Add me to the RMS club @ 46K miles / $2700 repair

Well I was due for my 45K mile scheduled service on my 99 C2 and the service advisor called me this morning to tell me that I appear to have a RMS leak. I have had NO drops on the garage floor but had to top off oil at about 40K miles and noticed that it was going back down again right before service. Regualr 45K mile maintenance was quoted at $650 and maintenance with RMS repair would be $2700. I told him just to leave it for now and I would decide what I wanted to do later. I did a search on the topic and it seems the consensus is to leave it until maybe the clutch needs replaced. I thought I might escape my ownership without this problem but I guess not. Makes that new Z06 look even more tempting. I guess I enjoy driving it for now until it's obvious I have to do something like fix it or trade it. Thanks for reading. Any comments welcome.

It's almost impossible that you haven't noticed oil on the garage floor but you have lost enough oil from your 996 to notice a decrease in oil level. That is probably not due to RMS....for the RMS to leak enough oil for you to notice a drop in oil level you would have oil all over the place. I would get a second opinion, my dealer told me I had RMS and I took it to an independent shop where they said it was just residue from something else....they cleaned it off, put dye in the oil and checked a month later- nothing......Also $2100 seems high to me, I think I was quoted $1300 or so at the independent shop I went to before they checked it.

Also $2100 seems high to me, I think I was quoted $1300 or so at the independent shop I went to before they checked it. $1300 is a bit high; $2100 is robbery. I think most dealers look at cars coming in for routine maintenance as great opportunities for up-selling services, and the prices that they ask for these services is astronomical. A couple of months ago, my wife had the tires on her A4 replaced. Naturally, the tire dealer tried to convince her that she needed her rear brake pads replaced, and wanted $275 for that replacement. A couple of months later, I had our local independent dealer do the rear brakes for under $100.

I have really had reservations about getting a 996 given all of the problems I have read about on this forum and the expense for maintaining a $70,000+ dollar car. Fortunatley, I found an independent shop with a Master Premier Porsche Technician nearby, so at least I feel like I can get good service without getting reamed. The new Z06 does sound great and I will have an opportunity to hopefully drive one by the fall. Unfortunatley, I really want a convertible so this isn't an option. GM is going to make around 5,000-6,000 Z06 per year and I think they will be hard to come by the first year, but after that, I can't see GM getting $70,000+/car for that level of production (despite it still being a great value for the performance) and I would guess there will be significant discounts in about 1-2 years on the Z.

Get a 2nd opinion. Unless the RMS is flooding, which is highly unlikely, and even more unlikely given that you do not have any oil on the floor of your garage, the oil consumption you have noticed is not related to a RMS leak. Now that doesn't mean you don't have a RMS leak it just means the oil consumption is not related. If you have noticed a dramatic increase in oil consumption all of a sudden at 40k+ miles you should take the car to another shop for some more investigative work.

RMS was covered under warrantee.....would have cost about 1000, says dealer in Nashville.

Since the RMS replacement is such a common procedure these days, every dealer service bay worth its salt can do the entire process end to end in less than 4 hours, regardless of what the book time is. I would not pay more than $600 for an RMS replacement with parts. Ask your service advisor how many of these they replace in a month, and how long they take for each one. Also it is helpful not do drive in on a Turnip truck

Would extended warrantees cover the RMS issue? I bought my C4S three months ago and added an extended warranty (non-Porsche from the Porsche dealership) to cover things like RMS (didn't know anything about it before purchase).

I think 800$ is the going rate on the east coast at least, 600 is dirt cheap.

Yeah, I'd expect $800-1200 depending on the amount of investigation needed. Many times, other seals can be leaking and a thorough investigation may require engine removal which is a few more hours. Often, RMS starts as a very slow leak, often doesn't even drip. The best thing is to get a second opinion and when the car is up on lift, have the tech show you where the leak is coming from. If it's dead center where engine and tranny meets, it's most likely RMS or intermediate seal which is at the same spot. Cam seal often leak from sides of the engine. Spark plug can also cause some leakage I heard. Also, this is a good time to change the clutch since you have 45k mi. I agree shops try to up sell. Sometimes it's not warranted. Often, it's because additional work is needed before the next service which is often 1yr later. They assume you don't want to bring it in when it's really needed. Warning about brake job - don't go to any joe shop. Brake pads, rotors vary in qualiity. Inferior shop will often use cheap stuff or tell you to change rotors when it's not needed, which end up costing you hundreds more than needed. I had a shop that did this in my face w caliper measurement that is clearly within the min rotor thickness stamped on rotors. Ask what brand of pads / rotors they use.

It is a fact that the oil leaking from the left cam solenoid cover (above #3 cylinder) can travel down the side of the engine and gather and drip right where the RMS would leak. DO NOT trust a Porsche Tech at the dealer. Verify, verify verify. Most techs have to look at the picture in the technical manual to find out where the RMS is located.

Don't ever go back to that shop...... Take it elsewhere..... ! NOW.....

Interesting, my turnip truck now has an RMS leak.

Someone please tell me if this should be covered by an extended warranty.

Depends on the warranty company. Some do some don't. You will have to read your warranty paperwork and/or contact the company.

Hope mine covers it, BS if they don't

Most of the GOLD coverage (bumper to bumper types) cover but sometimes you'll have some reading.... I would start reading..... now. -Eli

most of the aftermarket warranty's dont make provision for seals!

