Major Service Major $$$ | Porsche Cayman Unexpected Repairs

The car is back in my hands after being attended to by Porsche Brooklands and the legendary Porsche mechanic Mike. Yes I faced unexpected costs in this major service visit, however everything was clearly communicated to me before work started and it was my decision to go ahead with the unexpected items.
I do wonder if some other garages would not have brought these additional items to my attention? I'm glad I did the extra items.
Special thanks to Porsche Brooklands and for allowing Mike to film aspects of the service and to share his Official Porsche Centre (OPC) knowledge with us all.
Enjoying Life & Cars To The MAX!!
#porsche #porschecayman #maxrevscars

[@19PSIWRX]

“Why spend so much money on an old car? Why not just get a new one?” Simply put, this “old” car is analog and much more raw compared to a new car. But more importantly, the owner has a love affair with it. Would you divorce your wife, who you love, of 30 years just because she’s getting older? No, you sacrifice and spend hard earned money on that anniversary ring.

[@MAXREVS]

😁

[@daysofgrace2934]

I was originally going to buy a 718 Boxster on a PCP but prefered the 6 cylinder sound on a 981 GTS. In the end, I bought a 987.2 Boxster outright from the dealer, got a PSE fitted, paid for my own half-day at the Porsche Experience centre; I'm happy. For me, it's all about the smiles, I'm no Hamilton looking to set lap records. I leave it to the franchise to keep it in tip-top condition. The 987.2 has bourne most of its depreciation whereas the 718 being new would appreciate heavily. Once the car has been sold, I'll get something back from the £19500. Obviously, I had a few extras fitted - PSE, sports chrono, DSC V1 PASM controller and wheels painted satin platinum, which won't help the sums but this is a heart purchase. To be honest I prefer the sophisticated, timeless classic, Porsche look, with beautiful flowing curves of the 987 over the 981/718. They are not ugly cars but don't have the sophisticated Porsche look, they (981/718) look all a bit pumped up, aggressive, brash, for people who have self-worth issues. Wife reckons I should get a Macan on a PCP but, to be honest like what I got, it's fast enough for me, exotic sound, I like the classic Porsche look, I may just end up keeping it...

[@MAXREVS]

@@daysofgrace2934 Very happy for you... you seem to be living by all the rules on this channel, enjoying life & cars to the Max! I like the fact you purchased what’s right for you, not simply the latest. Of course there’s nothing wrong with any Cayman in my book... Like you (I think), I have a hard time with PCP deals, preferring to own my car outright. Of course this means I can’t afford more expensive models, but honestly you’re not missing much by having a 987, and furthermore Pinky Lai would argue that’s the only Cayman out there ;-) Just kidding on the last part (even though it’s true when we interviewed him), every Cayman is great, the best one is the one you can afford and which makes you happy.

[@MAXREVS]

@@daysofgrace2934 If you’d like to feature your car on this channel, please reach out to me at [e-mail] I’d like to feature a 987, haven’t had one for a while now.

[@daysofgrace2934]

@@MAXREVS I will think about it Max. At the moment doing mad hours at work - work in banking IT...

[@steveallen3335]

Wow, Mike what a legend! Astonished that an OPC service technician is willing and allowed to share even little details like the torque settings. Hats off to Brooklands and Mike, certainly a great way to build customer loyalty and a dealership reputation.

[@stephentodd1450]

I find it incredible that a Porsche dealer allowed one of their mechanics to film a behind the scenes repair of a customer car. Great respect to Porsche Brooklands and especially to Mike, he made perfect sense in explaining every process to complete the repairs, he should have his own show! I found it fascinating to see how they gain access to work on the Cayman engine, I’ve just had similar work done on mine (drive belt, spark plugs and much more) so it was good to see. Great video max, keep up the good work, looking forward to more. I have to go, I’m going for a drive😎

[@Borismiljevic]

Bravo to Mike! I wish there is more people like him :) Excellent work!

