Taycan 4S 60K Service - anyone do it without brake pad replacement?

[writingpeter]

My 2020 Taycan 4S is 59K miles and asking for its service. I'm now out of warranty. My local Porsche centre is quoting me £1877. Ouch.
This seems to be for 1 new filter, a discounted brake fluid replacement (they only just redid the hoses) and some window cleaner. Oh, and a full set of new brake pads which the car doesn't need... but they're insisting they must be changed.
I don't want new brake pads. They're barely showing any wear. My car was recently with Porsche for months while they did a bunch of testing and upgrades. It's now great. It seriously doesn't need £1877 worth of work done on it. I just want a new filter and a reset of the service display! So what are my options here?

Sponsored

 

[SergeyIndy]

They are clearly trying to take advantage. This is how the services are structured per maintenance journal: every 20k/2 years is a short checklist and every 40k/4 years a long checklist, then every 2 years you do brake fluid flush but if you already done it per recall you do not need to do it for another 2 years, so do not get into some "discounted" service of that again. The window cleaner I assume is the windshield washer fluid, but if that is cleaning your windows, then it must be a UK thing. Cabin Air filter is easy to do yourself, you can PM me and I can help you to get one and replace one and I change mine every 5k miles or 6 months as it sits and mold beyond that and at $30 for 2x I can get this is no bother. Brake Pads are called to be replaced at 6 years of time for age only and not for wear.

Therefore, this is what I would do:

- I would shop around as dealers set their hourly rates differently that dictates the price to perform the checklist, Long in your case, and reset the service interval.

- I would refuse any brake fluid flush service as long as you have the Brake Hoses campaign performed that comes with free brake fluid flush. I observed my dealer perform this and it is very time consuming to drain brake fluid.

- I would do the following yourself: Cabin Air filter, Wiper replacement, Remote Battery replacement, Windshield Washer fluid top off, check the date on your Tire Sealant. I recommend the Cayenne kind with a yellow valve with automatic pump mechanism if anyone is paying for the replacement on the Taycan that is a manual pump design. Ask me more about it if interested.

- Brake Pads are due at 6 years of age and I would explore alternative shops to get them replaced. I am not an expert on brake pads but if I am out of warranty and brake performance at low speeds is good, then I would stretch it out to longer.

 

[writingpeter]

Thanks for this. Yes I'm shopping around. Very few independent places in UK do Taycan servicing near me but I'll report what I find. One Porsche Centre seems to think I still need the new brake fluid, saying:
"I can confirm the brake fluid will still be required at your service interval. The minutest amount would have been taken out whilst the brake hoses was replaced. The brake fluid would not have been drained and refilled."
I'm a little surprised at this.

 

[SergeyIndy]

Thanks for this. Yes I'm shopping around. Very few independent places in UK do Taycan servicing near me but I'll report what I find. One Porsche Centre seems to think I still need the new brake fluid, saying:
"I can confirm the brake fluid will still be required at your service interval. The minutest amount would have been taken out whilst the brake hoses was replaced. The brake fluid would not have been drained and refilled."
I'm a little surprised at this.

This is absolutely not true. I was sitting at the dealer watching them do it. They had to drain large containers of brake fluid at each wheel before replacing brake hoses, and then refill it back up with full documentation of the process. Brake system is hydraulic and under pressure, so there is no such a thing as "partial" fluid drain with brake pedal fully pressed down with a device. We have a TSB here posted with pictures of what is exactly done during Brake Hose recall.

The only other way I can help you further is to share these videos of a youtuber that I like in the UK and leverage the cost for the services that he got that are reasonable, although, he got suckered into the Brake Fluid Flush after the Brake Hose recall was completed.

 

[Durham]

Thanks for this. Yes I'm shopping around. Very few independent places in UK do Taycan servicing near me but I'll report what I find. One Porsche Centre seems to think I still need the new brake fluid, saying:
"I can confirm the brake fluid will still be required at your service interval. The minutest amount would have been taken out whilst the brake hoses was replaced. The brake fluid would not have been drained and refilled."
I'm a little surprised at this.

The prices you have been quoted seem extreme to me and I'm sure there would be a long queue at the door of an independent that can do the job properly for a sensible price. I guess with so few (I am presuming there must be one or two in England - I live in the South West) distance could always be an issue. I shall be most interested to hear what you find. Please keep us posted and good luck!

 

[writingpeter]

Latest update: after some prodding my local Porsche centre, they changed their mind about new brake pads. "I have done some further checks into the brake pad replacement advise & have been informed that this is due on a time front & not mileage, so your pads are ok for another 2 years."

