Introduction and ? about 30K service

Hi, Just got my first 911 (2003 Targa) and wanted to say hello. I tried to post a picture but it says I am below the minimum number of posts. I just crossed 30k miles and am taking it in for the maintenance. The nearest dealer is about 45 miles away. They want around $1000 for this. I didn't expect it to be cheap but is this typical? I am asking because I do have a bit of a choice. My warranty is up in Feb '07. There is a local guy who works on the Porsches, Lamborghinis, BMWs, etc. in the area. Think I should have him do the service or would you recommend taking it to the dealer? The local guy is VERY highly regarded. Thanks, Grant

If you have any warranty left I would take to dealer. that way if anything major pops up during maintenance the warranty will cover. Otherwise I think I would check with the indy guy if cost is a big factor.

You don't have much warranty left so i would find out what the local guy would charge and then weigh the cost versus the potential that something catastrophic might happen in the next 2 months.

that's about right...... my 60K was $1000.......

my 30k was $1700

My 30K was $143, and 2 hours of my time. All the 30K service for a 996 consists of is changing the oil, the air and cabin filters. The service department will usually throw in a quick look see to find out what other revenue opportunities you are presenting them. At 60K add changing the serpentine belt and the plugs. $18 for the belt, and $24 for the plugs, plus another hour of your time. Every 2 years the brake fluid should be changed as well. Another hour, and $12 for the brake fluid. During the year leading up to a service, I look for sales on Mobil1 0-40 and buy 2 cases. It can be purchased for as low as $3.50/qt. vs. $7.00 at a dealer, or $5 at Walmart. These cars are no different from a Toyota Corolla as far as their maintenance needs. I am always amazed at how folks fall into paying $1000 and more for an oil and filter change. The usual excuse is that they are too busy, important, clutzy, or ________ (fill in the blank) to do it themselves. In retrospect those folks deserve to pay retail + 200%!

Orient Express, do you have an itemized list of things to be done for the 60K service?

Thanks for the replies. I think I will take it to the dealer. Despite what Orient Express says, there are quite a few more things that are part of the 30K service than just an oil change. The manual mentions checking the ashtray lid function and putting winter air in the tires. Also, I am extremely important and cannot be bothered to get my hands dirty. Also, I don't have any soap. Hopefully this post will bump me above the threshold to post pictures. Anyhoo, if you want to see some, go to flickr and look me up (Grant Hamilton). Grant

Also put the car on a lift write down as many things as you can identify and write inspect infront of each item !

Have you checked the going rate for winter air lately?

renntech

An excellent source of information for the DIYs can be found at RennTech.org. Here is a link to the maintenance schedules These schedules also include the critical ashtray lid spring calibration procedure, and the important winter air exchange process. My advice for making the dealer/independant/DIY maintenance decision is that it should include a consideration on if there are warranty items to be done. Not everyone is blessed like we are here in Northern California with 7 dealerships within an hours drive. So if you have to drive some distance to a dealer to get your warranty work done, then it might make sense to have them do the oil changes as well. Many dealers will offer a special rate for their customers when asked. But in the end, it is always best to DIY and get in touch with your inner-gofast.

what's the sch change for the oil change? is it every 15K miles.....?

Yes, Oil and filter get changed every 15,000 miles or 1 year which ever comes first.

+1, go to your Porsche dealer and ask for their maintenance/check list. If they are cool ,they will give you the maintenance schedule they go by.

Click here to access the Factory Manintenace Checklists

Well, FWIW !! The maintenance schedule is in there. Secondly, if you are at all mechanically inclined and have the tools, do the maintenance yourself. Yes, you will get dirty, but if you are asking if $1000 is a reasonable price (and it is not , IMHO) then you care about money and you will save yourself bunches. And as OE points out, you get to bond with your car. When I had my 993 (I now have an '02 cab) I did the 30K service myself, which was a major PITA on that car, and I swore I'd sell the car before it got to 45k (which I did and I wish I hadn't). But I saved myself about $1400, so it was well worth it, plus I now have the additional confidence to delve into just about anything on any car. Michael

Orient Express, I can't open that link that you posted.. could you post the actual document.. I would like to save that $1k and do the 30k Maintenance myself.. Thanks Lot !

