HuskerPete

My car is now at 32,000 miles and is due for it's first oil change under my ownership. A local Porsche specialist says I also need the brakes flushed, 2 new cabin air filters, new spark plugs, and 6 new updated ignition coils because they were superseded after my car was produced. The total cost is $2000. Is this a fair price to pay or is it excessive?. They have an excellent reputation but I have never used them before. Thanks for your opinions before I call and schedule with them.

deilenberger

Sounds excessive (like armed robbery) to me.

the air filters are easily a DIY: and - cost around $40 for the filters aftermarket (MANN are an excellent choice - Porsche uses them..) Plan on 30 minutes the first time.

Brake fluid flush is called for every 2 years. That's possibly a bit overly cautious, but since you don't know when it was done before - worth doing it. It will take about 1 hour to do, and is easier to do on a lift and with a diagnostics tool that will put the ABS/PSM unit into bleed mode. Labor cost for 1-hour labor? Around me at independents, it's around $120/hour. I've had it done for 1-hour labor and supplied the brake fluid myself (about $10.)

Plug/coils? Dunno the plug replacement interval for the 981 engine (your owner's manual will tell you) but on the 987 (basically exactly the same engine) - 4 years/40,000 miles. I wouldn't let the 4 years concern me a lot. New plugs are around $80/parts and perhaps 2 hours labor on a lift. Cost for 2 hours labor? Replacing the coils is completely bogus. While Porsche probably has released new coils with a new part# - they've been doing that about annually since they started using direct ignition about 20 years ago. Your coils should easily last to 80,000 miles.

I'd look for another Porsche specialist. This one is looking at you and your car as their piggy bank.

forestial

Based on items listed, it sounds like they are quoting you for the 40000 mile service. Their justification probably is that the car is now 7 or 8 years old even though its mileage is low.

When I bought my 2014 CS, the dealer had done the 40000 mile service (car had done 25000) before they offered it for sale. They CPO'd it also: I don't know if completing that service is a condition of the CPO program. It sounds like you are no longer under CPO, so there is really not much reason to pay dealer service rates. Maybe you can find an independent that can do what you need.

HuskerPete

This quote is from an independent shop.

HuskerPete

Thanks for taking the time to send me the videos. I will order those today. I'm going to check another independent shop in Jacksonville.

okie981

If the car has been tracked more than 10 days, changing the plugs at 30k miles is reasonable. If it's never been tracked, leave the plugs alone till 40k. The coil packs do not need to be changed if you don't plan to track the car, and if you do plan to track the car, I would still leave the coil packs alone and install the coil pack heat shields from the 991 cars that have the same engine, total cost for parts ~$115.

HuskerPete

Thanks! No, it has never been tracked.

audi49

My experience is that dealers especially are short on work & $$ (since people are driving less due to COVID) and so they are tacking on more unnecessary service to unsuspecting customers. If the car runs fine, I'd follow the owner's manual recommendations... bias toward mileage rather than time. Ignition coils sounds very suspicious. Good luck.

DrBillyD

My opinions:

Brake flush: Porsche recommends changing brake fluid every two years. If you don't know when the last one was done, I'd go ahead and do it. Seems like a relatively easy, but tedious, DIY but as already mentioned flushing the ABS module probably requires scan tool plugged into OBD II port. I'm a novice grade gear head but have paid to have this done.

Cabin air filters: Very easy DIY. There are two; one in "frunk" and another underneath glove box.

Plugs and coils: For the plugs, Porsche recommends replacement at 4 years or 40K miles. If your plugs are original, I'd consider replacing not due to mileage/engine on time but simply due to the time they've been in there (going on 8 years) and worrying about them seizing though I suppose if they've been in there 8 years, the die is cast on that issue. As for the coils, I've read reports of coil failure and if I were in your position, I'd consider replacing coils as well again mostly based on age. FWIW, I just did the 60K service as a DIY on my 2014 Cayenne Turbo S and replaced the plugs (maintenance schedule calls for plug replacement every 30K miles) and replaced the coils as well. When I looked at the original coils, they looked fine and had no obvious cracks, wear, etc. Another reasonable approach might be to leave the plugs and coils alone and wait until the 40K service to do everything. If you start getting a cylinder misfire before then, you could do the plugs and coils at that point. The plugs and coils as a DIY on a Boxster can be a pain due to engine placement; rear tires must come off and at a minimum the buggy needs to be up on jack stands, need a Rube Goldberg set of ratchet extensions, etc. but would give you something to do while you wait for the engine oil to drain if you're going to DIY the engine oil/filter.

Again, my opinions only and the value of them is about what you paid for them.

PRNDL

Seems about right from a dealer for that work. Perhaps the coil packs are a bit excessive. I paid $875 at a local independent for my 40K service (spark plugs, all filters, brake fluid flush, oil) for my 2013 BS. If it were me I'd get references from the club for a good local independent shop and have them do an inspection and service. That would give you a baseline for comparison in the future.

By the way.... you should really change the oil once a year regardless of mileage.

