macfly4

hey all,
will be taking delivery soon of my 1987 s4 and it doesnt really have great service records. would love to take it to someone who will be able to give it a thorough going over and let me know what work it might need. i have been steered away from the 'stealerships' by folks on this forum so wondered if anyone can recommend someone i can take it to in the greater metropolitan D.C area.
so looking forward to getting to finally drive this one!

tomcat

I have two suggestions. Auto-Therapy in Gaithersburg. Only because the owner of the private shop owns a 928. But I wouldn't take my car to him because I don't trust what he would charge. But I know he knows the car.

The other was a Porsche tech for 20 years (Land Rover tech now). He was working when 928s were brand new and knows the car very well. But I don't know what the logistics would be or where he could check out the car though.

If you don't get any better responses, I'll make some phone calls for you.

Mike Frye

Hey Macfly,

You could also take a trip up 95 and check in with Capt. Earl. I think he's around Philadelphia or thereabouts. It would only be a few hour drive and he KNOWS the car from what I've heard. He's also a 'lister.

Rod Underwood

David Lloyd, http://www.musantemotorsports.com/mu...nerscircle.php
is well respected and incredibly helpful. If he's not the one to do the work, he will direct you to the best person.

Rod

rixter

what about Curry's?

DMB14

You might want to consider Fairfax Motors service department. They specialize in European cars. I take my 944 there, and I've seen 924s and 911s up there for service as well. It's a good place.

tomcat

Not all Porsche mechanics like working on 928s. If they don't know 928s, they look at the additional hours needed to get up to speed rather than the two hour job they can perform rated at 6 hours on a more common Porsche.

Courtshark

Ralph's in Owings Mills is a good one. SSI in Towson (944 turbo specialists) is another. At Speed Motorsports (Porsche factory race team) in Hanover, MD is yet another.

And invest in a set of shop manuals ASAP!

Jerome Craig

Curry's has levt me high and dry on one too many occasions. Also, I had the usual A/C needs new compressor when all that was wrong was a vacuum leak... which I found! When I wanted to get my timing belt tension checked, two appointments were cancelled the day before. One cancellation was because too many cars were backed up at the service center, and the second was because the mechanic had moved and his tensioner tool was at his house! So I bought my own tool and do it myself.

A lot of places will say they work on 928s. What they wind up doing is having someone learn on your car and your "dime". BTW... your dime costs $100 an hour. Check with the PCA Potomac Region office, they will probably have a few suggestions. The folks I used for 12 years have closed up and moved to the mountains. Oldtee might know of some shops in his neck of the woods.

As for Fairfax Motors, they do have a lot of very nice cars there, but I've never seen a 928 on the lot.

Jerome

Slantnose!

Don't know if Va. Beach is too far, but Dan at Racewerks is pretty good.

michaelathome

I'll second David Lloyd although my car hasn't been to him. I have heard multiple times that he is a good local resource.

I have heard mixed reviews about all of the local shops, Currys, IPD and the local dealerships. IIRC Curry's in Sterling, off of West Ox, is best of the bunch but they only have 1 or 2 guys that know the 928 well. The problem is that not many people worked on the cars new and finding a shop that can is tough w/out spending new Porsche pricing for labor.

Good luck with your PPI (post purchase inspection) if you need a hand in the area please feel free to let me know and I will see what I can do.

Michael

DonT

Tri-Tec Automotive in Annapolis, MD. They do very good work.

http://www.tritecauto.com/

tomcat

No great service records doesn't necessarily mean bad service records. If you are getting it prepared for the ride home I don't know what a tech can do other than make sure it runs, top off the fluids, and look at the timing belt (and check the tension) - clearly not a fail-safe that it won't break. The only way you will have that piece of mind it to get it changed.

And if you do have it checked here, while you wait, you are probably talking about at least two additional days.

Another option, what I did from Boston, was tow it back. Or you can contact (pre-trip) Rennlisters on your path home to contact if you run into problems driving back.

macfly4

the car is being shipped closed container from oregon. i was more concerned once it is here. im sure it will look great but it just worries me getting into something i paid so much for and worrying that all sorts of gremlins could be living in it!
right now im in cozumel on my honeymoon! guess i still cant get the car out of my head...lol

Dark Blue

I've used Roger Bratter (sp?) at Auto Therapy in Gaithersburg for two TB/WP changes on my 89 S4, and he did very good work. He's not cheap, but he's a very knowlegable 928 tech.

Steve Doyle
'89 S4 Auto