Never Pay For a Porsche Oil Change Again (The FCP Euro Loophole)
Eleven After Nine | A Porsche Culture Podcast
Never Pay For a Porsche Oil Change Again (The FCP Euro Loophole)Eleven After Nine | A Porsche Culture Podcast · Apr 21, 2026
Annotations will appear as you listen
0:00
47:19
Concept
Porsche oil change
An oil change is when you replace the engine oil so the engine stays clean and lubricated. This episode is about ways Porsche owners can pay less for that routine service.
Skip Barber Racing School is a place where people learn how to drive like racers. The speaker is saying it helped them get hands-on experience and sparked their interest in cars.
The BMW E36 M3 is a famous older BMW sports sedan from the 1990s. It’s the kind of car that many enthusiasts remember because it looks right and drives like a proper performance car.
IMSA is a big racing league in North America for sports cars. When someone says a brand was winning in IMSA, it usually means the company’s cars and engineering were proving themselves in real competition.
Car
Porsche
Porsche is the car brand the speaker ended up working for. This part of the story explains how they moved from being into BMWs to working with Porsche.
This is a special Porsche 911 GT3 RS with a bigger 4.0-liter engine. People love it because it’s built to feel very responsive and exciting, especially for driving hard.
When mechanics tighten important bolts, they usually don’t just crank them down in any order. A “torquing sequence” is the specific order and pattern that helps the parts clamp evenly and stay straight.
A wiring diagram is like a map of the car’s electrical system. It helps you figure out where wires go and how different parts are connected when something isn’t working.
An “engine out” job is when a mechanic takes the engine out of the car to do work that’s hard to reach otherwise. It’s usually a big job, so how the car is designed can make it faster or more annoying.
Coolant hoses are the tubes that carry cooling fluid to keep the engine from overheating. When the engine comes out, these hoses need to be disconnected and later put back without leaks.
Fuel lines are the passages that move gas from the tank to the engine. If you’re taking the engine out, you have to disconnect them so the engine can come free safely.
Drive shafts are the parts that send power from the transmission to the wheels. If you’re pulling the engine, you often have to disconnect or separate them so everything can come apart.
They’re comparing how easy it is to work on the car. BMW sometimes requires dropping the subframe or moving the engine to reach things, while Porsche is designed so more repairs can be done from underneath with less teardown.
The BMW X5 is BMW’s midsize luxury SUV, and it’s referenced here as part of the host’s ownership history. Mentioning multiple X5s helps frame the speaker’s long-term experience with BMW’s design choices and maintenance realities.
The BMW 3 Series is one of BMW’s most common car models. The host mentions it because they’ve owned one and noticed the same kinds of design/material trends across BMWs.
They’re talking about a trend where parts that used to be metal—like the oil pan or oil pump—are sometimes made from plastic. Since these parts live in hot, moving conditions, the material can change how long they last and how expensive they are to fix.
Thermal cycles are what happens when an engine repeatedly gets hot and then cools down. That repeated expansion and contraction can stress materials, and some plastics don’t handle it as well as metal over many years.
Concept
oil pan protection vs underbody protection
Many cars have some protection underneath, but the oil pan is still one of the lowest parts. If you hit something, the oil pan can be the first thing to get damaged. That’s why people talk about how “protected” the oil pan really is.
“Plastic bits” means small plastic parts. In an engine, those parts sit in very hot oil over and over. The concern is whether plastic can handle that heat without breaking down.
This is about how car costs don’t just come from the initial purchase. Sometimes repairs show up all around the same time, and that makes the car feel like it’s costing too much to keep.
The host is talking about a mileage range where repairs start getting expensive. Their point is that the car doesn’t feel like it’s “done” after you buy it—it starts costing more around that mileage.
The timing chain helps the engine’s moving parts stay in sync. If it wears out or breaks, it can cause serious engine problems and usually means a big, expensive repair.
The BMW 530i is a version of the BMW 5 Series. The host is saying they had one around the mid-2000s and that it started needing expensive work after it hit higher mileage.
Direct injection puts fuel directly into the engine’s cylinders. Because it doesn’t clean the intake valves like older systems did, carbon can build up there over time.
Walnut blasting is a cleaning method that uses tiny crushed shells to scrub carbon off the inside of the engine’s intake valves. It’s done when carbon buildup starts causing rough running or hesitation.
DFI means the fuel is sprayed straight into the engine’s cylinders. Over time, carbon can build up on the intake valves, which can make the car run rough, especially when you accelerate.
FCP Euro is a company that sells parts for European cars. In this episode, they’re mentioned because their warranty/return approach is used to reduce the cost of repeat maintenance like oil changes.
The speaker mentions having a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, which sets their personal context for using European parts websites. It’s an example of how owners often discover parts sources through their previous cars.
ECS Tuning is another online shop for European car parts. The speaker is saying they used it before they started paying attention to FCP Euro.
Company
Turner
They mention “Turner” as a parts website that shows up when they search online. It’s part of the broader idea that different brands have different go-to parts sources.
A curated parts catalog is a parts list that’s organized carefully so you can pick the right part for your exact car. Instead of guessing, the catalog is built by people who know the brands and what owners commonly need.
The timing belt is a belt inside the engine that keeps the engine’s moving parts timed correctly. If it breaks or is overdue, the engine can lose timing and potentially get badly damaged.
Fasteners are the little hardware pieces like bolts and screws that hold parts together. Using the right ones helps the parts sit correctly and stay tight.
Concept
DIY garage repair
DIY garage repair means doing the work yourself at home instead of paying a shop. The big challenge is making sure you have everything you need before you start, so the repair doesn’t turn into a half-finished project.
Term
one click option
A “one click option” is basically an easy way to buy the right parts without having to figure out every detail. It helps you avoid ordering the wrong stuff for your car.
A lifetime replacement warranty means that if a part you bought wears out or fails, the seller will replace it instead of you paying again. It’s especially relevant for parts that you normally have to keep buying.
“Lifetime warranty” doesn’t usually mean the part lasts forever. It usually means the company will replace it if it wears out, as long as you follow their return rules.
Brake pads are the parts that squeeze to slow the car down. They wear out with use, so a “lifetime warranty” only makes sense if the company lets you return the worn pads for a replacement.
“Gaming the system” refers to using the rules of a warranty or return program in a way that maximizes value—here, returning used oil to trigger replacements. It raises a practical question: whether the warranty is designed for normal wear-and-failure or can be exploited for routine maintenance cycles.
The LRG program is basically a “buy it, then send the old one back” warranty deal. It’s meant to be simple so you can get the warranty benefits without complicated steps.
A lifetime guarantee means the company promises to cover the part for a very long time if it fails or is otherwise eligible under the warranty. It’s the reason the “never pay for an oil change again” idea can work.
“OEM quality” generally means parts made to the same specifications as original equipment manufacturer components. In the Porsche context, the hosts are contrasting these with cheaper alternatives while still expecting strong fitment and durability.
Company
Peer Bird
They’re comparing two ways to buy the same kind of part. One option is Porsche-branded, and the other is from a supplier that makes genuine components, so you may still get the right part while paying less.
The segment describes how quality control (QC) can be specified as a failure-rate target (e.g., 1% vs 5%). Even if a part “works,” a looser QC threshold can mean a higher likelihood of failure over time, which is why branded parts may cost more.
Bosch is a well-known company that supplies parts to carmakers. Here, they’re the manufacturer making the injectors, and Porsche is the one setting the quality testing rules.
