Casey, could you please split the current estimate into three separate quotes?
- Quote 1 — Porsche Minneapolis (Eric Voge to pay directly): Alignment, oil change, brake fluid change, coolant change, transmission fluid change (drain & fill, NOT full service/flush), rear differential fluid change, front differential fluid change, and transfer case fluid change.
- Quote 2 — Owner (Maximo Bredfeldt): Cabin air filter, wiper blades, key box, tire balance.
- Quote 3 — Deferred / Later: Any remaining items that can wait until next service window — these can be quoted for reference but not approved now.
Important note on fluids: Please quote drain-and-fill (fluid changes) rather than full flushes where possible. At 17,000 miles, the fluids haven't seen heavy use — a change is the appropriate service. The ZF 8HP transmission in particular must NEVER be flushed with a machine per ZF's own guidance. See the technical notes below for details.
Eric Voge (General Sales Manager, Porsche Minneapolis) has committed in writing to paying the dealership directly. His email of 3/23/2026 confirms this — he is CC'd on the service correspondence alongside Casey.
Porsche Minneapolis Owes
$4,642
This vehicle is a 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR — one of fewer than 700 ever produced. It is a collector's item and a high-performance vehicle rated at 575 horsepower. The unfulfilled commitments by Porsche Minneapolis were not just a matter of inconvenience — they were dangerous and potentially damaging to a rare automobile. Selling this car to a buyer who they knew would be driving it through winter, while failing to perform the promised alignment, fluid services, and cosmetic repairs, showed a serious disregard for both customer safety and the preservation of this vehicle.
What Porsche Minneapolis Knew at Time of Sale
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The car had been sitting — dead battery. The vehicle required a new battery at time of sale, indicating it had been sitting undriven for an extended period. A responsible dealership would recognize that a car sitting for years means all time-based fluid intervals are due, regardless of mileage.
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Tire damage was known. Per Steve DiFiore's own email: "Sounds like there was rubber shaved off the outside of the tire." A bruise/shaving on the outside of a tire on a 575hp AWD vehicle points to a possible impact or severe misalignment. This should have triggered an investigation, not just a tire swap. They replaced the tires but did NOT balance them and did NOT perform the alignment — despite confirming in writing that alignment was part of the pre-delivery work.
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The buyer would be driving it 900+ miles home — in January. Porsche Minneapolis knew the car was being driven from Minneapolis to Lexington, KY in winter conditions. Sending a customer out on a high-performance vehicle with an unaligned chassis, unbalanced tires, potentially degraded brake fluid, and no verified fluid condition is dangerous.
Jan 5, 2026
Porsche Minneapolis pre-sale inspection — Vehicle Health Report completed by tech Adam Sticha (advisor Hunt Russell). Right rear tire flagged red. Inspection done prior to promised work. Report marked nearly everything green — including "Free of Body Damage" despite known scratches, and "Inspect for fuel, oil, coolant or other fluid leaks" despite no fluid services having been performed.
Jan 6, 2026
Steve DiFiore confirms via email: "New tires and battery where installed yesterday." Max asks: "So it already got the new tires and alignment?" — Steve confirms, does not deny alignment was done. Promises cosmetic scratch repair. Full fluid swap agreed verbally.
~Jan 10, 2026
Max picks up the Jag in Minneapolis and drives it 900+ miles to Lexington, KY. Car delivered dirty inside; scratches not repaired.
Jan 12, 2026
During the drive home (Indiana) — Max photographs the steering wheel visibly off-center, confirming alignment was never performed.
Jan 18, 2026
Max texts Steve DiFiore: "The Jag is leaking... Something. Hopefully not transmission fluid." Max reports the issue within 8 days of taking delivery, while the car was barely being driven.
Jan 29, 2026
Max emails Steve requesting the alignment report. Notes the steering wheel is "a few degrees off-center" — proving alignment was never performed. Also notes Eric (management) promised follow-up but never contacted Max.
Mar 23, 2026
Eric Voge (General Sales Manager, Porsche Minneapolis) emails Max, Casey James, and others: "Let me know when you take it and we will cover the cost of the alignment. I will pay the dealership directly after it is completed." This is a written acknowledgment of responsibility.
