Is my dealer trying to rip me off on 20k service ??
02-16-2008 | 08:32 PM
#31
On the Radar
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From: Bel Air, Md.
Here are my thoughts:
1. It is a $100k car. Paying $500 or even $800 every 20k miles for maintenance is not expensive at all.
However, I am impressed by those of you who do their own maintenance.
2. Is the service cost really that expensive if your dealer is top notch and treats you and your car
extremely well? Nice loaner car? Makes last minute service appointments? Open on Saturdays?
Washes and vacuums your car? Does little extras like cleaning your front radiator and air cond cond
condenser of leaves and other debris?
3. Cleaning of the injectors sounds questionable. Flushing the brake system every two years is by the
book and I understand that even a little moisture in the system can lead to corrosion issues. Why
would Porsche include this in the schedule if it was not a good idea? God knows that they stretched
the oil change interval to the max! Is the 20k oil change interval an industry maximum?(just
wondering).
1. It is a $100k car. Paying $500 or even $800 every 20k miles for maintenance is not expensive at all.
However, I am impressed by those of you who do their own maintenance.
2. Is the service cost really that expensive if your dealer is top notch and treats you and your car
extremely well? Nice loaner car? Makes last minute service appointments? Open on Saturdays?
Washes and vacuums your car? Does little extras like cleaning your front radiator and air cond cond
condenser of leaves and other debris?
3. Cleaning of the injectors sounds questionable. Flushing the brake system every two years is by the
book and I understand that even a little moisture in the system can lead to corrosion issues. Why
would Porsche include this in the schedule if it was not a good idea? God knows that they stretched
the oil change interval to the max! Is the 20k oil change interval an industry maximum?(just
wondering).
Why should one pay $800 or even $500 for something that can be done in an afternoon with less than $150 in fluids?
Then again why pay someone to wash my car, It is pride of ownership and enjoyable.
02-17-2008 | 11:18 AM
#32
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
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Thanks for all the advice and input. I decided against getting anything done at the dealer, except for the 20,000 service. I am going to get the brakes flushed at an independent. Does anyone have a great recommendation in the Fairfield County / Westchester County area ? I live in Greenwich, CT.
For the record the breakdown for the 20k service was as follows :
Labor $590
Parts $175.79
Environmental Charge $16.75
Sales Tax $46.96
TOTAL $829.50 - Seems right at the top end of the price scale !!!
Maybe I will try Danbury next time ?
For the record the breakdown for the 20k service was as follows :
Labor $590
Parts $175.79
Environmental Charge $16.75
Sales Tax $46.96
TOTAL $829.50 - Seems right at the top end of the price scale !!!
Maybe I will try Danbury next time ?
02-17-2008 | 04:13 PM
#33
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 208
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From: Calgary
I'm a believer in brake fluid changes for reasons stated in this thread.
This doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Buy a 2 buck turkey baster and suck the fluid out of your master cylinder. Fill it back up with new brake fluid. This won't replace all of the fluid as there will be lots left in the lines and calipers. Drive the car a week and let the new fluid circulate with the old and repeat the turkey baster routine.
This isn't as good as a full flush and pressure bleed but it's about 90% cheaper and 90% as effective for the 10 mins it takes to do the job.
I do it with all my cars and have had no internal brake corrosion problems ever.
This doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Buy a 2 buck turkey baster and suck the fluid out of your master cylinder. Fill it back up with new brake fluid. This won't replace all of the fluid as there will be lots left in the lines and calipers. Drive the car a week and let the new fluid circulate with the old and repeat the turkey baster routine.
This isn't as good as a full flush and pressure bleed but it's about 90% cheaper and 90% as effective for the 10 mins it takes to do the job.
I do it with all my cars and have had no internal brake corrosion problems ever.
02-17-2008 | 04:24 PM
#34
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 462
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From: San Francisco
Just for the record, I believe that the fuild chnage is also including the clutch fuild as well. I paid $150 for it. Of course, it may only cost $20 - $30 for the fuild. However the tech need to eat and the dearlership need to pay their rent and insurance as well. Every one open a business to make a living and we need to understand that. As for $800 for the 20k, I, again, believe it is on the high side. Again, I pay $449 and just happen to think it is reasonable for them to maintain a faculity to service our car. As for car wash, I never want them to touch my car with that.
02-18-2008 | 03:37 AM
#35
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Shopped around for 20K service on my 06 C2S w 7400 miles, haven't had it done yet.
Beverly Hills Porsche $800+
Speed Gallery, Studio City $350, said they were Porsche certified
PS Racing, Burbank $450
Beverly Hills Porsche said its not required to change the brake fluid.
Anyone have other LA area suggestions?
Beverly Hills Porsche $800+
Speed Gallery, Studio City $350, said they were Porsche certified
PS Racing, Burbank $450
Beverly Hills Porsche said its not required to change the brake fluid.
Anyone have other LA area suggestions?
02-18-2008 | 04:15 AM
#36
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From: The South
I agree... did my own oil change and it was under $100 and most of that cost was the aFe air filter! Dealer was charging south of $200 to do it. Took me about an hour and that was mostly getting the freaking air filter box off and back on and assuring myself it was properly replaced!
I also have two independant shops in my Blackberry that I can call if I get into trouble. $800??? only if it involves a date with the dealer's daughter too!
