RMS repair together with clutch replacement

I posted this same question over at RennTech. I need some help from any of you other hands-on, mechanical folks. I'm technically challenged, so please forgive the stupid questions. I have a 2002 C4S with 53,000 miles. I have the RMS leak, and I am fortunately under CPO warranty, so the cost of this repair will be covered. Dealer has indicated it will also change out the intermediate seal at the same time. I also believe that my clutch is likely pretty worn (no signs of slippage, but clutch engages at very high peddle and clutch peddle is hard to depress). I think it may be a good time to make a proposition to the dealer to also change out the clutch with me paying the difference out of pocket. But how much is fair? From a search on this subject, I gather that the labor involved in the warranty RMS work includes dropping the transmission, so I assume that this represents the lion's share of the labor that's also required to change out the clutch? If this is true, what's a reasonable amount of incremental dealer labor that I should have to pay for? Also, I gather that if I obtain the clutch kit, etc. myself from Sunset, it's likely to be hundreds less than the same parts via my local dealer. Is it reasonable for me to obtain the kit to save $ and expect the local dealer to install for just the incremental labor charges? Finally, (last dumb question) does the RMS repair involve draining all the oil, and hence it'll include an oil change? Thanks.

You pay for the Clutch parts and flywheel if needed (may be cracked depending on how bad the clutch got). There should be no additional labor putting a new clutch back in instead of the old one. (it all has to come apart). Definitely cheaper to supply your own clutch, but ask your dealer how much they will charge first...Parts guy question. Never heard of the oil being drained.

You should be able to get the parts for about $300. Chance are that the clutch plate has plenty of life left, but still, If the car is apart anyway, it does not mater if they stick in the old clutch plate and pressure plate/throwout bearing or a new one, the installation is the same. So it is sorta up to you. I would examine the current plate and decide how long you plan on keeping the car before springing for the parts.

i would expect to pay 1 hour aditinal labor for the new clutch to touch up the fly wheel and install the new clutch.

Would a dealer let you supply your own parts? I would think they would want to supply the parts themselves, allowing them to make more $$, no? They would probably give you the usual "we know our parts are genuine, we can't trust other sources"...etc.

1 hr charge to resurface the clutch? I don't see how shops justify a charge to reinstall parts that you have to reinstall as part of the job? Must be the unpacking fee. Seriously.

I have a friend in San Diego who went through the exact same thing. Dealer charged 1hr more for the exact reason Brad mentioned. The friend bought the genuine clutch kit from Sunset and gave it to the dealer to install. The dealer was not thrilled but did the install anyway with no BS. Saved a bunch. The only flip side is if something goes wrong after the install because of a faulty part, it will be a hassle to get it covered by the dealer. Also, it won't hurt to ask the dealer whether they do price matching for the clutch kit you could get from Sunset. - Ahsai

They will not charge you to put in the new clutch or flywheel if need be.... You have to take these items off in order to replace the the seals. To get technical, an RMS/IMS replacement should cost 1 additional hour on top of a clutch/flywheel replacement... Just buy the parts and tell them to install the new ones when putting it all back together!

i went thru exact same situation a few mos back. rms covered and the dealer suggested clutch change as it was more than 50% worn. he charged me ZERO extra labor. i paid for clutch. $475 reg price, knocked off 15% pca member discount so my out of pocket was $400. by chance if you have 75% life left(dont know if its been replaced before), i would not replace unless i felt i certain that i was gonna keep it another 4yrs. i am in nyc area so the part may carry a slight prem.

I had all 3 parts changed in December 06: the intermediate seal, the clutch and the RMS. 1) there was no extra labor charged for the clutch replacement 2) the oil was drained, so it involved an oil change - paid oil, no labor

I agree it shouldnt cost any thing to have the clutch changed during an rms replacement how it worked at my old dealer , but my current dealer it takes som much time and effort to get the clutch kit touch up the flywheel ect we charge an hour. Under stand that while the car is on the lift with the trans out waiting for you to aprove a clutch or bring your own. that tech mine as well punch out and go home beacuse with his lift tied up hes off the clock and not getting paid

how much is an rms chage if you're not on cpo?

Can anyone else validate that an oil change is required when replacing RMS? My invoice for my RMS done when clutch/flywheel replaced make no mention of oil change at all. hmmm

does it looks like the oil is new...? and how much would it cost you if you didn't have the cpo paul?

I'm no oil expert there is already a thread dedicated to that . Once it is in there and the car has been drivern I doubt anyone could really tell if the oil was new or old. I have no idea on the cost.. I had a clutch done and the rms thrown in.. I know that RMS cost has been thrown around before. Might try a quick search.. My labor was $787 alone not including any of the parts. Also, I am the Wash DC metro area so labor is on the high side here.

thanks paul...

changing the rms does not require draing the oil chaing the ims does, but has ntohing to do with a filter. or the rest of the oil chnage serivce inspection or tire pressures or clean and lubes

labor for a rms and ims on a stick car is 8-12 hours depengin on the delaer.

My RMS change at 20K miles under CPO, oil not drained !! The dealer said they just topped it off.

That labor rate seams high... Also, ssome dealers might reuse your old oil when changing the seal if it is in good shape

so i'm looking at least $800..... just for a $50 gasket....?

porsche smile no you shouldnt chnage the seals unless you have the trans out for a clutch. so then its 800+ for 2 seals some bolts and a clutch labor rate is about right

thanks... makes me feel a little better....... why didn't i buy one with CPO....?

Because a CPO car would have cost you at least $4000+ more than a non CPO car...so if you did not have to pay for the CPO, and then have an RMS/IMS done (during the time period the CPO would have actually had coverage) and you pay $800 out of pocket you are still ahead of the game. CPO is an insurance policy plain and simple, and Porsche's underwriter has very highly paid actuaries who calculate risk/cost on these vehicles. Trust me they make money on CPO cars, and you are more likely than not to lose money on the deal! BTW $800 for RMS service does not seem too bad when you consider that my Honda dealer wanted to charge me $200+ just to change the FRONT brake pads on a measly Accord!