I must be crazy

[Stephen44]

1 hour ago, Everywhen said:

I’ve just refreshed the suspension on my 986.

After lots of shopping around the cost was around £1500 for dampers, suspension arms, and all the bits you don’t think you will be replacing. My labour was free and I did experience my share of seized bolts and fasteners as I expected on a 23yr old car.

I drove it yesterday for the first time in 6 weeks and even though it was just 30 mins or so I could tell immediately how much better it was, and so quiet!

Four wheel alignment booked for Monday. 

That's what I want to hear. My health is not so good anymore, so whereas I would have done the labour myself, I am letting a Porsche specialist do it. For once I'm actually looking forward to it returning without my hassle of trying to get off seized nuts etc

[Everywhen]

17 hours ago, Stephen44 said:

That's what I want to hear. My health is not so good anymore, so whereas I would have done the labour myself, I am letting a Porsche specialist do it. For once I'm actually looking forward to it returning without my hassle of trying to get off seized nuts etc

I’m sure you will notice the difference.

Have you gone for OE,  Bilstein B4 or Koni Special Active dampers?

[Stephen44]

14 minutes ago, Everywhen said:

I’m sure you will notice the difference.

Have you gone for OE,  Bilstein B4 or Koni Special Active dampers?

OE....that will do for average road driver won't it?

[½cwt]

18 minutes ago, Stephen44 said:

OE....that will do for average road driver won't it?

Yes, but if you bought Porsche dampers they are Bilstein B4 and cost about 40% more...  Likewise with suspension arms etc, there is a lot of research on the forum about who the OE suppliers to Porsche are (Sachs, TRW, Bilstein etc.) so buying parts under their own brands avoid 'Porsche tax'.  As an experiment when doing my suspension rebuild I costed up the parts for the rear end only at my local OPC, when we got to over £2k I stopped as I'd got all the parts, mostly from OE suppliers but some from well regarded alternatives like Spyder Performance and a few Porsche only parts, for the WHOLE car for under £1300.  Hence the question of what you fitted.  Sorry if this highlights that you may have spent rather more than necessary.

Edited August 13, 2023 by ½cwt

[Everywhen]

The OP says the car is booked in for the refresh so I’m assuming its at the local OPC or an Indy who defaults to OE parts.

I’ve used B4’s on other cars and they are excellent.

I was taking to the Indy I use and he said that they normally recommend B4 but that recently more owners were asking for Koni SA, on Boxsters and 911’s and that after he’d test driven the car he was very impressed and could see why they were being specified

[Stephen44]

1 hour ago, ½cwt said:

Yes, but if you bought Porsche dampers they are Bilstein B4 and cost about 40% more...  Likewise with suspension arms etc, there is a lot of research on the forum about who the OE suppliers to Porsche are (Sachs, TRW, Bilstein etc.) so buying parts under their own brands avoid 'Porsche tax'.  As an experiment when doing my suspension rebuild I costed up the parts for the rear end only at my local OPC, when we got to over £2k I stopped as I'd got all the parts, mostly from OE suppliers but some from well regarded alternatives like Spyder Performance and a few Porsche only parts, for the WHOLE car for under £1300.  Hence the question of what you fitted.  Sorry if this highlights that you may have spent rather more than necessary.

No, thats fine. My issue is that my health is not good enough to do the work myself anymore and my Porsche Indy will only fit parts they supply ie with the Porsche tax. This I understand because then they give you a warranty which they can't do if you supply the bits so I feel like I'm a bit caught in the middle!

[½cwt]

56 minutes ago, Stephen44 said:

No, thats fine. My issue is that my health is not good enough to do the work myself anymore and my Porsche Indy will only fit parts they supply ie with the Porsche tax. This I understand because then they give you a warranty which they can't do if you supply the bits so I feel like I'm a bit caught in the middle!

May be have a conversation with them about them sourcing appropriate parts, such as OE supplier parts I have mentioned, otherwise these car can simply become money pits that even Man Maths struggle with justifying.  I'm not suggesting DIY work suits all, however they are exactly the same quality because they are the same parts made on the same tooling by the same company.  It will literally cut hundreds off your running and repair costs over 3 years, and from their point of view likely give a longer stream of workflow.  If they are not prepared to do that, then may be a different indy is your solution, or go to Porsche and get the Porsche invoices and stamps.  At least if you register with Classic Porsche at the OPC you will get 15% off parts fitted by the OPC in their workshops, although it may not be practical geographically, plus you get a very nice loan car whilst they do the work.

[Patt]

Porsche prices are not always over the top:

I've just bought some X73 dampers from them for almost half the price that Bilstien quote !

That said, I've just the drop links are almost a 10th of what OPC were trying to charge me  - £107 OPC per drop link Vs £12

Their PSE is generally £1000 cheaper than aftermarket too.  It's always worth checking as I've seen some parts online for £££ more than OPC eg bumper vents and GT3 brake ducts, and dash plastics

[½cwt]

38 minutes ago, Patt said:

Porsche prices are not always over the top:

I've just bought some X73 dampers from them for almost half the price that Bilstien quote !

That said, I've just the drop links are almost a 10th of what OPC were trying to charge me  - £107 OPC per drop link Vs £12

Their PSE is generally £1000 cheaper than aftermarket too.  It's always worth checking as I've seen some parts online for £££ more than OPC eg bumper vents and GT3 brake ducts, and dash plastics

Not saying Porsche are always highest price, they are actually cheapest for Porsche only supplied parts.  You do have to shop around to avoid turning a 986 worth only a few thousand into a money pit.  Savvy shopping.