15 K Service - What Should I Expect to Pay ?

Amigo's I have my 15K service due, I just wanted to check what the avg service fee is ? Paul Miller Porsche is asking for $600.00 and 10% off with coupon - $540.00.

Loren over at Renntech.org has all the scheduled maintenance lists. 15K is nothing more than a fancy oil change. This is a $60 DIY. I changed my air and cabin filter as well. Total bill was about $120 for oil, filter, and air and cabin.

The oil and filters are about $80 and there is about a hour of labor involved if you are really slow, so at the most if you have some one else do it, it is worth $200. If you DIY it less than $100. Changing the cabin filter, and oil, and its filter on a 996 is easier than on a Toyota. I would believe that you can think of better things to do with your money than give it up for an oil change.

What should you expect to pay? An Arm and a Leg! haha

So If The Local Dealership Doesn't change the Oil, Where Can I Go ? A Local Prosche Performance Shop ?

Here's the Porsche checklist for the 15,000 mile service (oil change, filters, and not much else of substance). I don't remember what I paid last time (it would have been in the Boxster S), but $600 sounds WAY too high.

dealers here are in the $800.00 range - independants are $700.00ish. I got a really good deal on a 15K + tranny change, brake fluid flush & a new serpitine belt for $740.00 Depends on where you live i guess

I just payed about 600 bucks at Pepe Porsche in White Plains. If I leased the car I would do it myself but since I own it I want a record of the service and proof it was done at a Porsche dealer.... otherwise it's really outrageous.

I just visit High Marque (Prosche Custom Performance and Sales Dealer) They will perform the 15K service for $300 - Vs $624 - Since I am going to have my Targa Until it dies, I am not so concern with Service Records, Just Good Service.

My local dealer in san jose, ca charges $400, which is about $200 less than others. Call a few other dealers for pricing as each dealer sets their own price. You should do a 15K service rather than just change the oil. Inspections are important and yes they do take time so labor is involved. You can either do the 15k service yourself and save $ or take it to the lowest priced dealer. Since your car is still under warranty, I'd go to a dealer in case they find any add'l work covered by warranty. After warranty expires, I'd go to an indept shop if you don't work on your car. I've always enjoyed working on my car. With instructions and help from forums, you learn to be a wrench head easily and you know the job is done right with the best parts.

Your warranty is intake if you can prove maint is done. You don't have to go to a dealer. However, if some add'l work is found (e.g. oil leak) and you want warranty to cover it, you'll have to get it fixed by the dealer.

djantlive - I can handle the Wrench part, it's the lack of space in my garage that is the problem, with two cars in a tight space, I can't move around too well. Oh yea, With High Marques, they also perform the inspection as well.

I still don't get why many of you are so loose with your money. Take a look at the 15K maintenance list above, and look at the "inspections". I would hope that you could do those things as well. Checking fluid levels, etc is not that hard. As far as major things going wrong, if the CEL light is not on, then there is not a problem. I hate to say it, but it is very disappointing to see how many folks actually seem to be proud of their inability to maintain their automobiles themselves, and the general lack of fiscal sense on display here.

Is the 15k and 30k the exact same then?

I've owned two 996's and got them both serviced at Storms Motors in Southampton, N.Y. The 15k services were both about $300. The 30k service was in the $600's.

Essentially for a 996 non-turbo car it is. The main difference is that the air filter gets changed, and if the 30K maintenance fall on a 2 year anniversary of the car being in service, then the brake fluid should be changed as well. A turbo car gets its plugs changed here as well Plugs on 2001 and later cars get changed at 60K. Earlier cars get changed at 30K. If at the plug change, the newer type 4 electrode plugs are used, then the change interval can go to 60K on those as well. The polyrib belt (accessory drive belt) get changed at 60K. Here is a very good list of all Maintenance checklists for 996/986 cars

So you paid an additional $300 to get a $20 fan belt changed which takes about 30 minutes to do. I'm impressed. Just a hypothetical question: If you owned a Toyota Corolla instead of a Porsche, would you still want to pay $600 for an oil/filter belt change? Oh yes, and lets not forget those "inspections".