The importance of routine annual servicing.

Everyone knows that a car needs to be serviced to keep it reliable and to avoid expensive repairs.

However there are two occasions where Porsche owners may believe that their car does not need servicing every year.

“But the service book says to service the car every two years.”

Many more modern Porsche models specify two yearly servicing in the service book for the car, which is fine for the first four years of the car's life, as the factory are focussed on the car lasting beyond the duration of the factory warranty. Beyond this, you are on your own.. However we will explain later in this article why this can be a big mistake.

“But I only cover a few miles per year.”

Because often servicing is specified in the service book as yearly or every other year, but also at a set mileage, many people believe that if they have only covered 200 miles in a year, that the car does not need a service.

However, chemistry within your engine will turn your oil from a protecting fluid, into a toxic chemical soup which can literally eat your engine components alive.

Engine oil over two years old is where chemistry becomes your enemy!

Once you start your engine with fresh engine oil a process begins where the oil will be contaminated with hydrocarbons from the combustion process, even if the engine was only started once, when the engine oil has been mixed with these chemical compounds for a year, the oil will have broken down and the chemicals will have become more toxic to your engine.

The engine oil will have begun life as a relatively neutral compound, neither overly acidic or caustic. However hydrocarbons from combustion, entering the oil past your piston rings will have begun to change all of that, some of these compounds only need moisture to become even more toxic.

You may not realise but when your engine is stopped and cooled, any moisture from humidity in the air will collect and condense within the engine and drain back into the oil, more humid air will enter the engine and this also will condense. This moisture will kick start other chemical reactions within the engine oil and especially reacting with the combustion by products within the no longer fresh engine oil.

When the engine is next started, fresh chemical reactions begin, additives within the oil can be destroyed and the chemical make up of the oil within the engine changes further.

This vicious circle is worse with infrequently used cars, as regular use will cause the moisture to evaporate away and have less time to damage the molecules and composition of the engine oil.

This problem is also made worse the longer the engine oil is within the engine, one year is fine, but two years can mean that the engine oil has become very toxic for your engine.

Another problem with the changing chemical composition of the engine oil is that these processes can produce sludge, varnishes and other unwelcome byproducts within your engine.

The proof.

A good example of this are the late Porsche 996 and early 997 engines which share the same engine oil controlled hydraulic solenoids, in the 996 models with yearly servicing these rarely fail, however in the 997 models with two yearly servicing they fail on a reasonably regular basis, likewise with the cam followers. Repairing these consequences of the two yearly services, even when that is what the service book calls for, can costs thousands of pounds to repair!

Beyond the engine oil, many other items are lubricated during a service, and these lubricants are designed to be re-applied every year at most, which means without regular lubrication the components will fail. A good example are the gear selector cables on Boxster and 911 models, on the pre 2005 models (with yearly servicing) they rarely fail, however on the post 2005 models (with two yearly servicing) we now find we need to replace them relatively frequently.

Another example would be that every 996 or 997 which has suffered bore scoring issues that we have seen, has been one specified with two yearly servicing!

A conspiracy by the manufacturers?

Some would say this is a conspiracy by the manufacturers to make more money on selling parts and repairs out of warranty.

However we believe they are just trying to make the car's seem more attractive to new car buyers due to low servicing costs.

Whatever the reason, the person who suffers is usually the person who owns the car when it is over 5 years old, by which time the damage of infrequent servicing are already done and getting worse every time the pattern continues.

There are many other consequences of not having your Porsche serviced every year.

Another good example might be suspension bushes, if replaced as soon as they become aged or worn, the cost of repairs is just the bushes and labour. However if they are left until they have symptoms obvious to the driver the damage will also be to the tyres, which we all know on a Porsche are not cheap!

The solution to this is to always try to buy a car which has been serviced every year, even if the model is specified by the factory to be serviced every two years, and never buy a car which has had the servicing deferred because it had not covered many miles between services.

Beyond this, even if the car has skipped services in the past, whatever model it is, have it serviced every year and follow the advice of your Porsche specialist of any additional items which need replacement, such as drive belts, water-pumps, coolant, brake fluid, brakes etc.. Not following this advice could cost you thousands of pounds if neglected.

