PSE - where to go and is it worth it??

Hi there, I am pondering the PSE for my 996. All I hear is good news about them once they are on but I am getting hugely varied quotes to install. On 911uk forum the OPC in Nottingham is doing the install including switch for £1495 incl VAT. Reading OPC quoted me north of £2k and without the switch £1500. I want to have the switch as it is more 'factory standard' but £2k locally is too much IMO. Northway were quoting in the order of £1450 incl. VAT but I am not sure I want to stray away from an OPC to an independent..... Any ideas or help with where to get one fitted will be greatly appreciated (I live near Wokingham in Berkshire)... Thanks...[ ]

I don't understand why you don't want to go to an indy. You won't affect the warranty, as they are using original Porsche parts, and you will save yourself a packet.

I am happy to go to an independant but you get differing reports on them (as you do on OPC to be honest!). I hear Northway, Tognola and JZ are all good and all fairly local......will see how it spins out...

Northway would probably be the cheapest of those you mention, or you could try Wrightune in Wallingford (although I have to declare an affiliation there, as we are good friends). JZ tend to be a bit pricy, but generally get very good reports. Peter Tognola is a nice chap and always seems a straightforward sort of bloke to me. As you say, you'll get varying opinions of all OPC's and indies.

I'll put a good word in also for Wrightune, speaking simply as a very satisfied customer (which reminds me must book in for new brake discs and fluid change [:'(])

Hi Mark, Can you please let me know the indi prices you get when you ask around as I am trying to get a group deal with Porsche West London and would like to present them the indi price as an indication of what would be a good deal for members. Kind regards, Kish

how much labour is involved in fitting the PSE only (ie no switch) and is there any overlap with work around the gearbox (eg clutch, RMS, etc)? I appreciate that the switch takes quite a few hours on its own. S

Kish - best price I got from an Indy was £1400 incl VAT for the whole thang....the best OPC I saw was Nottingham at £1495 incl VAT (and is still going as far as I know!).... On the fitting side I believe it is 1-2 hours to fit the exhaust but the switch (cable routing etc) adds another 4 hours to that.....amazing but true! The PSE is around £1000 incl VAT as a part and the rest is all labour...... From what I have heard it is by far and away the best option to fit to a 996! Does that sound right?

shouldn't the question be does the exhaust sound right? and by all reckonings, the answer is an emphatic yes! [ ] Would do it myself but there are other more domestic requirements vying for the £1500 unfortunately. my car servicing and maintenance fund is already being quite well used with tyres, clutches and brakes....[ ]

The labour is apparently 5hrs, as informed by Northway. I suspect it just involves replacing silencers, plus removing and replacing interior trim for the switch. I cannot recommend the PSE highly enough- just fantastic. £1400 sounds like a bargain to me.

Kish - I'd be interested in this but I have to say I've not heard a good word said about west london Porsche. Also East london porsche are matching the deal that Nottingham are running

I put the PSEs (sans switch) on my '02 myself (with the kind loan of aramp at a mate's garage) in about 2 1/2 hours. Only hand tools and a LOT of WD40 are required. You will need new sleeves and new tailpipe clamps - the sleeves will be out-of-round and won't seal (don't know why but they always are) and the tailpipe clamps will be rusted solid and need breaking / cutting off. Otherwise the installation is very strightforward. No need to remove the rear wheels or anything else - there's room for the silencers to come out - rotate back and down. Getting the tailpipe alignment just so will take 2 or 3 attempts but isn't difficult. All up cost if you do the DIY is about £1000. Forget the switch - the silencers are little louder than standard at part throttle / low rpm. You dictate the noise with your right foot! At full throttle / high rpm you'll be searching for tunnels! Best of luck