New SD owner, a few issues?

[James76]

Hello all!

A lurker for a few months and have now bought a Macan, a well spec’d 2017 SD, generally love it but a few questions if I may... and a pic of my new baby.

The car has all season tyres fitted, and it seems to make the car handle a bit softer than other Macan’s I’ve driven, both those on standard steel suspension, air suspension and the same as mine, on PASM. Is this normal? Changing the settings reduces wallow a bit but not much?

Brakes: on test fine, now they squeal when coming to a soft stop. Rather than put my family through the windscreen each time I stop I’m not into the seeming philosophy (b0llocks) that they’re performance compound and all do that, I have had many proper fast cars and none have done it, views? Driving with the brakes on, bedding them in and all sorts of other attempts to stop it have been futile.

Performance: this one seems a little flat, bought it for condition as its unmarked. The engine though seems to take a little time to spool up and then tries to rip its drivetrain out when full boost comes on. Seems on-off like an early Quattro. There’s also a little shunt or rather slack in the drivetrain when moving off, is this normal, again not noticed on the others car I’ve driven. It just doesn’t seem to drive quite right? I’m not expecting the best experience in the world but my 430d and 640d BMW’s are a world apart for refinement, and the other cars I test drive seemed more responsive. Any known issues or ideas? My gut tells me a turbo issue if there is one? Also seems like a belt is too tight or alternator etc is noisy as there’s a whirring noticeable (quite loud) at higher revs.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the car and it’s beautiful, but I am a perfectionist and the above is bugging me. Many may not notice, for example my other half may not notice an issue but I do. Booked into Porsche South London on Tuesday, any pointers before then from those in the know please let me know!

Thanks

James

[Paul]

Brake squeal at low speeds - take it up to 50 - 60 mph and brake HARD down to 10 mph (open road, check mirrors first etc etc)
Do this 4 or 5 times in quick succession and you should be fine.

Clunky drive-train might benefit from a PDK re-set (see recent post elsewhere)

Power coming in at a bit of a rush is sonething I recall from mine but not as marked as you seem to suggest....?

The ride on AS tyres I can’t comment on (never had them) but the car is on ‘19s (or is it ‘18s?) with a relatively high side-wall which might explain..

See what the dealer says and enjoy!

[James76]

Good point about the brakes, I did 50 or so to essentially zero four times and does not seem to have cured, let me try it maybe once more on a quiet road. My neighbours may give me some funny looks... and don’t fancy doing some real damage in my area...

Will check the reset re PDK, good call, same as the BMW’s I’ve run for years can make life easier.

All of a sudden power coming on strong is a pain in the ass as it made me powerslide in a car park recently (yes, as dumb as that sounds), maybe the PDK reset will help.

Alas I like the dealer who were very helpful in our search after us throwing a hissy fit, let’s see. The service advisor starting trying to talk to me like an idiot on bedding in brakes. Needless to say I made a few pointed comments about driving M BMW’s and knowing a thing or two. Let’s see if I have open warfare on Tuesday!

[jesim1]

The car has all season tyres fitted, and it seems to make the car handle a bit softer than other Macan’s I’ve driven, both those on standard steel suspension, air suspension and the same as mine, on PASM. Is this normal? Changing the settings reduces wallow a bit but not much?

Hi James

I have the same wheels, suspension and tyres as your car, and to me they suit the car better for comfort than for handling. I do like them, but 20" summer tyres are always going to be better for pushing the car, but as I bought the diesel like yourself I tend to prefer comfort over out and out handling as I don't like getting thrown around.

Brakes: on test fine, now they squeal when coming to a soft stop. Rather than put my family through the windscreen each time I stop I’m not into the seeming philosophy (b0llocks) that they’re performance compound and all do that, I have had many proper fast cars and none have done it, views? Driving with the brakes on, bedding them in and all sorts of other attempts to stop it have been futile.

This sounds like they have been used gently too much, and have glazed over of have crap pads in them, I can't remember having brakes that squealed since I had a Mk2 Escort in the 80s, so don't accept it from a Porsche. The advice of half a dozen hard stops on an empty road was worth a shot, failing that, removing the wheels and roughening the disks/pads will sort it and let them bed in again properly.

Performance: this one seems a little flat, bought it for condition as its unmarked. The engine though seems to take a little time to spool up and then tries to rip its drivetrain out when full boost comes on. Seems on-off like an early Quattro. There’s also a little shunt or rather slack in the drivetrain when moving off, is this normal, again not noticed on the others car I’ve driven. It just doesn’t seem to drive quite right? I’m not expecting the best experience in the world but my 430d and 640d BMW’s are a world apart for refinement, and the other cars I test drive seemed more responsive. Any known issues or ideas? My gut tells me a turbo issue if there is one? Also seems like a belt is too tight or alternator etc is noisy as there’s a whirring noticeable (quite loud) at higher revs.