A service is a service wherever it is performed, right?

A last note, it is important who you choose to service your Porsche. Any garage can change the oil in your Porsche, but a true specialist will check much more during the process and know what to look for.

Checking the old engine oil for consistency, smell and inspecting it under a powerful light will warn of many other potential issues with the car, such as early signs of bearing failure, fuel pressure, fuel injector condition and much more, all much cheaper to repair before their issues become more chronic and expensive.

Expert eyes will be looking for common problems with each model and year that an average garage will miss, which will cost you much more money later, if not spotted now.

“What else to do?”

Other than all this, enjoy your Porsche, we have found conclusively over the years that the cars which are not used on a regular basis and not driven hard, will suffer more acute problems than those driven hard on a regular basis.. Think of your Porsche as a race horse, it needs to stretch it's legs on a regular basis, otherwise it will stop being a race horse and turn into a stiff old nag!

UPDATE - Free service suspended during the COVID19 crisis, but still available for a fee due to the logistics involved in providing this service safely. ****

It is often inconvenient and a logistical nightmare getting your Porsche to a garage for servicing and repairs.

With this in mind, JMG Porsche are now trialing a new scheme where we will collect and deliver cars free of charge within a 10 mile radius of our workshop in Ferndown.

For customers working or living within 10 miles of our workshop, you have two convenient options.

• Home or your place of business handover - We will collect the car from you at either your place of business or at your home, once it is ready you can pay your bill over the phone, and we can deliver the car back to you at the same location that we collected from.
• Workshop handover with being driven to and collected from your home or work - Come to our workshop to drop off your car, discuss the repairs over a coffee, we will then drop you off at home or work and collect you again when your car is ready.

For customers further afield this opens up two convenient options.

• Train Station handover - Meet us at the train station, we will bring the car to our workshops, while you catch the train home. Once the car is ready, pay your invoice over the phone, catch the train again and we will meet you at the train station ready for you to drive hom.
• Workshop handover with you being driven to and from the station - Come to our workshop and discuss your repairs over a coffee, we will then drop you off at the train station so you can make your way home. Once your car is ready, we will again collect you from the train station so you can collect your car from the workshop.

Alternatively, you can still use the old method of getting the car to us and suffering the inconvenience of having to find friends or family to follow you over for when dropping off or collecting your car. For some people this may offer you the ultimate in convenience as you might need to leave your plans until the last moment at a time where we may not be able to collect it.

Terms and conditions.

As is usual these days, there are a few terms and conditions for our car collection and delivery service.

• Our drivers are a limited resource and may at certain times of the year be booked up days or weeks in advance, so it may be essential to book your collection and delivery service, along with the work to be performed a couple of weeks in advance.
• We will need to know that you require this service in advance of the day the work is to be performed, otherwise we will assume you will be dropping the car off to us.
• At time of booking this service we will require a £30 non refundable, but transferable, deposit. Even though this service is free of charge for many, there are costs to the business associated in collection and delivery of you or your car, which in some cases may be Taxi fares, fuel or parking charges, as well as the time of the employee. Should you not notify us before the staff member has left for a drop off or collection, that you will not be there or available, this deposit will be retained to cover these costs. However, should you be able to offer us a couple of hours notice that you will not be there, we will hold the deposit for the alternative time that you request. When you come to pay your invoice, you will notice the deposit will be listed, and as long as work has been performed on your car, you will also see the deposit deducted against the invoice.
• This service can not be used in conjunction with other promotions, such as with club discounts, free-new-customer-inspections, discount vouchers or competition prizes.
• Collection and delivery services will usually be limited to outside of rush hour times, such as only being available between 10am and 4pm on week days. However if this is not convenient to you, please explain your situation to our service manager, who has the power to change this policy on a case by case basis.

 Porsche Servicing - Diagnosis - Repairs - Modification

 Your Porsche has the potential to be as good as the day it was made, or in fact better.

Annual and two yearly servicing.

It all starts with the very best servicing with attention to detail every year, not just every two years and following the advise of your trusted Porsche specialist.

