Discussion
Slippydiff said:
Rufus Stone said:
Car failed it's MOT this week. Needs four new tyres. Oops.
£1060.
Oh well, at least it didn't need a service this year I suppose.
Nothing like inspecting the only thing that provides the sole interface between the car and road, regularly ay ? £1060.

Oh well, at least it didn't need a service this year I suppose.

I did feel the tread depth in the middle of the tyres and they were all okay, just. One rear apparently has the carcass exposed on the inner edge which you cant see unless you stick you head under the rear of the car, and the others are apparently badly perished.
Using Pirelli P Zeros's.
Using Pirelli P Zeros's.
Alas, I fear you may just have marked your car out as one to avoid come the time to sell. If I were in the market for a car and saw that it had failed its MOT with all four tyres completely worn I’d wonder what else had been neglected. You say that it’s not due a service this year just out of interest does it get an annual oil change?
Rufus Stone said:
One rear apparently has the carcass exposed on the inner edge which you cant see unless you stick you head under the rear of the car, and the others are apparently badly perished.
Using Pirelli P Zeros's.
I'd get the tracking checked. Using Pirelli P Zeros's.
P zero have an awful reputation for perishing. Mixed reports on the reasons why so I won't venture into that mind field.
Chubbyross said:
Alas, I fear you may just have marked your car out as one to avoid come the time to sell. If I were in the market for a car and saw that it had failed its MOT with all four tyres completely worn I’d wonder what else had been neglected. You say that it’s not due a service this year just out of interest does it get an annual oil change?
Rightly or wrongly, it’s hard not to nod when reading this..Rufus Stone said:
It failed the MOT on only one tyre. The others are just advisories. I am having all four replaced though.
Does Porsche recommend an oil change in between the two yearly servicing?
That sounds a bit better - but it’s an optics thing as you’ll appreciate. Does Porsche recommend an oil change in between the two yearly servicing?
No interim oil changes required, but they (rightly) look favourable come resale time, particularly as the car ages. Anyone who’s remotely mechanically minded, who’s given any thought to 2 year/20k intervals knows that it isn’t the best way to care for a high performance engine. I don’t think too many buyers would be put off by that though - for a modern car.
Just my take.
I get mine done annually. It’s a good way of keeping on top of things. The mechanic can give me a heads up on stuff that might just about to bork, or stuff that can wait for a year or two. It also allows me to think about things financially too! These are never cheap cars to own - as you’ve just found out! And it does help when it comes to selling too. It shows that the car’s been looked after. If you’re selling to someone who doesn’t know much about Porsches then it probably won’t matter but for me I’d much rather buy a car that’s been well looked after.
Chubbyross said:
Alas, I fear you may just have marked your car out as one to avoid come the time to sell. If I were in the market for a car and saw that it had failed its MOT with all four tyres completely worn I’d wonder what else had been neglected. You say that it’s not due a service this year just out of interest does it get an annual oil change?
is there anything else to stay on top of aside from the 2y/mileage type serviceso just oil every 1y? and check the tyres?
best way to check the tyres is there a device worth buying or just learn how to read it - apologies newb as porsche my first proper car
dng992 said:
Chubbyross said:
Alas, I fear you may just have marked your car out as one to avoid come the time to sell. If I were in the market for a car and saw that it had failed its MOT with all four tyres completely worn I’d wonder what else had been neglected. You say that it’s not due a service this year just out of interest does it get an annual oil change?
is there anything else to stay on top of aside from the 2y/mileage type serviceso just oil every 1y? and check the tyres?
best way to check the tyres is there a device worth buying or just learn how to read it - apologies newb as porsche my first proper car
As far as I’m concerned it’s common sense to keep on top of these cars. You can pick up a relatively cheap Porsche these days. However, if you leave or miss stuff that needs fixing regularly you could easily find yourself with a bill, come service time, running into many thousands. At a recent inspection on one of my cars it was pointed out that a couple of coil packs were looking cracked and should be replaced. I had them all done at the same time, along with a new water pump, which was showing some staining. The bill came to a grand. The car wasn’t due a proper service until next year but I’d much rather get this stuff sorted now. Firstly, I didn’t want any of the components failing and leaving me stranded - it was unlikely they would have done but I don’t like taking chances with my cars; I like to drive them worry free. Secondly, getting things sorted sooner rather than later helps me to spread the costs out. If you put things off on these cars you can be hit financially, sometimes ruinously. Imagine you buy a Boxster/Cayman for £10k and get hit by a £4k bill two years after purchase (possible if you find out your condensers, tyres and brakes are completely shot). If you’re short of cash then you may think twice about keeping the car or just leave stuff until it goes bang to save money. For me, it makes a great deal of sense to spend money every year, keep on top of stuff and spread the costs. You then have a car you can enjoy, hopefully worry free.
Chubbyross said:
I shall leave someone else to answer this. I have as much mechanical competency as a house brick - that’s why I get specialist Porsche mechanics to do my checking. They know exactly what to look for, how urgent problems might be and what issues are likely to pop up over the next few years. As far as I understand, though, it’s stuff like checking the suspension components, the condensers for signs of damage/corrosion, coolant levels, signs of unusual tyre wear (getting down on your hands and knees helps here, plus using a tyre gauge to measure depth).