I know when I was looking I specifically questioned the RMS..... The Gold package covered it! -Eli

[QUOTE=racer08]Well I was due for my 45K mile scheduled service on my 99 C2 and the service advisor called me this morning to tell me that I appear to have a RMS leak.... You friendly Porsche dealer is screwing you. Max $850 at a good independent shop.

When I had 3000 on my car I had a leak in the brake fluid resivoir. I knew this because I had a very low level in the tank and the color and location of the fluid leak. When I had it fixed on warranty the mechanic did a RMS fix at the same time and told me it was a factory recommended upgrade for this common problem. That was 2 yrs ago and 20000 m and no problems since. I still wonder about this because it was in the shop only one day and I think only 4 to 6 h. How can they charge you 2100 for that easy a repair? Will

I think it depends on the details of the coverage contract - Remember amigo's always take the time to read the fine print ! When I had the RMS problem, it cost me $0.00 - Too bad racer08 you had to pay out...That sucks...

Relative to being overcharged on service, I would not expect to get a better break on Corvette service vs. Porsche service. Last week I took my GMC Duramax in for a 35000 mile service. The service advisors were trying to upsell me services that are not in the GM maintenance book. "It's a safety issue." is their sales cry. I've been in front of my maintenance schedule on this rig all with my local GMC dealer where I bought the rig. They even tried to charge me to replace a diesel fuel filter that had to be replaced. They said the filter was not an OEM filter. The non OEM filter was installed by them 5000 miles prior. I have a bad experience 50% of the time i take it in. But I want to establish that my Duramax is getting competent service in case of a failure.

local independent shop here says they have never done an RMS replacement, but figured it would be well under $1000. Uber

No kidding, expect the worst from a GM dealer. I've heard all the raves about C6, Z06 etc. After driving one, I know exactly why they are priced so cheap for the performance. If you just want a fast car, C6 is great. If you want the total pkg, there is no substitute.

I can't agree with you about the C6. For $50K you can get a decently equipped C6 that has very comparable performance to an $80K 997. The 997 has the edge in terms of fit and finish and quality of materials used. Each buyer will have to make the decision as to whether the 997 is worth $30K more. The only thing I don't like about the C6 is the service that GM offers at the Chevy dealers. In my area it's the pits, and it's the only reason that I don't have a deposit on the $70K C6 Z06.

I will try to find an independent shop here in Jacksonville FL to get a second opinion. Unfortunatly, I do like the local delearship. They have really helped my out in the past on other issues and been really fair to me in the past. Even with this past service, they provided me with a rental even though I'm past my warranty period, just because I didn't have any spare arrangements made and it would take too long to wait on the service. Besides Champion Porsche, it is probably one of the better known dealerships in the US and also has a rich racing history with a fella named Hurley Haywood. I will not expect any improved service at the Chevrolet dealership. I'll probably be driving Cobalts or ugly *** Malibus or something for loaners but at least I feel comfortable working on a corvette should the need arise. With Porsche, I feel like for resale value that I need to provide past service history that has been performed by a dealership rather than telling someone "Yeah, I changed all that stuff myself" I understand that the fit and finish and overall quality and image of a corvette is not that of a 911 but it isn't bottom of the barrell either. I have owned other GM products of the past so I'm not blind to their quality. I haven't test driven a new C6, but have heard alot of reviewers say that there is a noticeable jump in interior materials and attention to detail on this new version. Anyhow thanks for the suggestions and I'll let you guys know what happens. If you know of any good shops in the Jacksonville of North Florida area let me know. Thanks again.

Bud, you were hosed. Even a honest but high P dealer would be $1200 at the most. Price it around at other dealers and write the general mgr a letter. Did you get a new clutch or something? Man! I hope they at least gave you a good kiss!

I didn't actually pay $2700. That is what I was quoted to do a RMS along with 45K mile service. RMS would have been $2100 by itself. Anyone with independent shop info for Jacksonville FL or North FL?

Yes it is covered under the Porsche warranty. As for the extended warranty....I don't know. You would have to read the contract and see if it is excluded.

not sure about that - when top gear reviewed it in the UK they said the interior looked like it had been manufactured from recycled plant pots the quality was so low - and yes, it was the c6 they drove the bottom of the barrel is something like kia or hyundai, and chev etc are not that much better IMO

I have never cared for Corvettes and driven Porsches more than 20 years, but I totally disagree with the top gear review. I drove one and it may very well rattle like crazy after a few years, but the view from the drivers seat on the C6 is very very tempting. The interior appointments are better than the plastic pieces on early 986/996s IMHO, although I didn't buy one, it is probably because I don't like the liftback look. If they repeat the older Z06 hardtop style, it would be very difficult to turn down the 400HP for 50k or less.

I recently had a RMS leak on my '01 cab, proceeded to an independant shop on Franklin Road in Marietta, Ga. where my leak was repaired as well as a new clutch for the sum total of $996.00! The leak has not returned and get this, it only took the mechanic one day to complete the repair!

My '99 C4 recently began dripping oil in my garage at 37k miles, and after confirming it was the RMS from an independent shop, I took it to our local (Hartford) dealer who provides a two year warranty on the work. The total cost, including a new clutch kit (parts only since the thing is already open) was $1600, and should be less for a C2 since it involves less labor. Interestingly, I was informed by the dealer that a simple clutch job rates 14 hours labor, and the RMS PLUS clutch for my C4 was only 9 hours labor...go figure! Scott