On a rotation of every 12 years there are specific two yearly items which need attention on your Porsche to build the foundation to keep it in good working order and avoiding breakdowns or expensive bills.

The inspection element of each of these two yearly services is especially important, it monitors numerous points of inspection tailored to your exact model of Porsche. These points of inspection have been developed to spot problems early, where rectification is likely to be much less expensive than allowing the issues to develop further for another year.

Diagnosis.

Getting to the bottom of a problem with your Porsche takes a great deal of experience, skill and the very best in diagnostic tools, but that is just part of the process. To make sure the same issue does not return, a big part of the diagnosis process is not just finding out what is wrong and what is needed to repair the fault, but also finding the root cause so that can be dealt with also.

It is also not unusual for us to diagnose issues that other specialists and main dealers have not been able diagnose, which is something we are especially proud of.

Repairs.

It would be easy to think that after diagnosis, a repair is just a case of replacing a faulty component, but here at JMG Porsche we believe in not just doing the minimum, but going that extra mile to make sure the area of the repair is cleaned, threads and fasteners are restored or replaced, as well as using only the very best quality parts. This attitude to repairs is key to keeping your Porsche forever young.

Sometimes parts are no longer available or on back order, or are deemed to be of poorer quality than is possible by sourcing a better quality improved part, or in some cases working with our partners to develop improved parts or even remanufacturing the original parts to a high or higher standard.

Modification.

Over the years we have gained a great deal of experience in not only modification of Porsche cars, but development of replacement parts.

As far back as the 1980's we were developing our own software and maps for Porsche engine management systems, to not only improve their performance, but to improve how that power is delivered. Less lag with turbo models, improved efficiency or where desired, more power than has been possible elsewhere.

Modification is not just about the engine, but improving handling, braking, comfort or even how the car sounds, through the exhaust or through the entertainment system speakers.

Recent changes.

As time has moved on, we have become victims of our own success. Demand for our time often outstrips availability. Trying to please everyone, often those that have shouted loudest, has at times seen our focus taken away from where it should be, pleasing customers who love their Porsche and want the same thing as we do, which is their Porsche working as well as is possible, maybe as a standard car, or as an improved one, but always as a cherished one.

So to sharpen up our focus, we have had to realise we can't be all things to all Porsche owners, but we need to give the very best service to the right customers.

Make sure you and your Porsche specialist is the right fit.

We are not the cheapest Porsche specialist, if you are looking for the very cheapest price to service or repair your Porsche, then you may be wasting your time asking us for a quote.

We do not use cheap parts, we believe that your Porsche is partly the sum of it's parts, if those parts are Ford quality, then by fitting cheap parts all we are doing is turning your Porsche into a normal domestic car, rather than the wonderful driving machine that is was designed to be.

We do not cut corners and rush your repair and our hourly labour rate reflects our experience, skill and equipment, which we believe offers good value for money, but again does not make for the cheapest repair.

The models we do not work on anymore.

Some models of Porsche have become rare as time has passed by, and some specialists for specific models have emerged who would be the very best option to look after some select models. Such as the Porsche 912, pre 1980's 911 models, the 356, 914 and 928. Although we have a great deal of experience in these models, we would not be providing you with the best value for money and service by working on these cars.

This was a hard decision, but we need to hand these models over to people who work on them every day, rather than occasionally, and I believe all Porsche specialists should also be honest and focussed.

However the 911 models from around 1980 onwards, the 924, 944, 968, 964 and 993, all the way through to the current Boxster, Cayman, Cayenne, Macan and Panamera models will remain a big part of our focus.

We love our ideal customers as they make us love our job.

Job satisfaction for a Porsche specialist comes from doing good work that we are proud of, but also for customers who are nice people.

We believe we are nice people, and it is so much nicer to deal with customers who are polite, honest and want their car to be right, where both us as your specialist and you, our customers are on the same page, where you feel your car gets better after every visit, and we get to do the very best quality work.

In the past we have tried to be all things to all Porsche owners, which unfortunately has seen that some customers who shouted loudest received the most attention, which has seen the patient nice customers not getting the attention that they deserved. So this has had to stop, our focus is now on those who love their Porsche, where it may be an object of pride, or it may be a car that you always dreamed of buying.

