Dear All,
We’ve been in the market since 1974, continuously rebuilding Porsche engines and gearboxes. From time to time, customers decide to have their work done elsewhere. Quite often, in fact, very often, we see these same customers return to us about six months later, asking us to carry out the repair that was supposedly "too expensive" when we first quoted it.
The following case is no different, but why, you might ask?
Take a look at what has arrived at our workshop for repair:
As we always do, we provided this customer with a rough cost estimate for repairing the engine damage on his Porsche 997.
In this case, it was again the well-known piston and cylinder damage on a Porsche 911, 997 Carrera Generation 1, with 320 hp – a damage pattern we know all too well.
We specified the repair costs in our estimate at around €15,000.
But for the customer, that was, in his own words, “far too expensive.”
The customer decided to give the engine repair job to a friend of his –
a freelance mechanic based in Cologne.
Customer:
“Mr. Albert, how long does an engine repair usually take at your workshop?”
Me:
“On average – depending on our workload and the availability of materials – anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.”
Customer:
“Okay, I’ll get back to you.”
Me:
“Sure, feel free to reach out anytime if you have questions.”
Customer:
“Mr. Albert, how much would it cost now if you took over the repair of my Porsche engine?
We’ve already taken it apart, but my mechanic can’t seem to find the damage.
He can’t get the engine block open either – apparently, he lacks the right tools,
has run out of time, possibly overestimated himself, and… well… who knows what else.”
Me:
“All right – bring us the vehicle. We’ll take a proper look and give you a new quote,
based on the new (and supposedly cheaper) circumstances.”
I assumed: The engine’s already out and disassembled – at least those costs are covered...
Or so I thought.
The customer drives back to Cologne, pays €2,500 for the disassembly –
and finds his broken engine presented to him as bulk scrap.
Every single part – right down to the smallest washer –
was dumped in a big pile and shoveled into the back of his Ford Transit.
I'll refrain from judging the so-called mechanic –
our customer had already done that extensively himself.
Instead of saving money, the customer ended up facing:
An extra €2,500 for a “disassembly” that caused more harm than good
Numerous damaged or deformed parts that became completely unusable
Many missing components that had to be replaced
A huge amount of extra labor on our end to:
Clean and inspect everything
Assess what was still usable
Identify missing parts
Source replacements
Despite the chaos, we managed to properly rebuild the engine.
After approximately 4 weeks, we delivered the car back to the customer —
fully operational and properly documented.
Before you entrust your Porsche engine to any workshop,
take time to consider these key points:
Is the company a certified automotive master workshop (Chamber of Crafts)?
Will you receive a 24-month repair warranty?
Will you get a proper invoice for your records?
Will the repair be documented in writing, with photos?
Are you allowed to visit unannounced and see your engine being worked on?
Are original Porsche parts used — or cheap aftermarket parts from China?
Are there credible testimonials from customers who had similar repairs done there?
How exactly will your engine be repaired?
→ Ask directly – the method used determines how long your rebuilt engine will last.
We specialize in reliable, long-lasting, and well-documented repairs –
especially for Porsche water-cooled boxer engines.
📷 See how we work and what we stand for: 🔗 OUR ACTUAL PROJEKTS:
Got questions? I’m always happy to help you personally.
Best regards,
Jürgen Albert
Team Albert Motorsport
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