As far as I’m concerned it’s common sense to keep on top of these cars. You can pick up a relatively cheap Porsche these days. However, if you leave or miss stuff that needs fixing regularly you could easily find yourself with a bill, come service time, running into many thousands. At a recent inspection on one of my cars it was pointed out that a couple of coil packs were looking cracked and should be replaced. I had them all done at the same time, along with a new water pump, which was showing some staining. The bill came to a grand. The car wasn’t due a proper service until next year but I’d much rather get this stuff sorted now. Firstly, I didn’t want any of the components failing and leaving me stranded - it was unlikely they would have done but I don’t like taking chances with my cars; I like to drive them worry free. Secondly, getting things sorted sooner rather than later helps me to spread the costs out. If you put things off on these cars you can be hit financially, sometimes ruinously. Imagine you buy a Boxster/Cayman for £10k and get hit by a £4k bill two years after purchase (possible if you find out your condensers, tyres and brakes are completely shot). If you’re short of cash then you may think twice about keeping the car or just leave stuff until it goes bang to save money. For me, it makes a great deal of sense to spend money every year, keep on top of stuff and spread the costs. You then have a car you can enjoy, hopefully worry free.
I agree well said As far as I’m concerned it’s common sense to keep on top of these cars. You can pick up a relatively cheap Porsche these days. However, if you leave or miss stuff that needs fixing regularly you could easily find yourself with a bill, come service time, running into many thousands. At a recent inspection on one of my cars it was pointed out that a couple of coil packs were looking cracked and should be replaced. I had them all done at the same time, along with a new water pump, which was showing some staining. The bill came to a grand. The car wasn’t due a proper service until next year but I’d much rather get this stuff sorted now. Firstly, I didn’t want any of the components failing and leaving me stranded - it was unlikely they would have done but I don’t like taking chances with my cars; I like to drive them worry free. Secondly, getting things sorted sooner rather than later helps me to spread the costs out. If you put things off on these cars you can be hit financially, sometimes ruinously. Imagine you buy a Boxster/Cayman for £10k and get hit by a £4k bill two years after purchase (possible if you find out your condensers, tyres and brakes are completely shot). If you’re short of cash then you may think twice about keeping the car or just leave stuff until it goes bang to save money. For me, it makes a great deal of sense to spend money every year, keep on top of stuff and spread the costs. You then have a car you can enjoy, hopefully worry free.
Rufus Stone said:
It failed the MOT on only one tyre. The others are just advisories. I am having all four replaced though.
Does Porsche recommend an oil change in between the two yearly servicing?
I'd recommend moving away from Pirelli - especially if replacing all 4. Michelin seem to be the preferred option. If Porsche recommend specific N rated tyres then know that these are not required but rather Porsche seem to believe they're preferred but remember that a tyre is just a tyre so if you buy normal none N rated tyres which are a bit cheaper they will work and drive way better than your older tyres so that's all that matters if you ask Me.Does Porsche recommend an oil change in between the two yearly servicing?
Different people have different views on Oil. Porsche switched to 2 year 24000 miles servicing in 2003 or 2004 because of the improvement in the environmental impact over 1 year 12000 mile servicing. The engines in their cars at the time were unchanged. Porsche engines do have a bad reputation from the 2004 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 era and some people believe the longer Oil servicing has something to do with that and you can see why. Since then some people will tell you that Oil has changed but that's not something I get too excited about I just try to buy good Oil. I do my own Oil changes at home outside on the drive. It takes less than an hour including getting out the jack and then washing your hands etc. For me Porsche ownership includes tinkering with simple repairs or maintenance like changing brakes discs and suspension bits and pieces. All simple bolt and and off type stuff.
So my cars won't have any service history stamps but my cars are all at the lower end of the market and I don't get too caught up in resale value. The upper end of the market has some buyers with specific ideas about what is good and what they want or expect from their previous owners. The lower end of the market does contain some like minded sensible buyers who will understand this DIY approach and accept a few receipts for Oil which are date stamped if it also accompanied by more receipts for brakes and whatever else.
It's your car so you make your choice.
dng992 said:
is there anything else to stay on top of aside from the 2y/mileage type service
so just oil every 1y? and check the tyres?
best way to check the tyres is there a device worth buying or just learn how to read it - apologies newb as porsche my first proper car
You can get a depth gauge for tyres but it's not really worth it if you have eyes that work. All tyres now have a tread wear indicator (small raised areas between the tread blocks) when you're at these the tyre is an MOT fail (1.6mm). so just oil every 1y? and check the tyres?
best way to check the tyres is there a device worth buying or just learn how to read it - apologies newb as porsche my first proper car
Just remember to check your tyres across the whole width of the tyre. Most folk just look at the outside edge and are shocked when they fail and find the inside edge is bald. 911s are well known for wearing the inside edge of the rears.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Wow. If you’re not absolutely on top of where your tyres are, are surprised at the cost of tyres, and are unsure about oil changes I’d suggest that Porsches aren’t for you and your car is absolutely one to avoid.
You sort of managed to say what I was trying to say but in far fewer words. Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


