halfmonkey

Before anybody goes crazy and starts talking about how one is better than the other, please save that for the other 1000 threads on 6MT vs PDK.

What I'm trying to gather is information on real life serviceability and longevity of each transmission. Being new to Porsche and their PDK, I'm curious to know what the generally accepted lifespan of their PDK clutch is. Since there isn't a human variable on engaging and disengaging the clutch, I assume the PDK clutch should last longer than the 6MT but again I'm new to Porsche and to the PDK.

I thought I read somewhere that you can't service the PDK. Is that true in that when the clutch wears out, you have to replace the entire transmission? On the other hand, it's my understanding that with the 6MT, you can replace the clutch?

Generally speaking, how many miles should the PDK go before the clutch wears out? I know there will be variables that go into this answer but is it generally accepted that the PDK should go 30k miles, 60k miles, 100k miles, 150k miles, etc?

Andrewpiper

I think this is going to be very interesting to follow..

I have a 718 GT4 six cog manual car and after reading stuff here it would seem some folks have issues.. BUT Im not hard on my car. So in fairness I think that the rationale would also be applicable to the PDK cars.. Are they being exposed to a lot of launch starts that tax a clutch.. that would be the same for any auto cars I dear say though possibly.

Noah Fect

Look up the threads on the subject by pv997 and others. A lot of very high-quality R&D is being put into aftermarket PDK components and service procedures that are far more economical than their officially-sanctioned versions. Probably more engineering than ZF put into it to begin with.

I don't think many people have reported PDK clutch wearout. PDK failures tend to occur in the mechatronic hardware or the distance sensor, not the clutches or the geartrain itself.

Dyim

Dealers normally don’t service PDK. They just replace it. I am sure there are serviceable components inside the PDK. Trick is to find an indie that does it.

I had a 991 C2S PDK for 7 years, >50,000 miles when I traded it in. PDK was fine. I don’t beat on it though. Just a somewhat related data point.

My guess is if I use auto blip, that could help with longevity also.

manifold danger

I think the short answer is that either should easily last as long as most folks typically own their Porsches for. There are of course exceptions and there's a low likelihood of premature failure, but overall I don't think there's a substantial difference on which is a "better" option for the majority of us. For those keeping their cars long out of warranty (or buying used), the manual probably is the better option-- but that also introduces risks of mechanical over-revs and synchro gears and so on that aren't applicable to the PDK.

But yes, you can replace a clutch in a manual transmission. If I had to put a number on it, the clutch in the 981 manual I had was just starting to slip occasionally under hard acceleration at 60k miles. I only had the car for 15k of those miles and I didn't beat on it, but I wasn't easy on it either. It probably didn't "need" the clutch replaced right away but it was something I considered when deciding to trade it in on something else. Probably would have run me ~$5k or so if done through a dealership. At least.

I would have to imagine a PDK should last in excess of 100k miles, but if it goes, it goes. And Porsche will charge well over 5 figures to fix it.

tigerhonaker

Well so far the comments are all nicely stated.

7,000 miles and all is good, PDK.

Terry

Adrift

Same is true with MTs, actually; they just replace them. (probably excluding clutch)

beez

It's not the the clutch plates in the PDK that typically fail, they are oil-soaked wet-clutches, and don’t overheat or wear out under pressure.

nineball

i am no technical guru but considering the life of fluid on a pdk is 120k i think most should be ok...

0-Day

Would you rather replace a $700 clutch or a $17000 PDK transmission?

colnagoG60

FWIW, there is a Smoking Tire 911 vid on youtube (forget which one), where Matt states that in talking with a Porsche engineer, the engineer stated that the PDK is rated for some 5 to 6-digit number of launch control launches for its lifetime. It equated to something like a launch per day, for some double digit number of years. Sorry, memory of that exact number failing.

Noah Fect

False choice; see the link in my post above

Xxyion

Definetly following this thread for a long time too. I just got my GT4 with PDK and am curious. That being said I feel like by the time I get to the point where the PDK is about to go out, I probably either won't be able to drive or I'll be selling it for another car.

Dr.Bill

The PDK failures I'm personally aware of have been related to something electric. Gear position sensor, etc. Nothing mechanical with the actual transmission components.
In each case, Porsche has replaced the entire transmission. Under warranty is nothing to be concerned with.
Out of warranty it's $17k or so in parts plus many hours of labor at $150 per hour or so.
Make sure any extended warranty covers the transmission!

Bob Z.

A manual can be rebuilt for less than the PDK but it really depends on what went wrong and what parts/labor is needed so I do not think there is an answer to the question that is useful.