You may be on a budget, or it may be money no object, but as long as you are nice, polite and easy to get along with, we will be a good fit.

Are we a good fit as your Porsche specialist?

If after reading all this you feel we are on the same page as what you want for your Porsche, then feel free to get in touch.

As we mentioned, we are always very busy, so we might not be able to answer the phone (01202 488800), with priority of answering calls going to whoever's car is here, but if we do not answer, please leave a voicemail, or even better send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have sent us an email in the past, and it was not answered, we have just recently solved issues with our email which was happening for over two years, so please do not feel you have been intentionally ignored, please get back in touch.

JMG Porsche, Independent Porsche specialists for modern classics through to the very latest models.

Porsche servicing, diagnosis, repairs and modifications.

With our roots going back to the early 1970's, we are a family run independent Porsche Specialist spanning three generations.

We have the same or better equipment, training and technical information access as enjoyed by the main dealers, while remaining friendly, honest and with a common sense approach.

Call us on 01202 488800 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your requirements.

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Your Porsche 964 or 993 Modified to your requirements.

The Porsche 964 and 993 are excellent vehicles as standard. However perfection can always be improved.

With over 40 years experience modifying Porsche air cooled engines and cars, JMG Porsche are able to improve your Porsche beyond recognition. Anything from a simple replacement engine management chip, through to a wild engine 3.8 (or larger) conversion, possibly including twin turbo chargers, JMG Porsche should be your first stop.

Masters of the Bosch Motronic engine management system used in your Porsche, JMG are able to live remap your engine management system to tailor it for your intended use, as well as your prefered fuel types and grades, removing its ability to run on very poor fuel grades you will never encounter in Europe, is one step to improved performance without degraded reliability. For those with a smaller budget, we can also provide off the shelf chip replacements or DME/ECU modification to improve your Porsche.

Performance

Porsche 964 Carrera Improvements (Including RS)

• Cylinder head modifications for torque, mid range and high rpm performance increases
• Performance stainless steel exhaust systems
• Chip tuning
• Conversion to 3.8 Engine capacity
• Conversion to Turbo engine types (3.3, 3.6 or even 3.8)
• Mass Airflow sensor conversion (MAF Sensor)
• Performance air filtration
• Cam shaft upgrades
• Induction system upgrades
• Engine rebuilds to any specification (fast road, track, race, stoker & big bore)
• Nitrous oxide (for the wild customer)
• Road and dyno tuning with datalogging

964 3.3 & 3.6 Turbo

• Cylinder head modifications for torque, mid range and high rpm performance increases
• Performance stainless steel exhaust systems
• Motronic chip modification (3.6 Motronic EFI Versions)
• CIS Injection modification (3.3 CIS Injection types)
• Wastegate upgrades
• Boost controllers
• Hybrid turbochargers
• Intercooler upgrades
• Conversion to 3.6 or 3.8 Engine capacities
• Performance air filtration
• Cam shaft upgrades
• Induction system upgrades
• Engine rebuilds to any specification (fast road, track, race, stoker & big bore)
• Nitrous oxide (For wild conversions, anti lag or drag use)
• Road and dyno tuning with datalogging

993 3.6 non Turbo (Including RS)

• Cylinder head modifications for torque, mid range and high rpm performance increases
• Performance stainless steel exhaust systems
• Cat bypass
• Chip tuning
• Conversion to Turbo engine types (3.6 or 3.8 Engine sizes)
• Performance air filtration
• Cam shaft upgrades
• Induction system upgrades
• Engine rebuilds to any specification (fast road, track, race, stoker & big bore)
• Nitrous oxide
• Road and dyno tuning with datalogging

993 Turbo

• Cylinder head modifications for torque, mid range and high rpm performance increases
• Performance stainless steel exhaust systems
• Wastegate upgrades
• Boost controller upgrades
• Intercooler upgrades
• Cat bypass (may not be street legal)
• Chip tuning
• Performance air filtration
• Cam shaft upgrades
• Induction system upgrades
• Engine rebuilds to any specification (fast road, track, race, stoker & big bore)
• Nitrous oxide (For wild use and Anti lag)
• Road and dyno tuning with datalogging

Brakes.

