Porsche approved fantasy.

[TTGasket]

Hi,

First I would like to thank all contributors to these great forum, I did use it quite a lot since I purchase my first Porsche last April/May. This help newbies in the Porsche ownership world to have a better understanding of the car.

As mentioned above, I purchased a Porsche 996 Carrera 4 convertible from 10/2002 with only 20,000 miles so far. I was very happy with the car and purchased it from a Porsche Centre in Hamburg as a Porsche Approved car together with the Porsche Warranty for one year.

Yesterday, the steering wheel assistance broke down. Apparently this is mainly due to some dust being present in the tank that blocked the valve. Porsche Centre West London first told me today that this would not be covered under warranty as I need to take care of the vehicle on a regular basis. After a few reasonably heated discussions, it was agreed that this would be covered by the warranty. Especially after I checked the Porsche Approved check list posted by Loren earlier on.

The second piece of news to me was the state of the tyres. When I purchased the car, it was with 17inch wheels and I changed them to 18inch wheels. I told the Porsche dealer that as part of the deal I would need new or near new tyres. It was agreed and mentioned on the invoice that those tyres could not be worse than 75% of new. When the car was delivered I checked them from the outside, and they looked OK to me. However, I am not pretending to be a pro.
Today, Porsche UK told me that the tyres urgently need to be changes as they are fully used inside due to a bad wheel alignment of the car. They want to charge me nearly $3,000 for a new set of tyres including alignment.

I showed the invoice to the UK dealer arguing that tyres when purchased were supposed to be 75% from new (which obviously they are not anymore). First apparently the Porsche network is not a proper network as one is independant from the other and cannot accept claims on behalf of a different Porsche centre. Also, wheels alignment is not part of the Porsche Approved system and that it was for me to check it.

Now tell me, how can you check wheels alignment. My car goes straitght, but I cannot check if there is a strong negative camber on the car?

So, now I need to change tyres. Could you guys advise me to a good garage that will work out a pro alignment/camber with good price on the tyres.

Best of luck to you all.
JC

[adam b]

so wheel alignement is not part of the 111 check? seems odd

if not can't see your argument re. tyres, as although it sucks they presumably were OK when you bought the car

[TTGasket]

Yes, very much.
Only did I check tyres on the outside and above, but not the inside as I assumed they were OK wll around.

Anyone of you guys would know a good garage that will do proper wheels alignment and balance in London/outside London. Kwick-fit has currently a 25% discount on Pilot Sport, but I was also recommended Conti SP2s to be mounted at Feltham Tyres next to Heathrow. Apparently they are good.

[clorenzen]

The fact that the tyres wear more on the inside than the outside is perfectly normal for the 996 and in fact, if you do not know where to look it is quite easy to drive around with almost no profile on the inside whereas the outside looks more than road legal as it is difficult to spot unless you look very carefully or take off the wheels. $3000 sounds very expensive for 4 new tyres. Shop around a bit and you will get that much cheaper. If you go to a good tyrefitter they will be able to check the geometry as well but as said I doubt whether there is anything wrong.

[randlemarcus]

Bracknell Tyre and Battery if you are going that way. Cheap and like Porsches. Might suggest a proper alignment job very very soon after fitting new boots, so they last longer.

[TTGasket]

Thanks for the info.
I was thinking of doing the alignment at the same place. What do you think?

[shoestring7]

You need a proper alignment job.

Try Tognola's, just off the M4 at Datchet.

SS7

[randlemarcus]

I'd be tempted, as its a 996, to assume that an OPC has the current manuals for the car, and can do a better job of the alignment than a generic tyre place, or specialist. If you want to avoid Chiswick, and that's understandable, let us know whereabouts is local both for home and work, and we shall come up with some suggestions. From previous threads, not all alignments are equal

[TTGasket]

I am in SW10 in London, but happy to do the extra miles for a proper alignment job. I called Bracknell Tyres as I have seen pretty good reviews of their job on the forum. Apparently they can deal with the alignment too. As this will save me a few £££ on the long run, I'd rather travel a bit for a proper job. Chiswick charges £260 for alignment and balance of the tyres.

