[ct.p]

Sorry about this... but I thought I'd join the poll bandwagon.

Interesting to find out how forum members actually get their cars serviced. I imagine that we fall into several categories and I thought it could be of interest to find out ?

I'd put myself into the "hardcore", will do anything rather than let anyone else touch my car + own vag.com category. I've sadly been like this for many years but the plus sides of it are :-

1, You get to know your car (including it's quirks)

2, Save loads of money and NEVER get ripped off.

3, Personal pride and satisfaction.

and

4, Although you have the inconvenience of actually having to get your hands dirty, you don't suffer the inconvenience of losing your car for the day(s) and have all the hassle of lifts to the garage etc.

I personally think in this day and age, the abilty to get stuck in and fix things is being lost. Our Fathers and Grandfathers had to do this kind of stuff usually out of neccessity and we don't so I guess this is why this is why we are generally not bothering these days. Also today I think we have less free time than our Dad's & Grandads so that is further reason. I'm sure in the near future some legislation will come out that prohibits anyone maintaining their own cars unless qualified as is happening with home electrics in the very near future.

What are your thoughts ?

 

[Caged]

Gave in on the Cambelt but most stuff I do myself....

 

[dubzter]

In warranty just now so VW are doing it, but once out of warranty I'll do all I can myself and the brother in law is a trained mechanic so there is help there if I need it.

Not sure about doing a cam belt on the R32 though, a bit scary for me.

 

[Richard W]

Get the service book stamped by a good independant (Awesome or similar) or it goes to the stealer. Then anything else is done as appropriate i.e. I can do discs and pads but it goes in for cambelt/bushes etc.

 

[wilkins76]

Did you know that there is a block excemtion law come in where you can service the car your self and as long as you can prove you have used proper parts etc you can still claim under warranty. It is to stop stealers ripping people off

http://www.iccuk.com/service/blockexemption.htm

 

[sutherlandm]

VW do it all. When it comes to the Golf, I'm prepared to shell out for "proper" servicing.

Apart from which the R32 engine looks like a Power Rangers jet pack and I have no idea!

 

[Milkfloat]

I still like getting the booked stamped by either VW or a good independant. IMO a stamped service book is worth a lot come resale time.

 

[Richy_50pence]

Quote: posted by sutherlandm on 03/12/2004 10:06:31

Apart from which the R32 engine looks like a Power Rangers jet pack and I have no idea!

[][][][][]

that made me chuckle! I thought the same about my 1.8T having come from a 1.6 Honda engine in my Rover Coupe! But once you get rid of a few fancy bits of plastic it starts to become clear, I think they try to put you off doing it urself by making it look likr a JETPACK!

I do as much as I can myself, Cambelt is a bit much tho! Until I get my TVR that is!

 

[andy_not_happy]

Do most stuff myself as there always seems to be something not right. I like to know what is going on and have learnt a lot since owning the car. Don't trust local incompetant dealer and they are a rip off.

My cam belt needs doing next year too, not sure about how to set tension spot-on and special tools needed. Always have doubts it has been done properly at a garage, and they don't take as much care as you do with your own car.

Have been caught out a couple of times - with car in bits and didn't have an essential tool or part so had to get on my bike. Also bust a couple of things due to inexperience.

 

[Paul C]

I get a pro to do it, a tech I know called Paul C []

I voted - DIY oil + brakes + anything else

 

[littlekev]

Don't worry about the cambelt on the R32, it hasn't got one...

 

[wilkins76]

Have you guys ever seen a VW technician at work, 90% of the time it is a spoty teenager working by himself. I would rather trust a independant garage. The guy I use has 20 years VW , Audi servicing under his belt and has his own business to worry about so always does a top job

 

[sutherlandm]

Littlekev - I'm worried. How does the thingummy bob turn around then?

By magic?

Concerned of Canary Wharf.

 

[markie]

Do most things myself but had cambelt done by a pro as it would be expensive if done wrong.

Car came back from garage with light scratches on wing due to oaf in overalls,thats why i do my own work when i can.

 

[Team Beer]

Do everything myself on mine and anyone else I know with a vw usually brings me their problems as well lol

 

[V6DKO]

sutherlandm,thr R32 and V6 4Motion have a timing chain,rather than a belt. There is no specific change mileage for this item,as they tend to last the life of the car. You can normally detect wear on this type of engine,by the chain chattering as it gets tired,but as i say,they usually last the lifetime of the car. With regards to servicing,i use my local main dealer,firstly as my 4mo is still under warranty,secondly coz i used to work there(the missus still works there!),so i get a proper job at a sensible price!

 

[djhorace]

My Passat has 80 odd thou on the clock now and I got a VW specialist to service it at 79 thou.

I changed the oil filters myself recently again, but will put it to the specialist to get the scheduled service when its due.

A healthy car is one thats serviced more often than not and if you change the oil every 3-5 thousand miles, it wont do any harm! And it only costs ?15 every time you do it.

 

[Ricardo]

Company car has to be done at dealer.

The Elise got done at main dealer (cambelt - mega bucks) will go independant next year and have always done brakes myself in past.

 

[gpavlou]

After the 40K service and out of the warranty period I still go to the local VW for the oil/filter service (lubrication service as they call it - about ?90) which stamps the book but do everything else alone. I could also do the lub service myself (I always do it for my motorbikes) but for the car it is messy if you don't have a garage.

The only things I will not take on are: cambelt (need to find a good local garage to do this) and brake fluid change: I don't have VAGCOM which makes it relatively easy. I'm afraid the poll does not have a category for my type of "servicing" []

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

Day to day stuff I do my self, anything hairy I either do with help from my business partner Graeme or he does it as he is a mechanic of over 20 years standing.

Couldn't do some things with out VAG-COM (cheers Uwe for making an affordable diag tool).

Paul