[@s10lucky]

That was really interesting. 👍

[@tomingrassiaimages8776]

Oh....and Thanks to Mike and the dealership. Very interesting

[@MsCliveharper]

Great "write up" Max. The big bill simply reflects your dedication and commitment to a wonderfully maintained car, definitely a keeper! Enjoy the shiny new heatshields :) In all seriousness, I know you will be driving around in the knowledge that your car is in tip top condition.

[@jeffbrassard1268]

£3000 for disc brake rotors and pads is insane. I did a full brake service (rotors, pads, sensors) on my 2015 Boxster in my garage for USD800 and 3 hours of my labor. Brake service and oil & filter change on this car is very simple and relatively quick to do.

[@b.vonschnauser207]

I always appreciate the "behind the scenes" footage. Much respect to the tech doing the professional work.

[@kevinmcg6747]

Enjoyable vlog Max and insightful commentary and filming from Mike. Don’t ever be sensitive about the costs Max, it is what it is and a number of those repairs were investments in future reliability. If you come away with a warm feeling that money has been spent on the right things then that’s all that is required. Discs will be serve you for a number of years so you can annualise the costs over that period tho admittedly it’s painful to fork out all of it in the first year! I’m guessing if the discs were £3k we’re not looking at a lot of change from say £5k? Considering my M2 Competition major service will be four figures if nothing else is wrong and then you add my monthly payments - your doing ok Max👍.

[@MAXREVS]

I wouldn't have gone ahead with the work, and I wouldn't have used Porsche Brooklands unless I was really sure this was what I wanted. Did you see the Brembo labels in the box with the brake discs? None of the indie garages were going to fit Brembo... to some extent you get what you pay for. Could an indie have done it cheaper? Yes. Can I buy cheap low octane fuel for my Cayman? Yes... however I choose high octane Shell V-power, and my own personal choice was Porsche Brooklands for servicing. I don't advocate OPC vs indie specialist, we each do what makes us comfortable. Good luck with your service and it feels great to resume the start of somewhat normal life.

[@connorsdad1841]

Brilliant video and a massive thanks to Mike, I could watch him work his magic on a Cayman all day long, very informative 👏👏👏

[@uweheinrich6784]

Hi Max....I know its always no fun to pay for maintenance and repairs but what you do will pay off. We both know that we have timeless cars. Hence any investment that you make in the maintenance of the car is something that will pay off for the long term. I know that it is always tempting to think "I may not spend on this repair or maintenance and get a newer car" but think about the depreciation that will come along with newer car ownership, not to say higher insurance costs etc. I will be like you. When the time comes for repairs, I hope my mechanic will watch your videos....They will be very helpful for doing a good job......I am glad your Cayman is in top condition and you keep it this way. Remember, it is a timeless car....

[@w3155ach]

Thanks Mike and Max! Always interesting and thoughtful content. Really nice to gain a better understanding of the car - I think it enriches the ownership experience (more stories to tell!). Subscribed.

[@WriterandPhotographer]

Mike did a great job of helping out a lot of people who would otherwise might not get these great insights. New sub.

[@MAXREVS]

Mike has done several videos for this channel. Check out the Porsche Tech playlist on this channel if you like Mike👍🏼

[@wazzimachine4544]

Max, don't second guess your decisions, this maintenance is required if you plan on keeping and enjoying this car. If you decide to sell you should be able to get the top price. Great video!

[@MAXREVS]

Personally I'm OK with what I spent. Some people opt for a newer model like a 981 or 718, I opted for an older model, saved money upfront, with a slow trickle of funds to make the car what I want. Zero plans to sell ;-)

[@saileshlimbachia3826]

Amazing video thanks

[@milogger7556]

Thanks Max and this was great. I know it's pricey, but any machine requires maintenance. Porsches seem to be more in general and remember they are rarer than 911s, so fewer parts made = more $. Nothing seemed out of line to me for a car of that age. I didn't know about the heat shields, because when I bought my car they weren't there. Oh well, part of what makes these cars so special. I love my '07CS and I'll do whatever it takes to keep it on the road. Cheers! 🇺🇸 🍻 🇬🇧

[@chrispapageorgiou1904]

Great stuff

[@pauljoyquilter359]

Great video - very informative & helpful for those of us who do our own service work.