• Front disk and calliper upgrades
• Conversion to M030 Brakes
• Conversion to larger disks and callipers
• Cross drilled cross drilled

Handling.

• Conversion to Porsche sports suspension items (shock absorbers, springs and anti roll bars)
• Koni & KW suspension upgrades including conversion to coilover suspension
• Computerised 4 wheel alignment and geometry setup
• Customised ride height adjustment
• Customised anti roll bar upgrades

Transmission

• Conversion to other transmission types
• Conversion to limited slip differential

Wheels.

• Large stock of genuine wheel upgrades with a knowledge of which wheels will and will not fit

Weight reduction

• Shell stripdown and race prep
• Carbon fibre panels
• Lightweight components

Audio & In Car Entertainment.

• Speaker & head unit upgrades
• Custom car audio design and build

Styling.

• Modification to facilitate wider track and bodywork
• Modification to allow for better aerodynamics and ground effect
• Modernisation (alternative door mirrors, handles, spoilers, splitters and side skirts)

Your Porsche Panamera is in the best of hands at JMG Porsche, where even with servicing we go beyond the factory schedule.

The factory schedule for many models called for a service every two years, which was fine when the car was new and to make the car last beyond the factory warranty without issue. However we strongly recommend that all models are serviced annually, alternating between a minor and a major service each year. Click here and read our article for more information.

Porsche Panamera Servicing and repairs.

Service interval - We strongly advise that all Porsche cars are serviced every year, with a major service every two years.

The service schedule can be confusing with some service items needing to be performed every X amount of years, with other items being specified every Y amount of miles.

At JMG Porsche we have built a database for each model car, where every two years of age for your car, has listed the major service it requires in that year, which combined with every year in between major services the car having an annual service.

This means that for your model of Porsche, we can provide you with a plain price list for servicing, no matter what year your car was made, which makes it easy to see what service items are due and what the total cost will be.

To get a copy of the current service guide and price list for your Porsche, just email us to have your copy emailed to you in PDF format.

Eventually we plan on making it possible to register to the website and be able to download the latest version of this price list - Watch this space!

Your 924, 944 or 968 is in the best of hands at JMG Porsche, where even with servicing we go beyond the factory schedule.

The factory schedule for many models called for a service every two years, which was fine when the car was new and to make the car last beyond the factory warranty without issue. However we strongly recommend that all models are serviced annually, alternating between a minor and a major service each year. Click here and read our article for more information. 

Here is a breakdown of our servicing.

Service interval - We strongly advise that all Porsche cars are serviced every year, with a major service every two years.

The service schedule can be confusing with some service items needing to be performed every X amount of years, with other items being specified every Y amount of miles.

At JMG Porsche we have built a database for each model car, where every two years of age for your car, has listed the major service it requires in that year, which combined with every year in between major services the car having an annual service.

This means that for your model of Porsche, we can provide you with a plain price list for servicing, no matter what year your car was made, which makes it easy to see what service items are due and what the total cost will be.

To get a copy of the current service guide and price list for your Porsche, just email us to have your copy emailed to you in PDF format.

Eventually we plan on making it possible to register to the website and be able to download the latest version of this price list - Watch this space!

Interesting service and repair information for the Porsche 924, 944 and 968 models.

Engine failures - Not as common as you would expect, we at JMG Porsche have never had to replace one of these engines due to wear, however we have had to replace many due to insufficient servicing and maintenance, but there are still worthwhile ways of avoiding unexpected large engine rebuild costs. One of which is proper servicing by a real Porsche specialist, which may not need cost as much as you think. There are also some ways to avoid unexpected bills by following some of our other advice bellow.

Brake fluid - Did you realise this should be changed every two years? Not doing this can cause problems with expensive parts within your car, such as the ABS pump or any part of the brake hydraulics due to water contamination as the brake fluid actually sucks moisture out of the air (hydroscopic), so even if the car is not used, the brake fluid must be changed every two years!

