OPC Admits Engine Issues (Verbally)

Yesterday, I signed on the dotted line for a recent model 996 Carrera 2 from a UK OPC that shall remain nameless for now. As part of the buying process, I had a frank discussion with the centre's business manager over warranties and just what they cover (kowing full-well, having read it on this forum, that the Porsche extended warranty now covers RMS issues). I asked him whether the warranty covered 'an oil leak from the back of the crankshaft' and added that this was a hot topic of discussion on Internet forums and in particular this one. I also said it would not surprise me if his official line would have to be to deny knowing anything about it! His reply was absolutely amazing! First the 'just-rather-surprising' bit..... He stated that there is a 'known issue' with what HE described as the RMS (I'd deliberately not used that term). He then went on to describe the problem in some detail (where the seal is and what is required to replace it) and that Porsche GB had made a conscious decision to cover this under the warranty; primarily to remove the need for having to do work under good will (together with all the debate and time this took)! Now here's the amazing bit.... He then went on UNPROMPTED to say that in the interest of being up-front and honest, he would also tell me about another 'known issue' with the 3.6 litre engine that he described as the 'failure of intermediate shaft bearings' (which seems to be in line with the engine failure problems described elsewhere on this forum). He said Porsche were aware of this and hade made a policy decision to replace all (warrantied) engines under the warranty without question if this failure happened - 'you wouldn't want some bits of old bearing blocking an oilway...' Somethng of a revelation this conversation! Not only is this confirmation that Porsche GB acknowledges the RMS and engine-failure problems, but that they also feel the need to do something about them. This is clearly also being communicated to the dealers, irrespective of whether they are normally forthcoming over them. What Porsche GB are actually doing by just covering things under warranty may not go far enough yet, but an acknowledement of the issues is quite an incredible step forward given the say-nothing, drawbridge-up, you're-on-your-own attitude described by some people here. For me, such an open and frank response has gone a long way to restoring my faith in all-things Porsche and I hope is a pointer towards better customer-relations and hopefully a better thought-through policy towards owners of out-of-warranty cars (as I was until now) in the future. Ian W Migration info. Legacy thread was 23444

interesting indeed... although as you say the later and larger problem is a real problem for many cars that are out of warranty... :roll: btw.. good work on getting the C2 ! Migration info. Legacy thread was 23445

don't forget that you can put the Porsche warranty on any 996 for £725 if its passed an 111 point inspection, some dealers will do this for free when your car is serviced Mark Pearce www.stirlings.co.uk All my 996's have this warranty (sorry about the advert noony) Migration info. Legacy thread was 23448

Sundeep, Mark Agree with totally. I think my point was simply that the conversation I had was the first evidence I have really seen of Porsche GB even beginning to acknowledge any kind of problem with its engines. To admit is surely the beginning of the possibility of Porsche doing the right thing by owners? I cannot believe that any commercial organisation could ever be so dim-witted as to go this far and not eventually deal with what is, in reality for them, not a monster of a problem. Can you imagine the backlash, having admitted a problem, if nothing were to be done about it?Ian W Sundeep, Thanks regarding the car - can't wait to pick her up next week. Sold my MY99 C4 between Xmas and NY and have been Porscheless ever since! Isn't the difference between the 3.4 and 3.6 just awesome too? Different universe for torque, build quality, trim quality and overall feel - Amazing! Migration info. Legacy thread was 23451

Mark, Three questions: Is that £725 pa to keep the warranty going? Can this be taken out at any time after expiry of the initial 2 year warranty? Are cars that have been outside the OPC network - sales and well as servicing - OK to be covered? Migration info. Legacy thread was 23591

£725 annually the warranty can be taken out at any time, BUT the car must pass a 111 point Porsche Used Car inspection, if it fails on any item it has to be put right, care if the rms is gone then it has to be done before you can put the warranty on As long as it passes the inspection it doesn't matter if the car has a Non OPC service before the warranty can be passed on to the next owner, so you could renew the warranty in 12 months then sell the car 6 months later with the benefit mark Pearce www.stirlings.co.uk Migration info. Legacy thread was 23593

Hi Maxy I've just extended the Porsche warranty on the 'new-un'. As the existing manufacturers warranty runs out in march 05, I didnt have to have the 111 check/inspection done. The implication, was that if your vehicle had lapsed out of warranty, it could still 'requalify' so long as the 111 point check was ok, and if anything was out of sorts, you paid to have it remedied. According to Porsche own website, a vehicle can be warrantied up to 9 years old or 125,000 miles. Migration info. Legacy thread was 23594

Actually, Mark If I extend the warranty, do I have to have the servicing done at OPC or will a specialist qualify? Thanks Migration info. Legacy thread was 23595

i assume its OPC, must confess i haven't read that part of the small print, but i would assume the warranty is also a way of bringing workshop trade, Mind you iff you've got a low mileage 996 the next owner is going to be looking for a OPC service history, I have all my cars OPc serviced it certainly isn't cheap but there are no specialists in cornwall except me! (sorry i forgott adrian crawford) When it comes to selling the car the next customer i think will trust a OPc more than Hayle Porsche Servicing ! Mark Pearce www.stirlings.co.uk Migration info. Legacy thread was 23596

The supplying OPC said categorically to me that the car must be serviced at a dealership. If any service was done by a specialist, then the warranty was immediately invalid. Then I suppose they would say that...... Ian W Migration info. Legacy thread was 23692

That IS usually the deal with manufacturer warranties... Migration info. Legacy thread was 23697

But I thought under block exemption rules that servicing does not have to be by the main agent for the warranty to be valid, they just have to use genuine parts. John Migration info. Legacy thread was 23741