[@ChristopherMensah]

The dedication and attention to detail is impressive

[@vanischan9946]

I wish there is such a fantastic mechanic in HK like Mike

[@raymondmumford6255]

Great video. The attention to detail be the mechanic was awesome. You have a great car 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tomingrassiaimages8776]

I feel so lucky... my 981 GTS which I bought with 37.4k miles had the 40k service completed when I bought it. Only porsche = "all bolts are a different size" Only Porsche = "hidden bolt holding brake wire is fitted to be flush. All good Max 😃

[@WallanderBP]

10:36 How grown-up Porsche owners can start to baby-cry about unexpected repairs :) Excellent video, really appreciate these from a Porsche garage!

[@MAXREVS]

I was wondering what your comment meant until I checked the time code you refer too... LOL!!

[@jimlong527]

It’s all worth it, we do the same over the pond in Chicago & Florida

[@swanny195]

Great video - thank you Max n Mike

[@swanny195]

Oh and I’ve now subscribed 👍

[@MAXREVS]

😁

[@dannysalkin6783]

I had no idea how they got to all those engine parts before. Very useful to know! Not many people would share the costs like you've done but it's really helpful that you have. With the move to electric cars, any sports car will be something that us enthusiasts end up holding onto for decades if not the rest of our lives. I'm sure this is possible with your Cayman because most Porsche's ever made are still on the road today. So the traditional costs of ownership are going to migrate away from depreciation towards maintenance costs. It sounds like a ton of money but it's never going to be cheap to run an amazing car like this, and it won't depreciate much from now on. Considering that someone like you gets a massive buzz every single day, I think it's a relatively small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure there are some very high quality independent garages out there, but if you can afford it I still think it's a nice luxury going to a Porsche main dealer. Happy driving!

[@MAXREVS]

You've hit the nail on the end. I've driven electric cars, and hybrid cars. I don't like either... but accept that's the way things are going. This car is a keeper as you have probably gathered. The first Cayman, the 987, in my preferred generation 2 guise. I mention this in more detail in response to Parvin above... no other Porsche service garage I have approached is willing to allow me to film inside and bring you content directly from the technicians. Some indie quotes I got were MORE than OPC prices, other indie garages were not truly like for like, e.g. I have Brembo discs from OPC, indie garages were using Sebro for their quotes. As this is a keeper, I want all the health check items done as well. I could be wrong, but how many other garages would point out items like the heat shields? One could argue the old ones were OK, but when I saw the rust hole which completely exposed a section on the coil packs, they just had to be replaced. I would not have known about this defect unless the service garage was paying close attention. One thing I like about Porsche Brooklands, you may pay a little extra, but you never get the feeling they are rushing work on your car to get the next one in.

[@daysofgrace2934]

Fascinating watching. Surprised how tight the access is.

[@MAXREVS]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. There is a Porsche Tech playlist on this channel if you’re looking for more of the same👍🏼

[@richfixescars]

Cheers for the update Max. It's a lot of money. A new 4.0 GTS would probably cost you less in depreciation, and would not need repairs. I would get the service done at Porsche for the stamp, but get your repairs done at an independent with genuine parts. Porsche charge too much for labour. Not sure the rear disks and pads needed doing, only looked half worn. Also those heat shields, a 2p size washer under the bolt would have resecured it. Be careful and save for that 4.0 GTS.

