The part number for the workshop manuals is WKD 483 121.

One of the on-line Porsche dealers shows a list of $946.96 for the manuals.

You might check with Sunset Porsche for their discounted price.
1-800-346-0182

 

I have a hardly-used set of paper manuals I bought for my '95 993. Will sell for $450 plus shipping since I'm going to a 996TT very soon. PM me. Pick up in Boulder, CO is possible. Bill

 

I have a hardly-used set I'll sell for $450 plus shipping (they're heavy). Bought for my '95 993, I'm getting a 996TT soon. PM me. Pick up if you're in the Denver area. Bill

 

Thanks for the offer. I found a set on Craigslist after I got a tip from an RLer. I will definitely buy them if the sale falls through.
--Michael

 

Hi Steve,

When did Porsche begin with this nonsense? Is there any other source of this info for hobbists who, say want to buy a GT3 sometime down the road?

Thanks,
Joe

 

I could use a link please. If you want to PM, I understand. Just don't want to waste my time or pc with an inferior or corrupted/infected download.
Thanks in advance.

 

They started the process in 2009 and completed it last year.

No alternatives whatsoever; if an individual or a shop needs access to service information for these cars, one needs to step up and open the wallet VERY far. Parts information only extends to the 2011 models; after that its all PIWIS/POSES or nothing.

Porsche has really clamped the doors shut on all information now, service or parts, and while some might consider this to be anti-trust, unfair, poor business practices or anything else, its currently legal. They are strictly in business to maximize profits and this is a large part of that objective.

 

PM sent

 

Its sad that they have chosen to go that route. You would think with such a large enthusiast following they would want to maintain a open relationship with respect to DIY and small shops.

 

Well, I think the larger enthusiast crowds tend to stick with the older cars - definitely air cooled and perhaps the 996 and a bit of 997 crowd -> but I am willing to bet the majority of the serious DIY'ers are in the air-cooled world and much less so in the water cooled world. It has a lot to do with complexity, documentation and what you need for tools, training and skills. BTW, by "serious" I mean not just brake jobs, but someone willing to drop engines, clutches, engine rebuilds, etc.

Personally, I stick to DIY on the air-cooled cars, I have all the documentation and support I need from large communities on the net, and documentation, tools and parts are all easily accessible. I would not go even close to any of the late water pumpers since the support is now so hidden.

I also heard that the amount of specialized tools is crazy as well on the later cars, every model change crates of tools have to be purchased by all the dealers at many $$$$.

Cheers,

Mike

 

Wow, they sure have gotten pricey!

I have the PDFs & paper and as others, really never use the PDFs.

Bought mine in '01 or '02 for $150...

 

I am thinking more of the future. Eventually the cars of today will hopefully be maintained by kids who dreamt of them when they were growing up. I am pretty capable of most repairs to my 993, but I have used the manuals for random questions and as a reference for specs. If I didnt have them to refer to, I am not sure where I would get the info I needed. Looking to the more modern cars, I would have a much more difficult time as they are a bit more complex. Someday maybe I will have a newer car, but if I cant get the support I need through manuals or forums, where would I turn?

 

Porsche is owned and managed by people who run it like a business. They do foster a relationship toward their customers, franchised dealers and clubs, but its a for-profit venture and that means everything they do makes a (healthy) profit.

FWIW, the newer cars are NOT DIY-friendly besides suspension and brake maintenance. Almost everything beyond that requires the PIWIS scan tools which are $ 22K+. This means one will need a well trained & equipped independent shop or a good dealer for everything else.

The air-cooled cars are the last of the breed in more ways than one.

 

Where can I get a free download of the PDF manual???

 

On my IPad I have .pdfs for the FSMs and PETs of my cars, and the owners manual for the 944S (can't find a .pdf of the 993 owners manual). Links to all the good tech sites too of course. It's a really good system for me, and I don't feel any need for paper version, though I do print pages for the job at hand after I'm done researching.