Will a Porsche dealer advise on previous work done?

Hi all, I've had a quick search but can't find an answer to this question. I'm looking at a 2003 996 3.6 with 99k on the clock. The book is stamped up with all Porsche stamps but the owner doesn't have any of the invoices from the previous owners (he hasn't had the car long enough to have it serviced himself) If I ring the Porsche dealers it's been through (Leeds/Leicester/Exeter) would they be helpful enough to tell me if it's had any major work like IMS bearing replacement etc? I have a suspicion the answer will be no due to data protection but does anyone know different? regards Ben

I called an OPC a while back about this. They sent me copies of all the work carried out on my car. From the pre-delivery inspection from new through everything they had. They just obscured the owner's name and details. However I was already the owner. I contacted OPC Colchester when I was looking at a 997 Cab (whcih I bought), and they sent me a copy of the previous condition report they do when a car comes in and they check it over.

Before I bought mine from a non-porsche garage I asked for a copy of the service history to be emailed to me and also the reg changes through the years. I then rang the OPC that had serviced it. I spoke to the service manager who remembered the car and was exceptionally helpful going through the computer records and the various items of work that had happened over the years. It's probably hit and miss whether the service manager is helpful or not but worth a polite call to try and find out. Rather than a 'witch hunt' I see it more of a 'peace of mind' thing. If you bought a car and had problems and rang them they would probably be less likely to chat and be drawn into anything. However, if you explain from the start that you have seen a car that you like and are keen to buy then they are more likely to go through the history without them giving a personal opinion on the car.

Thanks for the replies, I agree, it'll probably be down to the individual manager and how busy he/she is when I call i.e pot luck! Can only try and ask as politely as possible I guess Will post up here how I got on for reference. regards Ben

As mentioned it's down to discretion, as mine was happy to do the printouts for me where as I've read that others were quoted the data protection thingy. Some of the opc data bases are connected so you may be able to get the info you want without actually going to the opc that did the work.

I drew a blank in terms of access to the invoices and history of work carried out on paper. However, I did get some good cooperation verbally on what had been done and mileage, job number etc which I wrote down copiously on my due diligence. One of the OPC's said that they did not have the records as they had upgraded their IT system and did not have access to records going back more than a couple of years. Porsche are a long way behind Mercedes in my opinion. All the MB dealerships (bar few) are owned by MB (UK) Ltd in Milton Keynes. This means they run a common IT platform. Anyone wanting to buy a MB can take the VIN number and go into any dealership and they can tell you what has been carried out. Porsche on the other hand are a dispersed, disjointed and fragmented set of indy dealers albeit some are part of a holding group - Stratstone for instance owns Porsche Wilmslow, Sutton Coldfield and Nottingham (I think) so if a car has been through Stratstone, they can tell you any work carried out at either of those dealers. Porsche Chester is part of Rybrook. I think Porsche GB only owns 3 or 4 main dealerships. So to trace work done can be a nightmare as they are nearly all disconnected independent dealerships.

All good info ta...looks like I got lucky then. Porsche Leicester (serviced car from 2007-2011). Guy in service who answered said no problem and went straight onto system advising he couldn't give me names and addresses but anything else was fine. He went through each job and whether it was service, warranty work etc. Very helpful..I now know the engine/gearbox were removed in 2008 to investigate an oil leak which was from the box itself. Porsche Leeds (supplied car in 2003 and looked after it until 2006). Lady on reception politely asked what my query was and when I explained she's says they only deal on email as they get inundated with these sorts of requests. I wasn't expecting much from email but they got back to me in 30 minutes with screen dumps of the all the work carried out! Only the 'headline' job description mind you but this, along with the costs gives me enough of an idea. (also showed it had an RMS seal done in 2009) Porsche Exeter (carried out one service in 2013). Lady in service very helpful said it wouldn't be a problem and looked up the car on the database. Went through the service and listed advisories along with the work done. So, basically, I have the history of the car and I believe it to be on it's original engine, IMS bearing and gearbox. regards Ben

Porsche customer service are diabolical, they tell you nothing about the car saying they don't have access to the system and to ask the dealerships for the info I requested, which was just work done on the vehicle, the dealerships aren't very helpful Leicester, a woman, would only say its had its service there, as was already stated on the stamp service history, no help whatsoever. Terrible attitude also.

I've found them all really helpful, especially stratstone Wilmslow who were good enough to send me a copy invoice detailing my car had a new gearbox in 2005 along with clutch and ancillary items... Total £7500 ....!! Owner details redacted of course. Twas the only invoice " missing" from my service history. Also found previous owners helpful too.

I wonder if 'looking at' a car, rather than owning the car, might generate a different response from an official Porsche dealer? Despite my recently acquired C4S being advertised as having a full service history, the service book was missing two stamps and 4 years of paperwork. I emailed the principal at the supplying Porsche dealer and he had the book stamped and provided (redacted) invoices from several years ago. He couldn't have been more helpful.