the car 4 years, put roughly 20k miles on it, driving it "spirited." Not including my initial belt/waterpump service (about 8k) I've put less than $1500 in mx. The headers will change that. Next time the belts are due, I'll do them myself. I wanted to pay to have the initial belt service done, because I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it. That being said, the car has nearly tripled in value since I've owned it

Good investment! I occasionally look at 348s because that is all the Fcar I can afford. The thing that scares me off is the maintenance. How do you find the build quality of the 355 as compared to Porsche products of the same vintage? Lord knows we both should have bought testarossas 5 years ago, they have appreciated like crazy!

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Embraer

F355 prices....lol. I melted a set of headers. (Common issue....they have a 25k mile lifespan)....ill be happy to keep it under $4k for replacements. My labor, of course. Shocks? You don't buy new....significantly cheaper to have them rebuilt by Bilstein. Think oil filters are around $50. I just changed mine back in July.

I needed to replace an upper cooling hose this summer. Yellow box price was close to $200. I took the hose to O'Reilly, and they took me to the back to pick out something the same size. $11.

Exhaust flange gaskets? $50 in a yellow box, made by victor reinz. If you buy the same victor Rienz gasket at Napa, it's $3.

Us F355, diy'ers have a parts cross reference that significantly cuts down on cost. The engine is all Ferrari.....but the other stuff not so much. Example...some switches in the cockpit have FOMOCO part numbers.

Melted headers, 4k? That sound like an aftermarket opportunity.

[john70t]

Not sure what the shops use, but there is https://hollanderinterchange.net/catalog/index.php ($675) for the junkyards.

[Brian 162]

Stock brake pads for a 2007 Corvette Z06.

Front pads: $600
Rear pads : $475

That's from a dealer

[look 171]

Ever look up a new transmission on a new GT3 cup car? A friend needed one after some damage he discovered. He nearly fainted.

[GothingNC]

996 PSE mufflers, almost 5 grand

Porsche 996 (1999-2005) - Mufflers & Catalytic Converters - Page 2

[VINMAN]

oil pump:

Ford Motorsports, small block: $65
Milodon BBC: $72
944 stock pump. $700



.