Porsche warranty shocker part II

As a follow on to earlier discussion about the 'new' warranty, I just got the policy booklet from my OPC, to read through before renewal in Jan ... and there's a significant exclusion in it which I don't think has been spelled out beforehand (apologies if it has been mentioned before, but I was on holiday when this news broke). Under "What is not covered" .. 2. A claim made under Your Policy for the repair or replacement of a defective system or component shall be invalid if: a) ... stuff about improper use b) ... stuff about being maintained in a way other than manufacturer's standards c) Service, repair or maintenance has previously been performed on the Vehicle by You or by a third party who is not an Authorised Porsche Centre / Authorised Porsche Service Centre. d) ... stuff about genuine parts not being fitted e) ... stuff about modifications f) ... stuff about not following service intervals. g) ... stuff about external effects h) ... stuff about not reporting defect immediately i) ... stuff about not carying out recalls j) ... stuff about tampering with components. On page 10, there a bit that sort of contradicts this exclusion that says that if it has been maintained outside the OPC network, you need to have a major service done first. But, that withstanding, it appears that if you do go down the new OPC warranty route, if you or an indi service, repair or maintain the car, then any warranty claim can be invalid !

Good post Martin, That's really going to help values of older cars isn't it.[ ]

The more this goes on the more you relalise that unless people check carefully before they buy the warranty a lot of folk are going to have claims rejected because a previous owner took car out of OPC network for a repair! And I wonder how many OPC's will know/tell when 111 point check is done if that is the case I can just here the comment "sorry cannot repair/replace this under warranty as you changed your own pads between services" and that invalidates the warranty!

ok, I have major service booked for next month. Under the old warranty can I get repairs done by Indi and still be covered???

Yes, as long as they use Porsche approved parts. I understand the new warranty means that if they find you've carried out any work to the car yourself/indi etc then the warranty is void.However, in practice I doubt they will be so stringent. I had aftermarket HIDs and exhaust fitted on my previous car, not only did they turn a blind eye to the mods when I put the car in for warranty work to tbe done, but they actually adjusted my HIDs FOC (which I didn't ask them to do). It's a bit of no-mans land and a gamble as to which OPC will be stringent or not though.

so just to clarify, the warranty I took out 3 months ago will permit me to use autostrasse providing they use Porsche approved parts????

Yes, under the terms of the old warranty you don't need to have the car serviced by an OPC as long as they used Porsche Approved parts, and was carried out according to the service schedule in the handbook (although there is some leeway with the exact timing depending on your OPC)

Very very helpfull many thanks for clearing that up for me. I'm gonna go ahead and let opc carry out major service but get autostrasse to do any repair works. I hadn't realised that the terms of the new warranty were so stringent as well as the price now be outrageous. I won't be bothering with the Porsche warranty next year thats for sure

Rodney's probably right in that (with the new warranty) they _probably_ won't be that fussy ... but I don't think I'm going to take out a warranty with that exclusion written into it. Legally it appears they would be entitled to void the warranty if you do anything to your car in ways of service, repair or maintenance. Also, begs the question of whether topping up oil or the radiator is 'maintenance'.

well given i own a 997 and servicing intervals arent ever year ill be inclined to stick to main agent servicing but they will be aware that subsequent work will be carried out by autostrasse. My thinking is that they may be more inclined that way to give me an honest apprasial of my car.

So me having official Porsche parts disks and pads at 911 Sport last November has excluded me from renewing my warranty in May 09 with Porsche. So, as well as hiking up the price by nearly 50% they are now excluding probably the majority of people with older cars who want the warranty but have been careful and sensible about where they have had certain works done. I might cancel my annual service on the 31st at OPC and get it done at an indy now.

Just phoned the local OPC and he is telling me that the new warranty exclusion only applies if your car has not got full OPC service history. I don't believe him and have read out the terms listed above. He is going to ring me back. I will not renew unless OPC put in writing to me that the car will be covered with a full warranty as per the "old" warranty conditions. A quick check around shows the annual maintenance at OPC is £127 and £100 at a specialist (further to travel) so I will leave it with them on 31st.

well porsche are gonna find that people may have their cars serviced my opc"s but repairs will be done at indis and people take out a tesco warranty and seperate breakdown cover and save £900. i dont really see its anymore difficult than that now

Someone (with a 996 I think) on boxa.net got £200 off their warranty renewal yesterday. Their dealer says they're getting a lot of stick from customers regarding the changes and price hike. I would therefore encourage everyone to haggle and make their feelings known to their OPCs if they are going to renew. Just remember that these changes have been forced onto the UK OPC network by Porsche AG, so don't blame them!

Vron, I have the new warranty policy booklet in front of me. There is some legal inconsistency in what is written in that document. In addition to the exclusions I listed in my first posting, on page 10 - "how to renew your policy" it states "If your vehicle does not have a full Porsche Service History, a major maintenance is required prior to the Vehicle Inspection". But , there is nothing that then says the exclusion 2(c) becomes null and void. Hence , my reading of the policy is that they _will_ allow you to take out the new warranty if it has not been maintained by OPC, provided you get a major service done, but then you must only use OPC from then on, otherwise any claim would be invalid. So, unless you get it in writing that exclusion 2(c) on page 6 is voided, you better stick with all repairs, maintenance and servicing at an OPC, otherwise your warranty is worthless.

