The 4-year factory warranty on my 2011 911 GTS expires tomorrow. Finally, I can address some of the issues with the car that have bugging me since I got it.
1)
First off...the dam* TMPS system gets disabled.
I have two full sets of wheels and tires, and it seems one of the sensors in the 8 wheel/tire combos is always malfunctioning. I've had the Durametric Pro since Xmas, but was waiting until the warranty expired to turn the system off (it's a pretty easy DIY). TPMS has been required in vehicles in the U.S. since 2007, but is not required in Canada and it's 100% legal to turn it off.
Ask TC Road Safety - Transport Canada
I asked the dealer at one point if they would do it, but they refused, citing potential legal implications. In my view, TPMS is the outcome of government nannyism run amok, and the Porsche implementation is just bloody awful. Thanks a bunch for looking out for me NHTSA, but I'm good checking my tires with an old-fashioned gauge. (Yeah, I know the arguments in favor of TPMS, as well as the "ins and outs" of the Porsche system...neither of which alter my view that it's bad legislation AND a lousy system.)
2)
Time to start LSD shopping.
For some reason, the 1st owner that spec'd my car got a 6-speed, Aerokit, Alcantara delete and a bunch of other options...but didn't get the LSD. No matter. All reports indicate the Porsche LSD isn't especially robust for a car that sees track use (which mine certainly will once the new track here opens), so I've started looking at a Guards or Quaife unit, which will likely be installed with a new clutch sometime in the next few months. (By all accounts, the first owner appears to have been slightly ham-fisted with the clutch. I've been babying it for the last two years, but a new one is in the cards.) Putting an aftermarket LSD in the car while still under warranty didn't seem like a wise thing to do: any driveline-related warranty issue would likely have been contentious, and it wouldn't have been at all practical to remove a non-OEM LSD before presenting a sick car at the dealer.
3)
Bye-bye brake pad wear warning sensors.
About a month ago the car starting showing me a red warning light that one or more of my rear brake pads were worn out. Not true. When I swapped my winter wheels for summers, my visual check confirmed there was plenty of pad on the front and rear, and at the 60,000 km service I had in March the dealer advised there was more than 50% left on both axles. So today I popped off the rear wheels, and replaced the sensors. Didn't hook 'em up to the pads, though...wrapped them in electrical tape and zip-tied them out of the way. This way, I can swap pads in and out at will without worrying about the sensors (which cost $50 a pop here for OEM). BTW, getting a tool on the retaining clip/tab on the inboard sensor so it can be removed is a PITA. Warning light gone...sensors safely taped and tied out of the way. Nanny #2, take that!
4)
Time to start messing around.
With the car under warranty, I was loathe to start tweaking the car more to my liking...and frankly I wasn't 100% sure until the last few months that the car would be a long-term ride. Aside from a 991 GT3, a GT4 or a new Spyder, there is nothing currently in the Porsche lineup that interests me at all, and none more than the GTS when cost and the need to drive in winter are factored into the equation. The GTS will be around for a while, so I now give myself permission to try different transmission and engine mount bushings...maybe a Cup shifter...non-oem rotors...and a few other tweaks.
I know a lot of folks are nervous about owning a Porsche with no warranty. I'm in the opposite camp. Coming off warranty is, in my view, akin to coming out of the honeymoon stage of a relationship. Things that concerned me when the car was newer just don't faze me now. I have put nearly 40,000 km on the car since getting it in August, 2013, and I know its every little quirk and nuance. It's an extremely solid car that has been over-maintained, doesn't leak, doesn't burn oil, and seems to be a stronger performer now that it has nearly 70,000 km on it. I don't think twice about taking the car down gravel roads (literally did 50+ km on gravel while out property shopping on the weekend)...don't care about the little nicks and bumps a car that truly gets used inevitably suffers...don't fret for a minute about little stone chips (I took one last week in the windshield; got it filled for 30 bucks)...don't give a hoot that the front spoiler lip is showing 5 or 6 largish patches of primer at the leading edge from hitting bugs and who knows what else a briskly driven Porsche hits on the highway in summer. It'll get replaced and repainted once a year or so as long as I own the car, and each new piece will be "perfect" for about a day.
Yep, me and my 911 are going to get a bit older together, and we're gonna have us some fun.
My advice on the brake pads is to always swap them out early. By the time they wear to 50%. The reason it is smart to do this, especially with track use, is the pad is the only thermal insulation between ur red hot rotor and the caliper pistons, seals and brake fluid. Keep ur brake pads thick and u will get less heating and aging of ur caliper assys. It's that simple. And if u do it this way, u wont need wear sensors...
BTW, the majority of my Porsche ownership years have been without factory warranty. And it never hurt me.
My 997 has been out of warranty for 3 years now and I don't worry about it, never felt like it's going to fail me. Even after about a hundred threads regarding IMS. People on the 997 forums likes to talk about extended warranties but I think it's a waste of money. The only problem I had was RMS leak, which was discovered during the PPI and I knew it would be fix under warranty. RMS leaked b/c it was parked at the dealer's lot for 3 months before I brought it. I never plan on parking it for 3 months. I drive it all year long. The other problem was with pre-mature wear on tie-rods. Did some research and there are a bad batch of tie rods in 2006.
Re the LSD, consider OS Giken as well... really a solid unit, great reputation / reviews, used by many pro teams, etc. I've been extremely happy with it too... very quiet, and stable as can be on hard braking as well powering through corners. Beats the factory LSD by far!
Thanks...the OS Giken looks like a contender.
If you need an extended warranty I can probably hook you up with the woman who wanted to sell me an extend warranty for my Porsche Carmon.
Hello gcurnew,
It sound like you have some awesome plans for the 911! We can supply you with anything you may need to take you to the next level, PM sent and I look forward to working with you!
