Porsche_nuts

I agree with you. I don't consider myself a DIY either, and did not have an interest in it, let alone on a Porsche. But when I hear all the crap about being charged for things not done, or being done poorly, it gets me mad. Like you, I am willing to pay for quality service, but $350 for an oil change -- really? Thanks to this forums and others, contributors have removed the mystic around DIY. As a result I changed my exhaust myself and will be doing oil changes myself. I have even done paint correction and touched up small scratches. All thanks to all the knowledgeable contributors!

StudGarden

I don't mind an extra $150 for a general oil change/inspection, as to me there is value in getting that little dealer stamp in the book. Plus a set of trained eyes looking at things to fix under warranty as well as the updates and bulletins. Plus if a plug or filter somehow comes loose or whatever, there's a BIG difference in how that's handled vs DIY.

Not to mention down the road if I'm ever in a situation where I may need some good will, lots of dealer services are one of the strongest things to have in your corner while pleading your case.

It's also nice to have at resale time, particularly for a higher mileage one 10 years or so down the road. I tend to keep my cars a long time and other than a nightmare out of warranty blown engine with a possible rejected core I think I'd enjoy keeping her a long time, as is stock except for clear side markers and maybe an aftermarket exhaust one day.

And I actually enjoy the experience. Get to crawl around a showroom full of new Porsches, usually take a demo to lunch, and maybe test drive a new model, etc. Last time I test drove a Cayenne Diesel and a Macan (in the market for an SUV either next year or 2016) and took a base Cayman to lunch. Pretty good day.

What really grinds my gears isn't the high hourly rates, but the severe markup on the exact same factory parts I can get delivered to my door, as well as a schedule full of services that may not need to be done.

Do wiper blades really need to be replaced the same on a high mileage Seattle DD car as for a low mileage garage queen that rarely sees rain? Same for cabin filters, etc. Even with brake fluid, there's a huge difference between a high mileage San Francisco hill car driven "spiritedly" versus a low mileage flat Florida car driven gently.

I wonder how a "partial" service is handled WRT your logbook and service history. For example, if the dealer did most things on a service, but the wiper blades and cabin filters were either done by you or not done at all because they just weren't needed. Do you still get credit for the service, or do they stain your record with "against medical advice" etc?

Also, has anyone had good luck with dealers when you BYOP (bring your own parts)? Like Porsche factory pads and rotors from Suncoaat for example? I'll run that by them when the time comes and I wouldn't try it just to save a few bucks, but if they want to mark up the same parts 100-200% I'll have to start looking at other options.

MJBird993

Well said. I DIY because I get pleasure out of it, I have the skills (such as they are) and tools and being a thrifty SOB, I get a kick out of how much I saved (not counting the thousands of dollars of depreciation that this car costs me every month).

I also mow my own grass because I have the time and it gives me a little bit of exercise. That said, I chose not to paint my house because I despise painting, I hate heights, and I despise painting.

Back to the thread, OP, yes, it looks like they took advantage of you or - just as likely - the technician honestly made a mistake (at least on the filter). As for the rest of you who don't/won't/can't DIY and don't like paying dealer prices, just take it somewhere else! It will not void your warranty. Just keep the receipts that show that you did have the oil changed, brakes bled, etc. and that is all that you need. Even DIY, we just need to show that we bought the oil and filter(s).

Justin N

Agreed on both counts. I actually do enjoy wrenching on cars and will probably be doing this from now on. Well built cars like this are actually very easy to work on - everything comes apart and goes back together with ease. I did my Escort 9500ci install myself - its very satisfying and was amazed how easy. I'm an engineer and sticking my head under the car and seeing how everything is designed and built is as fun as driving it... well, almost.

todd92

If you aren't interested, don't complain about the absurd pricing, upsell of unneeded items and incompetence. As for the lack of time, the 20K/2 year service can be performed DIY in 1 hour, for me half the time it takes to drive to the dealer and back. I already said it seemed not many DIY guys here, however it's just a car in the end. I take care of 8 cars myself, 2 boats and 2 airplanes, and still have time for my family and other interests, like MX riding and wake-boarding just about every day.

I hate painting too!

Bacura

Well I'm an astronaut. Planning my trajectory to Mars is a full time job. I have no time for DIY. If I do have time I'm usually climbing Mt.Everest or flying my F-16.
P.S. I'm not the one who complained. I have NEVER had a dealer issue.Thank-you Pfaff Porsche.

LexVan

I remember +25 years ago listening to my Think And Grow Rich tapes from Napoleon Hill on my cassette deck when commuting or driving between customer sales meetings. In there was a story related by Andrew Carnegie. I'm going to paraphrase, but the premise of the story was, "if you're a $25/hour guy (pick any number) then make damn sure you don't do any $13.50/hour work. Pay someone to do it for you. Keep doing your $25/hour work, and you'll come out ahead".

This mantra has served me well over the years.

todd92

Thomas Tusser penned a mantra that has served me well over the years.

Bacura

I'm not sure paying for a dealer to change my oil automatically makes me a fool. Then again, some say I was a fool to go into medical school rather than business. I wasn't telling the truth about going to Mars.

Justin N

As a consultant that charges hourly I agree with this wholeheartedly. However, if it takes the $13.50/hr guy a whole day to do and I'm the $25/hr guy that can do it in an hour, I'll do it myself.

Dude174

At our pca lunch Tuesday we discussed price of oil changes. Dealer was $260, Indy $170, DIY $90. Not counting other services, just apples to apples, the DIY vs Indy was $80 for an hour job. I don't make $80/hr unfortunately. Plus you get the intangibles like making sure it's performed correctly, you can see the engine and amazingly engineered parts you're paying for, see your oil (since no dipstick you can't really tell the health of your engine through it's oil). For some of us it's fun. I do see the value in going to the dealer and playing with all the new models though and I understand those who choose to do other stuff.

Now we can go back to arguing pdk vs 7mt et al....

clangpap

People are staring at me wondering why I'm laughing.

I have been DIY, within my capabilities, since I owned a 73 Triumph and it was a necessity. Probably a result of being the son of an aircraft mechanic so there were always tools around when I grew up. Obviously not everyone shares the same interests. I just reread your response, I'm laughing again - you win.

StudGarden

I thought we settled that already

008

Interesting points of view on this thread. I do a lot of my own mechanical work as it's a necessity when tracking often. I don't change my own oil though as I really don't want to deal with the waste. Do you guys take it to an auto parts store, pour it down the drain, keep it in your garaged catalogued to reference letter, or?

Lex, I know you send yours to 18 different labs for analysis!

wanderfalke

Where is the confusion here, they charged you for the filters and did not do the work period. You were not supposed to look but you did. Good on you.

They will look you straight in the eye and tell you it was a honest mistake.

The oil is part of the same routine and you are left to wonder if they really changed the oil filter. Take the car somewhere else or you will be fighting a uphill battle every time.

Heck the way porsche has set up the car it hard to know if the oil was changed without pulling the plug and letting some out to inspect it. Make them hand you the filters and install yourself and never go back.