Mar 25, 2026
Jaguar Land Rover Louisville inspection by technician Isaiah Walker (advisor Casey James). Multi-point inspection + full maintenance estimate completed. Technician could not identify an active oil leak — suspected residual fluid from prior work. All time-based fluid services found to be due.
Written & Verbal Promises by Porsche Minneapolis
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Alignment — confirmed in email (Jan 6) + acknowledged by GM (Mar 23): Max asked "So it already got the new tires and alignment?" — Steve confirmed. Eric Voge later acknowledged in writing: "we will cover the cost of the alignment." Steering wheel off-center + photo from Jan 12 proves it was never done.
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Full fluid swap — verbal agreement at time of sale: Dealership committed to replacing all fluids. No service records were ever provided showing any fluid work was performed. Jaguar Louisville's inspection confirms all fluids are due by time.
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Cosmetic scratch repair — verbal agreement: Four sub-inch body scratches were identified before sale. Dealership promised repair. Scratches were still present upon delivery and remain unrepaired.
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Tire balance — not performed: While Porsche Minneapolis did install new tires, they were not balanced. On a 575hp AWD vehicle, unbalanced tires create vibration, uneven wear, and handling unpredictability — especially dangerous in winter conditions.
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Fluid drips documented (Jan 18 — 8 days after delivery): Max texted Steve: "The Jag is leaking... Something. Hopefully not transmission fluid." Dark reddish-brown fluid drips were documented with photos. Color is consistent with aged transmission or differential fluid. Jaguar Louisville's technician was unable to identify an active oil leak but found all drivetrain fluids due for service — suggesting the drips may be residual from fluid that was never properly serviced by the selling dealership.
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Management follow-up — promised, never delivered: Max's Jan 29 email notes "Eric said he'd follow up with me, I never heard back" until Max escalated the issue months later.
Dark Reddish-Brown Fluid — Documented 8 Days After Delivery
Max documented dark, mildly oily reddish residue dripping from the vehicle (photos on file, garage floor markings). He reported this to Steve DiFiore via text on January 18, 2026 — just 8 days after taking delivery. Jaguar Louisville inspected the vehicle multiple times, including with the shop foreman, and was unable to identify an active oil leak.
Fluid color analysis: The dark reddish-brown tint is consistent with aged transmission fluid or differential/transfer case fluid. This is NOT consistent with engine oil (which would be dark brown/black) or coolant (which would be green/orange). This supports the case that drivetrain fluids are degraded and were never serviced by Porsche Minneapolis as promised.
Recommendation: The drivetrain fluid services (transmission, differentials, transfer case) should be performed as part of the commitment by Porsche Minneapolis to replace all fluids. After these services are completed, the vehicle should be monitored for recurrence. If drips return, a more thorough seal inspection is warranted.
Deferred / Skip
Direct Injection Cleaning
$689.18
Fuel Injection Service
$517.81
Deferred Total
$1,206.99
Owner — Maximo Bredfeldt
Cabin Air Filter
$172.00
Wiper Blades
$141.19
Tire Balance
$111.83
Key Box (optional)
$45.05
Owner Total
$470.07
Porsche Minneapolis
4-Wheel Alignment
$265.00
Oil Change & Filter
$459.73
Brake Fluid Change
$358.47
Coolant Change
$781.02
Transmission Fluid Change*
$2,237.89
Rear Differential Service
$548.45
Transfer Case Service
$785.83
Front Differential Service
$628.32
Cosmetic Scratch Repair
TBD
Mpls Total
$6,064.71
* Important note on transmission service: The $2,237.89 quote from Jaguar Louisville is for a full transmission service (fluid + pan gasket + filter replacement). At only 17,000 miles, a simple drain-and-fill is the appropriate service — the pan gasket and filter do not need replacement at this mileage. A drain-and-fill would likely cost $400-$600. Casey: if you can quote a drain-and-fill instead of the full service, that would be the correct approach here and would significantly reduce the cost for Porsche Minneapolis. This applies to all fluid services — change (drain & fill), not flush.
