[MarkGT]

Hi all,

Just had the above service today and just want to ask people here a question....should the brake fluid change be included in a 40K service?

I've heard that the AA do, but the local stealer didn't which surprised me considering it was ?256. It took it up to ?281 with the fluid.

Also reading through the list of what they did you don't get much for your money from what I could tell. All the filters changed, oil change, checking the wheels and thats it. Surely you should expect more for ?256?? (I noticed the labour was ?113.)

Think I need to find another servicer!

Apologies for the rant, but any similar experiences or advice would be gratefully received.

 

[Del]

Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years, nothing to do with mileage.

 

[hornetrider]

hello mate

thats the norm I'm afraid, I had my 40k about 2 months ago and the stealer wanted to change the fluid (at extra cost) as it was due in 6 months time!! I told them no...

the fluid is charged separately and is due every 2 years (don't think its mileage related, more of an age thing)

 

[wilkins76]

Just had my 60.000 service at local garage, Cam belt, pulley, water pump and tensioner pulley also. Pollen filter, air and oil + brake filter change, fluid change and a full service all round car etc took most of day ?280

 

[Dis]

Sometimes I?m sure that VAG dealers decided that more money could be made servicing cars than mugging old ladies. They probably decided that old ladies can kick back or use their handbags ? so its much simpler to present an invoice on the basis that if you don?t pay up you don?t get your car back. Maybe all VAG dealers should have a skull & crossbone flag flying outside the showroom. At least this would be an honest betrayal of what to expect. Indeed maybe the Service Manager?s should all have a wooden crutch and a parrot on their shoulder.

 

[Merlinman]

Cynical, but true?

I often feel it's left up to the Service Dept to underwrite the overheads of the empty headed 'suits' that now populate the sterile front of house of most dealerships.

They've had it too good for too long - time to wise up or give up ;-)

 

[MarkGT]

Thanks for your comments guys. I think I need to try and find an independant who I can trust.

 

[Milkfloat]

I got my 40K done yesterday. Plugs, Filters, Oil etc. I also got the brake fluid done as it is the car's 4th birthday next week. Oh, and I got them to lob my brake upgrade on, because I am a lazy git. Total ?245 all in, from a VW Specialist.

 

[wilkins76]

My mate who has his own garage says there is a new law out stating that cars do not have to be taken to a stealer for service to keep warranty up. As all warranty companies are 3rd party it only neds to be done by registered garage and not a stealer

 

[Dis]

Just to share an experience of a few days ago ?her indoors? telephoned the dealer to ask how much a 2 year service would cost (being the first 2 years). This of course would include the brake fluid change when this is a VW specified item. In addition my wife stated that the oil service required should include for ?Castrol Longlife? oil. The reply received was that the cost would be ?210.99, but it was very rare for a customer to specify the type of oil required, and that this subject should be confirmed when the car was taken into the garage.

The ?Service Dept? tart stated that the car should be booked in quickly because I had already done 20,000 miles and much more would make my warranty null and void. This I might add is quite ridiculous when the PD130 had received an oil change at 11,000 miles (using ?Longlife?) which according to the daft dealer would mean that ?Longlife? oil cannot last 9,000 miles ? which is absurd.

Anyway on taking the car to the garage I re-confirmed that I wanted ?Longlife? oil (as the last time), to then be informed that my car was setup for ?Extended? servicing and did not really need ?Longlife? oil. I was dumbstruck over this statement because at the time of purchasing the car I was an old hand at understanding VSI (variable service intervals) because I had previously owned an Audi (who had been using such a system for 18 months before VW), and against such a background I requested that my car be setup for VSI. On the day of collecting my new car I asked for confirmation that it was setup for VSI, to be informed that all cars coming from the German factory were like this by default. Now 2 year later I establish that even if this was the case some idiot had changed it to ?Extended? servicing without my knowledge or consent. It?s a laugh, and smacks of amateurism. The fact that my dealer has recently received a VW award for providing top customer service is hilarious.

Sitting at home on the day of the service ?her indoors? answered the telephone with the VW dealer asking if we would like the air conditioning fluid topped up (which they thoroughly recommended every 2 years). The cost apparently was only an extra ?99.99 ? to which my pensioner wife said no thanks. Of course I contend that if the AC fluid had been leaking then it should be covered under the warranty, and if it really is needed to be replaced every 2 years then why is not included/shown in the schedule of items as specified in the owners handbook. I still do not know the answer to this question. I think the answer is a secret, but closely related to the act of mugging but without the violence. For sure I think it?s a bloody sauce that on my invoice under recommendation is typed the words ac fluid requires changing. Lets be honest if I sold the car any potential purchaser reading this would fairly believe that I have not maintained the car properly and in accordance with VW standards.