So far here are the quotes I've had:
Porsche Tonbridge (my local), still insists brake fluid needs doing:
Quote 1: discounted brake fluid £151.66, pads + 4 year service 1726.10 + VAT: £1877.76
Quote 2: discounted brake fluid £151.66 + 4 year service £651.10 + VAT: £802.76

Porsche Centre Guildford, still insist brake fluid needs doing:
Quote 1: Brake fluid: £280 + £25 environmental charge + 6 year (?) inspection £484.30 + VAT: £789.30

Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex
Quote 1: Brake fluid £194.14 + 6 year (?) inspection £366.58 + Pads £1201.11 + VAT: £1761.83
Still waiting for revised quote without pads and brake fluid...

Precision Porsche - only independent I can find in my area so far that does Taycan servicing
Quote 1: 4-year service, no brake fluid, no pads £425 + VAT: £510
(But they can't do the work for a few months while they relocate.)

So my conclusion is... this is very random and stupidly overpriced! And half of them quoting for a 6 year service when the Taycan only came out 4 years ago..! They all seem to be making this up as they go along. I will continue pushing back and report on further quote improvements, if any...

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I presume they have got confused because of the relatively high mileage you have done. It is due its third service at 4 years when I suspect most of us will have our third service at 6 years. So they just read it off and recommended new brake pads without realising that this is a 4 year service. I have no idea what happens to pads at 6 years - probably not many cars go this long without them being replaced due to being worn out. Probably just covering themselves in case brake performance is reduced by old pads

 

[tophamn]

I presume they have got confused because of the relatively high mileage you have done. It is due its third service at 4 years when I suspect most of us will have our third service at 6 years. So they just read it off and recommended new brake pads without realising that this is a 4 year service. I have no idea what happens to pads at 6 years - probably not many cars go this long without them being replaced due to being worn out. Probably just covering themselves in case brake performance is reduced by old pads

I hope I don't need PCCB pads at 6 years - I'm hoping they'll last the life of the car.

 

[4sCT21]

Watching with great interest, because i too will be at 60k miles after 4 years of ownership.

Saying you need new pads, clearly without having looked at them, is ridiculous and could appear on the face of it as a cash grab.

On a slightly different note OP, any reason you didn't extend the warranty?

 

[writingpeter]

Watching with great interest, because i too will be at 60k miles after 4 years of ownership.

Saying you need new pads, clearly without having looked at them, is ridiculous and could appear on the face of it as a cash grab.

On a slightly different note OP, any reason you didn't extend the warranty?

I got the car 14 months ago with most of the miles on it (from a commuter who never drove it hard, just often). The remaining Porsche warranty didn't transfer so they gave me a third party one, now expired. I've had the car very thoroughly checked over and apart from a software issue, now resolved, so far it's been great. I'm still considering my options regarding another warranty. The battery is covered for another 4 years and the extensive and regular recall programme seems to be taking care of things nicely for free right now... It's my understanding that a warranty wouldn't cover wear and tear - like those brake pads. I just need to get it serviced without breaking the bank.

 

[4sCT21]

The only extended warranty I've seen cover wear and tear is from BMW.

 

[Bennachie]

Never needed pads on ICE cars after 6 years....................I am not a Miss Daisy kind of driver.........

 

[writingpeter]

Yes I think replacement pads is questionable even at 6 years. They're not getting any real wear because of regen. Do pads on Porsches disintegrate after 6 years? I doubt it.

Latest quotes:
Guidford Porsche Centre says this: "I can confirm Porsche Guildford Centre is part of Porsche Retail Group, all services are fixed prices. I am more than happy to speak to the centre to see if they are happy to price match."
Which is a contradictory thing to say because they're saying they will try and price match another Porsche centre which quoted less. So they're not all fixed prices then!

Mid-Sussex Porsche Centre say this: "Your service intervals are every 2 years or 20k miles and I believe you have done 59k miles which would indicate that the 6year/60k mile service is due. This is because it is age or mileage whichever comes first. The 4 year service is the same price as the 6 year service anyway so I hope that helps."

I guess this makes sense: my car had accelerated services: 2 year/20K after only a year or so, 4 year/40K after another year or so, and now is due 6 year/60K. So in fact the centres offering 6 year service are probably right. It doesn't need a 4 year service. However it looks to me like some places have quite a price difference between a 4 or 6 year service.

Their quote is £366.58 including VAT for service and no brake fluid, no pads. This is cheaper than the independent! Winner so far. I think this might be my choice.

 

[4sCT21]

Common sense by the opc is needed, as people's driving styles and use vary. Not all cars will need brake pads at 6 years 60k, as in your case.

I'll have done 60k in 4 years, with 95% being motorway miles, so i wouldn't expect to need pads either, I certainly wouldn't be happy to just replace because that's what the book says... unless they then say "your car hasn't been maintained in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines" when it comes to the warranty ?

 

[writingpeter]

Another reason not to renew my warranty...
Anyway I've booked into Mid-Sussex Porsche. £366 sounds pretty reasonable to me!

Sponsored