Expensive Porsche Repair Costs...what Happened?! | 4K

[@neilmorrison7714]

I had a similar feedback report/list from my local Porsche dealer when I had my 2013 Boxster in for a service;- corroded exhaust bolts, new key fob battery, headlight levelling arms seized, puncture repair canister out of date and the main one... front discs and pads near point of replacement, which I knew. In short, the estimate to replace and/or refurbush came to roughly £2300. I spoke to one of the technicians who, on the QT, basically told me to leave the exhaust bolts until the exhaust needed changing, which I did. I did replace the discs and pads but used a Porsche specialist for the parts and my local garage for fitting at a fraction of the cost. I also sorted a couple of the smaller issues myself for literally pennies. Unless your car is under warranty, there are other, far cheaper ways of maintaining your car than simply handing your money to the dealership. Unfortunately, Porsche are not alone using this type of scaremongering, Audi and BMW are in the same boat. Shame really. It's almost as if they're trying to price people out.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Wow okay! Thanks for the insight. I have seen it at several different brands but it’s still a shock isn’t it :( hope you’re enjoying yours!

[@edmwftw3930]

Welcome to the world of money-pit cars. The dealership thank you for your kind donation.

[@HaitiCult]

I think that really goes for anything in life. Step back, breathe. Don’t immediately get angry and take things personal. Discuss, show respect, listen and the work together. Keep everything in perspective. Great video , and good lesson as well. Cheers.

[@wheelsandwatches]

The rusting bolts for the exhaust hangers and manifold are a known issue. I had mine changed at a local Indy for stainless steel bolts. It’s pants.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Oh okay, good to know - thanks!

[@Muleyasama]

So I received a slightly larger bill from Porsche Reading during the intake recall for my coolant pump, tyres, front splitter coming away, rusted exhaust fittings and something else I can't remember. Also my washer Jets also stopped working recently (During the cold also). Car is in for some other insurance work BUT i got the other bits done by a Porsche tech who runs a side business. Instead of Labour at £199 an hour it was £75 and hour, and they sorted my bumper for free! :) Good luck mate!

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Very good to know, thank you for this! I’m glad you had it sorted. Out of interest, did you buy the car from Porsche Reading?

[@Muleyasama]

@@LifeInMotionuk No Porsche Reading were a little useless...Well the sales Guy I had. Cameron at Porsche Reading is a legend though! I actually bought the car from SCC Leeds. So my car isn't under warranty. Porsche Reading let me know I had to own the car for 6 months before I was eligible to buy a warranty.. so I Just kinda forgot lol if you want the details of the Porsche Specialists I use, I can private message you details :D

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Oh okay, thanks for letting me know. Yes please, could you drop me a note on Instagram - @limuk18

[@Tailspin80]

Solution: invest £5 in a 5 litre bottle of screen wash then it won’t freeze up. I usually drive until something really needs fixing (rare) or some item fails and MOT (more common), then decide if I can fix it myself. If not get an independent garage to quote. I don’t drive a Cayman but am looking at the idea, but the cost issue you describe is more to do with throwing yourself at the mercy of a main dealer when out of warranty than the car itself. You’re going to get ripped off royally by any dealer on any car. Even on big standard cars I’ve seen some horrendous examples (like Toyota self-charging their own warranty provider over £1,100 for an O2 sensor when I fixed the next one myself for under £100 and half an hours work).

[@jolark2259]

Service at a dealer the rest at an independent. Warranty is not affected as long as they are genuine Porsche parts.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

I service and the rest at independent and let the warranty lapse. Service is £500 every two years Im happy

[@karlblackwell6371]

Unfortunately some of the Porsche official dealers are part of larger car groups ie Jct600, Sytner, Lookers etc and look at cars as a cash cow.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Could well be the case

[@jazzragu]

I have a 718 Cayman S manual and this winter the washer jets went MIA. I think the engine being middle of the car and far from the heat of the engine like in Front Engine makes it more likely to remain frozen. Anyhow, a few weeks later they sprang back to life. My horn also decided to loose a tone- took into dealership few weeks ago- and now I’ve lost memory function of seats and rear boot doesn’t open using button inside car. Win some loose some… I guess I’ll be booking her back in again.

[@andrewchester3160]

Hate to say it but Porsches philosophy is to inspect every aspect of your car if you take it to them...they are a premium organisation....they are not the rest of the bunch. It shouldnt come as a surprize to any Porsche owner. Just saying...

