Porsche Switchable Sports Exhaust

[hiredfox]

I have had a Switchable Sports Exhaust on back order for nearly two years and according to OPC Portsmouth, Porsche are no nearer being able to supply this item now than they were two years ago. Latest delivery has been quoted as March 2024 but delivery date has proved to be a very fluid feast since my order was placed, so I am not holding my breath. It is incredulous that despite being fully aware of the situation Porsche appear to have done nothing to alleviate their supply problems and fulfil their back orders. This is not what one should expect from such an envied high end brand and rather dents the pride of ownership one feels in owning a Porsche.

If anybody has one spare in top class condition sitting around in their garage and are willing to sell please let me know.

 

[AngieS]

In a strange twist of fate, the price has been reduced as well .
It is bizarre that tube forming and a few accessories (electronic switch never went out of stock according to other suppliers) can’t be resourced. I tried to discuss with Porsche GB and they just got my local OPC to confirm same situation. Local OPCs are just as frustrated I guess as they have to face us.

 

[hiredfox]

OPC Portsmouth have around 3 on back order; if all OPC UK have similar numbers then that amounts to a quite substantial back order book for the UK alone. The SSE does not fit just Caymans of course. There is no reason to doubt that OPC's in other countries are in the same boat so why the reluctance to get this sorted out Porsche AG?

 

[JMR]

Worth having a look if Gert @ Carnewal has any in stock, failing that buy a genuine exhaust that has been modified by him, as I did a few years ago for my Boxster - not wanting to pay the premium price for the PSE.

 

[AngieS]

Update….So, after also being on ‘the list’, GT3RS, 2xTaycans and a P watch later …(for what seemed forever) I now have my OPC PSE fitted. (2.7 Cayman).
Where we thought price had dropped, if you compare descriptions, the latest price excludes fitting, which is a days worth. Software update etc. Not just Quik Fit changeover.
Well worth the wait….hang on in there folks.
When I get a minute I’ll look at serial numbers and see if I can find where made and date of manufacture.

 

[hiredfox]

Great news Stirls, I've relayed info to OPC Portsmouth this morning.

Hear what you say about pricing, always pays to read the small print with Porsche Accessories. Sports Mirrors listed at £507 per pair but fitting is extra and they are supplied only in black matt finish so have to be painted in body colour at the OPC. Total cost after all this is nearer £1300 per pair.

 

[AngieS]

Well, had a look and was surprised to see ‘made in Germany’, so would suggest not an outsourcing issue. Manufactured end of last year. My OPC couldn’t fit until now as we all know due to backlog of work. I must say, only having been used to normal car exhausts and their makeup, it has to be said this PSE has a lot of components welded together and guess by hand.
With Porsches sales so high, I just wonder if their exhaust department is just stuck manufacturing for the current range of cars and so allocating resource to past models is just not priority. That said, then time for them to outsource perhaps now with older stuff?

Whatever, I’m pleased as punch now I have it. Makes it feel more sporty. Can’t wait for trip to Pyrenees later in year.

Hang on in in there….. pressing local OPC might just wind them up. Have a cake made to look like an exhaust and send it to them

Forgot to add that although I have been waiting well over a year, it is possible I inherited an ‘earlier’ order from someone else before me that gave up and bought Indi version. Just in case you think you’ve missed out.


Update to my info above; Although made in Germany, it is an outsourced product to ‘Eberspächer’ who I know very well re small diesel heaters for vehicles, but not exhausts. They aren’t listed within their own product guides so possibly a side line? Having now seen my old system off car (same make), the quality of the welding is vastly different on new one. Original has lovely continuous beading but new one is about as good as my own welding could be. Obviously fit for purpose but long term will be more susceptible to corrosion.

 

[hiredfox]

There's a national meeting of OPC procurement people taking place today with first item on their agenda the fiasco surrounding supply of PSSE (I have been reliably informed). Before we indulge in an outbreak of euphoria it is worth recalling that this was also the situation at their last meeting in Feb 2023!

 

[AndrewCS]

One of the best interior audios re. PSSE`s of all three ex. Cayman`s was in the 981 S PDK

PSSE deselected to remove `as far as possible` the `pops` - SPORTS PLUS selected, manual gearchange operation - Elevated to max. revs in second and third gears ... a far more pure and pleasing note, more engine related

 

[AngieS]

There's a national meeting of OPC procurement people taking place today with first item on their agenda the fiasco surrounding supply of PSSE (I have been reliably informed). Before we indulge in an outbreak of euphoria it is worth recalling that this was also the situation at their last meeting in Feb 2023!

As an EX procurement professional….I would say these great folk at OPC’s have very little impact on things as they are stuck with what Porsche dictate. It’s actually the buying team in Stuttgart that have the power. Specifications are what define end products and me moaning about the quality of the weld won’t be part of it if it lasts and performs to required standards. As a buyer, you’d NOT want them to make mechanical bits ‘look pretty’ if it’s not required, as it clearly takes longer/costs more as a result. Maybe we are seeing the results of cost cutting, the moving away from high end quality that helped establish the brand. I’m just glad I don’t have to look at it every day though, as it is horrible, especially after seeing the ‘artwork’ welding of the original. New pics below…you decide which is the new one.

OPC’s meeting would be far better off providing feedback to HO…supported I might add by a strong letter of discontentment from PCGB about the apparent poor quality of parts, high failure rates and appalling lead times. Our voice as a whole should carry more weight as we promote end product?

 

[hiredfox]

Great news. My OPC has just phoned to tell me that my PSSE has arrived!!!!! Fingers crossed for all you guys who are in a similar situation

 

[HariVoy]

Good afternoon

Does anyone know the real reason we need to buy a new switchpack along with the PSE?

The switchpack that we have to buy (99161396107DML) comes with no buttons or blanks fitted and it takes about 5 mins to snap the buttons and blanks in place.

The PSE button can be placed below the stop-start button (let's call that the "easy option" for the installer) or in the position it would have been if the car had come with PSE optioned (between the spoiler and stop-start buttons).

The switchpack has only three wires and communicates to the car using LINBUS so the PSE button therefore has to be programmed in and can be programmed in either button position. This takes a short time but is routine business, I am led to understand.

So the question remains - why do we need a whole new switchpack?

 

[HariVoy]

Great news. My OPC has just phoned to tell me that my PSSE has arrived!!!!! Fingers crossed for all you guys who are in a similar situation

How did the installation go?

 

[hiredfox]

Brilliant, no problems. OPC Portsmouth are good people. Feels like there may be a couple of extra horses in there now! Sounds divine, probably naughty but very very nice.

They loaned me a Taycan 4S for the day or so that the work was carried out. What a car that is although ICE junkie has no intention of swapping horses for volts anytime soon despite the rock bottom prices of pre-owned examples.

Also invested in the Sport Design exterior mirrors at the same time…… well, why not?