Should one document classic parts before service by mechanic?
 

Original Porsche parts: should these be documented before taking in to a mechanic/service? And if so, how does one go about documenting the parts?

One further note: Should I be concerned about a mechanic taking a "joyride" with my car?

Thanks

I would imagine your receipts are part of the documentation you may need. I would also have the mechanic write up the repairs and parts you brought in on the invoice, and list the parts you brought and the ones they will provide seperatley.

A joyride not much of a concern since you want them to test the work they completed. Just note the miles and make sure there are only a few more miles on the car when you get the car back.

Yes, I have all of my new parts (the parts I replaced myself) receipts. (However, I did all the replacement for them. ) With many origninal parts still on the car, I'm wondering? Unfortunately the odometer is not working :(

A joyride is a concern to me, since this is a spring (early type) 901, and I don't want the gears wasted.

I think the answer is to use a mechanic / shop that you trust. I wouldn't take the car to a someone that wasn't familiar with a 901.

I've never had the Porsche serviced before by anyone but myself, so this is somewhat new here. So I might have to ask when I get there.

l installed the MSD 6al with the changable rev limiter modules..that keeps the valet`s and service people from revving past 3000 rpm...

oh sure, all the mechanics will steal your stuff. the feeling of distrust from a customer is what makes a shop say "so long buddy", so don't start off a customer/mechanic relationship that way. and don't bring your own parts.

The owner did state to bring what I have (new parts).

I have a neighbor with a Porsche (different model), that highly recommends them. I just want to be properly prepared, mostly due to someone else working on my car for the first time.

(Also: Edit: I want to be sure that they have the parts to begin with, being a 69. Perhaps this will also mean less down time for the car)

It's certainly possible that your mechanic could take it for a joyride, but if he's a Porsche wrench (and around these cars all day), why would he choose a '69 E? Don't get me wrong, that's a nice car, but it's not a 935 or something rare/exotic.

Bottomline, worry 'bout valets or your kids taking it for joyrides.

I think we have just insulted J. Walker, the best mechanic on this site.

He certainly gets MY vote! SmileWavy

Randy

To address your concerns, take it where you have referrals. Ask around, it's the only way to find a good wrench. Find someone who you can talk to and (at least seems to) pay attention to what you're looking for. Price isn't what gets you a piece of mind, trust is - on both sides. There have been times when I was an electrical guy where we'd turn away a good paying customer just because we knew he / she was just a PITA that didn't believe or trust. Don't let that happen to you.

Every decent Pcar mechanic I've ever heard of or seen has a car (or many cars) which most of us could only dream of having. Around here some of these guys have cars that cost more than a house to build. If you need to ask, then it's best to find someone else.

That being said, I never worry about it when my car is out. To remind a professional of such a basic rule is akin to snapping your fingers in a restuarant. (as just noted!)

rjp

i always bring my own (new ) parts so i know exactly what goes on my car....if they can't do it, i find someone who will.

i personally dont enjoy paying a premium for parts.

No shop is going to have all the parts needed for a large item (trans, etc) repair. The item needs to be disassembled before parts can be ordered.

As John said, bringing your own parts is frowned upon. It's not a case of paying a premium, it's that most shops profit margin is based on a ratio of labor and parts. Therefore the shop has to make a decision whether the shop can justify taking on the work. And then we come to the who is actually responsible if something goes wrong? If the customer supplies the part and it doesn't work who will pay the shop to recitfy the situation?
We will install customer supplied parts (within reason). We will not warranty those parts and if the part does not fit or work, the customer gets to call the supplier and resolve the problem.
(We installed a customer supplied used 928 transmission..it didn't work, nor did the next one they bought in. All the labor costs were the customer's repsonsibility. It would have been cheaper to buy a rebuilt and warranteed unit)
Of course, everyone takes their own steak to Outback.

Regarding test drives, it is not a "joy ride", the number of cars I have driven that have significant, and not reported by the owner, faults is not small.............

It comes down to this, if you do not trust the shop don't take your car there.

On the subject of parts -

Warranty claims become a nightmare if you're bringing in your own stuff. It it's fried out of the box you're still (rightly so) responsible for labor times. Imagine what it'll cost you if it's installed on the car and your customer supplied parts cook shortly thereafter!

rjp

Bringing your own parts to the mechanic is akin to bringing your own steaks to the restaurant. The markup on parts isn't so great that you're sending the mechanics kid to Harvard. If you have the parts already ask if he will install them. I know sometimes I get into the situation where I either thought I could do the job and find I can't or just don't have the time. Don't make it a habit, a reliable mechanic is your best assurance of continuing performance and reliability of your treasured Porsche.