[@RHIN13]

I had a bmw 330d which went in for a service at bmw, told I needed new front and rear disc brakes/pads and that they were dangerous. While the car was in the air on a ramp can they do the work. I declined and went for a 2nd opinion. Took it to a local garage where they said there was loads of life left. I think big dealerships like to scaremonger expecting people to take their word as the law. Good vid 👍

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Ah okay, sounds a similar story. I was trying to think fairly with my situation as I know main dealers will most likely have different tolerances for wear and tear which will most likely be more conservative than a local garage, but I know too many people would have just said yes!

[@RHIN13]

@@LifeInMotionuk I think they expect people to say yes, especially when they said "it dangerous to drive". I had a follow up phone call from them a day or so later to express my issue but it went no where. I'm also 3rd in the queue at Porsche Leeds for a Cayman. Bit like your story it's the basic Cayman I've gone for first, but with a high spec. Was torn between going for the S or not. But I read/watch people are more surprised with the basic Cayman than you'd expect, which is comforting 👍

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I do think getting on the phone is always the best way! It didn’t really help me here but most often it does I agree, the base Cayman is a fantastic car and really more power than you’d ever need! Hopefully it’s not a long wait

[@damo5701]

I'm in Australia, not sure if our consumer laws are the same as UK, but I would be telling the Porsche dealer that it is unacceptable that the exhaust is falling off after 3-5 years. If they claim it is not covered by Porsche warranty I would point out the consumer law and the warranty implied under that means they do have a requirement to fix it, regardless of what the Porsche warranty says. Mazda and Ford in Aust both have received large fines recently when rejecting work as warranty; the owners went to consumer affairs and won under consumer law. The product needs to be fit for purpose, an exhaust normally lasts a long time failing after 3 years on a $60-70K (pounds) car means it isn't. Brakes are obviously wear and tear but the exhaust should not be failing in such a short period. From the other comments here and elsewhere it seems the exhaust and the washers are relatively common issues. Perhaps the road conditions in UK etc accelerate the problem compared to Australia? I'm surprised Porsche didn't use bolts and nuts with better corrosion resistance on the exhaust or change them out as part of a harsh environment servicing schedule.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

You make a very good point and I will look into this. I know our consumer rights laws protect us for certain scenarios- for example if I collected the car and the exhaust did have this issue at the time, Porsche would be required to repair the car, or find a replacement. I don’t believe the same applies within a 5 year period, but I will check! I’m actually going in to Porsche this week to understand what the situation is so wish me luck! Thanks for the comment.

[@mspstudioslive]

In Australia, most of these issues wouldn’t occur due to the better weather, but there’s zero chance anyone would accept the exhaust clamp/fixings issue. As most people have suggested, most things can be done yourself to avoid these unnecessary costs and it appears that an independent Porsche specialist will maintain your car to the same standard, likely better, for far less.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

Ive just got a base 718 (4 years old 5K miles) with a two year warranty off porsche. Its orgasmic obviously but your video is just the kind of crap off dealers Im terrified of. I think I'll ignore the warranty/servicing there and take it to an independent porsche specialist from the start, your helpful video has clarified the situation for me thanks. Id never sell it though 🙂

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Sounds very nice, and lovely low mileage! I’m glad this video has helped. It’s going to be very different between varying dealers and vehicle history but awareness key. Look forward to hearing more about your ownership - enjoy!

[@johnob1824]

iv had this, brought from london, im in the midlands, coilpack failed, porsche replacing under warrenty, 5 weeks waiting to get it in.

[@philiphawkins4684]

Porsche trying to pull your pants down. 😅

[@speedwobble5383]

Thanks for this video - whenever I start thinking about buying a Porsche Cayman I watch this and straighten myself out😅

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I mean there are a lot of perks…😉

[@shughes911]

Wow! Man if it’s not under warranty find a good Indy!! Great video

[@The888Redlich]

Probably could save a lot of money if you wait till the brakes fail and exhaust falls off🤔

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Go with the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it approach”…I like it

[@nateisright]

Obviously you need to order a new exhaust system now lol Wild!

