gprosser

Ordered some new rears for my C4S - Continentals as before.

Got a good (european) price at €480 for 2.

Went today to the fitter in Germany (20mins over the border from Luxembourg where I live), and they claimed they couldn't fit tyres to magnesium wheels, and that I'd have to take it to Porsche. Weird.

Put both tyres in the car, and went to a fitter in Luxembourg, who had no issues doing it. Figured they would be cheaper than the OPC. They managed to crack one of the centre caps, but claimed it was already damaged. I never noticed, but figured it wasn't worth the hassle to argue the point.

Now. The cost to fit 2 rears? €170!!!!!!

Almost fell off my chair. They charge different prices as per wheel size apparently. Thieves.

Oh well. Lesson learnt (again) to ask for price before getting work done. Still worked out cheaper than the purchase price in Luxembourg (which included fitting).

Off to wear them down again :-)

Tim Wasmer

That Blows.

Most I have ever paid is $20 per wheel

gprosser

expensive part :-(

perryinva

That's insane! That's $106 per tire mount and balance. Costco here charges $15, and includes N2 fill and road hazard! And Porsche wheels are aluminum, not magnesium, where did that come from? Luxembourg must be a very expensive place to live!!

Dharn55

170 Euros for a half hour's work! wow!

NZ951

I just bought two new S02A's... Porsche charge $2000 for the pair, I got a deal through a mate, about 25% off that price. Ouch.

jyoteen

You have magnesium wheels? The cost to mount tires is insane!

gprosser

Was surprised as well - back of alloy is stamped 'MG' or smthg similar. Refers to magnesium content according to German fitter, and they aren't allowed to touch them. Are standard 2002 C4S wheels.

perryinva

Standard 2002 Porsche wheels are most definitely not magnesium, in the US.

fpb111

You need one of these
No-Mar tire mounting "machine"

gprosser

ok - charges for fitting was a slight mistake. they had charged for fitting 4 tyres.

new price for fitting 2 tyres, plus a discount when i complained = €75. Still not cheap IMO, but much better.

jyoteen

I don't think the OE wheels are magnesium. Neither are the hollow spoke turbo wheels. And I cannot imagine that Porsche would spec two different wheels for ROW and US.

Litesonic

They maybe partially magnesium... as they are an alloy, but they are not specially described as magnesium. There are Porsche magnesium wheels (specific to the 993, as well as the 951, and maybe others for racing purposes), but the stock wheels are an aluminum alloy.


Either way, that first shop was either too nervous to work on your wheels, or it would have been EVEN MORE expensive. Probably the best thing was that they turned down the work. Silly though.

Byprodriver

Must be a old law dating back to the 1960's when magnesium wheels presented a potential fire hazard. Modern day "mag" wheels such as the optional 1998 Corvette wheels are sealed to prevent such hazards.

geetee

It happens here in the states also....I took it to 2 chain tire places...bigO? and tire 'something'. It's been a couple years. I told them 295/30/18 they say $50 each for mount/balance. They ask what kinda car is it for. I tell them Porsche. Both places state "we can't do them. they use this special metal and our machine will crush the rims". I laughed and walked out.