Non VW Servicing

[mikinoz]

When I get time I am going to compile some of these threads for the MKV FAQ...

[Greg Roles]

How about a TSI vs TDI sticky Mik? I'd really enjoy that.
Be better if I had some friends though.


and when's a TSI'er gonna get upset about my banner, it took me ages to do...

[Oneofthegreats]

How about a TSI vs TDI sticky Mik? I'd really enjoy that.
Be better if I had some friends though.

TDI hand's down over the twin charged 1.4L

The amount of problem's/drama's the 1.4's give us far out weigh the diesel's!

I'm not a fan of any of these car's, but I'd have a GT diesel over a boost guage (as fitted to the 1.4L) anyday!

Also remember now, that TSI doesn't stand for twin charged anymore.

It's a trademark that's it. Doesn't stand for anything.

[Oneofthegreats]

Talking about warranty & dealer servicing etc.

It's not just VW that think like this either & I'm sure you all would be suprised how some dealer's can sometimes go the extra mile.

This happened to my brother when he recently picked up his new VE SSV sportswagen.

The selling dealer stated (in writing!) if he get's all of his servicing done at the selling dealer, at the end of the warranty period (3 years!) they would extend the warranty off their own bat for another 3 years!

6 years warranty just for having it regularly serviced at the dealer!

What would you do for the sake of a couple of extra dollar's more?

[mrx]

^ Now that is a real incentive, I'd take my car to the VW dealer if they offered something similar. It sure beats using scare tactics, saying that the warranty is void if they aren't used for servicing.

[Maverick]

The selling dealer stated (in writing!) if he get's all of his servicing done at the selling dealer, at the end of the warranty period (3 years!) they would extend the warranty off their own bat for another 3 years!

I've heard that before and it turns out that it's one of the dodgy insurance based warranties that require you to service to strict intervals outside the manufacturers warranty term and send in dockets within 7 days of the service or they cancel it. Any warranty work has to go back to them and so forth.

Cost to the dealer is cheap, it's under a few hundred dollars. But they're a worthless warranty as they have so many outs.

I can't imagine that any dealer would offer a full manufacturers warranty for the few dollars they make on servicing, my bet is that if he looks into it he will find that it's one these insured warranties, there should be a book in the glovebox.

[Oneofthegreats]

^^^^Good call.

When I first heard about it, it did seem alittle too good to be true!

I'll look into when he get's home

[Greg Roles]

Garry Crick at Maroochydore Qld where I bought mine offer this as well, but yeah there are a LOT of clauses. Only goes to set dollar values for certain items, but still when you compare to the dearer, less recommended "city" dealers, it's a nice incentive.

[Maverick]

I'll look into when he get's home

Break it to him gently, I was so pissed off when I got my car home and found out it was useless. Spoke to the salesman about it the next day and he denied our discussion where I specifically asked if this was the same as the manufacturers warranty and not a bull**** insurance warranty etc. Useless warranty covered bugger all and had the usual 5,000 conditions.

to all thieving car dealers and their useless sales staff....

Of course it could be as he was told but let's face it probably not.

[Greg Roles]

So even car salesmen don't like you Mav?

Wow...

[Maverick]

So even car salesmen don't like you Mav?

Wow...

And this has to do with dealers telling lies how exactly?

[Russ59]

All this enthusiasm is getting to me, I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and take it the dealer when it's due for servicing and take my chances Hopefully they'll lift their game and do the job properly without breaking anything else !!


Russ

[mrx]

You should take it somewhere where you are happy with their attitude, level of professionalism and standard of work - whether that turns out to be a dealer or independent. Obviously the guy who works at the dealership is going to try and convince you to take it to a dealer, he's only protecting his own interests and that of the company, which is understandable.

My previous car was a Subaru, it never went near the dealership until about a month before warranty expiry when I got a few things fixed that my independent Subaru specialist pointed out. Most noticeably a new dual mass flywheel was installed. The Subaru dealership never batted an eyelid, all fixed without drama.

