Porsche ripping off its own (long)

[svandamme]

for 169 bucks , that oil better last for 100000 miles

the total cost of that bill could easely have been halved if you would have done it yourself ( not difficult tasks at all, and not that time consuming either )

at least half of that price tag and say one day of getting in touch with your car ( and not even talking second hand parts here )

[911boost]

I have had a good experience with the parts guy at my local dealer. He went to great lengths to find the little snap things that the convertible boot attaches too. Even with special order parts I don't pay until they come, that way if its not right, he sends it back as a "mistake order", instead of sticking me with it.

He is an avid motrocycle rider and we have had many conversations about bikes.

I do not go there very often (always use PP) only to find special hard to get items, and he has always treated me right. I of course ask for him by name, and if he is off or not there, I go back later.

With regards to service, hell would have to freeze over before I took my car there.

Bill

[limble]

Advice a carney gave me after I discovered that he cheated me out of my hard earned paper route money and tried to call him on it.
"Kid, in this world it's win what you can."

[einreb]

what was the link to the site that someone put together reviewing porsche mechanics? this sort of stuff should get posted there and then the review sent to Porsche Exchange and Porsche Corp.

I assume different dealers aren't all bad, but I guess that these places stay in business because people continue to put up with this s%$*. no wonder '99 996's are so cheap. who is going to want to deal with a dealer in a post warrantee situation?

good luck,

Bernie

[Beethoven]

So here's the damage: battery $154, alternator (rebuilt) $289, labor 4.5 h = $535. So they obviously backed off from the quote the gave me. Not sure whether I should be happy with a rebuilt instead of new alternator. Opinions? The didn't repair the light switch, as I told them to hold off.
The oil change was $182 but: they filled it up so high that that it's three inches over the top mark of the dipstick. I don't smell any burning oil, but do I damage the engine with that amount of oil? My car typically doesn't lose even a quart of oil over 2000 miles, so that oil is staying in there. Do I have to drain it out?
Jeez, you think they would at least get an oil change right!
Oh, they also found a rodents nest around the master cylinder--I haven't seen it myself yet, and I doubt there are mice in my garage (2nd floor of a big condo garage) but just in case, what's the best way to get rid of them?
Car runs smooth, but seems a little sluggish, maybe just my imagination.
Glad that's all behind me.
Best thing was to get the support of this board, and of the gang around Chicago in particular. Can't beat that.

[sammyg2]

Take it back and have them drain the oil. When it gets hot enough it will puke over into your intake and make all kinds of interesting smoke clouds.
Or, you could get her all heated up and smoking, then pull into the dealership with the clouds of smoke following you and start yelling at the top of your lungs how they screwed up your car
the customers will love it.

I've heard that mice don't like moth balls.

Look 169 USD for a 911 oil change including labour and filter isn't outrageous. It can be done cheaper of course, but it isn't outrageous.

350 USD for a battery however is outrageous! Half that would be ok for a dealer. Of course look around and it can be found cheaper than that too. I paid less than 100 USD for my VARTA 74ah battery.

[724doorE]

I like Sammyg2's idea. Wait till they're bsy though so customers can see how you were treated!

Then NEVER go back to a dealer for anything. If you have the taste to love 911's, you can learn to work on them too, especially with the Chicago guys around here

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by Beethoven
Yeah, I think the alternator was on it's way out... there was a whining in the back (not the wife!) which, come to think of it, stopped before the thing went broke.
If they put in a new alternator, do they automatically put in a new VR?

And why are you saying $1800? It's 'just' $1494.

The VR is intergral with the alternator for you your Porsche.

If you live in the Chicagoland area I would stay away from the Exchange for repairs to the Porsche. There is Fischer Motor in the North suburb and Eurosport Racing in Bensenville.

When I was looking for a Porsche after having sold my 74, I stopped at the Exchange to see a car that they were advertising in the paper. They let me drive it around the block and I made an offer but they didn't want to deal they just wanted their asking price. They didn't even want to knock off the sale tax, which is 8.7% if you buy from a dealer or only $40.00 if you buy from a private seller for cars 10 years and older.

Fine if that the way they wanted to be they lost my business forever. I brought an Audi from them before and they were willing to deal.