Water Pump - Often thought of as a part which fails with age, mileage and quite suddenly, leaving you stranded, our expert technicians are used to inspecting these during services, and so may spot tell tale signs of failure long before they become an issue, so saving you from the indignity of being broken down at the side of the road. A 944 and 968 Waterpump is also part of the cambelt drive mechanism, so it failing can cause serious damage to the cylinder head and engine as a whole.

RMS - Rear main seal - Something else you might see horror stories on the internet about, these used to be a real problem and Porsche re designed the part several times to arrive at the current design which is the only one we at JMG Porsche use. Like an IMS Bearing replacement, this is best performed during a clutch change, however on tiptronic models or on cars not needing a clutch, they can be changed at any time.

Transmission services - Not clearly noted by Porsche for when the transmission should be serviced and this vital expensive part of your car should not be overlooked. Just like your engine, the transmission is filled with oil/transmission fluid, which over time degrades. Not only this, but not many realise that many Porsche transmissions also contain a filter, which becomes clogged over time and can starve your transmission of lubrication, causing expensive repairs. We recommend all Porsche transmissions are serviced every 4 years or 40,000 miles, whichever comes soonest.

Diagnosis - Long has gone where cars had limited electrical equipment and a wiring diagram could be found in a manual from Halfords. Now the Porsche models have multiple separate computer systems, which all talk via networks, and many sensors to feed those computers with information about the world around it all tied together with many hidden wiring looms of thousands of wires and connectors. This can mean that in the event of your Porsche suffering an electrical issue, it is important that a Porsche specialist auto electrician is available, as we have at JMG Porsche. It is also important to understand that sometimes, finding the fault will not be as simple as plugging in a computer.

Drive Belt - Many of you may have had cars where a drive belt, timing belt or cam belt needs to be changed at a regular interval. Your Porsche model has a belt which should be changed every 4 years. Failure to do so can cause instant overheating, loss of power steering and damage to the engine very suddenly. We recommend you have this changed at least every 4 years.

Cam and Balance belt - The 924S, 944 (ALL) and 968 (ALL) have a cam belt and balance belt, which has to be set to a very precise tension and run across various pulleys, tensioners and rollers to function correctly, if these are not maintained with a new cam belt and balance belt every 4 years, and a new waterpump, tensioners and rollers (as well as front engine oil seals) every 8 years, the consequences can be catastrophic to say the least.

Brakes - The Porsche 944S2, 944 Turbo and all 968 models are fitted with Brembo callipers, which overtime suffer from corrosion build up which can cause the pads to stick and bind up within the callipers or even make it difficult to fit new pads. When this happens the calipers require a service rebuild of the slider plate mechanism, which needs to be performed by a specialist with the right experience, techniques and tools to make the repair more than a very temporary one.

Heavy clutch? - A heavy feeling clutch which is stiff to use is not normal on a Porsche and often a sign that the clutch has almost worn out. Ignoring this can cause further damage, such as to the dual mass flywheel and clutch fork.

Alarm system - At JMG Porsche we are experts of all Porsche security systems and have reverse engineered all the various control units. This not only means we can program new alarm control units and keys to your car, just as the main dealer can, but in some cases we can repair your old alarm control unit and keys, or in some cases recover your old keys to be used on the new alarm control unit, which is a service unique to JMG.

Alarm system causes - In most cases the cause of alarm control unit failure is water damage, we can perform modifications to your Porsche model to help mitigate the chances of this happening to your Porsche.

Your Porsche 996, 997, 991 or 992 is in the best of hands at JMG Porsche, where even with servicing we go beyond the factory schedule.

Porsche 996, 997, 991 and 992 model servicing.

Service interval - We strongly advise that all Porsche cars are serviced every year, with a major service every two years.

The service schedule can be confusing with some service items needing to be performed every X amount of years, with other items being specified every Y amount of miles.

At JMG Porsche we have built a database for each model car, where every two years of age for your car, has listed the major service it requires in that year, which combined with every year in between major services the car having an annual service.

This means that for your model of Porsche, we can provide you with a plain price list for servicing, no matter what year your car was made, which makes it easy to see what service items are due and what the total cost will be.