You have a couple of issues here. The first one to get checked is the transfer box as Macans are known to have these fail all too regularly and it shows up as a jerky motion while pulling away or turning hard in car parks at low speeds - it will be covered under warranty if it's gone. It may also explain the whine at high revs, but when mine went there was no noise at speed or high revs, my car is pretty quiet pretty much all of the time, no noise, no rattles, no squeaks and no whines. You paid good money for it to be a premium car, so you have the right to expect it to behave like one.

Remember it's a single turbo diesel, so it's not as quick to pick up as other twin turbo cars. I got a duel channel tuning box fitted by TDI tuning which gave me another 40hp and improved the pick up and general performance to the way Porsche really should have sent these cars out of the factory, so I'd definitely get it checked if you have tried other diesel Macans, and if it's all ok have a look at getting this box - it's around £3/400 and makes it a far nicer car to drive.

Get it all checked out and do try another diesel Macan for comparison to both put you at peace of mind and also give you a reference point from an arguments point of view.

James

[MCDK]

Brake squeal is something a lot of us get. I reported it at service recently and they said they did clean etc but to expect it due to the type of brakes etc. I agree that is bollocks as there is nothing special or abnormal about the Macan brakes.

Car was returned to me after service which involves someone driving it 50 miles. Then I jumped in an hour later, braked at the end of the first road and it squealed again. Will report it again but seems pointless.

The speed then brake hard does clear it but only on a temporary basis. It soon returns once you brake at low speed in town.

[Cheshire Cat]

Welcome to the club, the haunted engine bay club. My SD has a whine which still persists even though the Transfer Box was replaced recently (at 19,000 miles). It is an intermittent whine that can happen at low speeds, 10-30 mph or higher speeds, 50-70. I heard the same whine in a friends Range Rover the other day too. His is a turbo diesel so I guess it's a case of 'they all do that sir' except BMW's. OPC don't take kindly to having engine tuning gizmo's fitted so if you do have one as suggested above, make sure you remove it prior to any visit to the dealer. The brakes are weird, sometimes they grab and other times they are fine. I particularly like the 'hold' facility so you're not sitting with your foot on the foot brake at lights.

[gasgas1]

you do not say how many miles on it?

the wheels look small try 20 or 21"

The breaks should never squeal, needs sorting

wonder if the DPF needs cleaning

good luck and enjoy

[James76]

Hi All.

Thanks for the responses, been a busy week and weekend hence only now getting around to replying. I’ve seen a lot of comments on transfer box issues but I think these were solved by 2017 for my car, think the build is March 2017? It doesn’t seem to have the classic or anywhere as severe transfer box issues so maybe a gearbox reset will do it, will discuss.

As regards the turbo it’s a twin vein one isn’t it, therefore should have near instant pickup which it doesn’t? In fact the other ones I drove (another three in various guises) didn’t seem to have any issues so will pick up with my OPC.

It’s been up and down the motorway enough recently not to have any DPF issues, it’s got 19k on it so surely no danger, although I have read other posts on the subject. I drive fast enough to get it properly hot!

Let’s see what they say with regard to brakes, but coming from various BMW’s and Mercs i’m used to having to deal with awkward dealers. I’ve also restored cars so do know what i’m talking about.

I have a strong feeling the soggy handlin is the winter or rather mixed season tyres and 19 inch rims, others I have driven have been larger and seem to have sharper handling. Keeping an eye out for larger wheels on fleabay!

Let’s see what they say and I hope it won’t be in for too long, or I get the excuse they all do that.

Thanks for the input, will report back!

[James76]

So, an update. Unnsurprisingly they could find no real issues, and the service advisor was kind of patronising. That’s me being polite, I evidently know a shit load more about cars than him but that’s not surprising.

I got the usual “they all do that” in relation to the brakes. Bollocks (politely) was my response. No other Macans I’ve driven do it, no others cars I’ve had it do it. And despite protestations about it being a performance car, really? It’s an SUV diesel admittedly a good one! Brakes should not squeak every time you stop, and it’s a year old and I’ve had it a month.

I’ve therefore thrown my toys out of the pram, copied the supplying dealer (Bolton) and the local DP asking them to speak and propose a solution. I asked the service advisor what his solution was and had to suggest he call Bolton. FFS, really? I’m not meant to do your damn job for you. You should provide the solution. Not me.

To be fair I don’t mind massively it will be sorted, but the service advisor was a condescending shit which got my back up. Anyone else had this attitude at their OPC? To be fair no-one driving these cars is likely to be thick, as they cost so damn much you have to have a pretty good job, no? Therefore don’t treat me like a idiot.

Please tell me if I’m being unreasonable or if you have had the same issues!

Rant over, apologies if I offend.

But I’ve never had this service even with Mercedes and BMW who can be notoriously bad....

[Macananon]

Has your car got sports chrono? That's the only way you can get performance out of the SD similar to the BMW,'s you mention.

Sports mode is a little better then standard, but the pull is more torque than speedy in normal modes.

Surely you gave the car a good long test drive before you bought it?????

Ps. Acceleration past 90mph is really laboured.