Porsche Dealer Service Depts. and Special Tools

[1982911SCTarga]

A little walk through history if you will.

If you spend time studying the 911 workshop manuals, you'll see a number of specialized service items and tools. For example, for windshield and window replacement, there are special Porsche template fixtures that are dropped in to check the dimensional accuracy of body openings.

So my question for you back-in-the-day experts is, did Porsche automatically issue these sorts of items to their dealers or did dealers have to buy them? If dealers had to buy them, did Porsche make money on that venture, too? Also, did the dealer service departments get a catalog each year of service fixtures and tools that could be ordered or requested?

One final question. What happened to those body-checking fixtures for the 911? Are any still around?

Brian

[1982911SCTarga]

Thoughts?

Brian

[trconway]

How many years ago are you referencing? I would think that the chances are pretty good that all the personnel from the 1960's, 1970's and even a good part of the 1980's are long retired.

[javadog]

Generally speaking, dealers get to buy the special tools. Not all of them get bought. Most of them collect lot's of dust.

I have a friend who aquired the tools from a Porsche/Audi/VW dealer that went out of business. Before any of you ask, no, he doesn't intend to sell them.

I have no idea if Porsche made any money selling them to dealers. I would assume they did.

[dfink]

Don't know about porsche but worked at a chevy in the early 80's and they were force shipped all the special tools. They were rarely used and sat over the parts department mostly still in the packages. I doubt they could sell them as I think were required to have them.

[1982911SCTarga]

The time frame I was thinking about would be the 911 years -- '65 through '89 -- since things like the body-checking fixtures would be mostly applicable throughout that span.

There's a guy on this board from Missouri who's trying to find this stuff.

I just wonder how many service departments even had these items to begin with.

Brian

[AFJuvat]

The dealers have a list of "required" tools and documentation that they must have on hand at all times.

The list varies depending on the size of the dealership. A small dealership like the one I have locally uses "Dealer Toolset #1" The large dealers have a more robust selection.

Yes, many of them do sit around and collect dust.

Finally, yes, the dealers do have to buy them from Porsche. Additionally, they also have to pay franchise fees and software licensing fees on a monthly basis.

Example: Porsche System Tester 3 (a.k.a PST-3 and\or PIWIS) costs the dealership approximately $14000 to purchase as well as $1K per month in licensing fees.

[1982911SCTarga]

Good stuff. Thanks!

Brian

[rfn026]

Don't forget that Porsche is just like McDonalds. The corporation can require the franchisee to do things a certain way. Not only do they have to buy the tools, they also have to buy all the overpriced posters on the walls.

A friend of mine said that Porsche was the worst in this regard. He eventually sold his Porsche dealership and bought another Ferrari store. He just felt that Ferrari was easier to deal with.

Both McDonalds and Porsche feel that they have to have everything the same way in every store. Neither company tolerates variations in the customer experience.

Richard

[SCHNELE]

In new market areas if you are an existing dealer for another brand and you have a building that will meet Porsche's requirements they will give you a franchise, you just have to buy the tool$. Ask me how I know.