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Apparently so 👀😂

[@G718T]

Very interesting, I presume your car had the Porsche 111 check prior to purchase, hence the Porsche warranty, but that begs the question why all the issues. At this time I am looking for a 981 Cayman, and was seriously considering a Porsche approved, as the advertising Porsche use suggests the cars are like new, ie brake discs/pads in excellent condition, I will now have a rethink and go the Indy route. I was also put off by having to pay for Porsche to examine the car to see if the work fell under the warranty, I previously owned a BMW M240 which had an exhaust issue, looked at by Lloyds BMW (NO CHARGE) fixed under warranty. So thank you for the heads up, hope you get this situation resolved.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

It did indeed, and this is where I feel one dealers view may be vastly different to another’s however…I do struggle to understand how one dealer would miss such a big problem as exhaust clamps rusting away! Shortly after this happened, I had an MOT and discovered the exhaust is leaking and one of the front main headlights is dim…of course I’m going to work with the original dealer bur situations like this do make you think, is a manufacturer warranty/dealer sourced car really worth the potential premium? Appreciate that, I’ll likely do an update soon once I see some progression - enjoy the 981 hunt!

[@operationsword9457]

Dealers make the majority of their money on "service"; That's called an upsell...

[@Tito150869]

Would you have considered taking the list to a trusted independent Porsche specialist with Orem parts ? Build a relationship with them

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I would! I had a chap reach out who had worked for a main dealer before branching out on his own. Potentially better service, and definitely better pricing

[@Timmo93]

I LOVE that colour. I hope to own a Porsche Cayman one day!

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Thanks, Tim! It’s a favourite of mine 👌🏻

[@mrmarrow8918]

Thought about using an independent Porsche specialist for servicing?

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I have spoken with an independent specialist indeed! But for now, I’m exploring what my dealer can do to help! I’ll keep you posted

[@camelsac]

The most important thing to learn from this is.......don't use main dealers. That fuse? They charged you an hour or half hour's labour. Same as clearing the detritus from the front end. My BMW needed a service, first MoT and brake fluid change. Main dealership - £969. My independent specialist - £471 - using Castrol Edge oil and BMW parts. It's been the same with every main dealer I've been to - hence why I've built up a good, 18 year relationship with my local specialist. He doesn't even charge me for fault finding. Problem with the car? "Bring it in on your way home from work and I'll go over it with you." At the end - "How much do I owe you?" "Nothing." That nice shiny showroom you walked into? You're paying for that - and the free internet - and the free coffee. As soon as you walk in, they see pound signs. From a family member who's worked in main dealerships - the "technicians" are on a bonus system. The dealership sets a time for each type of job. If the "technician" uses all that time, he gets a bonus because he's made the dealership X amount of money - in other words, he's ripped you off. Needless to say, my family member never made any bonuses and left. They're not nicknamed stealerships for nothing.....

[@BadMannerKorea]

The problem with that is if you intend to sell it, Porsche doing the work looks better than some guy a person has never heard of or trusts.

[@hawkinsjd11]

I am a bit late to help, but a lot of these can be self-repair. get a quickjack and a basic tool set and become self sufficient. It is a really easy to work on these cars.

[@BigredGT-pm5lm]

You got ripped off by the dealer. That much to replace brakes 😂😂

[@MT-xy7fw]

yeah also typical non car guy video. skipped forward to 9:03 that all we needed haha

[@henrycrypto2836]

Been watching all your videos jack as a 987.2 owner this is terrifying ! They clearly have targets to get as much money as possible ! Unbelievable

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Ah good to hear! Okay, well I’m going to be filming an update soon as I have some progress with the exhaust!

[@AL-kc4kg]

Long story short until 7:40 mark.

[@cayman9815]

Porsche official prices are crazy. Almost everybody searching other specialist….

[@LifeInMotionuk]

You’re not wrong there!

[@pnug9040]

You're having the dealer doing you're brakes and replacing your tire? You paid for the two hours, at that point they told you these things were not covered under warrantee. This is where you need to build a "relationship" with a local Porsche specialist and good tire shop to do the work. Dealerships make most of their income from servicing cars not selling them. The parts to do a Porsche brake job are roughly a third of what they were going to charge you. I can do all four axles and flush the fluid in my garage in a less than a day. The relationship you build with them is not going to reduce that bill by much at all. I don't know what would cause exhaust fittings to require replacement on a newer car but that BS. They should be doing that for free.