[@MAXREVS]

You’re right to spot the conditions of the discs front and back wasn’t exactly essential. This is something I just wanted to do due to the amount of corrosion present. After I had the control arms fitted with new parts at Centre Gravity, very often when I would corner sharply, say tight roundabout, there would be a scraping noise from the rear. I thought it was dirt trapped in between the discs somewhere. It never went away, and I had the car checked and no one could spot any debris or issues. My handbrake also used to stick after only a few days parked up (I moved to using chocks). With the new discs, ZERO noise on cornering. I suspect there is low gap tolerances at the rear, and when cornering and shifting load onto one side of the car, there was contact between some parts. All gone now with the new discs. Regarding the heat shield, there was also a chunk of metal missing from one of them, meaning no protection. Once again you’re right, it wasn’t strictly necessary, but I have a character defect. If I see a problem I have to fix it...

[@richfixescars]

I'm trembling with fear for my MX-5 major service in July, all of £300. But yes it isn't a Porsche, however it's a lot more affordable and almost as much fun.

[@DarkstarDarth]

MX5 😄👌🏼

[@paulmoore2010]

Admire you dedication Max. I got my 987.2 in December. Car had all stamps Porsche and inde. However I changed the plugs, coil packs also did an oil change, gearbox oil change , belt change , engine and transmission mounts and roll bar bushes. Its a keeper so worth in my opinion the effort. Luckily I have been able to keep the costs down.

[@MAXREVS]

Whoa! You did that yourself? If so respect... I don’t even have a garage!

[@paulmoore2010]

Im lucky Max friend owns a garage and I was able to use his ramp and tools. Paid him for the time.

[@richardhermann658]

Dealer shops and good indie mechanics will suggest that you replace the tensioner when you replace the belt regardless if they find it bound like Max's or not. It’s a common failure. Good insurance and not that large of a percent of total job since they have to open it up anyway. ( that access behind seats and opening up the top cover takes more time than you would think, and you have to be a contortionist to work on the belts with the seats in the way)

[@zascar]

Great video Max! I also have an older Cayman which I'm spending money on to keep it in top condition. You should do a video on your updated true costs of maintaining your car!

[@MAXREVS]

Maybe, however this video sparked off so much OPC vs indie debate, part of me just wants to move on.

[@zascar]

@@MAXREVS True, but it's your decision not theirs. I'd go indie personally but it's the cost benefit trade off which is personal. Cover that in the video and you'll definitely let's a lot of comments and engagement!

[@parvinkukar1259]

You are very brave man to put this vid out. I’m currently trying to find a good Porsche specialist as my car has reached 60k and I need to replace the v belt / drive belt as well. But did a service last year so might just do another full service at the same time not too sure as I’ve only covered less thank 5k in the past year. Personally for brakes and disc I would of just gone to my regular garage that I trust, and saved something on labour hours, but obviously more inconvenience as the draw back. Like you I’m planning on keeping my car for as long as I able to continue you driving, hopefully decades away. Then I’ll just hand it down to my grandchild because then it would be so cool to have a flat 6 combustion engine car as everyone will be in a car that sounds like a sewing machine

[@MAXREVS]

What was interesting is that all my indie quotes involved Sebro brake discs. Porsche Brooklands fitted Brembo discs. Nothing wrong with using an indie, just ensure you're comparing like with like. Additionally I got the brake fluid drained and refilled. The screw which had to be drilled out... would that be an additional cost with an indie? Would they have the equipment to drill and then re-tap a new hole? FYI. I was not charged any extra by Porsche Brooklands. I try to stay away from talking about finances... however no other indie dealership I have approached is willing to allow me to film and bring videos from inside their premises. It's a real show of trust Porsche Brooklands allow me inside their workshop to film (when there is no Covid). As you could see here, Mike himself did the video work for me. In other words, I also pay a bit more out of my pocket, for the ability to film and bring material to all of you in KZbin land. Yes that's right, I use my own money to provide content to all my subscribers. Whether that's investing in equipment to capture footage, video editing and production, and even paying OPC rates. This is part and parcel of my Cayman ownership experience.