A wholesaler is a middle company that buys parts in large quantities. They can help parts reach other sellers, which is why some parts end up cheaper than buying directly from the carmaker.
“FCP hero” refers to FCP Euro’s parts-and-gear brand presence in the Porsche aftermarket. The segment frames it as a way to source parts that were bought up from wholesale channels after QC screening, which can be cheaper than buying through Porsche directly.
Company
SSF
They’re describing SSF as a reseller/buyer in the parts supply chain. The point is that some batches get bought up and sold for less, even if the parts still work.
Company
World Pack
World Pack is mentioned as another buyer/reseller in the parts market. The episode’s takeaway is that different sellers can access parts batches that cost less than the Porsche channel.
Porsche uses a special stamp on some parts so you can tell they’ve met Porsche’s quality standards. In the episode, they say that stamp correlates with parts that are less likely to fail. It helps you judge whether a cheaper part is actually “the same level.”
Concept
failure rate math (risk vs cost)
The hosts frame part selection as a “math equation” between cost and the likelihood of failure. They compare scenarios like a 1% failure rate versus higher rates (e.g., 3% or 5%) and weigh that against how expensive the part is and how hard it is to replace. It’s a practical way to think about reliability when deciding whether to buy higher-tier QC parts.
The “FCP Euro loophole” idea is that a strong warranty on used or aftermarket parts can reduce long-term ownership costs. Instead of paying for repeated replacements out of pocket, you can return failed components and receive replacements as long as you meet the warranty conditions.
User error means the warranty may not cover problems caused by installing the part incorrectly. If you damage it during installation, the company may not replace it.
Concept
air-cooled vs water-cooled
Engines get hot, and they have to cool down somehow. Some cars cool the engine mostly with air, while others use liquid coolant and a radiator. That difference can affect what problems to watch for and what maintenance feels like.
Concept
direct fuel injection vs port injection
Direct injection and port injection are two ways of getting fuel into the engine. They can make the engine behave differently, so two engines with the same size can still feel and perform differently.
This is about how the car feels when you steer and drive. They’re saying the 997.1 responds in a way that feels more direct and predictable, so it feels like you’re more in control.
They’re describing how Porsche usually improves its cars gradually over time. The tradeoff is that as cars get faster and more modern, they can lose some of the weird, fun character that older versions had.
They’re saying newer cars rely more on electronics and computers to control things. That can make the car feel smoother and faster, but it may also remove some of the older, more mechanical personality.
The segment ties increased complexity to meeting emission requirements, which can drive changes in engine management, exhaust systems, and calibration. Those changes can also affect throttle response, startup behavior, and overall “feel,” contributing to the shift away from older analog character.
“Rev out” means you push the engine to higher RPM and listen to it as it climbs. Some drivers love that sensation and sound, even if it’s not the quickest acceleration.
Redline is the upper RPM limit the engine is designed to reach. The hosts are talking about how long it takes to get up to that top range when you accelerate.
This means taking off the rear bumper to reach something underneath. If you have to do that, the job takes longer and is more annoying—so it’s a big deal for anyone trying to work on the car themselves.
A drive belt is a belt that powers certain engine accessories. They’re saying that on some Porsche 911 generations, changing it is easier because you can reach it without taking off major body panels.
Air filters keep dirt out of the air going into the engine. The hosts are using air filters as another example of what’s easier to service on certain 911 generations.
The Porsche Cayman is a Porsche sports car with the engine in the middle and a closed (non-convertible) body. The podcast is asking about how generations of the Cayman relate to generations of the Boxster. That’s relevant because they’re closely related models.
They’re talking about how the car is set up so you can work on it yourself. If the steps are similar from one Porsche generation to the next, it’s easier to learn and less intimidating to tackle repairs.
“986” is a specific generation of the Porsche Boxster. The point here is that the car’s layout and access for repairs follow a similar pattern, so DIYers can learn it once and reuse that knowledge.
Fender liners are the shields inside the wheel area that keep water and debris off the car. Taking them out can give you access to parts you can’t reach otherwise.
That “false firewall” is basically a protective panel inside the car. It helps block off the engine area from the cabin, and you may need to remove trim to get to things behind it.
That “engine cover” is a removable panel over the engine area. You usually have to take it off (and sometimes remove some trim) to get to the engine for maintenance.
The turbo wastegate actuator controls the wastegate, which regulates boost pressure by diverting exhaust gas away from the turbo. If the actuator must be removed to access spark plugs, it’s a sign the packaging makes routine maintenance more involved.
Spark plugs are what ignite the fuel in the engine. This episode’s point is that on this Porsche setup, getting to them isn’t as quick as you might expect because other parts have to be taken off first.
A porous cylinder head means the metal casting had tiny defects. Those defects can let oil leak out, which is a serious problem—though the hosts say Porsche fixed it after the early run.
This means the car wants service done on a tight schedule. If you follow it, the car tends to last a long time. If you stretch the time between services, parts wear out faster and repairs get expensive.
If you go way too long without changing the oil, the oil breaks down and can’t protect the engine as well. That can lead to sludge and faster wear. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to need expensive repairs.
PDK is Porsche’s automatic-style gearbox. Like any transmission, it needs periodic fluid service to keep everything shifting smoothly. If you skip that service, the transmission can wear faster and start causing problems.
The air box is where the engine’s air filter lives. If it gets packed with junk, the engine can’t breathe properly. That can hurt performance and can lead to other problems over time.
Term
Palm filters
“Palm filters” appears to refer to a type of air filter or filter media that can get clogged with organic debris. The hosts’ point is that the intake/air-filter area can collect leaves and other material, especially if the car sits or is used in dusty conditions. This kind of clogging is a form of deferred maintenance that can snowball.
Deferred maintenance means you keep putting off required service. Eventually the car starts acting up, and repairs cost more than if you’d handled it on time. With Porsches, the service schedule matters a lot.
A Porsche 911 is the classic Porsche sports car. The point here is that 911 buyers usually research a lot before buying, checking the car’s health and service records so they don’t get surprised later.
A pre-purchase inspection is how you check a used car before you buy it. The idea is to find hidden problems early—so you don’t end up paying a lot more after purchase.
“Over revs” means the engine was spun too fast at some point. If a car has a lot of over-rev history, it can mean extra wear, so it’s a big thing to check before buying.
This means looking inside the engine cylinders with a small camera. It helps you spot internal damage or heavy buildup that you can’t see from the outside.
“Maintenance history” is the documented record of services performed over time (oil changes, inspections, repairs, mileage intervals). The hosts emphasize it as a key differentiator because a complete paper trail can indicate whether a Porsche was cared for—or neglected.
The Porsche Panamera S is a four-door Porsche aimed at buyers who want daily-driver practicality with Porsche styling and performance. In this segment, it’s used to illustrate a different buying approach—less scrutiny and more “badge and convenience” thinking—until hidden issues and maintenance costs show up.
A “refresh” is when a car gets updated during its life—usually styling and features—without becoming a totally new model. The speaker is saying they like the updated look of the Panamera more than the earlier version.
A “daily drive” is the car you use every day to commute and run errands. The speaker is saying they like the idea of driving a Porsche as their everyday car.
Term
Panamera split
“Panamera split” is a phrase the host used that likely means they’re going to break Panamera options into categories (like different versions or price tiers). The clip ends right as they’re about to explain it.
The Panamera GTS is a higher-performance version of the Porsche Panamera. It’s meant to feel more exciting to drive than the regular versions, and the host likes the 2015–2016 years specifically.
