New 997.1 owner - recommended service / garage in Essex?

[remarklima]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum, as finally taken the plunge and picked up a 997.1 C2S.

After many years of wanting to get back into a sport car - I've had a string a Japanese - various MR2's, an RX7, a season racing MR2's - then into a Lotus Exige, a Z3M (not really a decent drive at all!) - I've decided to scratch that Porsche itch.

I was looking at Evora's as the option to be able to fit the kids in still, as being short it could work, but the 911 has always been on the want list and we can all fit in easily!

It has PASM fitted, and I can see already the benefits the DSC controller would have - but it's a pricy bit of kit! The PASM seems to work better at speed and seems to firm up below 20mph oddly?

First thing, is there a recommended specialist in Essex? The further south the better. I've read about Autostrasse being a good bet? Is this still the case?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Thefinn]

Hi there and welcome :welcome:


DSC is well worth them money, second hand ones do come up now and then but I haven't seen too many for the 997.1 though with the accelerometer.

I am in Essex and have been using Autostrasse for about 5 years now without issue and prices are reasonable, that said I have heard that someone had a bad experience recently so will follow this to see if there are any other options.

 

[Les Richards]

Depending on where you are in Essex you could try Tony Ruggles at Carrera Engineering in Nazeing.

 

[MJ911]

I'd second Tony at Carrera Engineering. Top bloke, knows his stuff.

 

[arry]

someone had a bad experience recently so will follow this to see if there are any other options.

It was me. Unless there was some other poor soul.

I never fessed up on it to put people off, though, and it wasn't outrageously horrific or massively unreasonable. But, they messed a repair up on my car and - to my mind - didn't do enough to put things right. It's complicated because, at the time, I had a severe back condition and ended up going in for spinal surgery, so it knocked the calendar on a whole year by the time I got it sorted - but the end result was I had to fix my own car in my own garage and then when I took it back to them to sort a fresh service (time, but it had done 80 miles!) and few little details that had only occurred as a result of their error, they charged me full whack for the service, and full labour rate on a couple of other bits I asked them to pick up.

I was out of pocket about ~£300 in bits, and plenty of my time, and the loss of my car for a year (not their fault entirely, it was the timing). What they did to put things right was the bare minimum, IMO.

Anyway, I used them for ~3 years before that and was very happy. He's a lovely bloke and I don't wish them any ill.

 

[Les Richards]

I bought a Supersport Targa from Paul Stephens when Autostrasse used to carry out most of his service and repair work. They had supposedly carried out a check prior to sale.

It wouldn't run from cold; the tyres were too old to be balanced; it had 3 or 4 different keys for the various locks as they had, presumably, been changed over time; one Fuchs wheel had a crack so the tyre would not hold pressure and I later found out from another Indie (Carrera Engineering) that the heater boxes were seized.

Fair play to PS. He had new tyres fitted, the wheel repaired, the locks sorted by Harvey Walker who was working at Autostrasse at the time and who also sorted the cold running (he's a very good Porsche man but no idea if he is still trading).

I had the inconvenience of giving the car back for a month while these faults were resolved and felt both PS and myself let down by Autostrasse.

I heard at one time they were closing but then later were continuing with new owners. Don't know if that is true. I also understood from someone who knew both the original owners that they did not get on...but that's purely hearsay on his part.

I now use Carrera Engineering as Tony knows his cars; he's looked after my 993 for the last 11-years and for the previous owner (and his family's daily cars) prior to that - and he's only10-mins away!

 

[arry]

Harvey Walker who was working at Autostrasse at the time and who also sorted the cold running (he's a very good Porsche man but no idea if he is still trading).

Harvey is now here:
http://www.colwoodmotors.co.uk/

Haven't used them. Tempted to as Hornchurch is convenient for me.

 

[Les Richards]

I did once visit him at his workshop - might have been in Hornchurch - before meeting him again at Autostrasse.

Always came across as very knowledgeable and one of the good guys.

I believe for a while he was the go-to man for the PCGB Essex region.

 

[Thefinn]

someone had a bad experience recently so will follow this to see if there are any other options.

It was me. Unless there was some other poor soul.

I never fessed up on it to put people off, though, and it wasn't outrageously horrific or massively unreasonable. But, they messed a repair up on my car and - to my mind - didn't do enough to put things right. It's complicated because, at the time, I had a severe back condition and ended up going in for spinal surgery, so it knocked the calendar on a whole year by the time I got it sorted - but the end result was I had to fix my own car in my own garage and then when I took it back to them to sort a fresh service (time, but it had done 80 miles!) and few little details that had only occurred as a result of their error, they charged me full whack for the service, and full labour rate on a couple of other bits I asked them to pick up.

I was out of pocket about ~£300 in bits, and plenty of my time, and the loss of my car for a year (not their fault entirely, it was the timing). What they did to put things right was the bare minimum, IMO.

