rzundel

I need some assistance. I have a C4S that I purchased 20 months ago. It only has 5000 miles on it. The service light came on today. I took it to the dealer and they said that the light is set to come on at 2 years or 20,000 miles (whatever comes first). The service is a $750 service. He said that I could get by with just a $200 oil change because it has low miles. He left it up to me.

What do you recommend that I do? A full service at 5000 seems like an overkill?

MLindgren

Not sure what the added cost is for C4S vs. C2S but the $750 seems to be on the high side.

gota911

Go to the dealer and buy:
1) an oil filter,
2) an aluminum crush ring for the drain plug, (get a backup drain plug because they are aluminum)
3) an oil filter wrench (74mm 14 flute $15 at the dealer or <$4 at the Pep Boys).

Then go to Wal Mart and get 9 quarts of Mobile 1 and a 10+ quart capacity oil pan. Spend 30 - 45 minutes changing your own oil. Over half of that time will be spent waiting for the oil to drain out completely.

Total cost: $75 - $85

Savings: $115 - $125

The feeling that you didn't let the dealer "bend you over" for an oil change: Priceless!

OCBen did a great write up on a DIY Oil Change. After doing this once, and realize how easy it is to do on the Porsche, you will never choose to pay $200 for an oil change again.

KeninBlaine

Or, if you don't want to do it yourself, find a Porsche certified independent shop and save the exorbitant rates charged by many Porsche dealers for a 20k "service". Here in the OC, the dealer recently charged me $799 for the 20k service (I actually had 20k miles), which effectively consisted of an oil change (plus a check of fluids, tire wear etc. etc.), whereas a local shop recommended by other Rennlisters later told me they would have charged $265 for the same service. Needless to say I won't get burned like that again from the dealer. If you don't know of any good shops in your area, just ask on this forum. There is a wealth of help available. Good luck.

rzundel

Thanks for the feedback. I get the impression that the $750 service might be an overkill with only 5000 miles. I like the idea of finding an independent. Does anyone have any recommendations for the Westlake Village area?

Edgy01

With 5000 miles ANYTHING is an overkill.

I did my own 20,000 mile service by (1) replacing the oil and filter, (2) replacing the air filter, and (3) replacing the cabin air filter. I inspected the usual stuff (tires, serpentine belt, coolant level, battery level, and brake fluid level.

If you document it (as I do) in a small notebook that will suffice as far as accomplishing the event. The point is,--it was done. You don't need to discard $750.

axhoaxho

Does the $750 price that the dealer quote you including flushing the brakes, and changing the spark plugs?

With best regards,

KeninBlaine

It didn't in my case. They wanted more for flushing, which I didn't to for.

YA911Fan

Have you tried calling around to other SoCal dealers? Some have better labor rates, service coupons, etc.

Changing the oil isn't rocket science obviously but the money you save now might be offset later when you get ready to sell it. Prospective buyers are sometimes (usually?) wary of DIY service...

abe

Look up a member OCBen on this site July of 2006 "DIY oil change in 997"
Step by step oil/filter change with pictures. The only thing is that in my car the plug is at the center bottom where some plugs are off to the side.
GO FOR IT
abe

Stephenkng

Just a 20K service should run around $450 - $600 in CA depanding on the dealer. For $750, it is definitely high. Look around and I am sure you will find something in the $500 range. Even with such a low mile, I will still do the service for the record. Good luck

The_Phantom

Also consider buying a large rubbermade container to put under the car. Most oil collection pans aren't made to catch nine quarts of oil coming out as fast as it will from a 911. I catch the oil in a big rubbermade container (approx. three feet long, two feet wide and eighteen inches deep) and then pour it into the standard collection pan which is made to carry oil sealed without leaks when I return the used oil to the auto parts store.

Also note that most of this expense is one time and after that you will only have to spend $50-60 to buy the oil and new filter element. So you'll save even more on subsequent oil changes.

othomasjr

For future reference, try the shopping around thing. I live in SC so I'm sure they can't get the enormous prices that can be charged in a big city, but it should still work.
If you have something you really want done by the dealer, shop it. I saved around $600 by simply calling several dealers until I found one that would work with me. It's hard to believe there was another dealer within 70 miles that wanted $600 more for the exact same service!!