[@petrol_burner]

Why go to Porsche to fix a washer pump? It’s a self help issue, and easy to tell what’s wrong. Discs & pads would cost less than £1k. Buy them from Porsche if you want, but get a normal mechanic to fit them, if you can’t do it yourself. A mechanics Labour is 50-60% less than Porsche.

[@peterhahn8280]

Please keep us updated! Also have a cayman, similar age and kms as you and want to be prepared for a potential discussion with them! Also, get a washer liquid which can withstand minus temps!

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I will do! Also I’ve now got the Porsche recommended washer fluid so I should be good to go!

[@osbornewales]

@@LifeInMotionuk Just FYI, I have had my 718 base for nearly 3 years and always had the Porsche recommended washer fluid in it. None the less, this winter the washers froze up multiple times and worked again when they thawed out.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

@@osbornewales very good to know! I think I was taken for a ride there!

[@osbornewales]

@@LifeInMotionuk Concerning the brakes. Fronts are very easy to change, jsut used your reg number in Europarts and you are looking less than £200 for front pair of discs and around £140 for pair of pads. Here is my car which I removed the pads to paint the calipers (which were mottled black and looked terrible) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWm5gppqqbOYbZo

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Ah very good to know, thanks Gary. And like the blue! Is that sapphire?

[@wurf5336]

you got scammed :) they do that all the time. Did you actually go and check exhaust clamps on your own? These last for a damn long time, even if they are a bit rusty lol...

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I did have a look and can see some marking but without my own lift, it’s difficult isn’t it!

[@BadMannerKorea]

I assume you bought the car brand new? That's kind of crazy if you did. You would think you really wouldn't have to pay too much in the first year or two of buying a brand new car.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I did not buy the car new. It was 2 years old which is likely why I had more issues in my ownership. I’ve no doubt if I’d gone new, it would have been far less

[@jeebsy718]

I've got a mk3 TTS just now but am getting tempted by a 2.5 GTS. The car is affordable but running costs like this scare me - have always had my audis serviced reputable specialist independents which are a lot cheaper than Audi and tend to take the piss less but suspect Porsche running costs might be quite frightening at times.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I feel if you have a good history car, and a warranty with a good dealer relationship, you should be fine! I made this video to show that things can happen, but for every one of me could be 100 perfect cars!

[@jeebsy718]

@@LifeInMotionuk the videos have been really useful - there's always a chance you'll get these random things happening but the cost for new pads and discs all round for example was an eye opener too.

[@Ayrton4everrr]

So my favourite car manufacturer, countless wins at LeMans, years of experience, cannot make a bulletproof wiper motor?? Now that’s a bummer My 30 year old Toyota never failed my wind screen motor. Sorry for you

[@nigelsmith3144]

Check these guys out, Friendsgreen Porsche!

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Thanks, I will!

[@andresmattos7541]

PORSCHE QUALITY

[@zryhmer]

I work most of the work on my 718 because I refuse to pay the Porsche tax. So stupid.

[@dazturbo1]

I had a bill very similar £ 550 for rear section of exhaust slightly sooty £1200 for a water pump because a 1mm pink stain ,, 2 years later and its still never used any coolant 3 tyres for 1mm cracks 1 on each 😂😂 joke

[@JordanH69420]

Corroded exhaust fixings seem very excessive 😅

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Indeed! I did look at the video Porsche sent and the nuts do look a bit ‘tired’…nervous 👀

[@JordanH69420]

@@LifeInMotionuk to be honest mate nearly all exhaust systems will have rusted nuts and bolts, and shouldn't really affect you unless you want to remove and refit your exhaust. Aslong as it's not leaking I wouldn't worry about it

[@LifeInMotionuk]

@@JordanH69420 that’s my thoughts, but I’ve been advised to replace it 👀 I always say get a second opinion

[@JordanH69420]

@@LifeInMotionuk there's a independent porsche partnered garage in long marston if the swindon dealer doesn't give you a better result.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Thanks, Jordan! Appreciate the recommendation

[@DTJ2024]

You should not be wearing a 🧢 with that outfit

[@MrRoyck10]

Sounds extremely expensive like a scam…£🎉3841 can be packed up in my ISA allowance, even if I have a money tree I will not spend such money in a Porsche dealerships. Porsche Care Stevenage looks after my Cayman without bleeding me to death.

[@nigelsmith3144]

'Stealers' at it again!

[@shaking6360]

The exhausts clamps should have been replaced for free.