A “sweet spot” is a range of years where a car is usually the best buy. The host thinks those earlier Panamera GTS years were more trouble-free than the later updated ones.
A V6 is an engine with six cylinders. The host is saying the later Panamera GTS got a different engine layout than the earlier years.
Term
4.8 V8 motor
This means the car uses a V8 engine that’s 4.8 liters in size. The host is saying later versions switched to this different engine setup.
Term
less problems
They’re saying the earlier Panamera GTS years seemed to have fewer issues. It’s basically a reliability opinion based on what they saw at the dealership.
They’re saying some Porsche models use engines that come from Volkswagen. That can make people worry about reliability, because if a VW engine has known issues, Porsche owners may be affected too.
LIVE
Insurance isn't one size fits all.
That's why drivers have enjoyed Progressive's Name Your Price Tool for years now.
With the Name Your Price Tool, you tell them what you want to pay, and they'll show you
options that fit your budget.
So, whether you're picking out your first policy, or just looking for something that
works better for you and your family, they make it easy to see your options.
Visit Progressive.com, find a rate that works for you with the Name Your Price Tool.
Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates.
Price and Coverage Match, limited by state law.
Looking for a race that's more than just a run?
This one gives back to the trails you race on.
Join us May 9th in downtown Helena for the Don't Fence Me and Trail Run, the happiest
race in the West.
Climb iconic trails, take in big views, and when you cross that finish line, you're part
of something bigger.
Spots are limited, so don't wait.
Sign up for the 26th annual Don't Fence Me and Trail Run today.
Availability and get started in as little as two days.
And if something comes up, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance at no cost.
Grow helps you find therapy on your time.
Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help.
Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans.
Sessions average about $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0, depending on
their plan.
Visit growtherapy.com.acast today to get started.
That's growtherapy.com.acast.
Growtherapy.com.acast.
Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.
I'm Derek.
This is 11 After 9 the podcast, and I am so excited to share my guest today.
I have Joe Finkel.
Joe is with FCP Euro.
He is the Porsche product manager.
He is a master mechanic.
He's worked at BMW.
He's worked at Porsche for a decade.
And he was good enough to come on with me today and allow me to bombard him with all
the questions that I, as a complete leadite on so many things, just want to ask the guy
in the know.
And Joe, I have to say, I want to say thank you for being here.
And some of the questions I'm going to ask, they might sound kind of stupid because this
is like, I've owned a lot of these cars and sometimes I'm just driving and being like,
why does this do this?
Or why did they do this?
So I might have to ask you those questions.
But hey, listen, welcome to the podcast.
Thanks for being here.
Yeah, thanks for having me on.
I'm excited.
Yeah, dude, it's great to have you.
So you were at Porsche for quite some time.
What years were you there, just so we know what kind of cars we can really talk about?
So a little history there.
Got my start in the industry.
Skip Barber Racing School.
Here in Connecticut.
So had two years of traveling and, you know, wrenching on the formula cars and occasionally
driving them, which, you know, really kind of kind of catch the bug from that.
Then transitioned into BMW had always always liked them.
I remember the first time I saw one, we were coming back from Thanksgiving.
It was probably 1997, 98, and I saw a BMW and I was like, hey, dad, what's that car?
And he's like, that's a BMWs.
You know, you know, I don't know what model it is.
It was an E36 M3 and that was like the first time I think it was like, OK, I like cars.
Your little boy, your brain exploded.
Yeah.
And I was like, that thing had the right shape and had the right stance and had everything.
And I was like, OK, I'm in the cars.
So always had that BMW thing inside of me, you know, at the same time, you know, they
were kind of winning in the racing series, IMSA with the E46 and this is E4.
And I'm like, yeah, you know, hard-core BMW guy.
And then I had the sales guy come up to me and he goes, you ever think about Porsche?
And I was like, what's Porsche?
And then I find myself in the GM's office at Porsche and having conversation about moving
over and in 2012, I moved over to Porsche.
And I always like to say, Porsche chose me.
I didn't choose it and I happened to get in at the right time, right?
Like 2012, we're getting the 997.2 GTS.
We're getting all the special models like the GT3 RS 4.0.
I mean, for me, that's pinnacle right there.
I don't I stop there usually because.
Yeah, the 4.0s.
I mean, those are legendary, right?
And yeah, to see those were rolling through your shop as you were like starting your
mechanic journey with Porsche.
So I have a question for you before we get into like transferring from the 997 to the 991.
You hear you are with BMW and you go to Porsche.
And I'm going to ask my first of kind of my silly boyish questions as a mechanic.
Which do you think is better engineered a BMW or Porsche?
It's hard to give an unbiased opinion, but.
This is a Porsche podcasters only one right answer.
I'm just kidding.
I'm just kidding.
You know, I always told technicians that were coming into the field work on cars that make
sense to you.
And I would say my six years at BMW.
I actually struggled to understand Bavarian engineering.
As soon as I got into Porsche, you know, on the Shraibian side of Germany, everything
just made sense.
The way things came apart, the way they went back together, you know, a torquing sequence.
Although the finite details just made more sense.
It was easier to find information, especially like wiring diagrams.
It just, I got to Porsche and everything clicked.
So for me, I'm going to say Porsche is the better engineer, but that's a little biased
because I just feel like it makes better sense to me.
Well, that's that, but it's an honest answer.
And that's all I'm looking for.
You know what I mean?
It's, it is, I'm sure different companies have different ethos in terms of how they
approach when they build a machine.
Which, which do you think is, and again, this doesn't really have anything to do with
anything, but which do you think is easier to work on?
Oh, push your hands down.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
Because of just how it's like designed, like to get to something, you don't have to
take three things apart to get to a type of deal.
Yeah.
Uh, so I'll use like a big example.
Let's say an engine out job, right?
I know on, I mean, this is 9-11, Panamera, Cayenne.
I can do undo like a handful of connectors, a couple fuel lines, a couple
cool hoses, you know, break the drive shafts free and then on a table.
You know, you could do that in an hour, an hour and a half, maybe.
If you're taking your time.
Okay.
Uh, BMW, they weren't set up with the table.
Uh, a lot of it was, you know, suspending the engine, lowering the subframe, kind of
moving a lot of things all the way to get in there.
Um, again, it just goes back to the Porsche engineered their cars to have
everything come out from the bottom so you could service it and then you can go
right back in where BMW kind of, they just, they didn't have it.
One of the things that annoyed me, I've had a number, I've, so I, I'm a
BMW fan and a Porsche fan.
I have a, uh, uh, an O11, a BMW 128 in my garage that I use quite a few days of
the week and I love it.
Um, I've owned so many X5s.
I've owned, um, five series, three series, all this.
So I actually really like the brand, even though I'm being a little cheeky, um,
pushing you to saying Porsche is way better.
Um, but the, the one thing I'd have noticed over the last like 10 years, 15
years with BMW, and this is no secret that like a lot of very integral parts, a
lot of really critical parts have moved to being made of plastic, like, um, like,
like oil pans and oil pumps, oil pumps.
Yes.
Like things like seated deep in the engine that take thermal cycles or like
made of plastic.
And do you, do you, I don't know, that's not a secret to anyone out there.
So that's not my question, but, um, do you get the sense in your tenure with
Porsche that it was going the same way where a lot more things made of plastic
that would wear, I'm not going to say prematurely, but couldn't handle the
stresses if the part was made of metal that they would have.
Yeah.
You could see that, uh, first big noticeable thing was like oil pans, which
always, for me, it was like a head scratcher because for the most part, the
oil pan is unprotected.
