The repair shop says I need "new" distributor cap, wires and plugs for my 1987 944S, and is quoting me $450 for the OEM parts (labor extra).

However, used cap/wire sets are going for around $50 on ebay.

The shop says that if I supply them with ebay parts, they will gladly install but will not warranty the parts (seems fair).

In this case, is OEM worth the huge markup? If I go the ebay route, any advice on ensuring the parts aren't junk? Kinda hard to evaluate quality on something like this over the Internet.

Or, I could take the middle road, buying new aftermarket parts from Kragen, etc.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

$450 is really high. Plus, you have more options than just new OEM or used OEM. Have a look:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...ELignt_pg2.htm

Wires are $100-150. In fact, I just put a set of Karlyn STI (OEM supplier) wires on my S2 today, and they ran me about $150 on eBay.

The Bosch OEM cap and rotor should run you around $100 for the set.

Spend $250-300 on the parts and do it yourself in less than an hour.

 

I've heard of people having issues with non-resistance matched wires. I would recommend OEM, Beru, or Magnecor. Shouldn't be more than $150.

FWIW I have Magnecors and they're perfectly fine.

 

Haha, what a rip off!!!

http://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Inf...92-95%29%20%20 $68.25

New Clewett Engineering High Performance 8mm wires (Red or Black available): $87.50 http://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Inf...S%2016%20Valve
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2529%2520%2520 $54.50

Total cost for all new parts, OEM and better: $210.25 Don't be taken for a ride

By the way, you can install all of these parts yourself at leisurely pace in 30-45 minutes

 

Cap and wires are easy to replace on your own look the cap and rotor come off easy make sure battery is disconnected and also cap and rotor shouldn't cost more then 60 at pepboys then wires cost $60 for the longest one which is the one to the 4th spark plug then the rest are fairly cheap all those auto stores over charge for wires in total parts shouldn't be more then $300 and with an hour or 2 on the week end that's it

 

DO NOT BUY USEDDDD

 

Btw $60 at the dealer should be slight less but check prices vary from locations

 

Updated for "S" parts lol

 

Buy new and get it from a decent supplier, you can to this in your driveway in a few minutes with a Phillips and flat blade screw driver, you'll need a small allen wrench for the rotor (3mm I think?) and a ratchet with a spark plug socket and a 6 inch extension. Make sure you get parts for the 944S and not the regular 944. The 16v motor uses different ignition parts.

Rotor
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2529%2520%2520
Cap
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2529%2520%2520
Wires
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2531%2529%2520
Plugs
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2538%2529%2520

 

I have the cap and wires off right now, was very easy to do and would be even easier to replace. I've also read the ohm warning, but I thought that was just the injectors. Do it yourself.

 

the shop is doing you no favors - I have had best luck with Beru wires, when I feel cheap I've rebuilt the wires (reuse the ends, change the wires), buy OEM cap and rotor if you can. Don't strip the allen screw that holds the rotor in place.

 

You'll be saving yourself a bunch of cash if you go with the Clewett Engineering wireset. Higher quality cable too.

 

Wow -- thanks for the links and advice.

Two caveats: (1) The engine is actually a 3.0 S2 (yes, in a 944S body) -- does that change the parts?; and

(2) The shop says cap, wires and plugs is a pre-emptive step that must be completed so they can do a proper bumper-to-bumper assessment (at my request) as this car is new-to-me.

While I think I probably *could* do this in my driveway... I'd then have to return it to the shop for the full assessment. Awkward.

 

Parts are the same, so no worries there. However your statement that the shop wants to do this "pre-emptively" worries me.... You probably don't need to throw these parts at the car unless it wasn't running correctly. The fact that they want to do it just to inspect the car is screaming rip off to me. There is no reason it needs to be done to perform a proper front to back inspection. They see a Porsche and they have $$$ in their eyes, it's time to find another shop.

Pick up the car, let them know you found the parts you need online for half the price and that your looking for another shop. Where do you live?

S2 motor in the S body will be a lot of fun and will be a bit of sleeper compared to the normal S motor! The transaxle gearing is a little shorter than the S2 also so you'll even be a bit quicker than the original S2. Enjoy your car! Post pictures! We can help you with the things that pop up.

 

<vent>That's a bit harsh, they quoted for dealer parts and labor, which will probably be an hour tops. Price is about right and the op says this is required for them to do the work the car was bought in for.

Foresight, maybe op should have changed them himself before he bought it into a shop and saved a bit, but its not the shops fault that the car requires this work or that the dealer charges those prices for parts </vent>