[@johnvigolo4972]

LOL, ……anyone who knows anything about cars knows to avoid the dealership like the plague. Instead, from a little research (Porsche Club members) you should be able to find a recommended independent Porsche specialist. Of course the staff at dealerships are brilliant & nice initially. Did you not see the dollar signs in their eyes light up as soon you stepped in the dealership & the big bright sign on your back with “SUCKER” written on it? Like most Porsche owners, too much money & not enough between the ears!

[@MT-xy7fw]

9:03 thank me later.

[@markusgarcia4136]

Some relationships are only one way....

[@sprinter161163]

Complete Bell End

[@garethharper7901]

Wow! I quite fancy getting a Cayman. And yes, I too love the Miami Blue. The current Shark Blue looks great too. Anyway, in doing my research I came across your video. Firstly 120 quid to replace a fuse is mindboggling. What appears to have happened is that with your washer jets having frozen up, have in turn overloaded your washer motor and popped the fuse. Quite why the recovery man couldn’t replace a fuse is absolutely and utterly beyond me. This video shows you where the Cayman fuse box is - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooexgqaEbJuif7M and on the back of the cover it should detail the layout. Checking and replacing a fuse is something anybody can easily do themselves. 71 quid to scope out some loose leaves - yes your face says it all - they shouldn’t charge you one penny for that. Exhaust fixings - clamps and nuts - well look under any car that is used daily and all you will see is a dirty often rusty mess. Occasionally clamps get loose or fail but it is pretty rare, but lightly, even quite badly corroded clamps and nuts are rarely a concern. They generally only ever get replaced when a car needs actual exhaust parts replaced. Brakes? How did they feel? Did they look OK? It is easy to pop a wheel off and inspect them yourself. But anyway, thanks for the video, your video and others, as well as speaking to a couple of folks I know that own Porsches confirms to me that outside of warranty if I do buy and run a Porsche it will be maintained by a good independent specialist. It appears that Porsche dealers right up and down the country are taking their customers for a ride. They are taking the Mickey. You’ve got a lovely car there. Yes, it is important to keep it properly maintained. So I’d say it is time you started checking out the independents. Hopefully you can find a good Independent Specialist run by fully trained and skilled enthusiasts who actually care about both the cars and their customers. Cheers.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

Thanks for the comment, Gareth! I’ve been seeing shark blue about and I’m digging it Pleased to hear the videos have been coming up in research. For me, the washer was a lesson learnt for all cars I own in future. Sometimes I feel with the warranty I have, I should use it every time but this was a case in point where a bit of fault finding myself would have saved me time and money! Honestly, how a dealer can think that it’s reasonable to charge that to remove some ‘debris’ is beyond me! A real shame as it’s those sorts of things that, for me, sway me for or against using a dealer in future. When it comes to the exhaust, it did feel it was very easy to make me very conscious, even scared, that I have a serious issue on my hands. Shortly after this, I did take the car for an MOT and have had an advisory that the exhaust is leaking slightly so I do need to sort that. I’m just disappointed that all this came up within a year of owning the car, but this sort of corrosion is very unlikely to develop that quickly, especially given the care I put into the car. Brakes are feeling all good. Again, I feel Porsche set recommended limits for brakes to cover themselves but in reality you do have more life in them. I’m not ignorant to the fact the car is a performance vehicle and needs well maintained brakes. Thank you, Gareth. I am still very pleased with it. I’m planning a trip to Italy later on this year and will be taking you all along for the ride. Thanks again for the comment - let me know how you get on with your Porsche journey. Feel free to drop me a message on Instagram whenever - @limuk18

[@zagamufin]

Dragged the shite out of that video

[@wadewilson4959]

DUDE!!! 7 minutes into your video and you still haven't said WTF is wrong.... Get on with it.

[@thorndikedeterman8393]

💖 Promo sm

[@thesimsinsider7464]

Lush car

[@jldp24]

The true cost of ownership..I'm looking at an M2 or M4..2016-2018..still under warranty though..going to be expensive for the warranty extension..but have to go that route.

[@LifeInMotionuk]

I’m with you on warranty - might be a small price to pay for peace of mind! Enjoy the search!

[@jazzragu]

I had a 2018 M2 LCi manual from new. Great car. I sold it last December and now have a 718 Cayman S manual… it’s just not as good or fun. Enjoy your Bimmer, it’ll be a rodeo in the wet but it’ll be such a hoot.