Getting service done at the dealer is painful. Last week, my indy was swamped with appointments and I needed my brake pads swapped out ASAP for a long weekend trip. I bought the pads on Suncoast for a fraction of dealer's quote. But when I showed up at the dealer, they insisted on two hours labor even while admitting to me that it takes less than an hour, "because that's what PCNA quotes it as and we have to go by that." To add insult to injury, they insisted on swapping the sensors too (which I didn't buy beforehand) and of course their price came in about 60% over Suncoast.

BTW, if you do ever do have to use the dealer, at least ask for the PCA discount (10%). They're good about that at least

 

Sorry - not aware of the 10% "PCA Discount" - can you point me to where I can get that???? Thanks!

 

You become a member of PCA (Porsche Club America) -- you can apply on the web. Then you get the discount just by showing the card. It's a very cheap membership (under $100 for 3 yrs or something).

If you're time crunched, just tell the dealer you're a member but don't have your card on you. They're probably not gonna insist on seeing proof.

 

Perfect thanks

 

For the people who are located in SoCal, please bring the car to our service department. We are a independent Porsche service center that came from the dealer. We are factory trained and 2011 certified.

Normal 2 year / 20K service per Porsche checklist is $525 (Minor Service) with coupon is $365

Normal 2 year brake fluid flush service is $125 (due every two years. due by time only per Porsche)

FYI we are running a July and Aug. special.

• Oil and filter service is $129
• Two year brake fluid flush is $125
• Minor service $150 off
• Major service $250 off
• Brake pads and rotor replacement $100 off with free 4 year airbag maintenance.

Cheers!

 

Oil/filter change and a brake fluid change. I also needed a cabin filter. All for about $600 with PCA discount.

 

I paid $180 at the dealer and was quoted $160 at a top indy shop for a brake flush.

 

Good prices. If only I wasn't 1,400 miles from you!

 

For those that go to indy shops, what do you do when you have a warranty issue? You make an appointment at the dealer just to do the warranty work? Just curious since I usually go to the dealer to do service and the warranty stuff together. However, I am pretty fed up with dealers so I would like to know what you guys do.

Thanks

 

I think this all comes down to your relationship and satisfaction with the dealer. I do all of my work through Porsche of the Village in Cincinnati. I am treated fairly, I get a loaner car and I've yet to have a single issue. BTW, there are some very good independent shops in my area. I just don't feel the need to use one.

The OP's quote on the 20k service is steep for my area.

 

There is no relationship and any satisfaction with the dealer! All my cars get their work done by dealers and so far the Porsche dealer has been terrible making this the first car that I will get serviced at an indy. Hence the amateur question...

 

OK,if you don't want to get your hands dirty I can understand that, but the cabin filter costs $40 ( ebay, charcoal and the exact same part ). A monkey could install it in less than 5 minutes the first time, second time is less than 2 minutes including the time it takes to open the front bonnet. You're going to pay the dealer $80 for the same filter and another $80, at least, to install it. Do a search for the how to but don't pay the dealer as this is no more difficult than changing the wiper blades. ( Got those, exact same parts, for $ 22 from the same guy on eBay.)
Keep in mind that Porsche doesn't make carbon cabin filters or wiper blades, or batteries, or tires, or brake rotors, or brake pads, or most of the other stuff that the cars are made of. They get them from the same guy the guys on eBay do.

 

If you car still has warranty then you paid for it when you purchased this car. You have every right to go back for warranty stuff. Don't be afraid.

They should be happy to see you because someone is still paying them for the work (Porsche NA) just not you this time.

There is no law requires you to go back to the dealer to do the maintenance in order for warranty to be valid. You can use indy or do everything yourself as long as you keep record and receipt of what you did. And you follow factory recommendation.

I believe most Porsche owners know more about cars or are more into cars than other luxury brands so the percentage of doing own oil change or use indy is higher.

 

Then I'd do as you are doing and finding another source. Your quote is about $400 high for my part of the country.

 

That always sounds good, but people aren't bookkeepers. A lot of subjective judgments have to be made in any business, just as in human relations in general. Dealers have to charge more because the service department is an important revenue center that helps pay for the beautiful facility most Porsche dealers maintain. Conversely, they can influence warranty decisions of PCNA by the way they forward a request for approval, the on-the-spot assessment they provide of likely cause and probability of abuse playing a factor, and so forth and so on.

Will they exercise that influence on your behalf? Depends on your relationship in the past, your demeanor on this visit, the liklihood of you patronizing them or the sales department in the future. All the things that influence us too. Bottom line, they're people too.

That doesn't mean I decline to exercise judgment in which people I let work on my car, nor does it mean I wouldn't let an indy work on my car if the occasion arose. But it does mean that working with a dealer should be an exercise in your diplomacy, just as anything else in life.

Gary