Yeah.
Sure.
How's that like, thin layer on most cars, you know, the thin under body panel
underneath that, that offers, you know, some level of protection.
But if that thing was to take a bump, those pans, you know, they weren't
anything special.
They weren't any, you know, overly thick plastic.
So you could easily crack a pan and, you know, dump nine liters of oil on the
pavement.
Uh, so that's where I first saw it.
As far as like mission critical stuff, there was, there's not much else that
really jumps out where, you know, I mentioned oil pump on BMWs.
I just watched our, our, uh, lead BMW, uh, product manager do his oil pump on
his X five and, you know, he pulled it out and it's just all plastic bits.
And I'm like, dude, are you kidding me?
Like this is what BMW put in a motor.
And he's like, yeah, man, we got to use plastic in the engine, right?
And it just completely blew my mind.
Like plastic being subjected to hundreds of degrees of hot oil over and over and
over again, I'm not going to pretend to understand it.
I mean, I understand like, you know, when it comes to volume cars and saving a
couple cents here and a couple cents here, you know, to try to keep profit
margins where they are and, and all this, but, um, I don't know.
It's no secret that I think with BMW, I've really lost a lot of my love for them
or the last five years because I feel like they're just, they just feel more
plastic-y and they don't last.
And like every BMW I've had five series X fives, I, I dread the 90,000 to 110,000
window that the car comes into.
Cause I like to drive my cars.
I like to keep into 140, 150 or more.
If they drive, I had a X five diesel.
I took to 180, um, before the timing chain went with the guides, but, but like that
little window, like 90 to 110,000 miles, Joe, like I'd end up doing injectors,
turbos, like you name it.
Like it would always be six, eight grand worth of work.
And I'd be like, Oh man, it's only has a hundred thousand miles.
Like this isn't a disposable car.
What am I doing?
Right.
Right.
What years were they?
Oh gosh.
Uh, so I was driving the five series, um, like the five 30 from O five.
So the E sixties.
Okay.
And then I had the first year, 2009, five, three, five twin turbo five series sedan.
And I thought I was the B's knees.
I bought it used and I got it and it already had like that dreaded, um, intake issue where
like, because it was direct injected, I think O nine was the first year it was
direct injected.
It was like under acceleration, it would buck and it was one of the very first cars
in New Hampshire.
They had to like take apart the engine and walnut blast, all of the coked up crap from
the valves and, and anyways, it, obviously it's a known problem with DFI direct
fuel injected motors, BMW.
I feel like has the cornered the market on walnut blasting.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, but here I am telling the mechanic.
What's up with BMW.
So, um, moving on to that, like from that super nerdy subject, um, FCP Euro.
Can we talk about that for a minute?
So you're, dude, you're located around the corner for me.
I'm in New Hampshire.
You're in Connecticut.
Milford, Connecticut is where FCP Euro is located.
Um, and it is a huge company, right?
Or is it a small company?
Cause it seems like you're everywhere.
Yeah.
It's, uh, I still struggle with like how big our reach is.
Um, cause then, you know, again, being in the cars and being in it for a while, you
see, or at least I had a 04 Jetta and so I was on ECS tuning or, you know, being up
in the Northeast where we're at, we have Turner.
So those are the websites that would populate for us in a Google search.
And FCP Euro has never really been on my radar until more recently.
Uh, but now that I know a little bit more about the company, I want to say we're number
one in the country for European parts.
If we're not number one, then we're definitely right behind that number two,
number three spot.
Um, that's huge.
Yeah.
They've done a great job at identifying the need to have these personalized
curated parts catalogs where they've got a team of two per make.
Uh, so like it's myself and I have an associate and we're just two Porsche
bros sitting behind a parts catalog, uploading, you know, pieces and items that
the community needs and they have, you know, BMW bros and they have Audi bros
and they have the W bros and it's just a bunch of die hard, uh, brand enthusiasts
that are building these catalogs.
Maybe that'll be the name of this episode.
Porsche bros.
I like that.
Porsche bros.
Um, but you know what I do like that you guys do.
So two things I think that FCP Euro does really well.
Number one, you guys really do a wonderful job of like, okay, you have this job,
you have to do whatever it is, break job, um, uh, timing belt, whatever it is.
You make these kits and you put together these kits and you buy the kit and
everything that you need comes with it.
And it's all for the right make.
And unlike me, who's like searching through parts, fish is trying to find like,
Oh, do I need this part?
Do I need these fasteners?
Oh, this it's, it's made for people like me that I just don't want to think about it.
I just want to buy what I need.
And so then I can properly not do the job right in my garage.
Um, and so you're kind of in charge of putting that together, right?
As well.
Yeah.
Kidding is, is huge for us for that very reason, right?
Um, not everybody who comes to the website is familiar with the nuances of Porsche.
And so we kind of figure out all those nuances so that you don't have to.
Um, and I, you know, take my 20 years of experience and blood, sweat and tears and
make sure that you guys get the one click option where you can buy what you need.
And you're not having to scramble to, you know, another automotive art store or
wait another two, three days for another part to come in because you forgot this
industry, you forgot that.
I, Joe, hand on heart, I, I invented that.
I, I have everything I need for a job and I get into it.
And then I realized that I bought like one wrong part.
And here I am with two days more to wait.
I have to leave the job and walk away because I have to wait for it to be
shipped in unless I go to the dealer and hope that they have it.
Now granted, Porsche Nash was a, is a pretty big institution.
They have a ton of parts, but, um, I feel you, but here's where I think
FCP Euro kind of wins.
Cause like they came on the scene for me, like in my mind, in my, in like my world,
like maybe like five years ago, I really started to hear a lot about them.
Um, and it was mainly because of this, like this crazy idea of the warranty is
a lifetime replacement warranty or guarantee.
And I'm like, all right, well, that's cool.
You know, if you, you get like a water pump, it has a lifetime warranty.
Well, that's pretty cool.
It's like, oh, no, no, no, if you buy a set of brake pads, those have a lifetime
warranty, or if you buy, uh, uh, stuff to change your oil, that has a lifetime
guarantee.
And at first I'm kind of like, well, that doesn't make any sense.
Cause those are naturally like wear out items, like you're supposed to use them
and then throw them away and get new ones.
And then you start to think like, well, how many people are gaming the system
by like just returning their used oil and getting new oil from FCP.
So can you talk to that for a minute?
Cause I'm really curious, cause obviously as a, you know, you own these expensive
cars, you try to save money where you can.
And it seems like an amazing, uh, program.
Uh, but how do you guys stay in business by doing that?
Yeah.
Uh, LRG is definitely a multifaceted, uh, a product that we offer.
Um, a lot of it really for the customers is being comfortable with sending it back.
I, you know, I know some people they'll do the oil change, but they won't send
the oil back cause you know, they're not, they just same, same thing, right?
You're like, how, how do I package this back up?
What you can, you know, reuse the bottles and then get a, get a shipping label
and then return it and, and this thing is now paid for, but it really is that simple.
Um, you know, it's kind of like, don't overthink it there.
Um, story of my life show.
Yeah.
A lot of people overthink it, uh, but don't overthink it.
You know, like the LRG program is, is set up for that.
I think part of it too is working with our vendors.
They also step in with the LRG program and, and help out with, uh, some
of the cost covering there, but really it's, it's the peace of mind being think
about being able to go on and buy an expensive part.
You know, let's say 997.2991 high pressure fuel pump.
You know, those aren't cheap.
You can go to our website and buy the genuine part and have a lifetime
guarantee where Porsche North America is going to give you two years.