Adjusted estimate if drain-and-fill pricing is applied to fluids: The Porsche Minneapolis total could come down from ~$6,064 to approximately $4,000-$4,600 depending on the revised fluid service pricing. This is a good-faith effort to keep costs reasonable while ensuring the work that was promised actually gets done.
Steve confirmed alignment was part of pre-delivery work (Jan 6 email). Eric Voge acknowledged in writing on Mar 23, 2026:
"we will cover the cost of the alignment. I will pay the dealership directly after it is completed." Steering wheel was photographed off-center on Jan 12 during the drive home. Sending an unaligned 575hp AWD vehicle on a 900-mile winter drive is a serious safety concern.
Evidence: Steve's Jan 6 email, Eric Voge's Mar 23 email, steering wheel photo from Jan 12.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Jaguar recommends oil service every 12 months or 16,000 miles. At 9 years old with a dead battery (car sat unused), this was critically overdue at time of sale. A responsible pre-delivery inspection of a collector vehicle should have included this as standard.
Jaguar interval: 12 months / 16,000 mi. No service records provided by Porsche Minneapolis.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Brake fluid is hygroscopic — absorbs moisture regardless of mileage. Jaguar schedule: every 3 years. At 9 years old, this was
3 service intervals overdue. Moisture-contaminated brake fluid reduces braking performance and causes internal corrosion — on a 575hp vehicle driven through winter, this is a direct safety hazard. The carbon ceramic brake system on the SVR makes proper fluid maintenance even more critical.
Jaguar interval: every 3 years. 9 years old = 3x overdue.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Jaguar interval: 10 years / 150,000 miles. At 9 years old, this was approaching the due date and should have been done at sale. The supercharged 5.0L V8 generates significant heat — coolant integrity is essential to protecting the engine and supercharger.
Jaguar interval: 10 years / 150,000 mi. Must use OEM Jaguar coolant.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. The ZF 8HP transmission fluid is rated for 10 years / 160,000 miles by Jaguar. At 9 years old, this is approaching the time-based threshold. The reddish fluid drips documented just 8 days after delivery are consistent with aged transmission fluid. The dead battery confirms the car sat for an extended period, which accelerates fluid degradation through condensation and oxidation.
Jaguar interval: 10yr / 160k mi. ZF recommendation: 60-80k mi or 8yr. Leak reported Jan 18.
* Note: The $2,237.89 quote is for a full transmission service including pan, gasket, and filter. At 17,000 miles, a drain-and-fill (~$400-$600) is the correct service. The filter and pan gasket do not need replacement at this mileage. CRITICAL: The ZF 8HP must NEVER be flushed with a machine — ZF explicitly warns this circulates debris and causes transmission damage. Gravity drain-and-fill only.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. The SVR's electronic active differential (E-Diff) has a Jaguar-specified service interval of
every 4 years. At 9 years old, this was more than 2 service intervals overdue. The E-Diff clutch system is extremely sensitive to fluid condition and requires
genuine Jaguar Castrol BOT 720 fluid — using incorrect fluid can cause E-Diff failure (~$3,000+ to replace).
Jaguar interval: 4 years for rear locking diff. Required fluid: Castrol BOT 720 (Jaguar OEM only).
Part of the fluid swap agreement. The Haldex Gen 5 transfer case on the AWD system has a recommended fluid change interval of approximately 30,000 km (~18,600 miles). The transfer case transfers power from the transmission to the wheels — degraded fluid reduces AWD performance and can cause premature wear.
Haldex recommendation: ~18,600 mi / 30,000 km.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Jaguar's interval for the front differential is 9 years. At 9 years old, this is right at the service threshold. Even Jaguar Louisville flagged this as "Attention Soon."
Jaguar interval: 9 years. Vehicle age: 9 years.
Four sub-inch scratches on the Ammonite Grey body were identified before sale. Porsche Minneapolis explicitly promised to repair them prior to delivery. They were not repaired. On a collector vehicle (1 of <700), even minor paint damage affects value.