How dumb, If you don't trust the mechanic you have two choices find a mechanic you do trust or learn to do the work your self. I don't think that there many parts if any on a69E that your shop can't get.Get a grip on your self and enjoy your car and get to know the person you ask to work on it . My $0.02 worth. Randy

Depends on some parts Ive seen some reciepts for shops here a Bosch Plug at $12 per plug vs $2 per plug at your local auto parts store (mind you these are the copper plugs too), most shops make thier money on small items like this like it or not.

my question is why dilly dally on the parts? they're not driving brand new carrera gt's to work everyday, they're just making a living. Personally I wrench on my own car because I like to. I buy as many parts as I can to keep my wrench in business so when I do need him he's there.
(and yes pelican gets everything I can't get through him, crane boxes, special order parts etc)

bottom line for me, support your local wrench so he'll be there when you need him.

I've been told by several mechanics that PCNA only discounts 10% to independents. Of course, not everything has to come from PCNA. But the shops don't mark up much, they just charge what you'd pay if you were at the parts counter, unless you have an account at World Pac or something. I agree with JW on not taking your own parts in.

I don't think he is insulted either. There are a lot of mechanics on this board and they all know that there are some yahoos out there. One or two have even posted episodes in the past. It's a reality.

I used to have service done at Andial because I wasn't the least bit interested in learning the CIS on the car I had. And Pelican wasn't around. Neither were BBS's. Arnold used to drive my car home now and then. We both lived in Mission Viejo (that's CA for you that have no idea). He still lives there. It's about 15 miles one way, just enough to really find out about the car. Plus, he got to start it the next morning stone cold.

A Porsche mechanic is around 911s all day long, drives them all the time, probably owns several. Driving a 911 is a not a special treat to them and they aren't going on a joy ride in your car.

The same may not apply to the kid at the detail shop, the oil change place, or the tire change shop.

OK, I'll back off on the parts stuff, and make this a learning experience.

It really is simple, either trust your wrench or do-it-yourself.

Everybody needs to make a living and so far we havent been able to outsource wrenching to China.

Ha, I think JW probably got insulted and got over it a long time ago.

:)

-Wayne

Hmm, actually not true. If you look at how a shop runs, the service basically pays the overhead, and the profit is made on the parts. Most shops buy aftermarket parts and then charge near list Porsche prices to the customer. At least that's how it has worked at most of the shops that I know...

-Wayne

Definitely true for common cars, which 9 times out of 10 don't measure up to OEM stuff. (case in point - oil filters at the dealer vs. Jiffy lube) But a Porsche? Would it be safe to say that OEM Porsche parts get charged Porsche prices at a shop? What I mean, last I checked I didn't get Autolite wires installed on my car. My only real choices for this item all seem OEM or better and someone is always swearing by it. Seems like the only pieces available are OEM or hotrod stuff that's supposed to exceed OEM anyhow.

Only time that could be an issue is if the aftermarket stuff isn't up to snuff, but a Porsche being (putting it mildly, "different") isn't as prone to having such inferior junk available. Any self-respecting shop wouldn't install anything less. I can imagine it may be possible but what shop would stay in business for any length of time using garbage like that? Fel-Pro gaskets? Mighty caps and rotors? Fram (ugh) anything (oil filters, I know) Don't know of any major aftermarket suppliers that get any exposure with this stuff.

I'm probably walking into the lion's den by asking but oh well, I'm curious?

rjp

There is a big difference between aftermarket and OEM. Most shops buy there OEM parts through the big parts importers (and that includes Pelican) and then resell them with a profit. OEM parts include Bosch, SWF, TRW, Mahle etc. I wouldn't say that the mark-up is that wonderful on the parts. On some parts (not many, admitedly) the mark up is not really sufficient to really be worth it. But that's part of doing business.
Porsche supplied parts discount to independents is less than it could be but sometimes Porsche is the only supplier, so the end-use will be charged MSRP of a particular part.

I would suggest you also look at the warranty provisions of most of the parts suppliers. Usually, the warranty is for replacement of the part without any labor contribution, the independent shop has to absorb that. Fortunately, warranty problems are rare, but it's something independent shops have to plan for in their budget.

The statment seems to imply that some shops install "inferior" pieces and charge like prices as OEM. There's a difference between private branded parts that came from an OEM supplier vs. an aftermarket piece that is built to funtion but built more cheaply with cost in mind - built in China for instance. It seems that it would be less of a problem for the consumer on a Porsche, than a common car. Once again, I'm not saying it's impossible, but highly impractical since it's so rare. It would be criminal to pay dealer prices if the items are low grade non - supplier.


Extreme case would be like the hypothetical Autolite wires - if I got billed $300 for those then it would be an issue. Tbe statment would imply that's possible.


Maybe the statment would be more accurately phrased as "dealer supplied vs. parts house supplied"? Make no mistake, It's fair trade if you're getting OEM quality for dealer price, despite who's name is on the box.

Just a thought..

rjp