Dealer vs Jiffy Lube - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Hey Guys, My 01 Boxster is up for the 30k service interval. I read a few posts on here and noticed that the dealer changes Oil and spark plugs and charges $900 for that. I had my plugs replaced last year, (it was pouring and they went bust). The car probably had 25-26k on it then, so I am thinking I can avoid the plug change. I just bought a Porsche Oil filter from suncoastmotors (for $15) and was planning to get an oil change from Jiffy Lube or something like that. Is that alright? Has anyone done that? So, if I do that, I cut down on 1) Oil change 2) Spark Plugs. What else is done on this service? I have to take my car in anyway, the driver's side door is making a rattling noise, its under the Porsche Extended warranty so I am not too worried about that. Thank you Khurram Zaveri

If you go to Jiffy-Lube you will have to bring your own Mobile1. Just ask them not to charge you for the 4-5 quarts they usually charge, and just charge for the labor.

Thanks Pete, I just decided against it, I just remembered a guy who had oil changed on his BMW 530i 2 yrs ago from Pep Boys. His engine seized the next day and he was screwed. I'll just go to the dealer to get the oil changed, it comes out to the same price (considering we have to change oil wvery 15k miles) Is there anything else thats done at the 30k service interval? Thanks Khurram Zaveri

A whole bunch of checking this and that. If you have the Maintenance Manual for your car, it will specify what gets looked at during each maintenance. In the case of my '99, there is a list of 25 separate checks that are performed at the 30k service. Some folks think this is a ripoff, others (me, for one) think that they are earning their money (probably around $90 an hour shop labor rate) if they actually do the checks they are supposed to do. Expensive, but then nobody (should have) said owning a Porsche was going to be cheap.

The maintenance check list is here. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?act=maint&code=maint_menu The Boxster is the same as a 996. We filmed the 30k service on a Boxster and 996 for the DVD set if you are interested in doing it yourself. On your year the plugs are good for 60k miles.

I would not have the oil in my Lawn Mower changed at JL. I do have a local guy who does my oil changes for me AS I WATCH. I buy the filter at my local dealer and the Mobil 1 at Wally World or Pep Boys. Lately, I have been using Shell Fully Syn Rotella 5-40. At WW, it costs about $3.25 per qt. Ditto on the plug info, 60 K for 01 and up. Good luck. QUOTE=Tool Pants]The maintenance check list is here. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?act=maint&code=maint_menu The Boxster is the same as a 996. We filmed the 30k service on a Boxster and 996 for the DVD set if you are interested in doing it yourself. On your year the plugs are good for 60k miles.[/QUOTE]

An oil change is not rocket science. Personally, I live 1.5 hours from the dealer and I either change it myself or take the filter to a shop that uses mobile one and spend a whole lot less. The only thing they can mess up is either not putting the filter on or not puting the oil in. Personally I check the level before I leave as a precaution. If I lived closer to a dealer I might be inclined to have it done there instead, but probably not for something as easy as an oil change.

[QUOTE=porscheguy05]An oil change is not rocket science. Personally, I live 1.5 hours from the dealer QUOTE] As I was reading this thread I was thinking the same thing. I change my oil every year or 5k miles and live 2 hours from my dealer. I wouldn't take my car to have the dealer change the oil if they lived on the same block as me though. Oil changes aren't hard to do people. I am not mechanically inclined at all and if I can do it anyone can. I actually enjoy it. I learn more about my car and how it works. I don't think anyone is so busy they can't take 45 min to change their own stuff. Perhaps some of you guys just have too much money and wanna support your local dealer or somethng. I don't care what Porsche says either, 15k intervals isn't a good idea even if you drive like Ms. Daisy. Maybe someone can give me a viable reason on why they can't change their own oil..I'd love to hear from ya.

