Non VW Servicing

[Russ59]

Hey all,

I did a bit of a search but I couldn't really find anything that answered my question that well. The question I have is, if you have your servicing done by someone other than VW is there likely to be a problem with VW if warranty work is required. My dilemma is that I had the non scheduled 7,500 km service done a little while back and just discovered that a new rattle which had developed was in fact the plastic engine cover flapping up and down under the bonnet, it would appear that when they put the engine cover back on they managed to break half the little plastic sockets that it clips into, but rather than let me know and arrange to fix it they closed the bonnet and left it. I told them about it and they tried to tell me I must have done it because the head mechanic worked on my car that day. I said I hadn't removed it (which is the truth) and that I only ever checked oil and coolant levels and that was about it. I told the that if that was the best I could expect, and that the head mechanic was that sloppy then I would be thinking twice about letting anyone else in their dept. go near it. They have agreed to supply the new plastic sockets but I told them I would fit them myself. I would try another VW dealer but this one is the only one near me and that's 80 kms away. So what's the verdict should there be any problem with VW warranty if I use a non VW licenced mechanic and VW approved parts and lubricants for scheduled servicing ??

Russ

[mrx]

My dealership did the same thing - ie. broke one of the pegs.

I guess it depends on your dealer, but I know zz2 (on this forum) had plenty of warranty work done at one of the Perth dealers (and I mean plenty of work) and never took the car anywhere near VW except for said warranty work.

As long as you use a registered mechanic, and they follow the service schedule properly (inc. using the proper lubricants) the dealership shouldn't be able to try and weasel out of anything. I have only had my car long enough to go for one service so far, which I had done at the dealership just for convenience (as I was having warranty work done at the same time), but in future I'll be going somewhere else.

[Oneofthegreats]

In the long run.

Yes, you will have problem's with warranty claim's.


Maybe dealer servicing doesn't effect trade in prices as has been previously spoken about, but what about privately sold car's?

Yes it does effect the resale.

It also effect's warranty.



Eg. A Golf with full dealer history has run out of warranty by say 6 month's & has decided to poo a transmission.

I'm pretty confident & I've seen personally VW will come to the party & replace the trans under goodwill or Eg. pay 100% part's only & you pay the labour.

But if this car has no dealer history, don't even bother asking. The answer is no!


I don't know how these advertised so called "log book" service people can actually say it doesn't effect new car warranty.

How would they know? Did thay ask the manufacturer?

I can say it does!

I've asked about warranty issue's & modification's with my boss before & has been commented on VWW too.

Even if the car is serviced by a independent VW place, You may have trouble with warranty issues, especially with DSG tran's & once the warranty period has ended. That's it. No goodwill.

If the car has been modded, ie tune/remap, warranty on the drivetrain is void!

If it has had coilover's fitted. Don't bother expect VW to find the rattles under warranty.

[Oneofthegreats]

As long as you use a registered mechanic, and they follow the service schedule properly (inc. using the proper lubricants) the dealership shouldn't be able to try and weasel out of anything.

They have every right to, if the registered mechanic has broken/damaged part's that causes an issue.

Let's say for eg. a DSG service. How do you or VW know what oil they've used? How does VW know they've followed the procedure to the letter?

It's all heresay. Then the car comes in with a DSG problem. What happen's next?

We find the DSG oil low on fluid. Warranty denied & who's going to pay for it? I know the registered mechanic isn't going to & deny the fact he stuffed up.


Why should VW pay for something eg. broken airbox, when it was broken during a non-dealer so called "log book" service?

If you sold an item & then the customer went & had it repaired elsewhere & was damaged, then they brought it back to you under warranty to be replaced.

Would you pay for it?

[mrx]

I did state that "they follow the service schedule properly (inc. using the proper lubricants)", so if a DSG is not filled to the correct level, or with the incorrect oil it hardly meets this criteria does it?

From what I have seen of the local VW dealers they are the ones who are likely to break something. Although I have only been for one service so far I have been 4 times for warranty work, and of those they have broken something 3 times forcing me to go back, as they never have any spares locally! No VW shouldn't be paying for other peoples mistakes, but they also shouldn't be adopting the "It must be someone else that did it attitude", when they are the worst offenders themselves!

I would be far more comfortable leaving my car to be worked on by an independant VW specialist rather than either of the two dealerships that I have been to. Maybe all dealerships are not created equal?

[VW Convert]

If the car has been modded, ie tune/remap, warranty is void!

I have my car dealer serviced for many of the reasons you mention, call it insurance if you like, I feel I would be in a stronger position to negotiate should any marginal warranty issue arise. I don't believe they do any better job than some of the independents and I refer to some of the VW experienced independents not the average run of the mill repair shop that would not know the front of a VW from the back.

I would challenge your statement re modifications. Only if a modification causes a failure can warranty be voided, e.g. a tune/remap may (but not necessarily actually) affect warranty in the event of an engine or drivetrain failure, but would certainly not affect say a steering component failure. It is erroneous to make sweeping statements that warranty is automatically voided in such a case.

Cheers

George

[Oneofthegreats]

I did state that "they follow the service schedule properly (inc. using the proper lubricants)", so if a DSG is not filled to the correct level, or with the incorrect oil it hardly meets this criteria does it?

My arguement with this is as I've stated.

How do you or VW know it's the right oil, how do you or VW know it was filled correctly?

Why should VW believe it was done right, when it's a $17K part in question!