To get a copy of the current service guide and price list for your Porsche, just email us to have your copy emailed to you in PDF format.

Eventually we plan on making it possible to register to the website and be able to download the latest version of this price list - Watch this space!

Engine failures - Not nearly as common as horror stories on the internet would have you believe, but there are still worthwhile ways of avoiding unexpected large engine rebuild costs. One of which is proper servicing by a real Porsche specialist, which may not need cost as much as you think. There are also some ways to avoid unexpected bills by following some of our other advice bellow.

Brake fluid - Did you realise this should be changed every two years? Not doing this can cause problems with expensive parts within your car, such as the ABS pump or any part of the brake hydraulics due to water contamination as the brake fluid actually sucks moisture out of the air (hydroscopic), so even if the car is not used, the brake fluid must be changed every two years!

Water Pump - Often thought of as a part which fails with age, mileage and quite suddenly, leaving you stranded, our expert technicians are used to inspecting these during services, and so may spot tell tale signs of failure long before they become an issue, so saving you from the indignity of being broken down at the side of the road.

IMS Bearing - The famous intermediate shaft bearing (IMS Bearing) is an important bearing within the engine. These can fail on some models and cause catestrophic damage to the engine, sometimes costing thousands to repair. However there is a better design of bearing available, which our engine specialists at JMG Porsche have developed some cost effective ways to install and remove the risk of this kind of engine failure. Typically, the most cost effective time to replace this bearing with the better design is at the same time as a clutch replacement. However if you do not need a clutch now, or own a tiptronic model, then we can perform this job at any time.

RMS - Rear main seal - Something else you might see horror stories on the internet about, these used to be a real problem and Porsche re designed the part several times to arrive at the current design which is the only one we at JMG Porsche use. Like an IMS Bearing replacement, this is best performed during a clutch change, however on tiptronic models or on cars not needing a clutch, they can be changed at any time.

Transmission services - Not clearly noted by Porsche for when the transmission should be serviced and this vital expensive part of your car should not be overlooked. Just like your engine, the transmission is filled with oil/transmission fluid, which over time degrades. Not only this, but not many realise that many Porsche transmissions also contain a filter, which becomes clogged over time and can starve your transmission of lubrication, causing expensive repairs. We recommend all Porsche transmissions are serviced every 4 years or 40,000 miles, whichever comes soonest.

Diagnosis - Long has gone where cars had limited electrical equipment and a wiring diagram could be found in a manual from Halfords. Now the Porsche models have multiple separate computer systems, which all talk via networks, and many sensors to feed those computers with information about the world around it all tied together with many hidden wiring looms of thousands of wires and connectors. This can mean that in the event of your Porsche suffering an electrical issue, it is important that a Porsche specialist auto electrician is available, as we have at JMG Porsche. It is also important to understand that sometimes, finding the fault will not be as simple as plugging in a computer.

Air Oil Separator - If your Porsche is producing some smoke, especially when it starts up in the morning, it could be that the air oil separator has failed rather than your whole engine being damaged. This simple device is designed to allow your engine to pass polution regulations and should not cost the earth to replace, at least much less expensive than rebuilding an engine!

Drive Belt - Many of you may have had cars where a drive belt, timing belt or cam belt needs to be changed at a regular interval. Your Porsche model has a belt which should be changed every 4 years. Failure to do so can cause instant overheating, loss of power steering and damage to the engine very suddenly. We recommend you have this changed at least every 4 years.

Heavy clutch? - A heavy feeling clutch which is stiff to use is not normal on a Porsche and often a sign that the clutch has almost worn out. Ignoring this can cause further damage, such as to the dual mass flywheel and clutch fork.

Alarm system - At JMG Porsche we are experts of all Porsche security systems and have reverse engineered all the various control units. This not only means we can program new alarm control units and keys to your car, just as the main dealer can, but in some cases we can repair your old alarm control unit and keys, or in some cases recover your old keys to be used on the new alarm control unit, which is a service unique to JMG.

Alarm system causes - In most cases the cause of alarm control unit failure is water damage, we can perform modifications to your Porsche model to help mitigate the chances of this happening to your Porsche.