Repairs - which is most urgent?

My Porsche Center in West London called me and told me I needed to do the following repairs in addition to a major service. I'm a bit surprised as the car just passed the MOT a couple of weeks ago and I'm quite sure they would have spotted at least some of those items. Any opinions of what is most urgent? coil pack split and front diff.seals leaking oil £890 inc vat front discs rusty and past wear limit pads 90% worn £910 inc vat High tone Horn not working £160 inc vat Can I fix some of it myself or bring it to an alternative garage where it is cheaper? thanks Nicolas

I'd say the discs 'rusty' is a bit of a typical OPC yarn... and personally would get them done by an indy rather than an OPC. The High Tone Horn has gone on mine too, but I'm sure it's a 20 minute job for a novice. Just not sure where it is. Don't know know about the coil pack and seal, but they are probably "things that could do with doing" rather than urgent.

The split coil pack could apparently make it difficult to start the car, but I've never had the slightest problem so far. The brake pads can't be that bad otherwise it wouldn't have passed the MOT, right?

If the wear indicator light isn't on you will have at lease 5mm of material on the pads. Coil packs are a common problem, and they tend to work fine unit the insulation breaks down to the point of creating a misfire. Find yourself a decent independent, and you will probably save 40-50% on those prices. Where are you located? There are plenty of indies in the West London Area.

I'm located in South Ken. Any recommendations where I should go? tnx Nicolas

Jaz at Wembley GT One at Chertsey Tognola Engineering at Datchet These are ones I have heard good things about, but I'm sure someone else may know somewhere closer.

Apart from the situation with the brakes, which as pointed out is a dealership special.... none of the other items would be involved within the MOT. The horn sounded and thats all thats required. Its a common mis-conception that just that the car past an MOT it is actually in good condition. garyw

Nicolas, The OPC's comments on the brakes might assume you won't have the car looked at again until the next service. For ease of mind, it's worth having an independent look at all the things suggested by them. You could try Leigh who's based on the Seagrave Road, West Brompton. No affiliation and he's been looking after Porsches for 30-odd years, so I'd say he know his onions (or porks) [ ]. He uses Porsche OEM parts. The saving is in the labour rate and piece of mind that the person woking on your car will do only the necessary jobs and do them properly. PM if you want his details. My brake pads went a further 3,000 miles from the moment the OPC said to keep an eye on them. At the very least, as Richard says, the light should come on in the car / turn up on the on board computer. HTH SNDa

Have you visited this page in the London region sub-forum for indis list? http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=235552 Regards, Kish

Don't do it!! Step away from the OPC!! I was told that my front discs needed replacing two years/3000 miles/2 MOTs ago! I was washing the car and NOT driving it straight afterwards to get heat into them to dry them off - what a tit! I now do get them hot - really hot - before putting it back to bed and no problems since!! Coil packs - apparently some of mine are split - but the engine is running like a watch. I'm not touching them until they become symptomatic. Horn - I used to squirt loads of water up underneath my front P.U. (spoiler) when washing the car. The high tone horn faces the ground so all the crap and water goes up into it. It's one of Porsche's classic designs! I had mine replaced under warranty ages ago and asked them to position the new one so that it was facing the other way - guess what? No problems since. Ask Richard for one of his fab links on how to get your front P.U. off and DIY. Your car is road worthy - enough said! If your front pads are on their way out get some new ones from somewhere like Euro Parts and DIY - it's easy and there's loads of links on this forum about how to do it. Then (when they're done) take the car out and get some serious speedy braking done - the discs will polish up, may be not back to new - but better than they are now. OPC told me that I could not expect to stop in time if I didn't get them done! I told them that "I did not have sexual relations with that woman", "I will not raise taxes" and that "there will be no whitewash in the White House!" All the best! Adrian.

[ ] Many thanks for all the help. Just drove to southern France and back and had no problems at all, so I was a bit confused about what the dealer told me. By the way, I got flashed about 5 times on my way in France. Any idea whether they will send the bill to England?

Which coil pack? There are 6. They are £35 each. 20 min job don't get OPC to do. They all split as they are open to the elements but when they go might cause you a few probs until you can get to place to change them....engine light will come on as it will start to misfire. Main advice..... DONT EVER GO TO AN OPC....THE GOOD INDEPENDENTS WILL WIPE THE FLOOR WITH THEM EVERY TIME IMHO

You're absolutely right of course. It was quite stupid to bring it there, but luckily I was on time to halt all the repairs. Will get it done at one of those you suggested when needed. I think only one coil pack is split, so hardly a problem. The only thing I'm a bit worried about is the oil leak in the diff. seal. But I've never noticed any oil on the floor so that's probably just another hoax.

Forest Fine have coil packs for £21.50 each. http://www.forestfine.com/ Bit more than a 20 min job - it's fiddly (esp. nos 1 and 4) - but as long as you can get the car up on a ramp (and you have the right ools of course) you can do it yourself without too much bother.

I did mean for an independant rather than the individual....and yes some are 'a little' quicker to do than others... Get the diff leak checked though.

there is no reciprocal arrangement with france so any camera flashes you can wave at with impunity....just like the gallic guys do to ours[ ] the only time you need worry is when the jolly blue b******s arrive on your shoulder with a strong desire for your euros and a big gun[ ]

Get yourself a snooper indigo anyway for the cameras in France--it wont be long before all european speeding offences come back to haunt you. Just came back from Champagne--could not do without the snooper-a great bit of kit. ps. I would not go to the OPC's either. Someone has to pay for the pretty girls at reception!!!!!

Yes, that way they can fine you and remove it from your car to add to the pain.. they are illegal in France... We were in Champagne last weekend and never managed to set off any cameras, we were though very lucky with the speed trap coming into the toll booths towards Calais...[&:] garyw

I think it worth getting the coil done because misfires can damage the catalytic converters, and they're expensive. [also, a Porsche Centre will tend to mention a leak if there's any sign of dampness].

Hi Gary If the snooper indigo is a GPS based device it is legal in France (although not in Switzerland). It's active detectors that are illegal. You can buy GPS based radar warning devices in French motorway services, and also maps with fixed camera locations marked on them Cheers Pete

Hi, Done both of these jobs on mine. Sorry just come into this, brakes and pads easy novice job. High horn, 20 minutes, most of which is taking the front bumper off. In some ways the brakes are eawier than the horn but boith are easy. Can't believe Porsche change 900 quid for brakes! eek! I paid 120 quid for EBC Red pads and about 35 quid a corner for discs, not worth getting them skimmed. Stu

As for France, we have just come bacak from a 2,500 mile week in the Porsche, Nurgburgring to Monaco to home. I finally got round to wiring in the laser jammer that came with my car, and it works, The classic 50 mile from Calais speed trip lit up like a christmas tree Just wonder if the laser gun went mad for a few seconds like it is meant to. (Left the Road Angel at home) The bills won't follow you this year but one day they will. How about a sat nav with camera locations built in, you must be able to get away with that ? Stu