Bahnsport Blandford - Hugely Knowledgeable , Superb Service - Page 1 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

I am writing this in the hope that others might similarly benefit from the superb service that Bahnsport in Blandford have just delivered to and for me . I am not in any way or manner commercially associated with Bahnsport - just a very satisfied customer . Knowing Bahnsport's lead-in times , and having personally observed the number and variety of Porsches and customers entering their workshop in the 8 hours that I was with them , it is clear that they do not need my endorsement , but I think that truly excellent service should be applauded and widely advertised . I also went through quite a bit of agony wondering if I was brave enough to leave the OPC network , and in particular its warranty system , and I think that the thought processes that preceded my decision to go to an independent garage might make for interesting reading and debate . To put things in context , I have been using my local OPC since 1994 and they have generally been excellent . But for my other cars , often because they are very old or rare , I have been forced to use Independent garages . And I know from experience that Independent garages , if carefully chosen , can be excellent . The singular point is that I don't choose a garage , but choose a particular technician - this is the key . And then I tend to keep to the same technician for years if not decades . One of my cars has been looked after by the same technician for the last 23 years , and for the previous 12 years when it was under the custodianship of its first and only other owner , it was also maintained by just one technician . The primary benefit of having continuity of care from a single technician is that that person will know the car inside-out , and can therefore advice authoritatively on preventative maintenance , and who might also be able to save the owner  from spending unnecessary money when routine service items can safely be deferred to the next service , or indeed entirely ignored  . A knowledgeable technician who knows a car well can contribute to more peripheral aspects of the car as well - Mike Pullen has written parts of chapters for my Countach book , Craig Johnson has done the same for my KTM X-BOW book and David at Lambo Pangbourne has provided expert advice that has been very useful for my Murcie book . The real problem is finding a technician that you can trust . In my case it was made easier because of unsolicited recommendations of Bahnsport from Craig Johnson and from my local Lotus dealer . So my wife and I sent Scott and James some detailed questions about the routine service work that our Porsche required , and we also arranged to visit Bahnsport before committing to using their services . When we arrived for this first visit Scott and James had a print out ready , and every question had already been answered and costed in writing . The garage was almost surgically clean , and cars outside were parked in straight , ordered lines . And Scott and James were equally straight with us - telling us what needed to be done , what should be done over and above the Porsche schedule , and what was not needed On leaving  the Bahnsport workshop , my very perceptive wife whispered to me '' I like those two - they are knowledgeable and honest and clearly don't mind a bit of hard work '' . A month later I arrived for the car's major service slightly earlier than Bahnsport's scheduled opening time , but Scott and James were already bustling around , and had just been joined by a new Bahnsport member , Colin , who immediately recognised me from my previous visits to the OPC . What really put me at ease was seeing a trolley ALREADY ASSEMBLED with every part needed for my car's major service ( and even a new drive belt ready in case it was needed - it wasn't ) This degree of attention to detail is so reassuring . It reminded me of going into an operation theatre , where every reasonable eventuality is hopefully thought about and prepared for . I wont bore you with the details of the service , but Scott generously took the additional time needed to educate a completely lay-person . I really appreciated that I came away knowing a lot more about my car , and appreciating the car all the more for it Scott is a Porsche Gold Master Technician and twice Porsche Apprentice of the year ; James has been a Senior OPC Porsche Technician for over 22 years - both in the UK and in the Middle East , and Colin has been Senior Technician at an OPC for decades . Frankly i would have been pleased for any of these 3 gentlemen to work on my car Scott who worked on my car was so detailed and forensic about  so many things - but it showed in particular with the care he took to fill the car's engine oil to just the right level . Using a laptop he repeatedly added small amounts of oil to reach just the right level -- the final dollop was not a dollop at all , but titrated in using a syringe !! Scott did so much more too . He did all the big and small things that you read about on forums - things that you , the owner , would like to have done to your car , but are suspicious will never be done once your baby is removed from your care by a receptionist , and handed over to an unnamed technician , to be pulled apart unseen by you , all while you nurse a coffee that you dont really want This for me was the deciding factor versus getting an OPC warranty - not a simple decision - but after due consideration I felt that having a technician that I knew and could trust outweighed the obvious benefits of having an OPC extended warranty  . The cost of this fantastic service was an absolute bargain . I get this level of care from Mike Pullen but I have known him for 22 years , and from Craig Johnson but he is a family friend . To get this level of friendly , transparent and knowledgeable care from someone who doesn't know you is pretty priceless . It was notable that Bahnsport , although a relatively new company , have customers  from half way up and half way across the country . Do yourself a favour by Googling '' Bahnsport '' and see Scott's and James's and Colin's qualifications and pedigree - it will tell you everything that you need to know .

I couldn’t agree more, Scott is bloody brilliant and he went above and beyond to get my GT3 ready for a Le Mans trip last year, loads of people I know use them and they all speak very highly.

Mike Pullen is an absolute diamond chap

I'm a happy customer too... https://www.instagram.com/bahnsportltd/