996 OPC Servicing Prices - Info.

Further to recent discussions on servicing, my car is currently in my OPC for it's 3rd service. While I was in, I picked up a brochure of prices (now standard across all UK OPCs.) Thought this info might prove of interest: (Prices quoted are for C2, C4, C4S & Targa.) Minor Service Every 12k or 1 year (up to & inc MY 03) £322 Every 12k or 2 years (from MY 04) Major Service £511 Every 24k or 2 years (up to & inc MY 03) Every 24k or 4 years (from MY 04) Annual Service £128 Cars driven < 9k per year (up to & inc MY 03) Replace Spark Plugs £161 Every 48k, but no later than every 4 years Replace Drive Belt £19 Every 48k Change Manual Transmission oil £54 Every 96k Change Tiptronic ATF, filter & final drive oil £255 Every 96k Change front final drive oil £69 Every 96k Change Brake Fluid £107 Every 2 years.

I can't see the logic in this at all. I have a low mileage Septemeber 2000 996 Cab which I love to bits. It's done 3500 miles. Yes I know ... I've heard it all before and from the wife too! In July 2004 the OPC did an Annual and a Minor service and changed the brake fluid. It had covered 900 miles at that time. Last week it was in again for a service and they wanted to do an Annual and a Minor service plus change the spark plugs! Woah I said ... no way! Reasoning that if the spark plugs should be changed at 48K miles then why did they need changing at 4 years or in my case 3500 miles. They had no answer to that which troubled me somewhat. They hardly degrade sat there doing nowt do they! Needless to say I kept my 'old' plugs and saved a sum. Asked why they wanted to carry out a Minor and an Annual service after only 2400 miles since the last servce I was told that the service schedule is a little confusing, even for the OPC!!! They said it was really up to me so I opted for the Annual and an oil change (with Mobil 1) saving another sum. The oil was not really necessary but, well, as I was there....! The total bill was still £273. I'm still confused and even reading the service schedule I'm still confused as it reads so simple - service by mileage done or annual if lower. Seems to me this mileage limit or yearly limit is a wonderful built in catch all clause for the OPC's to make more money from us all. Heads they win - tails we lose! Sorry I don't buy it at all.

This is the exact same price for 986s too. I have done less than 9K but I was told it is better to go for the full service as the last service (the 1st year) was also a low mileage service. This will be the 2nd year service (in 2 weeks time) which I believe needs a brake fluid change too. What is involved with the brake fluid change that would cost £107?

It's mostly labour for the brake fluid change. @£100 an hour it soon mounts up [&o] I got a call during my service saying a couple of bulbs had gon - one was a sidelight (which I had noticed and forgot), and the other the door card courtesy light (which I thought I would see if they noticed [ ]). There was also a rad outlet piece of plastic that I trashed on the unexpectedly harsh sleeping policemen at Calias docks (at 5mph![ ]) They had to fit the sidelight to do the MOT, but gave me the option of supplying the parts and allowing me to do the other bits - saving about £100 labour between the 2. There IS NO "2nd year service". It is all by milage OR an Annual check. I believe you need only the 12K service plus a brake fluid change (as brake fluid degrades over time as well as with use), Kish.

I couldnt agree more. There is no mention of the Major/Minor services being age based in the service book that came with my car (MY02 996 C2). It states quite clearly that cars doing under 9000 miles a year only need a Annual service. Obviously if you then do another 3000 miles in say 3 months due to a change in your circumstances then you would have to get a Minor Service done. I think someone at Porsche realised that those of us doing low miles were getting away with 'cheap' servicing, so they introduced this age criteria retrospectively. I remember being introduced to the servicing manager at my OPC when I picked the car up and was told that they would advise what the correct service option would be. I took this to mean them understanding my specific driving circumstances (city, motorway), expected mileage in the next period etc. The age related servicing has made it easier for the OPCs now to 'advise' but made it a lot more expensive for us! The advise is now general rather than specific to our individual circumstances. All seems very fishy to me. Mark

The annual "service" doesn't amount to much. I had one done on my C4S a couple of weeks ago but it was little more than an inspection, nothing was actually done except a reasonable valet in and out. I got a list of things to be done which I ignored. They were keen that I actually had a minor done but I was keen to deny them their excessive margin on the oil. Waste of money as it turned out anyway as I was smitten by the idea of upgrading and the car moves on today...

the boxster 12k service is £30 more !!!