Perhaps they feel that if you have a Porsche or are in the market for a Porsche you have money to throw away.

I had an alternator shop rebuild my alternator last fall for $125.00. Did the install myself and brought a new battery from Sears for $90.00.

Same symtoms as you when it happen.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by n8marx
RoninLB,

I'm a bit confused by your post. What do you mean by tip? People don't actually tip mechanics do they?

I tip the mechanic that works on my wife Audi. He's an independent mechanic that works out of his home. And he never rip me off on repairs to the Audi. I just wish that he would work on the P car. My brother also brings his Audi to this mechanic.

[kepperly]

$160.00 for an oil change? way out of line for a 911. cheap for a 993. Alternator rebuild $75.00 here in the center of aviation
manufacutring. Want a Gel cell how about Less than $100.00
delivered to your door from my source at Interstate.


Keith Epperly 87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[MotoSook]

Keep in mind gang that Beethoven's car is his daily driver. It broke down on his way to work, and he had to have it towed.

It sucks that he had to resort to the dealer, and it sucks that the dealer sucks. However, Beethoven didn't have the luxury that most of us do...shop for a good price on parts or service. He was stuck!

There is place in Illinois not too far from us that will deliver an Ultima battery to your door for 97 bucks! And we have a source for a new alternator for about 300 bucks....

And the service...well that is the easy part, but not in a pinch.

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by Souk
Keep in mind gang that Beethoven's car is his daily driver. It broke down on his way to work, and he had to have it towed.

And the service...well that is the easy part, but not in a pinch.

Here is another proof point that a 911 is ... not supposed to be a daily driver (whether you can afford it or not is not my point here). My 84 911 could not take the beating, and a second car was the ultimate cure.

THen, whenever the 911 breaks, I could afford to have it sit for weeks, waiting and sourcing for the best parts, and work on it myself, without having to pay $1600 for $200 worth of repairs.

[KTL]

Helmut,

Don't sweat the rebuilt alternator issue. Price is high, but that's their markup. Rebuilt alts. are VERY common and plenty reliable if rebuilt by a reputable, experienced rebuilder. Example: PepBoyZ will sell you a rebuilt alt. for your with a lifetime warranty! Before anybody flames me, i'm not saying PepBoyZ is reputable. It's their supplier that is likely to be a big company like Beck-Arnley or someone like that.

I'd certainly drain the oil a bit. When it's too high, the excess oil gets blown into the engine thru the oil tank breather hose. Makes some oil smoke and pools oil in your intake manifold. If you're out this way, stop by and we can take care of it. I'd hate for you to have to take your car back there. But, it's probably good to take it back just to make them do some work that they will get paid NOTHING for doing.

I'd put some D-Con poison traps (unless you have pets) in the garage just in case. The master cylinder is inside the trunk! How'd they get in there? Did they say the nest is on the engine? That's probably where they saw it when they removed the alt.

Souk,

It's Optima. Ultima is the Kyosho RC car that you raced as a kid (or might still race- they're cool!)

I think a 911 can be a daily driver. It's just that the car is getting older and things are bound to fail. Gotta maintain it a little more than a newer car. My 92 Laser is a rickety pile that needs attention every so often to keep it going strong. I feel more confident in the 911 because it's more basic than the Laser.

[MotoSook]

Originally posted by yelcab1
Here is another proof point that a 911 is ... not supposed to be a daily driver (whether you can afford it or not is not my point here). My 84 911 could not take the beating, and a second car was the ultimate cure.

THen, whenever the 911 breaks, I could afford to have it sit for weeks, waiting and sourcing for the best parts, and work on it myself, without having to pay $1600 for $200 worth of repairs.

yelcab,

I don't agree with that analysis. A well maintain 911 CAN be a daily driver. A lot of us have taken care of all the minor worn items that would immobilize us on the road. Helmut is relatively new to the p-car.

Crap I can drive my car 4 hours in a rain storm to a DE, beat the piss out of it at the track all weekend, then drive back another 4 hours in a rain and hail storm.....I'll take that over a Honda anyday.

Helmut's car WILL be sorted out.

[ben@benlovejoy.]

This is why I use a one-man independent (factory-trained, ex-main dealer).