[@parvinkukar1259]

@@MAXREVS definitely agree with your comments, and most garages would of ignored the screw issues and possibly the tentioner replacement. It’s always down to the individual what they are willing to pay, some will buy a cayman and just run into the ground, most expect to pay £1k to £2 annually for the up keep. Look forward to more content. As a side note on watches have you seen the tv show millionaire pawn brokers. They have a lot content about high end watches, you will find it interesting

[@ThatCaymanGuy]

It hurts a little but your car will be running great.

[@carlfrederick8433]

I enjoy your videos so much. Many thanks to you and Mike. I agree that it is best to have Porsche service since they may spot problems earlier than an indep will. I use your 2009 987,2 as a guide to what I might need in my 2012 987.2 in the future. I wonder if many of your corrosion related issues are due to driving in winter on salted roads? ie exhaust tip clamps, coolant pipes and coolant hose clips, spark plug heat shields, belt tensioner sleeve, metal tire valve stem, steel brake line bolt in aluminum hub. Did you notice if your coolant pipes correded from outside environmental conditions as opposed to corroding from the inside due to lack of antifreeze corrosion protection? Thanks for all your help.

[@MAXREVS]

I had a chat with Mike about this. The belt tensioner seizing is fairly common on many Porsche cars. I don’t believe it’s metal corrosion per se, more the bearing in the joint seizing due to wear and tear. This could happen in any climate and any country. The heat shields could well be more country and environment dependent. A garage queen car used only in the summer time and parked during autumn and winter is unlikely to have issues here. Even better, check the heat shields on a Cayman in Southern California. My coolant pipes never actually corroded. Porsche use some kind of push-fit technology on the connectors, to make factory assembly quick and easy. The clamp onto the rubber hose started to weep. This could be another environment issue... the rubber hoses (I’m no chemistry expert), but I think oils from the rubber slowly evaporate over time, making them less flexible and more brittle. Over time this developed into a weak point and it started to leak. Once again a garage queen car probably would not have suffered this issue. In short, all the items on my car in the UK were simply classified under wear and tear, bearing in mind I don’t store the car in a facility for 6 months of the year.

[@carlfrederick8433]

@@MAXREVS Thank you Max you are the greatest.

[@whiteh8433]

Just bought a 987.1. Taking for my first service on Thursday absolutely bricking it as it’s not been done for 25k Miles... ! All worth it these cars are absolute gems

[@MAXREVS]

Good luck with it. I've spent a ton of cash on my Cayman... the only item I would say is a manufacturer fault in these cars is the shifter cable. Everything else is simply wear and tear.

[@whiteh8433]

@@MAXREVS Thanks Max. Watched a ton of your videos in the run up to my purchase! Glad to say that the car is fine and no expensive works needed. It has however been chipped (which I wasn't aware of) and over revved in the past - but running sweet as a nut at the moment. If you're ever in the South West let me know!

[@MAXREVS]

@@whiteh8433 Over revs in the past, don't worry about that too much now you have purchased the car. I've done a video about what rev range data means... if you manage to drive a number of operating hours (as Porsche calls it), after over-revs, then you should be fine. Also depends which band the over-rev was in, there are 6 in total. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGjKlIqmjsqrsJo

[@whiteh8433]

@@MAXREVS all 6 unfortunately, but due to the chip Porsche were unable to tell when they occurred. Oh well. I’m loving the car and not too concerned about it :)

[@anthonyaguilar9341]

Awesome video! I work in the US at the dealer and the video has me scratching my head a little, How do they pay mechanics in the UK? Here in US it is Flat-Rate and if I took the time to create a video like this, I'd go broke, lol.

[@MAXREVS]

I cannot say for sure, but I’m guessing Mike is a salaried employee of the company. Having spent approx £8,000 with Porsche Brooklands over the years (servicing and fault correction), this is one of the reasons I keep coming back. Complete transparency and know-how, and they don’t mind the video aspect. Usually I’m in the workshop with Mike going over the car, but couldn’t this time due to Covid.

