Service Quote - Does this sound high to you?

SeaDweller · 11-03-2003, 07:03 AM

The 30K service is due on my Targa, and I've been thinking of trying a local shop that specializes in Porsche's. Problem is, the quote he gave me for the work sounds kinda high. I know what engine rebuilds, air box replacements, etc. cost, 'cause I've been through the heavy duty stuff, but I'm not sure about the cost of the routine maintenance stuff.

Here's what the $900 quote gets me:

1. Valve adjustment
2. New plugs
3. New air filter
4. Engine tune
5. Replace brake fluid w/ super blue
6. Change transmission fluid
7. Change oil and filter (Mobil 1)
8. Diagnose high-speed vibration
9. New O2 sensor
10. Miscelaneous gaskets and shop stuff
11. Go over the rest of the car

Doing a quick calculation, my gut tells me this should be in the $500 range, but I could easily be way off. I'm very willing to pay a craftsman to do his thing, but I also don't want to go overboard either.

Anyone?

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

My last two 15K mile services were $450 and $550 - they did not include a new O2 sensor, new plugs, and the oil change was with Castrol GTX 20/50 not Mobile 1.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

02 sensor can be expensive depending upon their parts markup.

Diagnose high-speed vibration - have you taken your wheels to be balanced? That's a typical culprit and is probably a farm-out job for the shop anyway. Or do you not have the Turbo Tie rod upgrade?

JonT · 11-03-2003, 08:04 AM

a breakout of parts/labor would be useful to analyze this

ZCAT3 · 11-03-2003, 08:25 AM

Well you have close to $350 in parts there (at shop rates) -

O2 Sensor (assuming OEM) - $150 - 180
Valve Cover gasket set - $30
Oil filter - $10 - 15
Air Filter - $15
Plugs - $30
Mobil 1 - 12 quarts - $6 per - $72
Tran Fluid - $20
Brake Fluid - $10

As far as time to do these things, it would take me an entire day (but I am not a mechanic). Maybe 5-6 hours shop time. Seems that the quote is about right to me.

GeorgeK · 11-03-2003, 08:28 AM

Can't tell about the price, but avoid Super Blue. We had a reash of spongy pedals in the Club Racing scene here that was traced to Super Blue.

BGCarrera32 · 11-03-2003, 08:30 AM

That is in line for a specialty shop.

Rot 911 · 11-03-2003, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeK
Can't tell about the price, but avoid Super Blue. We had a reash of spongy pedals in the Club Racing scene here that was traced to Super Blue.

Wow, this is the first time I have EVER heard anyone say something negative about ATE Super Blue. What was the problem?

GeorgeK · 11-03-2003, 08:45 AM

Kurt, once it gets some serious heat, Super Blue degrades. We had a spell here, me included (944 Turbo Cup). We were all bleeding frantically, to see better braking until the next session. The change to other fluid (Motul 600 and Castrol SRF) cured all the cars. No factual proof, but circonstantial. Even happened in our everyday M5.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeK
Can't tell about the price, but avoid Super Blue. We had a reash of spongy pedals in the Club Racing scene here that was traced to Super Blue.

I've never heard anything bad about Super Blue either, apart from the taste. A couple track days ago I all but melted my front wheel bearings, yet had no pedal brake at all.

GeorgeK · 11-03-2003, 08:53 AM

Can't tell more. Maybe a bad batch? I know from now on it is either Motul or Castrol for me.
Glad others did not suffer this. Very frustrating.

ZCAT3 · 11-03-2003, 08:55 AM

Super Blue is the same as the ATE Gold fluid - just dyed blue. I have never heard of any problems with this either.

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

Price sounds on target. Put a standard mark-up on the parts, add labor and the diagnostic time.
Most of the items can easily be handled by a DIYer. Have him do the valve adj. and the vibration diagnosis and you'll save $250.

John

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Blue was banned by some penishead in the the US Dept of Transportation or something....my aplogies if I got the wrong dept of penisheads...something about "adulturated" fluids when it acme to the blue...the gold is the same stuff.....

I have hoarded 5 gallons of the blue stuff.... I plan to sell the stuff per milleliter to scratchy armed racers in the future.....

As to your quote....weren't ya gonna move to CA?

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

SeaDweller,

Do most of the "easy work" yourself and then have the mechanic do the work you're not comfortable with doing yourself and you'll save some $ and have the satisfaction of DIY. That is assuming that you actually like doing that kind of work and have the tools and garage space you need.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Price sounds right for a Porsche garage. Local shop quoted me $1000 for the same thing you are getting... I ended up doing it all myself, and paid someone else $250 to do the valves, as they can be a big PITA to deal with in a home garage.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

It looks like there would be about $300.00 worth of parts, leaving $600.00 for the labor. That is a lot of $$ for something that can be done at home in a few hours on Saturday. The valve adjustment really isn't that difficult, and the rest is just basic wrench work. Since I only drive my SC about 10k per year, I change the oil and oil filter in April and then do everything (all filters, valve adjustment, etc. in September (when its cooler). It usually take me 4-5 hours to do "everything" and maybe an hour to just change the oil and oil filter. It would be worth the time and effort to either catch a club seminar on valve adjusting or get a friend to help the first time. Besides, as mentioned above, there is a lot of satisfaction in doing it yourself!

Good Luck!

Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

Speedy1 · Speedy1's Garage

Most shops add 2.4X's their cost to the parts pay the 900.00 or is it not worth it . I've had coustomers cry about $85 brake pads for their BMW's and I tell them its a 50K car and you are complaining about 85 bucks. Sounds about right to me, although I cry about the prices to.

cantdrv55 · 11-03-2003, 09:59 PM

The price you were quoted sounds about right in my neck of the woods. FWIW, I took a Bruce Anderson/Jerry Woods class last month and was taught to do most of the things on your list. The only thing I still don't feel comfortable with is the valve adjustment. The other tasks are performed more or less the same on all cars. You can save yourself at least $400 if you do everything but the valve adjustment yourself.

SeaDweller · 11-04-2003, 03:43 AM

Thanks everyone........

I wish I had the time to do the work, but I just don't. My travel is about to get nasty, and with weekends fully booked with soccer games and other family related stuff, I don't even have time to drive the car, let alone perform maintenance on it.

The Targa hasn't left the garage in two weeks now! I bought the car in March with 28,700 on the clock, and she's now got 29,400.....

I can hear the Guess Who tune "No Time Left for You" playing in my head...........