Not only do I not get ripped-off, but he is a genuine enthusiast and will happily spend time discussing options, making recommendations that suit the way you want to use the car, etc.

As an indication of what it's worth to me to have a good independent, he lives about 100 miles from me, but I use him for everything ...

There's no doubt that DIY has to be best if you're mechanically inclined. If, like me, you're not, then a good independent is the next best thing.

Ben

[Oldporsche]

It is always good to find and independent shop that specializes in Porsche repairs. In general they know the car and its specific model problems. We have no specific Porsche repair shops locally that I know of. We have several large independent repair shops that do a lot of "imports" however they seem to have little knowledge of Porsches or really want the business.

David Duffield

[Beethoven]

Just a few words after I've thought about the whole affair with the assistance of a few pints of good German ale.
Clearly, the dealer backed off their estimate when I said that I would pull the car, and when I displayed some sense of mechanical knowledge (borrowed, of course, from my Chicago friends). That doesn't make him less despicable, but it makes it less painful.
When the car broke down I had other options. I could have had the car towed to Fisher, where I usually have work done. But that would not have allowed me to get back to work in time for a very important meeting. Was that meeting worth $500? Yes. And I didn't know that the dealer prices would be so brutal. Lesson learned.
When I bought the Porsche last summer, I wanted it as a daily driver. I thought of getting a beater for the winter and for repairs, but I decided not to. Yes, I'm exposing the car to very inclement conditions, but I'm doing my best to keep it as clean as I can, and look after it. An alternator failure in a 16 year old car doesn't change my confidence in its engineering. We're all getting older, and the cars with us--the difference being, of course, that spare parts for them are easier to come by. But I'm not the type of car guy who wants to keep all influences of time out of his garage.
I also have chosen the location of my appartment in Chicago in such a way that should the car need to be laid off longer, I can easily go to work on a train.
The other argument against a beater was that I would be spending four or five months of the year in a car I didn't like. Going to work in the Porsche and returning in the evening--these 40 minutes are among the best of my day. I don't want to deprive myself of that.
I think that even though I'm a mechanical ignoramus and, at the moment at least, not in a position to get into DIY, I'm set up pretty well to run this car on a daily basis, what with AAA de luxe, Fisher, and of course, the fellas always at the ready.
Yep, that's what the German beer told me last night.

[bairdc3]

PO of my 911sc spent $128 to have the External VR replaced at a regular German Auto Service company.

Service Center
$88.00 VR
$40.00 Labor

DIY
approx $30.00 VR from Pelican Parts.
1 screw
1 electrical connection.

Savings
$98.00

It's the price you pay for not doing it yourself.

[ruf-porsche]

Last October when my alternator decided to quit alternating, I was taking my wife for a birthday getaway weekend. We had reservation at the Hyatt and concert tickets.

When I just pulled into the packing lot of the Hyatt, the P-car just die. Try starting it back up but nothing. Figure the alternator had died and the battery was dead. Lucky for me there was a Sears at the mall next to the Hyatt. Lucky for me the Hyatt had a Hertz rental shop in the lobby. Unfortunately it was a Friday afternoon so they didn't have any car on the premise. They would have to get a car from O'Hare airport.

While Hertz was getting me a car, I walked to the Sears automotive shop and brought a battery that they said would fit my Porsche (it actually fits and I could secure it with the original hold down).

I lugged the battery back to the Hyatt parking lot and proceeded to switch out the battery. After 5 minutes I turn the key and started the car right up. I put the old battery back into the car and drove to Sears. I gave back the old battery, received my deposit and had them test the charging system. The charging system was not charging so I decided not to use the P car for the rest of the night and rented a car from Hertz to drive to the concert.

The concert was great and we were just settling down to our get away weekend, when we received a call at three in the morning that our daughter has been crying for a half hour looking for her mom and dad. The wife just told her mom that we would come back. It was dress and hop into the rental car for the drive back to Chicago. We arrived home and our daughter was happy to see her mom and dad. Dad crash and woke up the next day to drive back to the Hyatt to return the rental car and check out. I loaded the wife suit case and my laptop back into the P car and drove from Oak Brook to Chicago on just the battery.

I would say if your alternator quits and the battery goes flat, you can always buy a new battery and drive the car for at least 50 miles or more depending on traffic but don't use the headlights.