Kitc2246

Do you have any maintenance records? If it has original plugs you are well past the Porsche 4 years. Very little risk of them seizing if left for six years but you could be at 7-8. The serpentine belt is also recommended at six years. Both of these can be DIY but require the right tools and patience. Check out the Youtubes before you try. The cabin filters are really easy DIY. The engine filters are DIY but require removing trim and the ECU in the trunk. Many Youtubes on this task. If they are the original engine filters pulling them out can be a PIA. There are removal tools and other DIY. Two large zip ties seems to be popular.

Okie981 has a ton of track experience.. IMO replacing the coil packs is completely bogus regardless of the new part number. It's not a recall. Heat is the enemy of your coil packs so even if you don't track the car. I installed the heat shields as recommended by Okie and have had no coil pack issues. I do however have two spares. Strange the heat shields are standard on the 911 and not the 981. If you have the coil packs replaced remember there should be no additional labor as part of plug replacement.

You didn't mention rotors and pads. Probably one of the easiest ways to save money if your are at all DIY. A two year brake flush is not unreasonable, however checking the moisture content (cheap from Amazon) is slowly becoming more common verses just age. if you plan on tracking the car stepping up to a track brake fluid is worth the expense. Castrol SRF is often recommended, but pricey. Motul 660 and 600 are also good and more reasonably priced. As with rotor and pads many, many options for racing brake fluid. Check out FCP Euro for parts. They have a lifetime warranty.

PelicanParts and Harbor Freight (jack and other tools) are two other good sources if you go DIY. Suncoast and Byers Porsche are two Porsche dealers I've used for parts.

okie981

For pulling the engine air filters, I've used a pair of Vise grips to grab the long end of old allen wrenches, hooked the short end of the allen wrenches into the two rings (supposedly intended for your poor fingers) and pulled together and outward on the two Vise grips simultaneously. Pure redneck shade tree mechanic solution, but hey, it works and my fingers didn't hurt one bit.

RWPinNC

Just for comparison, I bought my '14 Boxster S a year ago at 17,000 miles. Oil was changed before purchase and brakes were flushed a year before. I replaced the plugs DIY since the recommendation was 4 year/20k miles to avoid seizing. I used the Bosch equivalent plug (same number as Porsche) at $5 each. Coils were fine, and I agree with other posts that they are fine until you get clear indications of failure. Also replaced the frunk cabin air filter (5 mnutes) and inspected the under dash unit (waste of time, it was pristine).

I will be doing an annual oil change and brake flush in the spring and will wait till 30k for engine air filter and serpentine belt (PPI shop said it was in excellent condition).

Jack_981

not sure if it helps; but in Queens NY I was quoted $2500 at one and $2200 at another for 40K major svc at Porsche Dealerships:PERFORM MAJOR SERVICE ON VEHICLE - OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. REPLACE CABIN AIR FILTER, ENGINE AIR FILTERS, SPARK PLUGS, AIR INTAKE PRE-FILTER, WIPERS. TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS. SCAN CAR MODULES AND OPERATING SYSTEMS. SET TIRE PRESSURES, PRESSURE TEST COOLANT SYSTEM. REMOVE BODY PANELS AND CLEAN OUT BODY DRAINS AND CONVERTIBLE/SUNROOF DRAINS. REMOVE BELLY PANS AND CHECK UNDER CARRIAGE FOR WEAR OR DAMAGE. CHECK RADIATOR AND AIR INTAKES FOR DEBRIS OR BLOCKAGE, CHECK REMOTE CONTROL, FRONT SEATS, FOOT BRAKE AND ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE, CHECK STEERING, CHECK HEATING AND A/C SYSTEM, CHECK BRAKES AND TIRES. PERFORM BRAKE FLUID INSPECTION, CHECK BATTERY, DRIVE BELT, AND AIR BAG CHECK. PERFORM MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK, ROAD TEST AND TEST ENGINE, CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION, PARK ASSIST, AUTO SPEED CONTROL, PSM SWITCHES SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM, INSTRUMENTS, RESET SERVICE INDICATOR.

$350 additional for brake flush

good luck

ledbette

Replacing the coils is not completely bogus. The #5 and 6 coils are prone to failure, especially on the 2014 and older cars. Those two coils are the farthest forward on the driver's side and sit in closest proximity to the cat. I had these two fail within a year of each another at 48K and 64K miles. When they fail, you think you destroyed your engine. It runs like crap, you get all kinds of error messages popping up. It's a pretty scary thing, especially if it happens on your morning commute on the freeway or on a long drive in the middle of nowhere.

The newer coils handle the heat better, but since I also track my car, I added the 991 heat shields to further protect them. Why the 981 doesn't have these is anyone's guess.

So, long story short, do replace the #5 and 6 coils. None of my others have failed and I've not heard reports of any of the others failing on here or Planet-9.com, so IMHO replacing the others is optional.

I DIY'ed the coils and plugs, air filters, heat shields, brakes and fluid (and pretty much all my regular maintenance for that matter). Not that difficult.