In receiving a phone call from the dealer that the car had been serviced and was ready for collection ?her indoors? confirmed the cost was ?210.99, only to be told no it was ?260 including the brake fluid. My wife in protest questioned what was the point in asking how much a service cost beforehand when the true sum was ?50 more expensive, but with my shouts from the background I think the dealer was aware of how angry I was and then stated the invoice would only be for ?210.99.

The bottom line to all this (as I see it), is that a quoted ?210 for a 2 year service is really ?360 as far as the dealer is concerned ? this including brake fluid and AC gas. It?s a poor joke, and for those with restricted finances I regard it as an embarrassing insult.

Naturally I am aware that an ?Inspection Service? (required every 2 years) does involve more than an oil change (which cost me ?130 last time around), however the items being visually checked are probably checked within 60 seconds and so I think the escalated cost is a glorified rip off. Its true that we are all entitled to earn more than a Pigmy working in a factory in India, but there are limits ? at least in my book.

 

[davemk]

?280?? I think the dealer must've made a mistake and only charged you for the service, surely? For my 60k service (including cam belt and tensioner) I was quoted a similar price. However, when I went to collect the car I was asked to stump up nearly ?550. Obviously, I argued my case and eventually they agreed to honour the original quote. My local stealers reckon IRO ?300 for the cam belt and tensioners plus the service.

Quote: posted by wilkins76 on 13/10/2004 19:29:08

Just had my 60.000 service at local garage, Cam belt, pulley, water pump and tensioner pulley also. Pollen filter, air and oil + brake filter change, fluid change and a full service all round car etc took most of day ?280

 

[MarkGT]

Davemk, you didn't go to Inchcape in Trench by any chance? ?320 for the cambelt??

Welcome to the forum too, haven't seen you on here before. Good to have another local on here.

 

[SoftailPat]

I just had my V5's 40,000 mile service, (actual mileage 32,000) and that came to 365-00 lumps.

This included brake fluid change and 4 yes 4 new spark plugs??? Perhaps one cylinder doesn't work as hard as the others !!!

I don't know if this included Air Con. Regass but will check the invoice in the A.M.

52 POUNDS AN HOUR LABOUR + V.A.T.is my stealers labour charge !!!!! That's erm oh um, wait a minute, der AAH YES 244-40 for 4 hours labour.

Next time i'll do what DIS did and get a quote and scream blue bloody murder if they don't stick to it.

You guys who paid under 300 maybe got a good deal. HAH.

Going now to be sick[xx(]

 

[wilkins76]

Dave MK this was not done at a VW dealer it was aone man band garage that specialices in VAG

 

[RaT]

Don't forget stealers make most of their money on servicing not the original sale of the car. Why do you think they charge so much? Now that the law has changed and I believe (I will stand corrected though) that to keep the warrenty valid the car does not have to be serviced at the main dealers. As long as it is serviced in accordance with the manufacturers schedule and approved parts are used, you can have it serviced anywhere.

 

[juldobson]

I have booked my TDI130 into VeeW in Bristol for it's 14k to include all filters and b fluid - ?170 in total I am advised.

 

[vrooooom]

Mines off in to the stealer in a few weeks for its 20k service. (I had the oil changed at 10k). I've given em a long list of jobs that i want them to do under warranty just to keep em busy!!!!!!

Car needs new front tyres at some point, but i ain't getting them from the stealer, mind the dealer i'm now using is fairly spot on.

Best bit is when they give you the car back, you get to chat with the service manager and the lad who worked on the car, i love going out side and popping the bonnet and having a nosey round whilst they're still in sight, just to get em going!! << always worth doing!! old stealer hadn't put oil filler cap on right!!!! u imagine the state that would have been in when i got home!! and check the sump tray (if fitted) is put on right too!!>>

 

[hz2921]

Softailpat, if youve been quoted ?52 + VAT from a stealer, then i,m going to your stealer as ALAN DAY in Southgate, charge ?100 per hour inc VATwhat a rip off!!!!!!!!!!!, i asked them to align my headlights, after i,d fitted my OEM xenons, and they told me ?100, but when i took it in to have the alignment done, the service man told me that they cant be done as they should have a seperate ecu??????? for the xenons, also as they were illegal, due to not having the self leveling system, he couldnt touch it!!!!, i told him thats how i got the car ,as it was an import, he went off bumbling something ,along the lines of `it must have got through the net`, whatever that means?, stealers should employ some of the members on this forum, as i,m sure we have a lot more knowledge, than the muppets who work in the stealers.

sorry for the rant.

zak