So, so that is a great point.
And I really want to hammer that home.
You had mentioned to me that, uh, in a previous discussion and it blew my mind.
So like here I am thinking like, okay, you can get OEM quality parts from FCP Euro
and their good parts and their lifetime warranty.
Awesome.
But if they fail, you can, you know, pull them out and for the cost of labor,
get a new part.
Great.
But what you're saying is you have Porsche genuine parts, like going
through the QC model of Porsche and you warranty them for life, correct?
Correct.
Yeah.
And when it comes to mission critical parts, uh, I think that's a huge win.
Now that same pump you could buy from Peer Bird, which is on the site.
They are the genuine supplier to Porsche for that.
So you could still save there as well.
Uh, but, and it comes with that LRG.
So you have the peace of mind of a few options there, right?
You can go with the genuine and have LR, you know, have a lifetime guarantee.
You could go with the Peer Berg and save yourself, you know, uh, take the
cost effective route, save yourself a little bit there and still have the LRG.
All right.
Here's another stupid question that I, I think about all the time when I'm on,
when I used to be on Pelican parts and now when I'm shopping on FCP Euro and by
the way, I'm going to, you'll be seeing my, my shopping cart getting filled up now
that I have my 997.1 and I have a lot of things to do.
So you'll be, you'll be seeing my orders come in.
I'm, I'm given the choices between Porsche factory, Porsche genuine and, um, OEM.
And the OEM is less expensive.
And then I say to myself, well, is it less gooder than the Porsche quality?
Like how can I, so can you demystify that for me, please?
Is it, are they both equal, um, in the Porsche name brings the price tag or is
there a quality difference between the two?
So the way it was explained to me from someone at Porsche, it's all about QC.
And so they approach the company.
It's all about quality control.
So Porsche will approach a company and say, Hey, we need you to make a thousand
of X, uh, let's say fuel injectors from Bosch.
Okay.
Bosch says, sure, we'll make a thousand.
And then Porsche will stipulate, Hey, it's got to pass X, Y, Z, QC tests.
And so we'll make a thousand and let's say out of the thousand nine hundred
past the stringent QC test.
So Bosch now has a hundred fuel injectors, technically still good.
They'll still work, but let's say maybe their failure rate is.
5% versus Porsche's QC, where they only want a 1% failure rate.
A wholesaler will come along and take those fuel injectors, buy them up and
then resell and that's where you get FCP hero.
That's where you get companies like SSF, World Pack.
They step in, buy up that whole sale.
You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind.
Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet.
Drivers who switch and save with progressive save over nine hundred dollars on average.
Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions, and you'll get a quick
quote with discounts that are easy to come by.
In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount.
Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back.
Progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates.
National average 12 month savings by nine hundred forty six dollars by new
customers surveyed who saved with progressive between June twenty
twenty four and May twenty twenty five potential savings will vary.
Not feeling the spring energy yet, you're not behind with growth therapy.
You can start small like talking to someone who gets it covered by insurance
built for real progress.
Whether it's your first time in therapy or your fiftieth,
grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around.
You can search by what matters like insurance, specialty, identity or availability
and get started in as little as two days.
And if something comes up, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance at no cost.
Grow helps you find therapy on your time.
Whatever challenges you're facing, grow therapy is here to help.
Grow accepts over one hundred insurance plans.
Sessions average about twenty one dollars with insurance and some pay as little
as zero dollars depending on their plan.
Visit grow therapy dot com slash a cast today to get started.
That's grow therapy dot com slash a cast grow therapy dot com slash a cast
availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.
Oh, OK, so they'll buy the pallets of the good parts, but not passing the stringent one
percent kind of Porsche quality and then sell them at somewhat of I'm going to use
a word discount or just less money.
Yeah.
And so the differentiating factor in a lot of those is a little Porsche P stamp that
you see on parts.
It's the upside down triangle with the P in it.
And that's how you know it's past Porsche's QC and that it's probably got a one
percent or less failure rate.
And so it's going to be high quality, highest tier level part there.
Thank you for demystifying that for me because sometimes the price difference
really is pretty significant.
I mean, sometimes two X or at least at least maybe two thirds more expensive.
And so I guess I guess it's really going to be a math equation in your head where
you're like, you know, what's the likelihood?
Is it a three percent or a five percent failure rate versus a one percent?
And how hard is it to get to this part if I have to replace it?
Yeah.
But with other things that maybe are easily replaceable, you know, that's an easy hey,
I'll take the risk.
I'll take the part that maybe didn't pass Porsche's QC standards, but I also have a
lifetime guarantee now.
Save your receipt for sure.
Do you find again, this is kind of a weird question, but do you find that
FCP euros like pretty like lenient, like when stuff comes back, are they like pretty
cool about, you know, if I, let's say I buy an injector and after like two years,
it fails and I send it back with my email receipt and say, hey, this, this failed.
Can you send me another?
Like, is FCP euro like pretty cool?
They're like, all right, yeah, no, it failed.
Lifetime warranty or guarantee.
There you go.
Yeah.
There's only a few stipulations, I believe that would prevent you from sending
something back.
I think one of those is like user error, you know, if you installed your fuel
injector with a five pound hammer, yeah, we're probably not going to take that back.
Right.
But it wouldn't go in, Joe.
I had to, I had to give it encouragement.
Yeah.
But if you, you know, if you put that in and two years later, that injector says,
hey, I'm done.
I'm at the end of my life and you need a new one, then yeah, you follow the, I
believe there's a form online that you fill out.
So you fill out the paperwork and on your way.
Oh, that's cool.
So I hope for the audience out there, I didn't belabor the point.
I just think that's such a cool differentiator in the world of used parts.
And I don't know if it's because you're local.
I kind of always thought of FCP euro is just kind of more of like the DIY or
regular guy type of car supplier versus some of the others, which would seem a
little bit more like aimed towards like higher, you know, a higher ticket items.
And so I appreciate that fact, because if I'm going to like shell out 800
bucks or 1500 bucks for, you know, some part, it's really nice to know that
whether it gets delivered by UPS and what, who's the Jim Carrey?
What was it?
What was the Jim Carrey movie where he talks to animals?
Um,
it wasn't Ace Ventura Pet Detective.
Dude, Ace Ventura Pet Detective.
Yes, thank you.
I can't, I can't live that down.
So off topic here, but my last name is Finkel.
And so if you've watched this, I have purposely not watched that film
because of the last name, because mine from elementary school throughout
my entire life, it is always been Einhorn is Finkel and Finkel is Einhorn.
My God.
And I've purposely not watched it.
So no one has ever had the pleasure of, they have to explain the joke every
time because I'm like, I've never seen it just for that reason.
Well, number one, I don't blame you.
Number two, I swear to God, Joe, that was not a setup.
I swear to God, the reason I bring it up is I was trying to make the comparison
that like if UPS like brought you a busted package.
And at the beginning of Ace Ventura Pet Detective, he acts like a UPS type of
driver and he's literally punting football, punting packages down a hallway,
throwing them downstairs.
You hear glass breaking stuff like that.
That was the analogy I was trying to make.
And I wasn't trying to bust on your last name.
So too close to home.
My apologies.
No, it's fine.
It's fine.
It's actually a really good movie, but give it a chance.
All right, I'm going to ask some real questions now, but I just wanted to
really go over that guarantee because I think that was super cool.
And thank you for, for explaining that.
You're welcome.
All right, dude.
So here you are, Porsche, 2012 into the 2020s.
