RMS, air con gas, control arm = PLEASE HELP

My C4S went in for a minor service to OPC Hatfield and they have just given me the following list of problems: air con leaking gas £1300 RMS £1100 worn front control arms £705 Please can someone telll me that a car that drives well, never smokes from the exhasut or drips air con water or oill should have these things wrong!!! Any thoughts greatfully appreciated Yours in despair James

RMS could just be weeping - have a look yourself, but if its not dripping oil don;t bother for now. Up to 6 years old Porsche are giving goodwill on RMS, so ask Hatfield to approach PCGB Control arm bushes deteriorate - might not notice the gradual decline, but they are part of MOT so you could always ask a local mot place for a second opinion Air con condesors and rads are about £500 a side, plus labour - ask Northway Porche in Reading for a quote !

RMS: A known issue. I presume they would count "slight seepage" as a failure. As your car doesn't use any oil, it sounds like that's what you have. If your car is a manual, I'd be inclined to keep an eye on it and wait until you replace the clutch. The RMS is a cheap part (about a fiver) but you have to split the engine and gearbox to change it, hence the cost. A specialist will no doubt do it more cheaply. I understand the issue is a little different if you have a Tiptronic but someone else will have to help you there. Air Con Leaking Gas: Chances are you've had a stone go through one of the condensors (the smaller radiator in front of the actual radiator). If this is the case, the front PU needs to come off, the aircon bled, the condensor replaced (may as well do both) and the system regassed. My specialist did both of mine for £450 ish. I suppose it could be something else but this is the most likely cause. Edited to add: Just checked. Two new condensors, fitted with a regas - £487 at Wrightune. Non-Porsche branded condensors but otherwise the same.

I agree it will be your condensors that have gone. Get some from Eurocarparts and take them to any decent car air conditioning company and they will be able to do it for a lot less than an OPC. While you are at it, is is worth changing the air con dryer and re-gassing the system. RMS, unless it is bad, wait until you need a clutch or use your warranty if you have it. I had to do my control arm bushes (all 4) and thanks to Porsche streamlining of parts, you can't get new bushes you need to buy new arms from Porsche, for around 250 each! (Used to be half that price until Porsche identified they were a frequently used part and up went the price) Not a big job to do but your tracking, etc will also need re-doing. Cheers Stu

Thanks for all the advice, am speaking to the OPC this morning, will definitely ask about warranty etc as the car is an October 02 and so might just squeeze in the 8 years? will keep you posted

James, There are new aircon condensors for sale on ebay at present http://motors.search.ebay.co.uk/996_Porsche_W0QQbsZSearchQQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfgtpZQQfposZPostcodeQQfromZR2QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQga10244Z10425QQlopgZQQsacatZ10408QQsadisZ200QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsargnZQ2d1QQsaslcZ3QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZunknown

With regards to your RMS check my previous posts. OPC wanted £535 after 50% discount but then talked them down to £350. Looking back maybe I should have waited untill my clutch was totally nackered.