Porsche 997: Expected Maintenance Costs of 911 Ownership

This article applies to the Porsche 911 (997) (2005-2012).

As a Porsche 911 (997) owner, expect common maintenance to include changing the oil, oil filter, air filter, pollen filter, serpentine/accessory belts, and spark plugs. Common maintenance also includes checking, rotating, and balancing your tires and changing your brake fluid. Your dealer or mechanic will likely charge you north of $2,000 to perform this routine maintenance, but performing part or all of this maintenance yourself will save you a bundle.

Common Maintenance Items

Air and Pollen Filter

The air filter prevents dust and debris from clogging your car’s fuel injection system and air intake system. The more clogged your fuel injection and air intake systems are, the less power you’ll have. The pollen filter prevents your heater fans from becoming clogged by leaves, bugs, or other type of debris. Porsche recommends changing your pollen filter every three to four years, or about every 40,000 miles, and it recommends changing your air filter about every 10,000 miles or so. An air filter costs between $25 and $40, and a pollen filter costs between $50 and $80. A mechanic will charge you north of $200 to replace these filters.

(Related Article: Porsche 997: How to Replace Engine Air Filters - Rennlist.com)

Brake Fluid Flush

Brake fluid is an often-overlooked component of your ride’s brake system and affects how well your car brakes. The older the fluid, the more contaminated it likely is. The more contaminated, the less effective it is, which affects your braking time. Brake fluid should be amber. Black or olive-colored fluid indicates it’s time to flush your brake lines. Porsche recommends performing a brake fluid flush every two years or so. Bleeding your brake lines and replacing your brake fluid can cost between $75 and $100 (you’ll need a bleeder, which can cost between $60 and $90, or if you have a willing assistant, $0!), and brake fluid costs between $15 and $20. A dealer or mechanic will charge you between $175 and $250. The Power Bleeder is a one-time purchase, so you have one, it quickly pays for itself.

(Related Article: Porsche 997: How to Replace Brake Line - Rennlist.com)

Oil/Filter

Changing your oil and oil filter is the most important type of maintenance you can perform. Routine oil changes will help maintain and prolong the life of your engine. Porsche recommends changing your oil and oil filter between every 10,000 and 20,000 miles, or at least once a year. Expect to pay less than $100 to change your oil and oil filter, though this depends on the type of oil you buy. A dealer or mechanic will charge you twice this, and you likely will have little – if any – choice in the type of oil used.

(Related Article: Porsche 997: How to Change Your Oil - Rennlist.com)

Serpentine/Accessory Belts

The serpentine/accessory belts power your water pump, power steering pump, alternator, and air conditioning compressor, so performing routine maintenance on the belts is almost a no-brainer. A faulty or damaged belt can prevent one or more systems from properly working, which can, over time, result in an even more expensive repair bill. Porsche recommends changing your serpentine/accessory belts every 40,000 to 60,000 miles, or between every four to six years. Porsche owners suggest replacing the belts even more often, such as every two years or so. Replacing your serpentine/accessory belts yourself will cost between $25 and $40 for parts. A mechanic likely will charge between $200 and $300 to do this.

(Related Article: Porsche 997: What are Signs of Serpentine Belt Failure? - Rennlist.com)

Spark Plugs

Spark plugs fit inside your engine’s cylinder head and “spark,” which ignites the air and fuel mixture, creates combustion, and causes your engine to run. Faulty or damaged spark plugs won’t work as well, and could eventually fail completely. Without spark plugs, your car won’t go. Porsche recommends changing your spark plugs every 40,000 to 60,000 miles, or between every four to six years. Replacing your spark plugs yourself will cost between $15 and $20 per plug. A mechanic likely will charge between $200 and $300 to do this.

Tires

Rotating your tires every 8,000 to 10,000 miles will balance out the wear on your tires, extend the life of your tire tread, improve your vehicle’s performance and gas economy, and, over the long run, save you money. When you perform maintenance on your tires, it’s a good idea to take a look at your spare as well. You don’t want to find out when you need it that it’s not safe to use. How much you’ll pay to maintain and/or replace your tires varies. A set of four tires can cost between $800 and $1,400, depending on the brand you buy. Routine maintenance can run you a few hundred if you take your car to a mechanic, because your mechanic also will perform an alignment; rotating and aligning your tires on your own costs nothing.

Related Discussions and Sites

• 997 Maintenance - Rennlist.com
• 997 Major Maintenance Cost - Rennlist.com
• First Time Buyer: Expected Maintenance Cost - Rennlist.com
• The Porsche Scheduled Maintenance Plan - Porsche.com
• Maintenance Intervals - Porsche.com