[@jasonlocke2142]

Thanks for video. I have a similar issue coming up on my 2011 987S. Porsche warranty needs renewing, was warned about discs last time the car was in, needs new tyres and needs a service! I keep going back and forwards about trading the Porsche in and spending the maintenance costs on a newer car. But then I realise I won’t be replacing with a Porsche so it will just be inferior. Decisions, decisions...

[@robsx4280]

Good video Max and Broooklands. I think all those issues are fairly common. I sold my 987.2 S last year for a 718 base. So far i don't think it was a great decision. After lockdown perhaps I will change my mind about the 718 I do now have Porsche Warranty which is piece of mind for a while.

[@MAXREVS]

I’m not selling my car. Money either goes towards a new car like a 981 or fixing my 987. If I buy a 981 the issues I am having will sooner or later catch up with every Cayman. So I’d rather just make my old 987 a new 987 if you know what I mean?!

[@jasonlocke2142]

@@MAXREVS I think that’s where I will end up. When I look at the upcoming budget the accountant in me comes out but as soon as I get in the 987 it all gets forgotten.

[@joshlaurence9718]

Jason.... Porsche have recently changed their warranty renewal... you can now just renew over the phone if the cars warranty hasn’t lapsed . So no need for a 111 point inspection . This is very helpful , as now you can put whatever brakes / tyres you like on the car , thus not needing to pay 3x the cost for brakes from a main dealer .

[@jasonlocke2142]

@@joshlaurence9718 Thanks Josh that’s good to know. I had to use the Porsche warranty for a coil this year so I do want to keep it going. Thanks again

[@tomingrassiaimages8776]

In the US, We say Rotors instead of disk. Both are proper mate.

[@MAXREVS]

Sweet mate pukka ;-)

[@rhysthomas1518]

Great video again max how much was all the work in total please

[@MAXREVS]

Will go through some of that in later videos, though don't want to dwell too much on the costs. I'm sure forums have this kind of stuff on there. Just note I also opted to change the brake fluid, and did every advisory on the health check. Also note the Brembo label in the box when Mike shows us the brake discs... you can opt for cheaper discs at an indie garage.

[@rhysthomas1518]

@@MAXREVS I do enjoy your videos and I know you like to use porsche for your work but it's might be time to use a Indie as unless you have deep pockets your work would have been half price I think. I use a good indie onn my 987 boxster and my bills are really good, don't get me wrong I have spend alot like you I like to keep my car right.

[@MAXREVS]

@@rhysthomas1518 I may end up going down this route next time... so to be clear... I wasn't going to use OPC this time. I got 4 quotes from indies near me (South East England). One was more than OPC, the others were cheaper, but we're not talking half OPC price. Furthermore the indies quoted me for slightly different parts (Sebro discs) and OPC fit Brembo. Once I tallied the differences between my local indies (OK, so I didn't check every single one within 20 miles of my address), I found the difference manageable. In all honesty, I've felt like I've had no life the last one year, work has been crazy (my feel job not YT), and I just figured what the heck. The staff at Porsche Brooklands are just excellent, they let me film, I really feel at home there, and I just figured what the heck. What I will probably do next time, and I'd have needed lockdown to end for this, is drive a long distance, e.g. 300 miles to a reputable indie garage located far away from London, in the hope the business has lower running costs, and I get a better deal. I'd spend one night at a Holiday Inn, and then drive back in their loan car. Picking the car up the following weekend. May I please ask whereabouts in the country you're based such that the costs I incurred would be 50% less, yet still with a Porsche specialist?

[@rhysthomas1518]

@@MAXREVS I live in the North East and use a excellent indie called Jamie Nelson, he's fantastic and his rates are amazing, put it this way I have the filling work done for £1900, clutch and flywheel change, front crossover coolant pipes, rms/ims seals changes and a new air oil sep.

[@MAXREVS]

@@rhysthomas1518 Thanks for the example of what you can get done for the money in the North East.

[@MadelnMachines]

Hit me with the figures

[@joshlaurence9718]

Nice video max .. come on though we all want to know the cost ! Haha I’m guessing £4850 ...

