To those in UAE

I just leave Abu Dhabi Porsche workshop for first servicing, few complaints: I brought the worshhop modification document to explain them what they have to do to fix the rear lid noise, they didnt apply it because they did not hear any noise ..... I asked for wheel spacers installation (Porsche 5 mm from their spare parts department), they did not install them telling me it was not working with my wheels (Carrera S 19 in), finally they admit I was right like the documentation ... They kept the car 3 days for the 1st servicing ... And I would n't speak about the ''warm'' welcome .... Please, those in UAE, did you face the same level of incompetency in AD Porsche dealer ? What about Dubai Porsche dealer ?? Thank you - Choukrane

I have had two encounters with them so far. The first was when my car arrived from the port and to their workshop for the PDI. After PDI, I drove to their workshop to check on the car since it is close to my office. There was a sandstorm that day. To my shock and horror, I found the car outside with the driver door open. Needless to say, the car was full of sand inside. I complained to the salesman and to the guy in charge; who said that they would clean the car! According to him, leaving a brand new Porsche open in the middle of a sand storm is OK as long as he cleans it afterwards. My second encounter was when I took the car in for the 1st free oil service after 1 year. I made sure I took and appointment and insisted that they return the car the same day and that they DO NOT wash it. I also asked them to check out the usual rattle near the passenger seat belt outlet. They didn't finish the car same day so I had to wait until the next day, AND, the car was washed and some shiny stuff applied to the tires; but no damage to the car. The Abu Dhabi dealer doesn't exactly have a good reputation, however, they have split the workshop by moving Audi and VW to a new workshop (very nice) while they are building a new workshop for Porsche as well, so things will hopefully improve. I was told by a number o people that the Dubai dealer is better and that half the cars in their workshop have Abu Dhabi number plates. For anything more than an oil change, I would be reluctant to take my car to the Abu Dhabi dealer. Things will hopefully get better when they open the new workshop soon.

Did they fix the rattle that I ahve as well on the same side ? May be new workshop but certainely the same people to ''take care of your car''. Amazingly when I go to Toyota express service, they call me by my name, Porsche calls you by your plate number, sure there are so many Porsche in here....

recommendation You should always ask to go for a ride with the tech. Get to know him, also, if he hears:banana: the noise with you, you know now he has to fix it. Also the best way to get the best service is to be friendly with the service advisor. If he/she is a **** ask for some one else. Trust me, it will work.

I agree with Paul. As a salesman (errr, sales professional?), I can tell you that personal relationships get you much further then anything else. Make a friend, it will make your life easier.

I haven't had the pleasure of Al Naboodah in Dubai yet but I'll have to get the first oil change done in the next few weeks. From the experiences of others it's as good as you're going to get for the region - that still doesn't say much as the lack of customer care here is shockingly bad. Basic servicing will be done by them but anything else I need doing will be done by a couple of independents I've heard good things about and I've already had long conversations with the guys who would be looking after the car for me.

I have first hand experience of Al Nabooda in Dubai. I bought my CS from them. Although i have now exported it to the UK. My car suffered from the trunk clunk from day one. (19" wheels no PASM). It gradually got worse over time. It was in their workshop on seven occasions. After the third time i had figured out what the problem was with the help of this site and told them. They ignored me and kept giving me the car back saying they had found something and fixed it. But the trunk clunk was still there. After the sixth time i wrote to Porsche in Germany and complained. Things changed after that. The service manager called me and told me to bring the vehicle in and they would give me a courtesy car (first time that happened). I took the car in and met the local Porsche technical representative. He tried to patronise me about 19" wheels, no PASM, low profile tyres, hatch area acting as a subwoofer amplifying sounds blah blah blah. I told him i wasn't complaining about a harsh ride it was the clanking noise from the hatch area coming down from a speed bump or passing over rumble strips. I told them AGAIN that according to the Porsche community this noise was the damper in the hatch. They looked at me as if to say we are the experts we think it's suspension, something loose in the rear bumper etc. I said fine get on with it but you'd better not give it back to me with the noise still there. Three days later the service manager called to say the car was fixed. When i asked him what they had found he said sheepishly that it was the damper. He mumbled something about the rubber softening and the weight moving about and glue to fix it. So i don't know if they implemented the Porsche fix for this mentioned elsewhere on this site. But the car is fine now. On a more positive note about Al Nabooda. I took the car there before i shipped it to the UK. They carried out the first service, changed the headlights to point left and wired in the RHS rear fog light. All this for £200. Anybody from the UK would know that this is exceptional value for money. Tom R

Yes, they did fixed the rattle until it came back last week. Its this B-Pillar bolt that keeps working its way loose. The general rule I follow is that I prefer to live with some small things rather than have the dealer do more damage while trying to repair them. With the Porsche dealer, I showed the service adviser how clean the car was and VERY clearly told him that I expected it to be returned in exactly the same shape; with no grease on the steering wheel, seats, gear lever, hand brake, no shoe scrapes on the door panels, etc. It seemed to work but they still washed the car despite me telling him not to. I suggest you also make your expectation clear to them before leaving the car. Toyota/Lexus are the best in UAE in my opinion. Mind you, my 9 year old Land Cruiser has been so reliable that all the dealer had to do was change oil-filter and the brake pads twice or 3 times. BMW Abu Dhabi are very very bad because I've experienced them first hand with my wife's 330 Xi. I think we just need to keep up the pressure on these guys to get their act together. Let us know how you get along.. Good luck..

porschepaul and dres44, you are welcome to UAE and try to make friend with those I spoke .... By the way I took them two times for a ride ... I agree Zal kindi, better to have this random noise than to let them doing worse, they even so succeded to drop oil into the trunk while filling. I am happy to have the trunk liner ...