TOOLPANTS, BRUCELEE... you guys mention that plugs for an '01 boxster lasts 60K miles?? WHat about a 99 boxster.....?? Also after you get the spark plugs changed, how long do they last? thanks

Adam wrote: "Maybe someone can give me a viable reason on why they can't change their own oil..I'd love to hear from ya." OK, Adam, here ya go: Let's pretend ... that the year is 2015, and instead of owning a Boxster, you are looking for one to buy, let's say a 2000 S. The car is by now 15 years old. You are presented with decision of choosing between two of them, both your favorite color, similarly equipped, similar mileage, similar condition, similar price. You drive the cars, and both appear to run satisfactorily. You ask to examine the maintenance records for car A. The owner shows you a few receipts from the local NAPA store for quantities of oil, and maybe a filter or two. Other than that, there are no maintenance records to speak of. The owner says he changed the oil himself (it's not rocket science, after all), and didn't document when he did it, nor keep the receipts. You ask to examine the maintenance records for car B, and the owner shows you the Maintenance Manual, with each scheduled maintenance stamped by the dealer for the first several years, and by a Porsche specialist shop after that. In addition the owner has the invoices for all service performed on the car since new, including all oil changes, also performed by either the dealer or the specialist shop. OK, which car do you buy? This is not just some far-fetched, hypothetical scenario. It happens ALL THE TIME in private party purchases of used Porsches. Why? Because buying a shoddily maintained Porsche can be dangerous to your financial, and spiritual, health. To some extent the risk can be minimized by thorough inspection, but a fully documented maintenance history is a big plus for both the seller and the buyer.

On the 1999, the Porsche folks say 30K on a set of plugs. I agree with them. 2001, it goes to 60K.

The middle ground is to buy your own oil and filter and pay a reputable (read, you can watch them) shop to change it. That also takes care of the waste oil, which saves you a sep trip to a station to dispose of. I pay $15 labor for this service, which is worth it to me as I would be changing oil on four cars a month. And of course, keep all the receipts.

If you go to Jiffy Screw make sure they fully drain the the car. It can take a while to get every last drop out. So if they are done in 20 minutes, something isn't right. Some have been known to leave it over night to drip dry.

My son-in-law used to manage a group of quick-change (insert any name) type franchises. He would regale me with horror stories of customer's cars being screwed up by his dimwit employees. (Oil not refilled, drain plugs and filters cross-threaded, morons reaching through window to turn on ignition switch with standard tranny in gear and running into wall, etc. etc.) They had a full time mechanic at an independent garage just to replace engines and transmissions that they had ruined. Consequently, I would rather you hock your TV to pay for a dealer to do it; or do it yourself.

I see your point Ronzi but even though I don't have the "offical" dealer stamp I note the mileage and date in my owners manual which should satisfy most people I would hope. The point is moot anyway though because I will keep my car until I'm dead and buried unless it gets totaled first. I shuddered when I read Bushwacker's stories but I'm not suprised. I like to work on my car myself if I can because no one loves my car more than I do. I know I will take the extra special care and attention it deserves that may or may not happen at other places. I'm sure most of the mechanics are competent at the Porsche Dealership, but like Bruce said, I wanna see them do the work for my peace of mind and an oppurtunity too learn more. I'm debating right now if I should take the car in for my 15k service or just do it myself. I've already changed the air-filter and oil which basically just leaves the pollen filter change. It says they do a couple other things in the manual but I can't remember anything big at all. Anything I need to watch out for or keep in mind while doing a 15k service?

I think the IQ test at Jiffy Screw must be somewhere around 70!

Can warranty be refused if we do the work ourselves on a lets say 15K or 30K maintenance? I would think it would be easy for them to tell if the plugs were changed and such. My 30K maintenance is still many months away, but I know it costs a lot, and is basically oil, plugs, and air filter, with many checks. I was thinking of doing the plugs, filter and oil and having the dealer finish up by inspecting everything. This should keep costs down... What do you guys think? Mike

I would ask dealer what they think re:warranty. I do know that having the dealer on your side when a warranty issue comes up can help.

down here we have Mobil 1 stations that only do things like oil changes, radiator flushes, etc. I wouldn't trust them with my Boxster either. My extended warranty demmands that maintenance work be done ASE certified mechanics. Which unimpressively probably covers most quick change places. Did I mention the Boxster oil change can't be a quick change?

What do you mean by it can't be a quick change. It doesn't take any longer than anything else I've done but it definately takes more oil!