Hey guys,

I just recently (~1 month ago) purchased a 2004 GT3 and it is time to take her in for the 15k mile service.
Now the question is, should I take it to the dealership (and pay $800) or should I just take it to a reputable independant Porsche shop (and pay ~300) instead?

Is there any added value for me to have this done at a certified dealership?
As far as I know, this is just an oil change and a check up on the car!?

Also, I will be tracking my car (already had one DE) quite often, does it make sense to change the oils and fluids between DE's, or is that just "over caring"?

I tried to search for this info but did not find an answer that would have satisfied me...

Thanks guys!

Best regards,

Juha

 

An independent is great.

I like the over maintenance plan. Track work is serious, and should be treated as such. So keep it maintained to the highest standard.

 

I advise you to get the routine service work done by the dealer. In case of a warranty claim this will help you a lot.

Tracked cars are usually over-maintained. I change oil every ten track days and also transmission fluid. Brake fluid gets replaced twice. Once in April and again in July. Feel free to get the extra service done by a good independent. Fresh fluids are cheap insurance.

Best,

 

What type of warranty work would having routine service done at the dealer help you out with? The dealer could not deny a claim for a blown engine because you got an oil change at the local independent. The only way a dealer can force you to receive routine maintainance at a dealership is to provide that service for FREE!

 

If the car has any warranty left, I would definitely stick with dealer. Easier to prove scheduled maintenance was done if anything goes wrong.

P.S. nice new avatar bob, the photographs took amazing shots.

 

The dealer from whom I bought my car charged me $540 for the 15K mile service not $800. For my other cars, I normally use an independent, but until I'm out of warranty will continue to use my Porsche dealer.

 

Greg - the service manager and the zone rep will always look at the dealer's service records as part of the warranty claim process for anything serious (usually over $2K). If there is no record of maintenance you are fighting an uphill battle having to prove that you did the required work, used approved fluids etc.

Some claims are resolved based on "goodwill". You are more likely to get it if the car has been serviced by the dealer.

Best,

 

Found on the net. I think you guys are being mislead by your dealer or your own minds that you have to (or should) take the car to the dealer for routine maintainance.


"YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO MAINTAIN YOUR WARRANTY.

New and used car dealers are notorious for their claims that only they can provide warranty work on a car or truck that they sell. Some have gone so far as to state that a warranty will be rendered invalid if anyone other than a dealer’s service department does the work, or if any product other than a brand-name product is used.

This practice was one of a number of questionable tactics that led to the enactment of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in 1975. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a component of the Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, and was passed in an effort to “improve the adequacy of information available to consumers, to prevent deception, and improve competition…” It mandates disclosures designed to enhance consumer protection through awareness of implied and express warranties attached to products and services.



“No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is defined by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission if:

(1) the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and

(2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the ‘public interest’.”




The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires that if a written warranty is made, that it be made available to consumers to read before a product is purchased. The warranty must include, among other items:

* a statement of what the consumer must do and expense he must bear,
* exceptions and exclusions from the terms of the warranty, and
* the step-by-step procedure which the consumer should take in order to obtain performance of any obligation under warranty, including the identification of any person or class of persons authorized to perform the obligations set forth in the warranty.

 

So a receipt from a well respected Independent is "worthless". I don't believe that for a second.

I agree that if you haven't maintained your car you could face issues in getting a claim paid for, but that is not the question. The question is can you use any shop of your choice to provide maintenance. That answer is yes under the Magnusson Moss ACt

 

Greg you are correct. How many people actually keep the bills? Please, do not jump to conclusions, I did not say a receipt is worthless. I said an "uphill battle" because you have to prove that the service was done. Not so at the dealer.

 

Ok. I won't argue the point any longer, but my indy gives me a copy of the receipt which I put in a folder I keep for each car I own. He also keeps a copy in his files in case I can't find mine down the road.

If your argument is that the dealer is more convenient and may reduce hassle down the road of proving service, I agree. But for the substantial savings I think I could keep track of the documents.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

I think I'm taking the car to the stealership as:

1. The car is new to me and I want to make sure everything is up to spec.
2. This is my only "mandatory" service for at least 1.5-2 years as the next one will be at 30k miles and I don't intend to drive more than 7-8k /year.

So I will take it to the dealership for my piece of mind, but for all the other service (oil & fluid changes and checkups after DE's etc.), I will take it to the independant shop!

What I'll do though, is I will call the other local dealer and see if they can offer the same service for less $$....

regards,

Juha

 

Bob is right. You have to throw the dealer a bone every once in a while, but not have everything done there. If you show up with problems and they don't know you, there could be issues about the car being tracked, not properly maintained, etc. Also, there's the issue of goodwill after the warranty is up. Clearly, there are times when you need the dealer on your side and this is an easy way to achieve that.

 

i normally follow this simple rule.
in Warranty = Dealer (as Bob stated above, you don't want to have to answer "why" questions when you need something serious)
out of Warranty = Independent