Orient Express, Thanks for the advise, It is very helpful BTW I also could not access the link.

Try it from here and navigate down Otherwise try it from here and navigate down: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?

I had to register as a member of renntech to access the info.. thanks a lot!! by the way the 30k maintenance sais that the spark plugs should be replaced, but my manual sais that is every 60k.. wich one is right/wrong?

This varies by year. You have to look under the Additional Maintenance link to get the correct period. I think it is kind of interesting that my car is 60K miles or four years. I had not seen a time period on spark plug changes before. The brake fluid change recommendation is in this section.

You have to read the Maintenance lists very carefully. There are 2 maintenance lists for 996s, 1999-2001, & 2002-2005. Before 2002 the plug change was 30K, but 2002 and later changed to a newer longer lasting plug and 60K. You have a 2003 car? Make sure you are reading the right list.

my car is a 2002 c2, but I just double checked the owner's manual and it sais every 60k miles.. but it gets even more tricky since my car had the engine replaced @ 24k miles, the "new" engine only has 8k miles.. the rest of the car has 32k miles..

I don't want this to sound like a complaint about the RennTech site. It is a tremendously helpful site. I am just trying to clear up some confusion. The 2003 maintenence schedule does say change plugs at 30K, and the correct interval is 60k.

thanks orient......... appreciate it...

UPDATE: I took the car into the dealer (Lujack Porsche) for the service. As soon as I got there, the serice guy apologized and told me that they had given me the wrong price for the service and it was not $1000 but only $270. Although I was pleasantly surprised, I was also concerned that they were going to skip something. Let me digress and give you a little background. I am the unluckiest **** EVER when it comes to having someone do something right the first time. As an example, just yesterday I went to pick up some pictures from the camera store. The guy hands me the envelope and it feels a little light. While he is ringing up the sale, I open the pouch. There are no pictures. Just negatives. "Where are the pictures?" "Oh, you wanted prints?" "Of course I wanted prints, (you jackass)." Oh, OK. We can do that. But you'll have to get them tomorrow." So I now expect to have to make two trips to get anything done. I told this to the service guy at the dealer. I even told him the photo story as an example (since it had just happened). He assured me that thier factory trained technicians were going to do everything right and that I had nothing to worry about. So I go back to pick up the car and call the guy to tell him that I'm going to be there right at 5 (service closes at 5 but you can pick up your car until 8). I asked him to stick around so that I can talk to him about what they did. "Oh sure, no problem." I roll in at 5:03 according to the clock on the sweet Kia Spectra that they gave me for a loaner. He's gone already. So I have to find some random dude in the back to get my car and he has to look for it for 20 minutes. Then he starts to ring me up at the register. "OK, that'll be $540." "Ummm, what? I was told $270. Did they do the service twice? (Ha Ha)" "I don't know what they told you this morning but you can take your car and we'll call you in the morning to straighten it out." So I leave. I had also asked them to try to fix a rattle coming from the back of the glass. A little while later I open the Targa top to test it. Keep in mind that it was 8�F yesterday. It opens fine. Closing, not so good. It is stuck with about 8 inches to go. You have got to be focking kidding me. Then the blood started coming out of my eyes becuase my blood pressure was approximately 200/130. So now I get to drive it 45 miles home with the roof open. AND I GET TO BRING IT BACK! WOOT! I had nothing else to do this weekend! Gaahhhhhh!

So, how was the Kia? Dude, you've just got bad car Karma. I used to have this. I remember telling someone once one of my BMW lemon stories (I've had two of them) and my reasoning/rationale for going through cars so quickly. She finally said that it wasn't the cars, it was me. I think she was right. I once had a girl working for me (I/T drone) that everything she touched turn to crap. Literally, she just had an aura that would kill all living things. When she'd operate the scanner, the mainframe database would crash. I finally had to forbid her from using it. I also had a girlfriend once who would suck the life force out of you. Batteries in her PDA would only last 3 days. It was the weirdest thing. Anyway, sorry to hear of the problems with the Targa - look on the bright side, at least it wasn't raining! Michael