The Mythical 30K service ?

I just got a Note in the mail from the dealer about my car being "due" for a 30K service. Now, from memory I only recall 20K intervals between minor and major services.. 20-40-60... Is this 30K real or expensive fairy dust ? I brought in my car @ 28K to the dealer for a baseline since I had just bought it - nobody mentioned a 30K service then. They performed a 28 point inspection (and did not notice the missing air filter) and pulled codes. All OK. I then did an oil + filter change (2 actually since I overfilled the first time). I replaced the pollen filter and added the missing air filter (long story, but it wasn't missing for long). Then, before last week end's DE, I had them inspect the car for track duty - that was free - again all clear, brakes a 50%, and had them do a brake fluid change (not so free). What on *earth* can the car be missing, service wise ? (again, fairy dust? counld not find the fairy dust container on the article section) The only thing I can think of is spark plugs since Porsche says 60K miles OR 4 years and I do have 4 years - but the service guy himself told me he wasn't worried about plugs at 29000 miles only. Does it sound like I'm missing out on something ? Or is the dealer trying to sell me a bridge ? :thanks:

BS if you ask me..

I have a maintenance checklist that I got from my Porsche dealer that lists major maintenance intervals (listed below) and other minor maintenance visits after 4 years, 6 years, 8 years and so on. 40,000 km = 24,854 mi. 80,000 km = 49,709 mi. 120,000 km = 74,564 mi. etc. Don't know where they came up with 30k ... it's not on my list.

oops, my bad - make that 40,000, 80,000, 120,000, 160,000 miles (or 60,000, 120,000, 180,000, 240,000 km) ... still not near 30k miles.

I don't see that you've had your muffler bearings checked, perhaps that's what they want to do...... :dance:

You can save money on muffler bearings by getting them from KaleCoauto. Muffler Bearing - $49.99 : KaleCoAuto, Hard to find automotive items! Why check them when you can replace them?

I'll get some, and some wiring harness smoke for the inevitable refill :-(

Seriously though, despite low miles (30k), an 06 model year is 4 or maybe 5 years old. Would you replace coolant and plugs or is coolant lifetime? Plugs are easy in theory but if access is hard, one cross thread and you are sorry

I would do the coolant - but can't cite data to say what you are gaining. The additives (e.g. corrosion inhibitors) do get consumed or used up. So, on that basis if it's 5 years I'd flush and replace. GM dex cool is probably as good as any other product and 5 years or 100K miles is their service interval - suggesting both time as well as mileage are relevant.

Dealers would tell you to bring the car in every 1,000 miles if they could. Over the years, I've found that various dealerships, regardless of brand, would make up their own fictional maintenance schedule to boost profits. The service manager tries to put the fear of God in you by suggesting that your car will break down right after the warranty is up if you only follow the factory schedule. You end up paying for a lot of unnecessary oil and other fluid changes, as well as replacement parts that don't need to be replaced. I would ignore the mailing and stick to factory maintenance.

Yep, this "30,000 mile inspection" is designed to enhance the dealer's bottom line. I do almost all my own service work, and don't plan to stop. My car is out of the original warranty but still within the 100k CPO warranty. I do my work, document it in the service book(plus a notebook I keep), and if anything ever goes wrong and they protest, I have the records and receipts to back up my work. Coolant is supposed to be "lifetime" according to Porsche, but we all know that isn't so. However, flushing the coolant in a Cayman isn't so easy. I expect it involves dropping some of the underbody panels and breaking several connections in the hose circuitry between the radiators and the engine. Pretty messy and time-consuming, but at some point I'll do it. Plugs are just a pain, but being careful it isn't hard. Brake fluid flush is no more trouble than a BMW (except for twice the number of bleed nipples), and I have a pressure bleeder for that job, so its relatively easy. Bottom line: Find another dealer.