[JFP in PA]

Regardless of what you've read, the PDK is not a "scam", but is a very highly developed technology that requires quite a bit of single use, special fixtures and tool to work on; hence not field repairing them. Several other makes with sequential gear boxes are in a similar mode. In order to field service one of these, a dealer would need $20-30K worth of special tooling with no other use, and techs with hours of previous experience with the internals. There are valid reasons why Porsche (and other dealers) do not rebuild these gearboxes or even engines in the field for that matter; it simply makes no economic sense.

The individual clutch plates and steels are not available separately, only as a clutch pack assembly, for around $5K.

And the PIWIS is not only used to reset the valve body unless it had to be replaced; during service, the only way to correctly adjust the clutch fluid level at temperature is with a PIWIS; a lot of people have tried not using one, some got away with it, others were not so fortunate and eventually paid the price.

As for finding Chinese components, they knock off just about any otherwise expensive components, often poorly made copies of dubious quality. Hell, they even sell knock off PIWIS systems, some of which are copies of the version I or II, now woefully out of date, and some are not even a PIWIS at all, often just a very old version of the Durametric system that is even more out of date.

And not changing the filter in the pan is just plain stupid, no matter what you read, they get filthy and need to be changed.......

More often than not, internet postings calling the PDK a "scam" are just that themselves, often written by someone whose manhood and driving ability is now threatened by technology; the PDK is quite rugged, faster shifting than any human, and yes, they are expensive. But more and more, for the high end, high output Porsche's (and Ferrari's, Lambo's, Aston Martin's, etc.), they are the ONLY available gear box. Expensive, not easy to work on, very misunderstood and often maligned, but an absolute blast to drive at the limits. In the end, speed cost money; how fast do you want to go?