Service at 5000 miles?
#1
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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?
What do you recommend that I do? A full service at 5000 seems like an overkill?
Last edited by rzundel; 01-22-2008 at 08:18 PM.
#3
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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.
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!
![Big Grin](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
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.
#4
Drifting
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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.
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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?
#6
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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.
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.
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#8
Drifting
#9
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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...
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...
#10
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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
#11
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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
#12
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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.
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!
![Big Grin](https://rennlist.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
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.
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.
#13
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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!!
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!!