[Oneofthegreats]

I would challenge your statement re modifications. Only if a modification causes a failure can warranty be voided, e.g. a tune/remap may (but not necessarily actually) affect warranty in the event of an engine or drivetrain failure, but would certainly not affect say a steering component failure. It is erroneous to make sweeping statements that warranty is automatically voided in such a case.

Cheers

George

Sorry George.

I forgot to put in that sentence about the drivetrain warranty is voided. I've corrected it. Thank's

If it had a steering knock or a rattle ie tune/remap then yes, it should be covered under warranty.

But at the end of the day, it's not my decision to make either.

[mrx]

How do you or VW know it's the right oil, how do you or VW know it was filled correctly?

Why should VW believe it was done right, when it's a $17K part in question!

Nobody knows, that's the point. I would hope that for a $17k. part a proper analysis of the oil would be done, rather than just claiming it must have been something the other guys did.

Thankfully I don't have that particular part on my car!

[VW Convert]

My arguement with this is as I've stated.

How do you or VW know it's the right oil, how do you or VW know it was filled correctly?

Why should VW believe it was done right?

All valid points but after years of dealing with major German manufacturers such as Kolbenschmidt, Mann Hummel, Sachs, Elring etc. I would be pretty certain that VW would be able to demonstrate that the wrong oil or filling procedure had been used. Companies like this have extremely well organised and sophisticated research and test facilities and using oil analysis, metalurgical analysis etc, they over time compile and document in great detail component failure analyses to which to refer.

Cheers

George

[Oneofthegreats]

True, but if you waited around for the DSG to get back to the homeland, dismantled, assessed & a report compiled, the car would be sitting at the dealership for a number of week's, even month's I think!

I don't doubt what your saying at all though & is a very valid point.

The blokes on the front line are the ones who have to make the report's on our finding's, which get's forwarded onto VW who make the final decision in regard's to major component's like that.

[Russ59]

My arguement with this is as I've stated.

How do you or VW know it's the right oil, how do you or VW know it was filled correctly?

Why should VW believe it was done right, when it's a $17K part in question!

Thanks for the replies. So from what I can gather, what you are saying is that VW basically have you by the balls when it comes to servicing. If you choose to have it serviced by a non VW licenced mechanic and use only genuine VW parts and lubricants ( purchased from VW) that VW see that as not acceptable and could use that against you in the event of a warranty claim. Sounds like a big pile of ****e to me (on VW's behalf) especially when some of their so called technicians shouldn't even be allowed to service a Tonka truck let alone (in my case) a $40,000 + motor vehicle. I think I will need to look into this a bit further (legally) and see where I stand because it is almost like a form of "blackmail" and needs to be clarified for everyone's benefit especially when there are so many VW owners (not just on the forums) that are doing their own servicing using genuine parts and many are not even licenced mechanics I wonder how VW would respond to this type of servicing technique in the event of a warranty claim Hi, I've got a problem with my VW Go Go mobile, I'm not a licenced mechanic but I do all my own servicing on the vehicle, unfortunately the DSG has a problem" "One moment please sir, I'll just get the Manager"

Russ

[Greg Roles]

Russ, Golfworx is actually spot on, the "gold standard" is to use a dealer, good bad or indifferent, and you'll have the very best chance of favourable warranty outcome, even slightly beyond the 3 years 100k. I've heard of that too.

Step down to a independant specialist, and you take a greater risk, and you'd certainly be asking a lot to get any special "extended" kind of help. It's always going to be a very "grey" area. Step down to ultratune etc, and well, you take a far greater risk, VW probably will do the minimum required by law, and the bottom line is if you do it yourself, you'll probably be doing most warranty items yourself too.

Do what you are comfortable with, and if you have limited mechanical aptitude or ability to fix problems yourself, fork out the cash relative to the level of risk you'll accept.

It's pretty simple really. Grey, but simple!

[Russ59]

Russ, Golfworx is actually spot on, the "gold standard" is to use a dealer, good bad or indifferent, and you'll have the very best chance of favourable warranty outcome, even slightly beyond the 3 years 100k. I've heard of that too.

Step down to a independant specialist, and you take a greater risk, and you'd be asking a lot to get any special "extended" kind of help. Step down to ultratune etc, and well, you take a far greater risk, VW probably will do the minimum required by law, and the bottom line is if you do it yourself, you'll probably be doing most warranty items yourself too.

Do what you are comfortable with, and if you have limited mechanical aptitude or ability to fix problems yourself, fork out the cash relative to the level of risk you'll accept.

It's pretty simple really. Grey, but simple!

Hey Greg,

I know where he's coming from and I understand that, but unfortunately in my situation I am stuck with having my car serviced at a VW dealership which is IMHO very sloppy, both in their servicing quality and in attitude. Trouble is the next nearest dealer (which I know nothing about) is about 120 kms away and could possibly be even worse.

Russ

[Greg Roles]

I knew you knew old mate, don't fret, but I do hear 'ya. Just wanted to say that Golfie was on the money, and the bottom line, which you also already know but like the rest of us don't want to admit, is you are best to visit the Stealer and pray for a half aware mechanic on the day to have the best possible warranty protection.

I'm prepared to risk that whilst using a more "accountable" independant. But then I have a far less complicated manual tranny. DSG, and I'd probably use a dealer to be real honest!

In your shoes I'd go and try to befriend someone in the workshop, use those tactics that got you through the depression, the great war, you know, give a little, take a little