vern1

Below is a quote from G-Tek re my 96k service

As background I bought the 1996 911 cab 3 summers ago with 72,000 kms on it (103,000 today). It did not come with any service records. I have had the oil changes done of course but the car has not required anything else since then and continues to run fine.

I have no problems with doing whats needed and I am pretty sure I can do the engine lid stays but dont have a garage, the tools or the skills to do much of anything else. One of the rear rims is cracked but no way I am paying $1700 for one rim. Can probably get 4 used for the same price. The mufflers are a bit of a puzzle but I havent heard his explanation on this yet (he just emailed me the quote). On the left cylinder barrels I believe they are "weeping" but not sure I need to do this now ($3300 ouch!!)

I am not implying there is anything wrong here but I would be interested in opinions.

Thanks



96000KM SERVICE-REPLACE SPARK PLUGS-IGNITION WIRES, FUEL FILTER-OIL FILTER-LABOR $1260.00
IGNITION WIRE SET $971.23
3 V-BELTS $76.00
OIL & FUEL FILTERS $70.00
VALVE COVER GASKET SET
$196.77
SPARK PLUGS $131.52

REPLACE ENGINE LID STAYS LABOR-$105.00
STAYS $126.00

REPLACE LEFT SIDE AXEL CV BOOTS-LABOR-$367.50
CV BOOTS$136.00

MOUNT&BALANCE 4 TIRES-LABOR $210.00
L/R WHEEL RIM $1723.66

MUFFLER BAFFLES LOOSE LABOR $210.00
MUFFLERS OE $1572.64

REAR SPOILER CURTAIN $140.00
LABOR $105.00

RESEAL LEFT CYLINDER BARRELS-CHAIN HOUSING LABOR $3150.00
GASKETS $150.00 GASKETS

Christien

This does seem expensive. Couple things I noticed:

REPLACE SPARK PLUGS-IGNITION WIRES, FUEL FILTER-OIL FILTER-LABOR $1260.00
While I know there are differences between a 993 and my car, that would be a 2-hour job for me to DIY on my car, 3 hours at most. $1260 I would think represents more like 10 hours. Spark plugs take 10 minutes, ignition wires maybe 20. Fuel filter 45 min-1 hour, oil filter alone is 3 minutes, full oil change incl. filter change 45 min. (these are times it would take me here in my garage - I've done all of them before, most of them several times)

VALVE COVER GASKET SET
$196.77
Pelican sells them for $3.75 each, 6 per car.

SPARK PLUGS $131.52
The most expensive spark plug I can find is $15 x6 = $90, though that's closer to a typical markup.

CV BOOTS$136.00
Pelican sells them for $5 each.

Resealing the cylinder barrels and chain housing may involve a partial or complete engine drop, hence the labour charge.

Bear in mind, I'm a weekend wrench with no formal training, so you're also paying for expertise, and G-Tek is known to be a good shop. That said, I'd get a second opinion.

Nooch

You're right Christien,the quote is typically high.
I did what you suggest, but with a twist. I bought all the parts ( Pelican,Autoparts Canada ( need 12 plugs for our Varioram engines, plus engine drop to facilitate passenger side bank ) and brought to Henry Costa on Kipling. He only charged shop labour, didn't mind me supplying the parts.
A DIY oil change is no problem, but takes at least 1 hour. I think P-cars.com has the DIY. We have two filters, and the small one on the engine case is a
b****h to replace. It's good experience to do the searches and tackle yourself what seems doable.Barring that, get a case of 24 and invite some of the local Rennlisters!

vern1

I certainly dont mind any shop making a profit but some of this just seemed high. He charges $105/hr for labour but does a sparkplug change etc for a 96k service take 12 hours?? I suppose he will tell me this is an estimate and he will charge me for what it takes but surely they would have a pretty good handle on this and I did ask him for a quote so maybe the labour is not negotiable.

Has anyone purchased parts and taken them to G-tek? Is this pricing just the cost of dealing with a "quality shop" as I have heard they are?

Christien

You need to drop your engine to change the spark plugs?!

AM993

+1 for Henri Costa @ REFINED MOTORSPORT (he moved to Evans Av. in Etobicoke, no longer on Kipling). I have used him for years, sourced 90% of the parts in the US and brought them to him to install. I have saved thousands of $ over the years.

Nooch

Christien, with all the plumbing /tight spots in the 993, it saves a lot of time and scraped knuckles to loosen 3 bolts holding the engine and give yourself another 10"-12" of workspace.

pongobaz

Am I reading this right? Roughly 11K for the 96,000 Km maintenance?!?... unless he's quoting in Pesos, it seems a tad high.

theiceman

yeah you could go buy yourself an SC instread .... and find your car runs fine anyway after your do it yourself oil change.

Christien

Yeah, but you'd be cold and slow

theiceman

getting back on point I think if that were my car I would do it all on my own and leave the weepin barrels until the next major teardown . That is just not enough reason for me to tear down the engine bacasue you have leaking base gaskets or an o ring to the chain box . he is obviously looking for work, but i think everyone is. Now Like Christien I am a DIY guy and you may not be , so fair enough. But here is what i would do .....

As stated leave the weeping base gasket until you have a real reason to tear it down.

Plugs and wires no big deal DIY , along with the oil change .. Even if you put the car up on axles stands for the winter you should be able to get in their with patience. If on stands you can probably even lower the engine enought to make it easier.

I would take the mufflers off , take them to a welder , have them cut open and the baffles rewelded or removed ( hint hint ) and then welded back up.. a couple of hundred bucks cash .. max.

VAlve cover gaskets big deal .. as Christien said they canvbbe had at pelican and changed during oil change while the car is on your jack stands ....

Not be insulting to mechs but with the barrel leakage aside this is easy work and in my mind is just gouging . get your parts and take them to Henri if you are not comfortable..

vern1

Any good shop suggestions for a 2nd opinion in the east end? I am just not comfortable doing this work on my own and dont have anywhere to do it even if i wanted to tackle it. I can go to my local garage near Kingston Rd and Vic Park (Spiros) but probably want more expertise

Thanks

Brian 162

I would recommend Response Engineering in Whitby. Ask for Yarko 416-526-3487. He's located in Whitby. It's worth the drive.

Torontoworker

The next 'Know your Porsche' class is in Feb.

My question is: can you wait until then and if you can, do you want to drive it during the winter to these classes to do the work yourself? If your gong to put your car away during the winter you can take the spring class instead.

I offer this up as it's in your area (Centennial Collage), you'll learn a lot about your car, you'll have help from other students fixing the more difficult issues and the instructors will give you an unbiased feedback on the barrel issue.

I saved a truckload of cash learning/doing the maintenance on my car and had fun to boot.

Just thought I'd run that option past you.

vern1

Thanks thats an interesting option but it will have to be in the spring. I wanted to get the service done before I out it away next week