You've seen some sick cars come in.
You've put your hand on probably most generations of cars.
I would love to know for you.
So I really am so proud of our audience that we have such like a huge
collection of people that are vetting the brand and they like they love Porsche,
but they don't know which car to get.
They're trying to decide between different generations of 9-Elevens or
Boxters, Caimans, Cayans, I mean, you name it.
And they, they want to just hear kind of like honest opinions about from
the guy who works on the cars, if I were to say to you, like, Hey, Joe,
I'm going to give you 40 or $50,000 say, or actually, let's do this.
Let's, let's, let's just say under $70,000 because who knows how much
money people have to play with.
But it can be as little amount of money as possible or the most amount
of money up to say 70 grand.
But like having seen these cars, having seen them apart, having seen the
common faults, having seen the performance envelopes of these cars.
If I had to say, Joe, give me a generation of car, say in a 9-Eleven,
which one would you pick?
You know what?
I'm going to make it easier for you.
Let's separate air cooled water cooled.
Okay.
I can ask what your favorite air cool car is later.
Let's talk water cool just because there's not a ton of air cool cars under
$70,000 that you're going to pick from.
So let's keep it water cool.
I mean, that's an easy one for me.
I've driven a lot of cars.
The list gets longer every day.
And when I say driven, I mean, like driven in anger around a racetrack.
And at the end of the day, there's one car that always puts a big, the biggest
smile on my face and it's a 997.1 Carrera S.
Really?
If you can give me all the money in the world and I'm still going to go by a 997.1
Carrera S.
I have to ask why.
Please tell me why.
Pre-digital era.
You know, you can even consider DFI to be digital.
Because that's the direct fuel injection for those of you out there that don't know
what DFI is.
So it's the when they changed the motor in 2009 for the 997.2s, they went to a
different way of introducing gasoline into the motor called direct fuel injection.
So Joe's talking about the engine that came before that in the first generation of 997.
Yeah.
So with that introduction, the computer engine computer got way more sophisticated.
It can do so many cool things to manage fuel injection across the entire RPM range.
Right.
But maybe, I don't know, cheating.
I don't know in a way because you got the same engine sizes in like the 3.8 and you
have a 3.8 DFI versus a 3.8 port injection.
You know, they make very much different horsepower.
It's not so much that for me.
I just there's something about the 997.1 that just feels like you're more connected to the
car, more connected to the chassis, the steering inputs are different.
The car does exactly what you ask it to do.
There's no pause.
There's no weight.
There's no there's just no disconnect.
And not that that went away in the dot too.
I just there's just something about the dot one that just sits right with me.
I think it's a fair point and something that I've noticed and I've commented on in the
past and I don't know, it sounds like you'd agree with me on this.
It's, you know, as as Porsche progresses, as they develop these
evolutions of say the 911 and the same can be said about the Boxster that came in
two, right? But as as Porsche doesn't do revolution, but evolution of these of these
cars, every iteration becomes ever so much faster, ever so much more capable, ever so
much more shooting for, you know, kind of where Porsche came from, which is the racetrack.
And I think that in a world where you can't have everything, when you when you
try to reach for that brass ring, you have to give up some things too.
And a lot of times those idiosyncrasies, the the things that give cars character get
scrubbed out a little bit, where you're becoming more digital to go faster, you
know, where they're becoming more complicated because you have to meet
certain emission requirements and things like that.
And so, you know, when I get in a 996 or a 997.1 in it, I can feel a little bit that
heritage of the last of the air cooled, still very kind of analog, very granular,
times a little kind of lumpy, sometimes a little grumpy, when it gets started, you
know, then you fast forward to like a 991.
So a 911 from the early 2000 teens that I owned, and it was a lot more like a car.
It didn't have a lot of those like weird things that you had to deal with.
It was it was fast.
It was much more approachable, it was much more comfortable.
Then you get into a 992.
And I mean, it's much more of a spaceship, but you lose that granularity you had in
those first generations of 911s, which I think I appreciate it.
Am I kind of hitting somewhere around what you're talking about?
Yeah, yeah, I think that's a great connection.
Neither is right, neither is wrong.
It's just it's it's what you look for in a car, you know, because I know lots
of people that just they want to go fast and they want to go as fast.
They want to get fast, as fast as they pass, but they possibly can.
And that's cool.
And then there's other people, and it's just because I'm getting old as dirt,
where I'm really enjoying laying into the throttle and hear the engine rev out.
And if it takes three, four, five seconds to get to red line versus, you know,
yeah, I kind of revel in that a little bit, but that's just me.
So so 997.1 probably a little bit easier to work on than some of the later
iterations as well.
Oh, yeah, you're not having to pull the rear bumper off to do
drive belt or air filters or and you know, we're talking about 991.1.2 stuff.
If you're a technical person and you like working on your cars, you know,
997.1.2 is I would say maybe 996 is a pretty good sweet spot, right?
You can flip over in the rear lid and you can actually see your engine
and put your hands on stuff.
And, you know, if you're a guy who likes to clean engine bay and likes to
detail and see how pretty it is when it's all clean, awesome.
Like 997, 996, like that's your that's your speed right there.
Would you, for a DIYer, for someone who prides himself?
And I don't know if I told you this, but I've joked around in the past that
like if you give me a right way and a wrong way to do something,
I'll probably do it wrong two or three times before I do it the right way.
So my batting average isn't great, but that's how I just kind of learn.
Do you think there's a generation of 9-11 Boxster Cayman?
I'm not going to say Cayenne because I don't feel like a lot of people
wrench on their Cayens past like the early 2000s.
But is there like an end of the DIY friendly, say 9-11s or Boxters where you
I wouldn't recommend getting a car or, you know, newer than this?
Boxster Cayman, I'd say you're pretty safe.
If you've worked on 986, 987, 718 or 982,
it really just followed the same pattern, right?
You got the car in the air, you get the rear wheels off,
you take the fender line, fender liners out and you can do stuff on the bottom.
You've still got the false firewall behind the driver passenger seat.
And then you still have that big cover on top of the engine.
So you're still, if you're, well, you're forced into it,
but you have to take, you know, interior trim panels off to get everything out.
And nothing's really changed there.
So if that's your comfort level, there's no problem.
You know, if you're jumping from platform to platform there.
9-11, unfortunately, that changed in 2017
when Porsche put the three liter and just about everything,
the three liter turbocharged engine.
So the 991.2.
Yeah. And that just added another layer of complexity where
A lot of the induction pipes for the air intake have to come out of the way.
Sometimes I can't remember, I think it's the turbo wastegate actuator
has to get completely removed sometimes in order to get the spark plugs out.
You just there's just added steps to do what I would call the simple stuff.
If you're used to working on like a 996, 997.
OK, OK, gotcha.
Do you think do you think that turbo motor is a reliable motor?
The three liter that they put in everything?
Is it a good motor in your mind?
We didn't see too many issues at the dealership.
You know, there were some manufacturing defects on the heads
right when they came out 2017.
Like the cylinder head was porous,
then you would actually oil would be flowing out of the cylinder head.
Oh, wow, I didn't know that.
I would say by now all of those got taken care of that.
That was remedied pretty quickly from Porsche.
You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind.
Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet.
Drivers who switch and save with progressive save over $900 on average.
Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions,
and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by.
In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount.
Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back.
Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates.
National average 12 month savings by $946 by new customers surveyed
who saved with progressive between June 2024 and May 2025.
Potential savings will vary.
Not feeling the spring energy yet, you're not behind.