A friend of mine recently blew a head gasket in a new Nissan Navara diesel, causing severe engine damage. A new engine was necessary at a cost of $16k! The dealership tried to weasel out of fixing it under warranty saying that the independent mechanic (who was on Nissan's list of approved country agents - no dealership for miles) had used non-Nissan coolant. The mechanic had used Castrol coolant, it wasn't like he used tap water! My friend was all set to take it to court when at the eleventh hour Nissan decided to cough up to fix it. So yes, there are those out there that will try it on, but at the end of the day (after a bit of a fight & some logic) Nissan honoured their obligations.

The attitude of the people at the dealership seems to have the most bearing on what gets fixed under warranty and what doesn't before VW themselves even get involved. I personally was told something would be fixed at my expense, due to a modification, at the VW dealership I bought the car from. I went up the road to the next dealer and they fixed the issue no questions asked under warranty (although they did break something else on the car!) My advice would be to try and find a service department with the right attitude, go there for warranty work, but service at a reputable licensed mechanic that you're happy with.

[Oneofthegreats]

Obviously the guy who works at the dealership is going to try and convince you to take it to a dealer, he's only protecting his own interests and that of the company, which is understandable.

I'm not trying to protect anyone's incl. my own interest's at all.

I'm starting to hate working in these car's incl. my own VW's!

I'm not trying to scare anyone into "dealer" only service's, cause at the end of the day, it's the customer's hard earned & they spend it how ever they like.

I'm trying to give some honest advice how backyard/independent service's can affect your warranty in the long run & how they are looked at from a dealership point of view.

Read it how ever you like. I don't care.


Far out. I never got this sort of crap from BMW owner's!

Mmmmmm. Now that's an idea!

[Russ59]

You should take it somewhere where you are happy with their attitude, level of professionalism and standard of work - whether that turns out to be a dealer or independent. Obviously the guy who works at the dealership is going to try and convince you to take it to a dealer, he's only protecting his own interests and that of the company, which is understandable.

My previous car was a Subaru, it never went near the dealership until about a month before warranty expiry when I got a few things fixed that my independent Subaru specialist pointed out. Most noticeably a new dual mass flywheel was installed. The Subaru dealership never batted an eyelid, all fixed without drama.

A friend of mine recently blew a head gasket in a new Nissan Navara diesel, causing severe engine damage. A new engine was necessary at a cost of $16k! The dealership tried to weasel out of fixing it under warranty saying that the independent mechanic (who was on Nissan's list of approved country agents - no dealership for miles) had used non-Nissan coolant. The mechanic had used Castrol coolant, it wasn't like he used tap water! My friend was all set to take it to court when at the eleventh hour Nissan decided to cough up to fix it. So yes, there are those out there that will try it on, but at the end of the day (after a bit of a fight & some logic) Nissan honoured their obligations.

The attitude of the people at the dealership seems to have the most bearing on what gets fixed under warranty and what doesn't before VW themselves even get involved. I personally was told something would be fixed at my expense, due to a modification, at the VW dealership I bought the car from. I went up the road to the next dealer and they fixed the issue no questions asked under warranty (although they did break something else on the car!) My advice would be to try and find a service department with the right attitude, go there for warranty work, but service at a reputable licensed mechanic that you're happy with.

Thanks for that, and I thought I wrote long posts I have a local mechanic down the road from me where I have been taking my vehicles to have repairs done for some time now. I have always been satisfied with his work and he has always been honest and professional to deal with. I have really only taken cars to him to have work carried out that either required a mechanics knowledge or specialised equipment to do the job. I can't be bothered arguing with anyone as I find the stress is just not worth it. I will probably buy genuine VW oil and a filter and have him change it for me in between the regular scheduled 15,000 k intervals when I will take it to VW and get it done there. I will be pushing for a bit better service though and may even send an email to VW Australia (probably a waste of time) and let them know of my disappointment with the dealer service and attitude.


Russ