[@MsCliveharper]

My guess would be in that ballpark too Josh.

[@rouman7]

I now use Porsche specialist ( mobile. Engineers) they come to you .. you need a drive. But there all Porsche engineers had my oil water separator. Replaced recently.

[@MAXREVS]

Hahahaha!!! You never ask a women her age, and you never ask Max how much he spent on the Cayman. Mrs Max Revs has been known to search the comments looking for the "true costs" on my Cayman, and not the ones I tell her ;-) Just joking honey!! For clarity, the honey reference is to my wife and not you Josh... LOL!!

[@MAXREVS]

@@MsCliveharper This is like Play Your Cards Right... higher, lower, stick!

[@joshlaurence9718]

I’m only joking really :) it’s not just about the money , it’s about the whole service you get from Porsche main dealer . And to be honest if that’s all the parts they found that needed attention on what is an older car now , I’d say it’s money well spent . People have spent an awful lot more on ‘renting ‘ their car from Porsche ;)

[@FLATSTICK250]

Hi Max Do you not use an independent Porsche Garage? All the quality of work and parts at a fraction of the price. Had by brakes done back and front with handbrake same parts as yours for £600 and water pump belt and tensioner for just over £400 on my 987

[@MAXREVS]

Amazing prices. I'm guessing there is huge regional variation in prices. Mind me asking which part of the world you are in? I'm in South East England. I had indie quotes more than OPC, some a bit less but using Sebro discs, and nothing in the region of your prices.

[@blumahou4281]

Still Suckers out there.....willing to keep paying Extortionate money...lmao.....I'm with you on the Independent Porsche Specialist garage for my maintenance needs..and some of my guys originally worked for Porsche Main dealers.

[@FLATSTICK250]

@@blumahou4281 Ye just had a fella set up down the road left parker and parker main dealers in kendal aftre 6 years and charges £60 an hour labour

[@FLATSTICK250]

@@MAXREVS I am in the NW and have a few independent Porsche garages within 50 miles of me. I used the Porsche main dealer in Kendal, Parker and Parker for my two yearly brake fluid change as they only charged £90 all in and it gets a Porsche stamp in the book. The indi is £75 but I have to get there. The other good thing about the indi is they let you supply your own parts if you can get them cheaper but usually match or are better with the discounts they get from main dealiers., here is a link to a brake supplie.r Dean www.carparts4less.co.uk/brake-discs

[@MAXREVS]

There is a lot of discussion here about OPC vs indie specialist. At the end of the day, just do what’s right for you, I am not advocating one over the other. What I will say on reflection, and after reading all the comments here, is that I believe you need an OPC *even more* for an older car, on the basis you have to ask yourself... what really goes wrong with a new Cayman like a 718? Not a lot I would suggest. The service work on a new car is simply oil, filter, spark plugs etc... the countless visual inspections an OPC performs (and to be clear I am not talking about all OPCs, *just* Porsche Brooklands), are even more important on an older car imho. I had a chat with Phill who has a 718 GT4, and we were talking about all the different screws used in the belt tensioner. Some may say this is Porsche being awkward, however Phill suggested this is to ensure every screw has a different harmonic resonant frequency. You don’t want all the screws in the system to be similarly affected due to vibration etc... I don’t know the real answer, but it certainly makes one think. Porsche are one of the few brands left imho that put plenty of engineering excellence into their 2 seater sports cars, which are accessible whether new or used car purchases.

[@daysofgrace2934]

Max I have a 12 year major service (PDK oil and PDK clutch oil amongst other things) due on 987.2, I'm getting it done at OPC Cambridge, have the Porsche Extended warranty. I have a quote from Cambridge. I called the big down south independents - JZM (Kings Langley), RPM Technik (Tring), 9 Excellence (Horley) and there was only a couple of hundred difference on £1400. Cambridge also picks up the car from Hertfordshire and then drop it off, which saves me taking time off work and I get a Porsche franchise dealer stamp in the book.

