Servicing Costs - Huge Variations

[Redline88]

I know that there has been talk before about different servicing costs across OPCs but I just wanted to highlight how extreme this was in my experience. I’m currently looking to book my first service (cars 2nd service / 4 year) and have seen prices range from £2,045 (most expensive) to £1,340 (£705 difference) with several prices in between across 5 OPCs all within 90 minutes drive of each other.

To put it into a bit more context, even the cheapest quote is a good bit above well respected specialists (9 Excellence have fixed price servicing on their website and offer the same for £714 - £626 less than the cheapest OPC option) however I do want to keep the warranty so there isn’t much option other than the OPC.

It really is frustrating that Porsche don’t offer a clear fixed price offering across the board and that some centres think that these prices are reasonable for basic servicing!

[av185]

Yep feel your pain.

If its any help most OPCs will price match which should allow you to oot for the best one for you.

My 718 GT4 will also be due its 4 year service soon and I would be interested which OPC quoted you the best price. Tried to pm you but you don't accept e mails.

Thanks.

[OPOGTS]

av185 said:

Yep feel your pain.

If its any help most OPCs will price match which should allow you to oot for the best one for you.

My 718 GT4 will also be due its 4 year service soon and I would be interested which OPC quoted you the best price. Tried to pm you but you don't accept e mails.

Thanks.

I had the same experience in terms of wide pricing variations, however Reading OPC (and therefore I'm guessing all the ones owned by Porsche UK) refused to price match. I found Brooklands to be by far the cheapest in and around my area (Berkshire) for servicing.

Separately on my previous car I had a Sports Design steering wheel retrofitted by East London OPC at a price that other OPCs told me was lower than the cost to them to buy the wheel - so lord knows whats going on there!

[Redline88]

av185 said:

Yep feel your pain.

If its any help most OPCs will price match which should allow you to oot for the best one for you.

My 718 GT4 will also be due its 4 year service soon and I would be interested which OPC quoted you the best price. Tried to pm you but you don't accept e mails.

Thanks.

Ah, settings changed now! Portsmouth were the lowest. I did ask for a price match but my local OPC wouldn’t go that low so happy to drive an extra 30mins and save a reasonable amount.

[av185]

Thanks for that info.

[s_mcneil]

Some might also offer a PCGB discount if you ask, the only reason to join IMHO.

[Redline88]

s_mcneil said:

Some might also offer a PCGB discount if you ask, the only reason to join IMHO.

Sorry I should have added that this was included in the above.

[FMOB]

Don't forget that sometimes Porsche GB will offer fixed price servicing though not all dealers signup to it, you also need to check what is covered, huge variations in price might be they are doing less up front with the hard sell once they have your P&J by the brake lines.

Only reason in my book to use an OPC is to maintain warranty otherwise avoid like the plague, yes I know there one or two decent OPC's out there. I refuse to use anything 'official' Porsche these days as I have been badly let down.

[av185]

Other thing to consider is some OPCs do not automatically change brake fluid and 'service' a/c so best to check these are included in the quote.

[Gixer968CS]

Redline88 said:

I know that there has been talk before about different servicing costs across OPCs but I just wanted to highlight how extreme this was in my experience. I’m currently looking to book my first service (cars 2nd service / 4 year) and have seen prices range from £2,045 (most expensive) to £1,340 (£705 difference) with several prices in between across 5 OPCs all within 90 minutes drive of each other.

To put it into a bit more context, even the cheapest quote is a good bit above well respected specialists (9 Excellence have fixed price servicing on their website and offer the same for £714 - £626 less than the cheapest OPC option) however I do want to keep the warranty so there isn’t much option other than the OPC.

It really is frustrating that Porsche don’t offer a clear fixed price offering across the board and that some centres think that these prices are reasonable for basic servicing!

You do not have to have the car serviced by Porsche to maintain the warranty. This law was enshrined in the early 2000s. You need to show that it has been serviced according to the manufacturers guidelines. Everything that needs doing in the service is listed and I'm sure an Indy would be able to carry out the service for you.

https://qualitycarservice.co.uk/do-i-have-to-servi...

Edited by Gixer968CS on Tuesday 6th August 17:39

[av185]

^^^

Covered before many times trouble is it gives wiggle room in the event of a warranty claim. Good example is in the OPs case 718 GT4 certain batches of cars depending on date of manufacture require different oil so you could have to be fairly confident your Indie knows their onions and is fully up to speed on this which many aren't.

Fine if you are prepared to take the risk but for the sake of saving a few quid and then losing quite a bit in terms of residual on non Porsche service history is it really worth it on an £80k car. Makes the car alot harder to sell too.

I wouldn't touch a relatively contemporary used Porsche especially a Porsche GT without official OPC history and many are in the same camp and for obvious reasons.

[Redline88]

Yes, all those prices above included the brake fluid change which for some reason doesn’t seem to be included in the standard 4 year service pricing anywhere despite being required.

One opc claimed that their pricing was £400 more as they checked the belts - that however is part of the standard service and certainly isn’t £400 worth of work.

As AV185 says, I appreciate that it should be possible to service via an Indy however there is the grey area over extended warranties being insurance products so not being as flexible in terms of leeway here. Added to that, if a big warranty claim is needed, I’d rather be able to rock up to the OPC comfortable in the knowledge that it won’t be declined and hopefully have some support in terms of goodwill from the dealer.

[MDL111]

I asked 2 OPCs - one in Austria and one in Germany - hourly rate in austria was 300 euros in Germany about 270 (due to it being an older car and a discount applies, that Austrians did not sign up for). My service will cost about 2.7k euros according to the Germans (might well be ex VAT, not sure)

[Dunbar871]

Porsche owned OPC quotes are comedic frankly.

Shame as I’d really like to use them and they’re much closer.

That said a much longer country drive to the next cheapest is not exactly a hardship and saves a not insignificant amount.

[HoneyBadgerUK]

Gixer968CS said:

You do not have to have the car serviced by Porsche to maintain the warranty. This law was enshrined in the early 2000s. You need to show that it has been serviced according to the manufacturers guidelines. Everything that needs doing in the service is listed and I'm sure an Indy would be able to carry out the service for you.

https://qualitycarservice.co.uk/do-i-have-to-servi...

Edited by Gixer968CS on Tuesday 6th August 17:39

From the very same article:

"If I have an extended warranty, do I have to use a dealership for servicing?

When you buy a new car, it will have a manufacturers warranty, usually 3 years, and this warranty will be safe, even if you get the car serviced at an independent garage.

But, you may also be offered an extended warranty, which could include conditions that you service the car at a nominated garage. So, before signing up to anything, check the small print, and ask questions."

OPC Warranty is an insured warranty product; the paperwork specifically states you need to service the car at an OPC, and not doing so will invalidate it.

The EU law about servicing was for new car warranties.

[SV_WDC]

Redline88 said:

Yes, all those prices above included the brake fluid change which for some reason doesn’t seem to be included in the standard 4 year service pricing anywhere despite being required.

To be fair to OPC, the service is based on time or mileage, whichever is sooner, whereas brake fluid's only based on every 2 years (no mileage requirement), therefore not including this as part of the service makes sense.