HAHAHA..TAlk about being had by the short and curlies!!!!!!! Now, where did i put that number for Tesco warranty

I think your'e too late for the Tesco warranty from what I have read.

really??? my warrantly doesnt actually run out till next june but i have major service next month. whats the latest with the teasco one then?

tesco excluded 911 about 3 weeks ago !

Oh perfect!!!!

The point made about the OPC Service history to me by OPC today is that it gives them a chance to inspect the car before the warranty is purchased. Why is that necessary if they have to do the 111 point check before they sell you a warranty at £1400 anyway?? They haven't rung me back yet............

The point about the OPC Service is that it gives them a chance to make lots more money before the warranty is purchased and then ties you in to using them for everything thereafter ...

How about a PCGB warranty scheme? Once you strip out the bogus claims that arise from all the so called RMS repairs and other things that OPCs do under warranty for no reason, how much have people actually spent on things going bang on their car? I've needed some new coils, which was about £100. Others have had engines go bang, but actually how many have? Assuming the insurance costs £1000, and a new engine costs say £7k fitted... one in seven failures?? I don't think so. Insurance is a gamble and in the long run, the House wins. Therefore, the club could offer a scheme for members and end up quids in!

i think potentially thats a very good idea.

I had a new alternator last October and that was £1500 under warranty.

Fair enough, but if you had to pay yourself you could have got the job done for about £400 all in, by using an indy and a Porsche exchange alternator.

In the first round of postings on this subject I reported that my future son-in-law (who is a car dealer) was investigating other third party warranties for me. Well apologies for those waiting to see what we had managed to find out but I have just come back from sunning my butt in the Florida Keys so I have been off line for about 3 weeks. What he did find was a company willing to issue a warranty on the 996, which covered most of the same areas the Porsche warranty would cover however, we could not find anyone to cover the engine. The best we found was £5k per claim and those claims had a ceiling to the trade value of the car (25K car = 5 cliams to that maximum claim amount) This cost around £800 p.a., which disappointed me to say the least as the engine cover is the main reason I have been paying to extend my warranty year on year. I recently had my car's geometry checked at Paragon which I am sure most will know is a Porsche Indy. I got talking to their Service Manager who told me that they do a similar warranty as the ones I had managed to source which again is up to £5k per claim but the with theirs the amount of claims was unlimited and cost similar, around £800 but you would need an initial inspection costing £175 at Paragon. But interestingly Paragon's also has a an offer of a 2 year cover for about the same as the OPC new 1 year cost of £1350 but as with the others, no cover for the engine (well up to 5k of it I suppose). I was able to re-new my OPC warranty before the new one kicked in so I have the luxury of 12 months to decide what to do but the Paragon one is looking like my option as I have fitted a Dension iPod kit to my car and removed the 6CD player which if I am reading all the above post correctly, won't be accepted in the new Porsche warranty as the PCM is considered under the new policy and I assume the self fitted Dension unit won't be acceptable. I am damned if I am going to revert to 6 CD's from 6000!!!!

Hi, I have had discussions with my OPC and the reality is that any after market non porsche component will render the warranty void. I specifically asked about Avic sat nav and HIDS and was told if they were put on my car I could not get the warranty. Overall I think this is a poor move my Porsche Ing. I have considered my options and fortunately have until March next year before I have to decide. It looks like some of the reputable Indy's are starting to offer in house warranties. Overall it is a shame the manufacturers warranty only lasts 2 years any way after that I think the Indy's will see a rise in customers having their services and repairs done. May well prove to be a bad move by Porsche. The dealers will end up selling new vehicals only as the service interval is primarily 2 years anyway. The rest if us mere mortals will go to the Indy's for high quality approved vehicals, repairs and servicing. I think Porsche Ing have scored an own goal on this especially as the timing is right slap bang in the credit crunch. Just my 2 penneth. Alan

Porsche called me back on Friday. They said that because I had the brake disks and pads done outside OPC (albeit at a specialist with genuine parts) then really they should not extend the warranty for me under the new guidelines. He has said however because the car has Full OPC service history if it is OK when they inspect it then they will allow me to have the OPC warranty as an exception. I have asked them to put that in writing which he seemed reluctant to do. I have until May 09 to decide anyway.

For sure, you're right to push to get it in writing .. but you'll then be limiting yourself to using OPC for all maintenance thereafter.

Yes but my car is 8 years old in November so I can only renew the warranty once more next year anyway.

Is the terms and conditions of the new warrenty scheme enforcable given the Block Exemption Regulation 1400/2002?

Block exemption only applies to factory warranties - Porsche have been very clever with their extended warranty.

Any word on them being more reasonable and relaxing this. Or shall we all march with our feet. Mines up for renewal in May.