[@MAXREVS]

Good for you buddy... I can’t possibly say if I also got quotes from those places🤐

[@MadelnMachines]

£3000 for breaks! On the rpmtechnik website it says discs and pads are £500 for the front and £500 for the rear. Maybe £400 for labour. Why so much?

[@richardhermann658]

Parts only after market I can get to $1300 very quickly. (It's not just rotors and pads. There are 4 sensors, 8 disc set screws, you need to replace the 8 caliper bolts each time you take them out, brake pad clips and bolts and you will almost always do a brake flush/fluid change.) If you're using Porsche parts with a dealer mark up on the parts I can imagine parts only for this job approaching $2000. Most good indies with Porsche certified techs will also have access to the tech manuals that allow them to estimate jobs that the dealer shop is using, too. Typically these are the hours they charge regardless if they take less time. This allows them to account over time for things like Max's broken harness screw, or other snafus that are common with brake jobs like bound disc set screw (real PITAS, should be so simple) or caliper bolt receiver holes that are stripped. So thinking 10 mins a corner doesn't ring true for me. I track my CaymanR and do a lot of brake work myself. I change pads on/off 2x/month (track pads to street pads) and probably do at least 2 disc changes a year. I am by no means a pro, but i'm pretty quick. If absolutely everything goes right, it's about 40 mins a corner. Then 30mins brake flush/fill. Another 20 to bed.. Every time I buy the parts I think, "crap, for another $600 I could have someone else do this!" Max states his reasons for choosing his shop and I think they are sound. I do think he's paying a premium over DIY but that's not really a fair comparison.

[@rouman7]

Try using Porsche specialists. They come to you and there good , all Porsche trained and do the work at your home ....

[@bezed1459]

Was able to replace my own tensioner for under $100Aus

[@MAXREVS]

Kudos to you, well done!

[@jadmann]

He never heard of DIY I guess.

[@sportsgaming1002]

I Know

[@mokacat1595]

Indie shops are monsters taking advantage and they charge almost the same, make no sense saving $300 or less if you want your car properly serviced, also add re-sale value and trust showing Porsche bills when is time to sell, these services are expensive yes, but not done every year. Enjoy your well serviced car. ( if you really want to save money then DIY )

[@rocketretro7200]

Ughhh... looks like I'll be putting a little more £££'s aside then.

[@MAXREVS]

Hope it goes well...

[@AJ-bp9th]

Unless it’s under warranty, you never go to the dealership! Find a quality independent service center and take you’re vehicle there! You’re paying too much for parts and labor.

[@Aeneas137]

you lost me right at the beginning with the pads and rotors for $3,000. the pads are $300 and take 10 minutes to install. the rotors require an additional 5 minutes to unloosen two bolts on each wheel. so you're talking 1 hour of Labor to do four rotors and four sets of pads. and you can use any brand of rotor with the correct millimeter size but it sounds like you're paying $500 a pop for the Porsche branded rotors which are just renamed from another maker.

[@flat6croc]

Porsche Brooklands are probably the best of a bad bunch when it comes to OPCs servicing cars. But getting things like brakes discs and pads done at Porsche is completely crazy. You're paying three times too much to absolutely no benefit at all, literally around £2,000 extra for nothing. With respect would strongly advise getting that kind of work done elsewhere. In fact, better off getting all work done at a good independent who at this stage will be more familiar with these cars and see more of them more often. OPCs are not the ideal outlet for servicing this age of Porsche. It's just pouring money down the drain, I'm afraid.

[@ww5691]

So much money for a VW?

[@Baerchenization]

You are free to throw any amount of money at that car, but really, if you are like most people and bought a 987 because you couldn't afford a new 911 at the time, then you really have to do some jobs yourself. Instantly, the brake job seems like a huge waste of money... in this day and age, you watch a howto KZbin video and get wrenching.... arguably, all of these jobs could have been done by a DIY layman.