Dealer Service

[PBSTORM 0]

Guys,

 

My VR is due it's 90k service. I really want to avoid taking it to the dealer, because of the crazy price. My local mechanic can do it for a hell of lot cheaper, but he's no "VW Specialist".

 

In your opinion would this affect the resale price of the car? Is it best to keep it serviced by VW like it currently is?

[Walesy 0]

Take it to N&G motors behind the Fluers pub in Splott (( portmanmoor Rd Lane )) ..they have a loooooooong waiting list usualy, but they are very good, and I think they charge £35 an hour instead of the £80 the stealers charge

 

EDIT-- N&G -- 02920 461 661

[dr_mat 0]

Use your own opinion as a guide - how much a difference would it make to you if you were buying the car tomorrow whether it had been main dealer serviced or not?

Personally I'd say take it to a VW specialist at least, but main dealer isn't obligatory.

[Walesy 0]

Sorry, forgot to mention that N&G are a VAG specialist garage, they can stamp your history book and it will hold as high a regard as a VW stamp with anyone that knows of them....I took my car to various back street vw specialists to get most work done...but if you want to maintain a good history then i'd use N&G

[CaiosG60 PWR 0]

Try a bosch service center?

[PBSTORM 0]

Is the 90k service a major one?

[DanA 0]

I had problems with the main dealer when mine went in. Came back with an extra 17 miles on the clock (did a lot of complaining about this and got nowhere) and cost me £176 for what was basically an oil change!

 

I wanted to keep the book fully stamped up, but I don't think its worth it. I'll be going to an independent specialist next time!

[Walesy 0]

Came back with an extra 17 miles on the clock

 

I'd have hit the roof.

 

Also most of the guys ( generalising ) working at VAG nowadays have not done much with anything over 3-4 years old....the independant specialists have generaly been trained at VAG years ago (( so know more about 10-15 yr old cars ))

[CaiosG60 PWR 0]

Came back with an extra 17 miles on the clock

 

I'd have hit the roof.

 

Also most of the guys ( generalising ) working at VAG nowadays have not done much with anything over 3-4 years old....the independant specialists have generaly been trained at VAG years ago (( so know more about 10-15 yr old cars ))

 

Very true.

[Dubby 0]

My 5 year old Polo is now due for its annual inspection - rather than pay the £215 at the stealers (which, incidentally, is mainly trainees in the workshop at the mo) I bought oil/filters for £40 and am getting it done by a local mechanic I trust!!!!

 

Not being funny, but the service I got last time was a joke.

 

The car broke down because the clutch had been incorrectly adjusted when they replaced the pedal box under recall (they also managed to chip the paint on the door - which they sorted, but not without rudeness and a bit of an argue). I had it serviced while it was in, and they managed to ring me twice to tell me I had a chip in my windscreen, but never rung to say the car was ready for collection!? I only found out it was waiting for me to pick it up when i buzzed down in the rado for some parts.

 

I'd rather put my hard-earned in the pocket of someone who knows what they're doing and takes pride in it! :)

[Majik 0]

At a main dealers the technicians are paid by hours sold and earn bonus on efficiency.

That normally means they'll do the job as quickly as possible and mostly skim over the service, they also work with mostly newer cars so wont really know about or care much for the older vehicles unless they are enthusiasts themselves.

I personally think the money saved by using specialist/independant garages will be greater than the value between a car with a main dealer service history and one with a non dealer service history.