With grow therapy, you can start small, like talking to someone who gets it.
Covered by insurance, built for real progress.
Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th,
grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around.
You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity or availability
and get started in as little as two days.
And if something comes up, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance at no cost.
Grow helps you find therapy on your time.
Whatever challenges you're facing, grow therapy is here to help.
Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans.
Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0,
depending on their plan.
Visit growtherapy.com.acast today to get started.
That's growtherapy.com.acast.
Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.
But past that, you know, as long as you kept up with maintenance, they were.
It's a solid car.
Classic though, as long as you keep up with maintenance, it's always that, right?
Yeah.
It really is.
That's the, I would say that's the Achilles heel of the Porsche platform is.
The stringent maintenance intervals.
And if you adhere to them, long life, if you don't, if you don't, you're in for a world of pain.
Yeah, yeah, easily.
Did you, did you ever see that Joe?
Like when you're working as a mechanic and did you ever get like a, like a pandemic
and that the oil hadn't been changed in like 40, 50,000 miles or something stupid like that?
It's funny you mentioned it because that's the platform.
That's the panoramas.
Yeah, that's the platform that got neglected to most, the most.
Really?
Yeah, it was the people who were driving around for two years without an oil change or, you know,
they would go 20, 30,000 miles past their PDK service.
And now the PDK is going, Hey, I'm done.
You got to put a new one in.
Palm filters would be packed with, you know, leaves and debris and bird feathers and, you know,
whatever else, you know, the air box is pulling out of the atmosphere.
Uh, man, they really got the brunt of, of, uh, deferred maintenance.
Why, why do you think that is the panoramas if you had a guess?
Appreciation, you know, they, they were sure they were expensive when they came out,
but all of a sudden they just nose dived and they got to a point where anybody can pick
them up and you had a lot of people who didn't understand what they were getting into before
they got into it and they're like, Hey, I'm good.
I got a Porsche, the used car dealership said they, they did all the maintenance.
Yeah.
And I don't have to touch this thing for a while.
Right.
And that, I would say that owner of the 911 owner are two different people
where the 911 owner or someone who's aspiring to own one does a lot of research, right?
It's, Hey, let's, let's go scan the car, make sure there's no faults.
Let's make sure there's no over revs.
Let's make sure, you know, we scope the cylinders and everything's good.
I want to see a full maintenance history, right?
Like I want to see a stack deck of I did this maintenance at this year, this year,
this year, this mileage where I feel like the Panamera customer was like, that
thing's got a Porsche badge on the front and four doors and me and my boys can jump
in and we can go, you know, roll through the town.
Dude, it's a 2012
Panamera S for like 12 grand.
What can be, what can be wrong?
It's sweet.
It's a Porsche for 12 grand.
Let's do this.
Yep.
Yeah.
And then you find out really quick that that's that car's, you know,
$15,000 away from a $15,000 car.
Yeah.
That's, oh God, isn't that like just the thing though?
Really where, and I'm going to raise my hand and I've been this guy more than I
care to admit where, you know, you're looking for a great deal and you find a
car that's five or six grand underwear kind of should be and you feel like you
stole it and then those cars are, you know, I forget who's, there was like a
saying, it's like, you know, a 996 is always a $30,000 Porsche.
It's, whether you buy it at 18 or $22,000, it's always a $30,000 Porsche by
the time you're done and you get it where you want to get it or you buy the
$30,000 996 and, and then maybe you don't have to do it.
And, and I've been that guy, dude.
I've been that guy where I get it and all of a sudden I'm putting money into it.
So it's really true.
I have such a soft spot, Joe, for the Panameras.
I don't know why.
I know people think the early generations are ugly.
I think that they're, they're unique and I kind of dig them.
And then when they refreshed them in the mid teens, um, I just think they look
badass and maybe it's just like the idea of like that BMW five series we talked
about me owning a couple of them and it's like, well, this is the Porsche version.
And I just love driving a Porsche every day anyways, if I could, you know?
And so I don't know, maybe it's that.
What, what do you daily drive?
So I want to complete your thought there because you mentioned, you know,
Panamera split, right?
Went to the teens and those of you who are listening, who are I panameras and are
asking what model do I get if I'm looking?
Yes.
Personally, for me, uh, 2016, 2015, 2016 Panamera GTS is like sweet spot.
So that's before they did the refresh, before they did the refresh, before
they put the V six in it, like the 4.8 later V8 motor that came in that car.
Like every time you fire it up, that thing just, just belts out this loud growl.
Really?
Okay.
Um, and actually one of my clients stopped by the house and I was outside with my
daughter and he started it up to pull away and it was loud enough that she
actually got scared and started to cry.
She was like, dad, what's that noise?
You know, and so like that's, that's what that car is.
Dude garage goals.
I want cars that makes kids cry when I start them up.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So if you're in the market, 15, 16, 4.8 GTS, uh, I don't know why.
I don't know how I don't believe they're built any different, but those cars
historically when I, at my time at the dealership had less problems.
Couldn't, right.
Can't, can't associate that with anything.
I just, they held their own.
I knew a guy once who had an O 15 GTS Panamera and he swore it was the
best Porsche he's ever owned, uh, more, more reliable than nine 11's, more
usable, more fun.
He said he, and this is a guy who's owned quite a few.
And so just to kind of back up what you're saying, um, what, I want to get
to your daily driver, but let's talk about, I hear, I want to talk about
McCons because people, I think are really confused about McCons because
people look at them as kind of like the entry level kind of every day, every
man kind of Porsche to get into the brand.
Um, they're really good cars, but then you hear these horror stories about
like the VW motors that are in them and some have them and some don't.
And then you see pictures, you see reels online of people with the entire front
of their McCon taken apart because they're trying to get to like, um, uh,
timing chain guides and stuff like that.
What, can you just demystify that for me personally?
Like if I was going to buy a McCon, do I look for the early ones?
Do I look for the later ones?
Do I look, is the S better than the base?
I mean, outside of performance, of course, but I'm kind of talking about
reliability.
So if you're going to go for an early one, I wouldn't steer anyone away from
that, as long as the front timing cover reseal had been done, whether it was
done at the dealership, which hopefully it was, um, cause Porsche actually
really emphasized that that repair be not flat rated, if that makes sense.
Like there was no, what does that mean?
So flat rate, you know, uh, as a technician, you work on enough cars.
You can kind of see where you could say, Hey, I don't really have to take X,
Y and Z off to access this part.
I'm not going to damage anything coming out.
I'm not going to damage the new part going in.
I can do this repair, uh, 100% successfully without any casualties.
Right.
And so that allows the technician to kind of make up some time on, let's say, a
warranty labor time, right?
Portious sets of time.
They say, Hey, you know, uh, this job pays X, Y, Z, and you can bill us, you
know, uh, an hour or so for this repair.
Um, and so as, if you can do something flat rate, you can now actually
make time on a warranty repair.
So that's kind of where flat rate kind of stems from.
Okay.
We're not, uh, it's not, it's not dishon, there's no dishonesty.
There's no, uh, you know, we're not trying to, you know, get one over on somebody else.
It's just, you know, you do something enough, you kind of know the best way to do it.
And actually a lot of that stuff does come out.
You'll, you know, I'm sure there's YouTube channels of people replacing Porsche parts
and, you know, they found the, the flat rate way to do it so that you could save
your time, you could save time at home, right?
You know, your Saturdays are valuable.
You know, if you can shave an hour off doing a repair, like we're happy to share that, right?