I also have two independant shops in my Blackberry that I can call if I get into trouble. $800??? only if it involves a date with the dealer's daughter too!
02-18-2008 | 03:53 PM
#37
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 207
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From: Hillsborough, CA
I change brake fluid every two years without fail. As others have already mentioned, brake fluid is hygroscopic. That moisture finds its way into the brake system, and causes premature failure on things like the brake cylinders or master cylinder. A brake fluid change is cheap insurance.
02-18-2008 | 07:06 PM
#38
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
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Shopped around for 20K service on my 06 C2S w 7400 miles, haven't had it done yet.
Beverly Hills Porsche $800+
Speed Gallery, Studio City $350, said they were Porsche certified
PS Racing, Burbank $450
Beverly Hills Porsche said its not required to change the brake fluid.
Anyone have other LA area suggestions?
Beverly Hills Porsche $800+
Speed Gallery, Studio City $350, said they were Porsche certified
PS Racing, Burbank $450
Beverly Hills Porsche said its not required to change the brake fluid.
Anyone have other LA area suggestions?
I just brought my 04 GT3 & 06 Cayenne S for oil change only @ BH last month. Both were about $280 each. No loaner car unless you have a warranty repair. I did call around but the few independent in my area wanted pretty much the same.
02-19-2008 | 12:50 AM
#39
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From: yorba linda, ca
If history is a precursor to the future, flush your brake fluid at least every two years.
There are many aircooled cars that have sludge problems in their brake fluid. The ABS controllers dont do well with this white, milky sludge or clumpy brake fluid (as others have termed it) in their braking systems. There are micro-fine screens in the ABS controllers that can clog-up or at a minimum face restrictions. Once the newer cars are out of warranty, you, or the eventual owner will thank you for it.
As for associated costs for such a service, I am sure it varies greatly.
And why is the damn PIWIS so bloody expensive? I recall them priced at new what I paid for my house 8 years ago!!
02-19-2008 | 10:18 PM
#40
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Norwalk,CT
Oh boy... It's getting closer to my 2 year 20K mile service to be done. Better order my drum of KY lube.
Since it's a lease, I have to be careful as to who touches this car. I don't need more headaches durring these turbulent times.
I'll be doing the brake flush since I spent extra $$ for PCCB's, I'd rather know I have fresh fluid in the system.
Geez, why do we have to fork over all this cash for what amounts to be no more than oil and filter change along with someone plugging in a computer to validate the system.
Oh wait, I know now... normal rates for the oil/filter stuff.... It's when they plug in the tester... they need a MCSE, CCNP, etc certified tech to run the damn tester!!
Come April.... Bend over . my turn!!!!
Deanski
Since it's a lease, I have to be careful as to who touches this car. I don't need more headaches durring these turbulent times.
I'll be doing the brake flush since I spent extra $$ for PCCB's, I'd rather know I have fresh fluid in the system.
Geez, why do we have to fork over all this cash for what amounts to be no more than oil and filter change along with someone plugging in a computer to validate the system.
Oh wait, I know now... normal rates for the oil/filter stuff.... It's when they plug in the tester... they need a MCSE, CCNP, etc certified tech to run the damn tester!!
Come April.... Bend over . my turn!!!!
Deanski
02-20-2008 | 09:13 AM
#41
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Oh boy... It's getting closer to my 2 year 20K mile service to be done. Better order my drum of KY lube.
Since it's a lease, ....
Oh wait, I know now... normal rates for the oil/filter stuff.... It's when they plug in the tester... they need a MCSE, CCNP, etc certified tech to run the damn tester!!
Come April.... Bend over . my turn!!!!:crying:
Deanski
Since it's a lease, ....
Oh wait, I know now... normal rates for the oil/filter stuff.... It's when they plug in the tester... they need a MCSE, CCNP, etc certified tech to run the damn tester!!
Come April.... Bend over . my turn!!!!:crying:
Deanski
You can get the 55 gallon drum of K-Y lube at BendMeOver.com. They will give you free shipping!
02-20-2008 | 09:26 PM
#42
Three Wheelin'
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From: Norwalk,CT
Wait, why is the driver opening the drum?
Next time, why doesn't Porsche put in the PCM an ATM MSR instead of the SIM reader? At least we can just leave our credit/ATM card in the slot when we drive in for service.
I'm still waiting for the crystal decanters they must have used for the oil the last time I had it changed.
Deanski
02-21-2008 | 12:26 AM
#43
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4
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From: Mercer Island, WA
I just paid $425 for the 20 K service on my 2007 C4S cab at my local Seattle area dealer. Labor was $220. Tax was $39, so the pretax cost of the service was less than $400. No coupon, but they did give a PCA discount of $42. I'm probably at the higher end of the range for mileage on 2007's, so I want to make sure my dealer knows my car well in the event any serious warranty issues arise.
I didn't realize I was getting such a good deal...
I didn't realize I was getting such a good deal...
07-27-2009 | 05:08 PM
#45
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Wellington. FL
I agree I have an '08 that is leased, and I am coming up on the 20K service. The book even says it is essentially an oil change, so that is all I am doing with an independent porsche shop, and then will have the book stamped. As for the brake flush, that is a simple $150 activity, max, depending on which brake fluid one uses, so the $450 is a nutso. When I had my e46 M3, I loved it, as all service was included.