Anyway, I used them for ~3 years before that and was very happy. He's a lovely bloke and I don't wish them any ill.

That doesn't sound as bad as I first thought as it can't have been a big mess up if the parts were £300 all be it they should have sorted it by the sounds of it, I hope your back is better to.

I just wish there was a decent indy in South East Essex which I am surprised about as there are so many Porsches in the area you would think there would be one.

 

[antonio]

Ive used these a few times with no problems https://www.porschespecialistservices.co.uk/

 

[Geezer 911]

Ive used these a few times with no problems https://www.porschespecialistservices.co.uk/

I 2nd these guys. Had great experiences the last few times I used them.

 

[arry]

That doesn't sound as bad as I first thought as it can't have been a big mess up if the parts were £300 all be it they should have sorted it by the sounds of it, I hope your back is better to.

I just wish there was a decent indy in South East Essex which I am surprised about as there are so many Porsches in the area you would think there would be one.

It wasn't that bad, but it was a rookie error - they fitted a new door mechanism for me and, upon reassembly, didn't reconnect the barrel arm back into the microswitch slot. The barrel arm was just flapping about pushed off to the right. They put it all back together and didn't check everything still worked as it should.

Anyway, I drove the car home, came out 6 days later and the alarm went into sleep mode so I had to use the barrel to live everything back up. Guess what - the barrel didn't do anything :frustrated:

So I called them and they said it couldn't possibly have been them, it was impossible for it not to go back together properly, and it must have been the tabs on the barrel that have failed and - therefore - it's my problem. But they did say IF you can get yourself into it, and get it back to us, then we'll have a look at it for you.

The problem is I couldn't get back into it. Disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it did nothing to bring the car out of sleep mode so the only way through the mess was.....

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After I got in, I couldn't get the alarm to disarm because the car still thought it was locked. Even though I could start the engine. So I said to them I can get it to them but only with the alarm blaring away and would they come and get it from me? Nope, get it to us then we'll look at it.

By this point I'd worked out that getting it to them was only possible if I arranged my own recovery, or flipped the microswitch myself to tell the car it was unlocked. In order to do that, I had to take it apart. Took it apart and, sure enough, noted that the barrel wasn't attached. Put it all back together properly and what do you know :roll: Everything worked as it should.

So I called them and said right then - it was your bleeding fault. In the meantime, the battery had sat flat for long enough to kill it off for good, and a new window had to go in so that was ~£300 total bill. Also, the key had lost its coding because it hadn't been used for so long - so I still have the bill for a new key to sort at some point :roll: The rear brakes had seized up a bit because of being sat on the handbrake for a year.

So I took it to them and said, 80 miles done since last service - I'm £300 ish out of pocket - and you've caused me all sorts of grief. Can you sort my car out please.

Got a bill back for £471 for a minor service and fitting of a new indicator stalk. I just paid and walked out, didn't have any fight left in me at that point.

Ive used these a few times with no problems https://www.porschespecialistservices.co.uk/

Just booked in with them for September. Let's see how it goes.

 

[arry]

Just booked in with them for September. Let's see how it goes.

Here goes then. They were...... Excellent

Major service / belt change sorted. Health check threw up a few advisories that Autostrasse didn't give me, which I don't believe to be 'new' this year. Fair pricing. Friendly guys - dropped off on Saturday and they were happy to chat. Very helpful on phone. Car back on time and.... even cleaned

Happy with that and I've now found my new indy

 

[Lee997]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum, as finally taken the plunge and picked up a 997.1 C2S.

After many years of wanting to get back into a sport car - I've had a string a Japanese - various MR2's, an RX7, a season racing MR2's - then into a Lotus Exige, a Z3M (not really a decent drive at all!) - I've decided to scratch that Porsche itch.

I was looking at Evora's as the option to be able to fit the kids in still, as being short it could work, but the 911 has always been on the want list and we can all fit in easily!

It has PASM fitted, and I can see already the benefits the DSC controller would have - but it's a pricy bit of kit! The PASM seems to work better at speed and seems to firm up below 20mph oddly?

First thing, is there a recommended specialist in Essex? The further south the better. I've read about Autostrasse being a good bet? Is this still the case?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, depending on if you want to stick with an Indy or not?
My brother owns a fully equipped workshop and runs a motorsport business not only building race cars but but all levels of rebuild maintenance in order to keep them ready and then support at race events! Some of these cars include the 1980s JPS F1 car, Kaloni F1 cars and many others!
My brother personally owns a porsche as do I and we service and repair all our cars as well as customers standards service ig ect!

Essecmotorsportservices

Based in Ongar.
Let me know if it's something of interest?

Rgds Lee.

 

[chowgar]

https://www.hpporsche.co.uk/

I've used these guys for the last 7 years and I've never had any issues with their workmanship or customer service. They are based in Fairlop in Essex.