I have sticky, I have sticky buttons in my 997.1, the, the, the heater control buttons
are all crapped up and they're falling apart with the rubberized coating on them.
And to do it right, you got to take off all the trim.
You got to take out like the stereo and then you shake out the heater box and you
do it the right way.
Uh, I saw a video the other day where someone takes like a little drill and just
literally drills into the buttons themselves.
Uh, and then takes like a hook tool and gets the hook tool in there and just like
pops them out.
And then the new one just popped right back in and you don't have to take anything out.
There you go.
Maybe that's an example of what you're talking about.
That's a perfect example.
As long as you didn't hurt the supporting part or the main part, right?
I'm sure when he drilled through, he did it easy.
Uh, there's really, there is a board, you know, electrical board behind that.
So you probably can't drill in too far, but kind of knowing that and sharing that information,
you know, there you go.
Now, you know that you can drill a hole, get a hook tool, pull it out and then put,
pop the new ones in and be done.
I got my Saturday back.
So, so in other words, so then for the, for when we talk about the McCons and this is
like, again, like kind of deep nursery, but I think it's really important that people
like understand this because, um, Kyan's, McCons and some other cars, the timing, uh, cover
is a, is a major kind of Achilles heel in these cars.
Because now correct me if I'm wrong here.
The bolts that they used to put the timing cover on were aluminum.
And what would happen is with the heat cycles, they would, uh, expand and contract, expand
and contract.
And sometimes it would just like shear off and you'd get like oil dripping from there
and maybe other issues.
So they were always the bolts right at the very outer corners on the, the V shape of
the timing cover and out here is, is right where they would break.
And like you said, it's, you know, thermocycling, vibration, all that stuff.
They fracture.
And actually we just posted a how-to video on how to do that yourself on the channel and
the technician who's doing the repair, he extract it, not extracted.
He took out one of the bolts, um, and there's not much torque.
So he broke the bolt free with a small quarter inch and then he backed it out the rest of
the way by finger.
And as soon as he gets it out, he grabs both sides of it and he does this immediately splits
in half.
No way.
So it came out in one piece, but as soon as he put any pressure on it, completely snapped
in half, which means that bolt was not holding properly.
And we ended, we did do that valve or that timing cover because it was leaking from that
area.
You know, Joe, I literally just got my Ki, I have an O13 Ki NS, um, uh, is one of our
family cars and I just got it back from Porsche Nashua because it was leaking oil.
And it was the timing cover and they, they did all those bolts for me.
I guess there's like an updated kit from Porsche to fix that.
Yep.
And that's one of the kits that we offer on the site for that very reason.
Oh, now I know.
Yeah.
So that's, that's where Porsche would have a start, right?
Porsche was collecting information and they also, you know, came to the same conclusion.
Hey, these outer bolts are breaking.
If you get a car in that has an oil leak, we want you to start with these bolts.
If it happens to actually be the front timing cover, then it's engine out, separate the
transmission in the engine, engine on the engine stand, oil pan off, and you're doing
the, you're doing it right.
You're doing it by the book in that case.
So yeah, if you're looking for an early McCon turbo S, doesn't matter.
You definitely want to have, that's a place to look for sure on maintenance history.
And you're definitely looking to see that that repair has been done in one fashion or another,
but you definitely need to be done before you say, yes, I'll take this car.
So that's a big one.
That's the one, that's the, the McCon's Borscope.
That's the McCon's IMS repair type of thing.
Yep. If not, that oil gets everywhere.
It soaks the alternator housing.
It, it soaks just anything that's underneath that valve cover is completely drenched in oil
and could cost you later alternators.
Alternators don't like to be lubricated.
No, no, no, they're lubrication free on that one.
All right. You know, what we're going to do, Joe, is there's,
there's so much more to talk about.
Let, let's do this.
Let's pause here and I want to thank the audience for listening to us.
And we're going to, we're going to record another episode after this that we'll post.
And because I have so many more questions I have,
I have questions from the audience that I had reached out to some people saying,
you know, what would you like to ask my buddy, Joe, about FCP, about Porsche in general?
And so I just, I really want to thank everyone out there for continuing to patronize 11 After 9.
The podcast has taken off like a rocket ship and I'm super psyched for that.
Joe, I want to thank you. You're so kind to be here.
I'm excited to have you in the 11 After 9 orbit as one of our resident experts.
And it's, it's just really a pleasure. So thank you so much.
Yeah. Thanks for having me on. I definitely had fun today.
Yeah, dude. Absolutely. What are we going to do it again?
I love it. I love talking Porsches.
Me too. Me too. All right, everyone. We will see you next Tuesday.
Looking for a race that's more than just a run? This one gives back to the trails you race on.
Join us May 9th in downtown Helena for the Don't Fence Me in Trail Run,
the happiest race in the West. Climb iconic trails, take in big views,
and when you cross that finish line, you're part of something bigger.
Spots are limited, so don't wait. Sign up for the 26th annual Don't Fence Me in Trail Run today.
Sign up at dfmi.run.
ACAST powers the world's best podcast. Here's a show that we recommend.
I'm Dr. Judy Ho, clinical and forensic neuropsychologist,
tenured professor, published author, and your new host of Savvy Psychologists.
I've built my career by putting psychology to work in private practice,
the courtroom, the classroom, and in the public eye.
Everything you loved about Savvy Psychologists is still here,
an evidence-based approach, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.
We're going to share everyday mental health tips to keep you going,
dig into the cultural moments everyone is talking about,
and deep dive into true crime through a forensic psychology lens,
search Savvy Psychologists on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
or wherever you're listening, and hit follow and subscribe.
About this episode
Joe Finkel, Porsche product manager and master mechanic at FCP Euro, breaks down why Porsche feels more “engineered” and easier to service than BMW, plus what he’s seen firsthand about plastic-heavy BMW components and the costly 90k–110k-mile reliability window. The conversation then pivots to FCP Euro’s parts-kitting and its “LRG” lifetime replacement warranty—how it works, why it’s sustainable, and how Porsche QC differs from cheaper OEM/OES suppliers. Joe also shares DIY-friendly Porsche generations, recommends a 997.1 Carrera S as his favorite under-$70k water-cooled pick, and warns about Panamera and Macan timing-cover issues.
Is the "Lifetime Replacement Guarantee" at FCP Euro actually real, or is it too good to be true? Today, we’re joined by Joe Finkel, former Porsche Master Tech and current Porsche Product Manager at FCP Euro, to pull back the curtain on the ultimate European car ownership hack—including how to never pay for an oil change again—while diving into which specific Porsche models and years are actually the most reliable to own. Whether you’re a DIYer trying to save on the "Porsche Tax" or a 911 purist looking for the best-engineered parts, Joe breaks down the mechanics of the FCP program and shares his expert verdict on the 997.1 vs. 997.2 debate, the hidden issues with modern "plastic" engines, and the exact Panamera and Macan years that deserve a spot in your garage.
In this episode, we discuss:
The Oil Change Hack: How the Lifetime Replacement Guarantee (LRG) works for consumables.
BMW vs. Porsche Engineering: A Master Tech’s honest take on who builds a better machine.
The "Plastic" Problem: Why modern engines feel more "disposable."
Reliability Guide: Why Joe thinks the 997.1 Carrera S is the sweet spot of the 911 lineage.
Panameras & Macans: Identifying the common "Achilles heel" (like those aluminum timing cover bolts) and the specific years you should buy.
Support the Show: Please leave a worded review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help us grow the community!
New episodes every Tuesday! ElevenAfterNine is an independent enthusiast podcast and is not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
