[Cayman718]

My 2-year service is coming up and some of the (easy) maintenance I can do myself. Anyone have any feedback on Porsche OEM filters versus generic filters (i.e. MANN)?

Engine oil filter
Cabin filter
Air filter

Looking at prices online, there's definitely cost savings by not going with Porsche OEM. Just wondering if anyone has compared the quality and whether it's worth saving a few dollars on such an expensive car...

 

[JazzCatGab]

My 2-year service is coming up and some of the (easy) maintenance I can do myself. Anyone have any feedback on Porsche OEM filters versus generic filters (i.e. MANN)?

Engine oil filter
Cabin filter
Air filter

Looking at prices online, there's definitely cost savings by not going with Porsche OEM. Just wondering if anyone has compared the quality and whether it's worth saving a few dollars on such an expensive car...

Mechanics are like doctors in that when you find one you trust implicitly, you feel good. I had a Toyota mechanic that once partnered with his father, until they got so popular the son had to move across town to physically split the business. They had both been trained by Toyota and worked in dealerships. Between them, they had about 50 years of experience. He told me that between the two of them (and thousands of oil changes) they had one bad Toyota filter in that half century of experience. Whereas they had rebuilt engines for numerous clients who had saved money for years using third-party replacements. Just my 2 cents. I'm not doing DIY maintenance like I used to do, so hope you get other responses. The O rings themselves would cause me pause. ;-)

 

[GTS18BGTS]

Does Porsche actually make their own filters? The only company that I know of that made everything they required for operation, and I mean everything including lightbulbs, is the Pennsylvania RR. It's likely Porsche purchases them from someone else. Just look for a filter with the same spec and construction.

 

[MikePhDPE]

I have an X5 and BMW filters are made by MANN so i buy the MANN ones rather than paying extra just for BMW branding.

 

[Dan.B-Cayman]

I opted for KN oiled filter since I have had good results on KN pod filters on my motorcycle. So far on the Cayman, I have cleaned it one time at about 5K miles and all is well.

I do follow KN instructions on cleaning and not over oiling before putting it back in.

Also, the process of getting to the thing gets easier, and I get to wipe down the engine which makes me feel better.
I do like having a clean engine bay.

 

[Barryng]

I seem to stand alone with my opinion of mostly staying with the OEM branded product. It all boils down to sleeping better at night but there are a number of reasons why I feel more comfortable with the OEM branded part.

-Even if the aftermarket product comes from the same factory and looks identical to the OEM product, that does not mean it is made to the same spec, using the same production process, and with the same same testing/QC and QA program as the OEM part. The same factory might make it and put a different brand name on it but they may very well manufacture it using a different production run using a less expensive production process (e.g. less time for adhesives to set, subtle material changes, different coatings, less precision, less actual production sample testing, etc.). I think, in most cases, the OEMs (like Porsche) want a product less likely to fail or perform in a substandard manner because they care about the potential of expensive warranty claims if the part fails and the incremental cost for the higher grade product is an overall better approach with this consideration.
-Over the years (~50), I have experienced a few failures of aftermarket parts that were installed even though I insisted on all OEM parts whereas I remember very very few failures with OEM parts. I also have no way of comparing the performance of an aftermarket vs OEM part especially with filter medium.
-OEM parts are more expensive but most of the time the incremental cost difference is not sufficient to take a chance with an aftermarket product that may not be the same even though it might look the same.
-At least with respect to body parts, reputable quality body shops consistently have told me aftermarket parts frequently do not fit as well as the factory OEM parts.

I am anal about maintaining everything working well and reliably in my cars. Considering the ultra high cost of getting my brand new custom built Boxster in my driveway, the saving on a part not known for sure to be built and production tested to Porsche specs just does not sit well with me. I have taken this approach going back to a new 1974 Datsun 260Z (I did have a new 1971 Buick but that car was such a truly smelly turd I really did not care and even thought aftermarket parts, at worst, had to be better than anything GM/Buick etc. sold).

 

[grasmere]

I do agree that same make/spec would be fine but taking into account actually fitting them diy is it worth it?
What money would you save pure filter cost?
What time discount would Porsche give for not having to carry out those 3 tasks?

Another factor is the Porsche warranty/service schedule, do you have to inform/prove to Porsche that you have already changed the filters and
a. They don’t need to and you’re like a discount as above and
b. Would they/should they insist on inspecting to confirm the change and agree the spec for engine warranty before they sign off the service schedule as complete?

 

[718isPorsche#1]

Since your going in for your 2 year I want to warn you about something. I just had my 2 year last month for $1100. They put on new wiper blades for a cost of $74. My wipers have never been on & the 718C lives in a climate controled shop!!

 

[GTS18BGTS]

I asked a couple of local PCA members about local certified mechanics and or shops that they've used outside of the dealership. I received quite a few recommendations. As long as the car is maintained according to mfg. schedule and by a qualified mechanic, the warranty is always in force. Utilizing filters designed for the car, whether they be OEM or another brand has no bearing. Heck you can go to Jiffy Lube and they can't say anything were there to be any warranty issues. Now I haven't read the warranty fully, but I don't believe any vehicle warranty specifies who is required to do the service. Not everyone is convenient to a dealership for service.

 

[suica]

In the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.

 

[Barryng]

In the US, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal for companies to void your warranty or deny coverage under the warranty simply because you used an aftermarket part.