Verbal agreement at time of sale. Quote from local paint correction specialist to be submitted.
These items are standard owner maintenance not covered by the sales agreement. They are genuinely beneficial for the vehicle and I'm happy to take care of them myself.
Due by time per Jaguar schedule. At 9 years old, well past due. Affects cabin air quality and HVAC efficiency. Standard wear item.
Technician noted small streaks. After 9 years the rubber is degraded. Safety item — standard wear.
New tires were installed by Porsche Minneapolis in January but were not balanced. A balance establishes a good baseline and eliminates vibration. Note: if the SVR has staggered wheels (different front/rear sizes), only balance is applicable — no rotation.
Optional accessory that the SVR would have come with if purchased new. Nice-to-have for glovebox organization.
Carbon buildup on intake valves is a real concern on direct-injection engines, but at only 17,000 miles this is premature. The 5.0L supercharged V8 doesn't aggressively coke valves at low mileage. The BG Induction cleaning offered is a chemical spray — for serious buildup, walnut shell blasting is the only effective method. Revisit at 40,000+ miles or if performance symptoms appear.
At 17,000 miles with a car that's been driven (not sitting with stale fuel), the fuel system is fine. A $10 bottle of Techron or Liqui Moly Jectron in the tank every 5,000 miles achieves the same preventative benefit. This service is typically relevant at 60k+ miles.
Why Drain-and-Fill Is the Correct Approach
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At 17,000 miles, fluids haven't seen heavy mechanical use. A drain-and-fill replaces the bulk of the fluid and is the appropriate service at this mileage. Full flushes are more aggressive, more expensive, and in some cases can cause harm.
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ZF 8HP Transmission — NEVER flush with a machine. ZF (the transmission manufacturer) explicitly states: "Do not use flushing machines — this can result in complications." Pressurized flushing circulates debris and metallic particles through the valve body, causing damage. Gravity drain-and-fill is the only approved method.
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Coolant — multi-cycle drain-fill is acceptable. On the supercharged V8, a single drain only removes ~60% of coolant due to the complex dual-circuit system (engine + supercharger intercooler). A "flush" in this context means multiple drain-fill-run-drain cycles, which is appropriate. Must use OEM Jaguar coolant — Jaguar tests coolant samples on warranty claims.
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Brake fluid — bleed-and-replace is correct. The "Wynn's Smart Bleed" service quoted by Jaguar Louisville IS essentially a fluid change (bleeding old fluid out, replacing with new). This is the right approach despite the "flush" terminology.
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Differentials & transfer case — standard drain-and-fill. Rear E-Diff MUST use Castrol BOT 720 (Jaguar OEM) — the E-Diff clutch system is sensitive to friction modifier properties in the fluid.
The Vehicle Health Report from Porsche Minneapolis (Jan 5, 2026) marked nearly all items as "Passed" green — including items that were demonstrably false:
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"Free of Body Damage" — marked PASSED. Four scratches were known and documented. Dealership had agreed to repair them.
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"Inspect for fuel, oil, coolant or other fluid leaks" — marked PASSED. Max documented fluid drips 8 days after delivery. No fluid services were performed.
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"Vehicle tracks and drives straight on level surface" — marked PASSED. Steering wheel was visibly off-center. No alignment was performed.
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"Oil, brake, clutch, transmission, transfer case, washer all levels" — marked PASSED. Jaguar Louisville found all time-based fluid services overdue.
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"Exterior is clean and free of road residue" — marked PASSED. Car was delivered dirty inside.
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Eric Voge — General Sales Manager, Porsche Minneapolis
o: 763-744-9159 | c: 763-442-7044 | ericvoge@lithia.com / EVoge@carouselmotor.com
9595 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55426
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Steve DiFiore — Porsche Brand Ambassador, Porsche Minneapolis
o: 763-421-8722 | stevedifiore@lithia.com
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Casey James — Certified Service Advisor, Jaguar Land Rover Louisville
502-515-8930 | cjames@germaincars.com
4700 Bowling Blvd, Louisville, KY 40207