996 service

can someone explain why it is deemed necessary to have a 996 serviced at either a opc or specialist, from what I can see it’s a oil change , handbrake check , filter change tug on a few hoses check fluid levels etc etc nothing a decent mechanic can’t do ?

The oil change is very simple, good to get the car in the air and have a good look around every couple of years.

Welcome Robin! Servicing is relatively straightforward, as you say. I think the main purposes of using an OPC or specialist are twofold. Firstly, they will be more familiar with the foibles of the model, and their inspection will be checking out things that a 'jobbing garage' would not. Secondly, buyers like to see stamps in the maintenance books from people they recognise. A good service history is probably the number 1 recommendation to anyone looking to buy a 996. Most good specialists have menu priced servicing, and may be more reasonably priced than you think. Mine charges £200 for a 12,000 service, which I think is good value for money.

Yes I see where you are coming from but I think mainly it’s more to do with resale value servicing is straightforward however repairs in particular the mechanical side then I understand a specialist may be the better bet , thank you for your reply robin

Hi Robin i agree with you £70 for oil and filter and an hour of labour +porsche tax

Can’t get my head around why people are so precious about main dealer or speciallist for service , certain repairs yes but things like discs pads etc my local garage I’ve used for 20 plus years are more than capable more modern cars that have ongoing software updates etc then ok I stand to be corrected

To add what others have stated. You will find that most enthusiasts whatever their marque of car, will use either an OPC or a specialist irrespective of the job required. If you have found a garage whom you are happy with and would entrust with your car then go with it.

But don't expect the same resale value as someone who has had PC or Specialist service and care.

Exactly my point what is the difference between a good mechanic and a " specialist " imo none ! And yet there is this magical mysterious thing that a opc or specialist is better !

I have used two different and well respected non specialists for two jobs on my 996 and whilst I thought they’d done a good job, it transpired that it wasn’t good enough. 1. Fitted new brake disc pads. It transpired that the leads for the wear sensors were too long and flapped about in the breeze. 2. 4 wheel laser alignment. There is no doubt that the car felt and handled much better but a few weeks later I had a 111 point check carried out by Revolution Porsche who commented that the alignment wasn’t correct. They didn’t know at that time that I’d had it done. I shiwed them the Hunter alignment sheet and they said it had been done within the tolerances which may be alright for a run of the mill car but not for a Porsche 911 which needed to be spot on. I had it redone and it transformed the feel and handling of the car. Since then my Porsches have been looked after by Revolution Porsche whom I have total trust in. I am sure that a car with a full service history from Porsche Centres and/or Porsche specialist will be easier to sell and it will command a hire price. In any event for me the higher cost of having work carried out by a Porsche specialist is worth it for peace of mind.

I get what you are saying , but surely discs and pads should be bread and butter to a decent mechanic , for the record I’ve just had my 996 serviced at a opc . The garage I use locally when a car requires a service they obtain a full spec to that vehicle and carry it out to the letter , the reason I’ve used a opc is for the very reason of the stamp in the book for resale , on another note I’ve read some good things about Revolution do they still offer the maintenance/ warranty plan

For what it's worth, I just get the bi-annual service done at OPC and the brakes and general maintenance work at a local Porsche indy.

Replacing brake discs and pads should be straightforward. The guy claimed that he hadn’t realised that the leads supplied were incorrect. Yes Revolution Porsche do their Porsche Premium Protection Plan according to thier website. They are nice knowledgable people to deal with and have a reputation for their first class ethics. I have no hesitation recommending them.

Nobody has yet mentioned the 2 year warranty on parts and labour at OPC.

Parts and labour warranty on a major service ? Oil and filter ?

Totally agree. However the OP was asking whether "it was deemed necessary?" which its not! but as many have indicated there are plenty of +ve's for; which to an enthusiast is invaluable [ ]

To add my input. Depends on age of car and type of car. A 996 is never going to appreciate to a value as much as a Gt3, GT3RS etc and certainly one with over 100k on the clock. When I first had mine with little to no mileage I had a full service done by Porsche. Whilst this was ok they also raised issues around replacement of brake discs etc which did not need replacing even at the following service a year later which took place at an indie. Now it’s 20 years old and done over 100k I simply service it myself and complete jobs that this forum helps with re technical knowledge and advice for which I am very grateful. Brake pads, discs, exhaust, radiators, ignition switch, heat shields, etc. Use a trustworthy garage for bigger jobs like brake hoses etc but use indie for things like wheel bearings and cam solenoids etc as specialist knowledge is important. So overall, over a twenty year period would say, common sense. If I were lucky enough to own a newer car or high value car then I would probably have a warranty and therefore pay Porsche.

996's qualify for Porsche Classic membership following a "Classic" oil change service carried out at a participating OPC and a benefit of this membership is a 15% discount on parts prices.

Hi Robin, & all, having spent 35+ years in the motor industry, including many years in motor sport, at the highest level. IMO, I have seen & experienced a huge difference in the quality of work & knowledge. A " good mechanic" just cant know all the required info on cars like ours, as a specialist can. A specialist like Autofarm have endless knowledge that can keep our cars in very good condition, & they treat it as their duty to keep these cars on the road. Servicing is not just about replacing worn parts. Its about observations, preventative maintenance. You pays ya money & take your choice. I for one would only ever trust my car with a trained specialist. Just my opinion.

I take my car to a good Indi and also to a good local guy for other bits such as break pads etc. I think for the extra cost I am happy that the indi pick up on bits that they know about such as common issues and can diagnose issues quickly from experience. Last year I was going on a car trip to france and the night before I had an issue with the ignition not working so I dropped it in to my local mechanic guy who was not 100% sure of the issue thought it coukd be the barrel. I called my indi who said we think it's the ignition switch. I explained I was on my way to france and needed it doing ASAP. They had the part in stock and told me to come straight away and they woukd do it while I wait. Job done and it still meant I could do the trip we had been looking forward to. They saved the day by knowledge and by having the parts in stock.

When it's urgent and needs to be done immediately, I agree, you just have to suck it up and pay someone. I had to when I was about to go to Donnington as Porsche were given the opportunity to drive around the track, only at 50 mph mid race session, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, two days before I had my mot and my brake hoses failed, so to reach the deadline I simply asked the garage to go ahead. However, as I stated earlier, some jobs, with the help of this forum can be tackled by yourself if you feel the need. Ignition switch can be done in half an hour. Excellent videos on you tube and part numbers obtained from colleagues on this forum. Down to individual choice I suppose. Glad you got it fixed.

VW part is also cheaper