[paracetamol]

I use a place in Deptford called Complete Tyre Services.

They do lots of work for Tower Porsche and have a full 4 wheel alignment system by Pro-align. (charge about £50 with full before and after results and are happy for you to watch). In fact they have a readout on the wall of a 993 that they did where about 80% of the readings were in red. They managed to get them all into green (ie aligned)

They also have a "fine" balancing system whereby they mount the wheel on a proper hub before balaning rather than on a conical hub.

Further, the repair tyres in the correct way (ie proper vulcanized repair) and can even repair runflats etc. They really know their stuff.

you can call them on 0207 237 1366

[TTGasket]

Looks like a winner to me.
Do they do good prices on tyres as I need to buy 4 of them, or could I go there with my tyres purchased on the internet?

[Don]

Micheldever tyres in Hampshire. A run down the M3 for you. Full alignment. Cheap tyres. I've always found them good and they have a "book in advance" service for owners of "prestige cars" (i.e. spending real money on tyres).

[shoestring7]

TTGasket said:

I am in SW10 in London, but happy to do the extra miles for a proper alignment job. I called Bracknell Tyres as I have seen pretty good reviews of their job on the forum. Apparently they can deal with the alignment too. As this will save me a few £££ on the long run, I'd rather travel a bit for a proper job. Chiswick charges £260 for alignment and balance of the tyres.

I use them for all the SS7 fleets' tyres. But I wouldn't let them touch the 'alignment' of the old family Beemer, let along my 968. All I've ever seen is a bloke adjusting a car's tracking using an old optical system. Unless they're sub-contracting alignment somewhere else.

As I said, speak to Tognola's. They're 15 minutes from AFN CHiswick on the M4.

SS7

[Dr S]

3000USD for a set of tyres is a complete rip-off or do you get new alloys with them? I paid for a set of 19" tyres around half by ordering them via the internet. They were fitted by a garage nearby. Convenient and cheap.

[TTGasket]

Well I guess for nearly $3,000, Porsche will make sure the job is well done.
I will follow the advice of Shoestring 7 and check with Tognola the price. So far, best quote is Kwick-fit at £775 pour 1 set of Pilot Sport 225/40/18 and 1 of 285/30/18 fully fitted and aligned. But as no one seems to trust them with any alignment job, I will keep my quest.

[clorenzen]

I second Don for Micheldever. They have a laser alignment rack as part of the service and mostly they have your tyres in stock. They are also carefull about the rims.

[TTGasket]

I thought this may help you guys to work out your tyres too if I posted my findings for my tyres requirement that are 225/40ZR18 and 285/30ZR18:

Bracknell Tyre & Battery
Unit 1/Longshot Industrial Estate,
Longshot Lane
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 1RL
United Kingdom
Phone Number: 01344 411323
Fax Number: 01344 867717
Pilot Sport N1: Rear £410; Front £244 inc. VAT and balance – Total: £654 inc VAT
Conti Sport Contact 2 N2: Rear £328; Front £224 inc. VAT and balance – Total: £552 inc VAT
Optical Alignment: £11.75

Tognola Engineering
32 Montagu Road
Datchet
Nr Slough
Berks. SL3 9DJ
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]
Pilot Sport: Rear: £490 + VAT; Front: £260.00 + VAT – Total: £750 exc VAT
Conti Sport Contact 2: Rear: £350.0 +VAT; Front: £230 + VAT – Total: £580 exc VAT
Laser alignment: £140.0 + VAT
By appointment from 8:00 until 18:00, only during week, WE is mainly dropping cars.
Direct access by train to Waterloo
Best to call before to check availability.
Check camber as well as part of the alignment.

Micheldever Station
Winchester
Hampshire – SO21 3AP
T: 01962 774 437
F: 01962 774 572
[e-mail]
Pilot Sport: Rear: £429.60 Inc VAT; Front: £260.40 Inc VAT – Total: £690 inc VAT
Conti Sport Contact 2: Rear: £345.0; Front: £241.60 – Total: £586.6 inc VAT
Laser alignment: £27.0
No appointment, Open from 8:00 until 14:30 on Saturday.
Best to call before to check availability.
Check camber as well as part of the alignment.