However, if the aftermarket part fails, and that failure cause the warranted product, such as the engine to fail, then I suspect the engine manufacturer probably has a strong argument for avoiding a warranty claim. As an example, I would think if an engine air filter disintegrates and the pieces are ingested into the engine, and that in turn causes say a piston failure, I think Porsche, in our case, has a good argument to lay blame on the faulty air filter that they did not provide. An oil filter shedding pieces is probably a more likely occurrence and that could block oil passages. I think the act above successfully intended to stop manufacturers from blanket warranty disclaimers just because an after market part was used even if it clearly had nothing to do with the warranty claim. Nevertheless, the cost difference between OEM and Porsche products is relatively negligible considering the cost of an engine part failure and possible collateral damage so this is one of the many reasons I strongly lean towards OEM parts.

In 1981 I had a new Radio Shack TRS80 Model III computer that would not turn on after a couple of months due to a failed switching power supply. Initially Radio Shack refused to honor the warranty because I had increased the memory from 16K to the "how could you ever need so much memory" 48K using after market memory and saving a lot of money ($65 vs almost $300 in 1981 dollars). That required breaking the seal on the bottom of the case and they would not touch it if the seal was broken. I called their corporate office ready to go thermonuclear but at the corporate level they agreed to honor the warranty without much effort. I later understood (at least from the opinion of a local franchise owner) they did not give me a hard time because of the act referenced above but at a store level they remained adamant about using only their products.

 

[suica]

I’ve been using Mann filters in numerous BMWs for decades. Porsche motors are not unicorns and so I wouldn’t hesitate to use a Mann in my BGTS. Having said that, a genuine Porsche oil filter kit is $25 so that’s what I’d buy and install. I would never take any of my cars no matter how cheap/expensive they are to a Jiffy Lube or similar quick change place.

 

[CaymanMatt]

I’ve been using Mann filters in numerous BMWs for decades. Porsche motors are not unicorns and so I wouldn’t hesitate to use a Mann in my BGTS. Having said that, a genuine Porsche oil filter kit is $25 so that’s what I’d buy and install. I would never take any of my cars no matter how cheap/expensive they are to a Jiffy Lube or similar quick change place.

A co-worker took his Lexus to a Jiffy Lube for an oil change. He got the car back and found that it now burned oil, smoked like a fiend, and ran like a turd. He went back immediately to the store and complained. They claimed it must have been like that when it came in. I can't remember if they ever admitted to draining the oil but then forgetting to refill before starting. He ended up with a rebuilt engine. I believe he paid for it.
I would never take any car to Jiffy or any other quick lube.
MOO

 

[GTS18BGTS]

I didn't suggest going to Jiffy Lube was a good option, but just as they can be unscrupulous, so too can a dealer be. Just because a particular dealer sells Porsche doesn't make them honorable human beings. Porsche too, as a manufacturer, is not infallible.

Look at Nick Murry as an example. His 911 was out of commission for over 4 months. I think some people get too hung up on branding. Yes Porsche makes a great car, but they also produce some lemons just as any car mfg. can. Maybe they have a better record on a percentage basis, but they also rely on other manufacturers for components that can and do fail. They are also cost conscious and look for the "optimal" solution to their needs. That doesn't always translate to the best.

I'm not the kind of person who believes it's OK to charge $600 for an oil and air filter change when someone that's equally as trained and qualified will charge less than half that. It's not brain surgery. It's pretty basic service. The prices Porsche charges for basic services, is an affront to my intelligence. If I have warranty issues they get to fix it. Otherwise I'm happy to pay another qualified mechanic a reasonable fee to service my vehicle.

 

[Baka1969]

For my piece of mind I use OEM when the car is in warranty and aftermarket after the warranty expires.

 

[BlueNorther]

As has been pointed out Porsche doesn't make its own filters. This is a picture I took when I lasted changed my 991.2 911 filter, they use Mahle filter, I ordered one from Amazon with free shipping for less than anywhere else including mark up from dealer for the the identical "OEM" part (see used dark old filter from factory, new one out of the box). Also pictured is an even less expensive Bosch filter that would have fit, but I decided against using it as it was not identical brand.

I also did my own oil service 3 times for my Cayman GTS (5k pre track days, 11K, 21K miles) and when I traded in the car the dealer couldn't car less, they CPO'ed the car. Just document with pics and receipts, that's all they need.

The Porsche dealer probably will good job changing the oil, and Jiffy Lube maybe will do a good job, but when I change my oil I KNOW it will be done right.

PS nearest P-dealer is a 6 hours round trip, so not like I'd want to take it there anyway

 

[Cayman718]

Thanks for the insight. I haven’t been able to find a generic oil filter for the 718, anyone have a part number for MAHLE? Their website doesn’t seem to have the 2017+ model years.

As for the cabin filters, I’m a lot less concerned with using a generic filter - they’re pretty basic and get changed often enough. Probably a 50% savings and easy enough to install myself.

 

[Baka1969]

If out of warranty I don't think saving a few bob on a filter is what I would care about. It seems foolish to. Especially on a $60k-$100k car. I wouldn't want the best filter. Not the cheapest.

 

[Baka1969]

If out of warranty I don't think saving a few bob on a filter is what I would care about. It seems foolish to. Especially on a $60k-$100k car. I wouldn't want the best filter. Not the cheapest.

would want the best

 

[suica]

MAHLE is excellent too