My 06' has had the "get service" light on for a month or two, but I had been putting it off till the car hit 10k miles so I would do the oil change my self. Once it hit that, I did the oil change my self and figured I'd take it to the dealer (the only dealer here in Miami) for the rest of the service. I just wanted the first minor service. I'm figuring new cabin filter, reset the computer, air filter, and check fluids and look at the under-chassis. My guess was that it would cost maybe say $400 max. Well, I actually had to ask the rep to repeat himself when he told me the price for the first minor service was $1200!!! I told him no way, and that I had already done the oil change my self. He proceded to tell me that piece-meal it was still going to be around $800 for what I needed. I couldn't believe it. They wanted $340 to change the cabin air filter! Are you kidding me? So, I asked for them to just reset the computer and that I'd do the rest of the service my self. Just to do that - $155.

So, my question is what if any problems with warranty will you get if you do service on the car your self? Or, if there other small Porsche repair shops in town can you get them to do the work? Shouldn't I only have to take my car to THAT dealer for warranty work? Having only one dealer in town to me is a monopoly, so that is why they can charge such prices. The next closest dealer is 2hrs away in West Palm Beach, not that viable of an option. Any suggestions?

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2006 CS Midnight Blue/Sand Beige PASM, Chrono, bi-Xenon, Auto Climate, 19" Carrera S wheels, heated seats

What hourly rate do they charge? Porsche has guidelines for each job performed that should be the max required ask to see that and then multiply that times the hourly rate just to see. Having your service done elsewhere or doing it yourself is not going to harm your warranty however there are advantages to having a Porsche dealer do the service (updating software if required, fixing known issues that Porsche advises them on, knowing what to check and having factory trained mechanics). For comparison you could also call other dealers not in the area and ask for prices and you might even call Porsche US and file a complaint about over charging.

Whatever service is done by yourself or a non-dealer should be well documented to help with future selling of the car.

Once a year it might be fun to go to an out of town dealer and have a little vacation and get your car serviced by a "friendly" dealer.

Champion Porsche is in Ft. Lauderdale / Pompano Beach - Call them

Service yesterday
Annual checkup $384.65
Air Filter $51.19
Oil filter $27.02
Seal Ring .76
Wiper Blades $51.80,,,,probably not neede
Cabin Filter $79.80
Window Cleaner $8.20
Oil $112.30 a little over priced!
Brake Clean $4.05
Fixed Trunk Clunk/ and Passenger Side Window Rattle/Replaced rusty lug nuts
Waste Disposal $15.00
Sub Contract Window Tint Rear and small side windows 15% Driver and passanger 25%
$150.00

$1200 is nuts, IMHO. Doing the work yourself or by an indie shop has no effect on warranty, providing it is done properly and you use equivalent parts and fluids. That's the law. Warranty claims are always the seemingly arbitrary purview of dealers, and if they want to give you a hard time about a claim I figure they're going to do it regardless of who changes your oil or air filters. The dealers are in a position of power, but the notion that bribing them with periodic maintenance work will increase your chance of a positive warranty outcome strikes me as unlikely.

I've had a lot of new cars, a lot of warranty claims (in fact, I've never had one declined) and no one but me has maintained any of my cars for the past 30 years or so. Sure there are risks, but I figure I'm taking one every time I bring a car to the dealer for service too.

Hmm, the collection quoted me around $400 last year. But I second what Cat man du said, go to champion it's a 45 minute drive from the Gables area.

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2008 Cayman S, Black, Floormats

Fasttimes, PM'd you.

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06 Cayman GT-urbo

I e-mailed my local dealer yesterday, Pfaff Porsche, Ontario, Canada, and I asked for an estimate for the first service. I'm at 10,700 km. The quote was Cd$300 + tax. I'm booked for the 10th.

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Peter
www.foto-box.smugmug.com

Is this from the Collection?
I hope not. That's where I was planning to do my future services.

Invest in the Durametric software available through softronic for about $125 to clear your service reminder as well as other codes, then find an independent shop or new dealer to work with. $1200 is criminal!

My first service was $769.88 WITH a new foglight that cost $350 total. $1200???? These guys need to be hanged!

Yep, this was at The Collection. I expected them to be expensive, given the set up the have there, but not THAT expensive. Could be that the rep I was dealing with was scamming me, but all I know is that they won't be getting my business.

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2006 CS Midnight Blue/Sand Beige PASM, Chrono, bi-Xenon, Auto Climate, 19" Carrera S wheels, heated seats

My nearest Porsche dealer is a six hour 400 mile drive each way.

My local Honda dealer did the 2 year oil change on my 2006 Cayman S. They let me watch and kibitz and help. We used European Mobil 1 purchased from a Porsche dealer and a Porsche oil filter and Porsche crush nut and a Porsche oil filter removal tool. I didn't ask ahead what the bill would be. I was expecting $50 to $100 for changing the oil on their lift using my supplies. Oops. I just got the bill yesterday: $12.01 including tax.

I did tell the tech I thought it would be a good idea for him to take me on a "test drive" after we did the oil changed to be sure "the oil was properly seated." He enjoyed that and drove very conservatively. We got to chat about his Acura RSX, another car I love.

The original owner purchased my Cayman S in July, 2006. I had fewer than 10,000 miles on the car. The first owner is a friend of mine and an ophthalmologist. He took really good care of the car and never tracked it. I'm not worried that the car needs a brake fluid change at 10,000 easy miles, no track miles.

I got to do the under the car inspection myself while the car was on the Honda dealer's lift.

I don't think deferring the brake fluid, cabin filter and air filter change would void the warranty unless brake fluid failure or cabin filter failure or air filter failure was the cause of the failure needing warranty work.

I used the Durametric software to reset the service warning.

I wish there were instructions on this board for the cabin filter change and air filter change. If there were I would do them myself or ask my Honda dealer to do them.

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2006 Lapis Blue Cayman S
2008 Accord Coupe V6 6MT

THE COLLECTION IS A HORRIBLE PLACE !!!! (unless you want to hang out and eat nuts inside ferrari's)

They ran over another porsche's engine with my CAYANNE! they didnt even want to next day air the part for me !!! ONE WEEK of service, and they had to replace my bumper.

THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY OFF SERVICE BIG TIME! They time to time negotiate prices with me ? WTF

I take it to a nice friendly certified shop in the wear-house district off Bird Rd and 72ave their the best and their prices you cant beat.

I resent ever thinking the collection was a good place, never again. They act all cocky and I'm sick of the service advisors asking me why am i complaing and thats what a porsche costs, BS ! theres a difference between service and a rip-off, ---- sorry for blabbering on this post but I'm fed up with good people getting ripped off by the cocky "collection"