Which non-vw independent mechanics do you use? (Sydney)

[mk5 golf]

Before I start I apologise for my ranting essay. I can't remember when was the last time I felt this bad.

I've been to Eurotech Automotives in Haberfield this morning for 45k service and it was the worst experience ever. I don't know anything about cars but a short look around the engine bay and draining oil were all I have seen in 20 minutes spent on the car for $280 - I timed from when my car was put up and reverse parked next to main office (10:08am - 10:28am).

Anyway I was told to wait outside at front while he was working on the car. So I stood outside and when I looked back he was draining the old oil out of my car. Then he was on the phone and after that he was mopping the floor under the hoist where a BMW was on. I approached him to tell him to check on the leak that was reported in my prepurchase report and he tells me there is no apparent leak at the moment and I have to wait until the leak becomes more prominent so that a correct part can be replaced. This of course is understandable because he could charge me for something that didn't have to be fixed.

But I have to say I got a strong impression that he just simply didn't want to be bothered. I mean at least doesn't anyone have to pretend to look for the possible cause(s) when he is charging that sort of money? He instead simply says prepurchase inspection guys are always like that and goes on to say it could be engine coolant splash that left those pinky marks. I asked him how engine coolant could have gotten there under the car and he then tells me it could be a spill when it was filled up at last service. I've told him it's a mixture of oil and coolant that was left over under my car overnight. I've touched the area when I got under the car with the inspection guy. (A more understandable explanation I got from a lube mobile mechanic the other day was that when the car is hot the joint spaces get sealed very tight but as it cools down it gets a bit loose and fluids could leak slightly).

I've also asked him to rotate the tyres at the end of the service as I remembered some of the members here suggesting it but he told me not to as tyre wear-out pattern is even and a realignment is needed. That sort of made sense so I didn't say any further. (Btw I was told to change my front brake pads which I was aware of from the inspection report but he told me to also change the discs as well and quoted me for $550 including labour. Is this a reasonable price?)

It was literally a 20 min job and so after I got home I have been wondering if he really did change the oil filter as I haven't seen him doing it. I've seen my local mechanic chaning a filter on my old car and I thought it couldn't have been done that quick when he was on the phone and mopping the floor half the time. So I've called him to ask what was the name of the engine oil that was put in - he said it was Mobil 1 5W-40W and was written on the back of his business card. I've made sure to ask him when I was there if the engine oil meets vw 503.00 standard as it was indicated in the manual and having read a couple of threads here. Anyway so I asked him what the name of oil filter was and he told me it's just a genuine vw oil filter. I hung up the phone and thought, oh yeah he saw my logbook and knows the car used to be serviced by vw the whole time. He sounded a bit hesitating before he replied.

Anyway I've just called the lube mobile guy to have a look at the car whether oil filter was changed and check on the causes of the leak again. I had this guy come over to my place last Friday to get a quote on the leak issue and general servicing but I thought the guy looked too young and wasn't thorough enough to check under the car so I decided to go for this "European Car Specialist". Now I regret so much. I am just waiting for a call from him as he said he will give me the address at where he is working this afternoon and I am taking the car to him. No charge like last time.

I certainly wouldn't recommend this place to anyone but maybe it's just me because I look too naive for my age. So.. where do you guys get your cars serviced other than vw? Does anyone have similar experience with independent euro car specialists? Sorry for the long rant.

[mk5 golf]

btw I've noticed that there were only two cars when I was there - the guy's car and a customer's bmw on the hoist. Could this be something to do with their reputation as I've always seen my local mechanics' with full of waiting cars - just like I wouldn't want to eat at one of those restaurants in Kensington without many customers at lunch time. It sounded very busy when I booked my car in yesterday and was told I could get a loan car if I book in early. But he said I could bring the car in today and wait about an hour - took 20 minutes exactly and half the time he was on the phone and then mopping the floor.

[Golf Houso]

PM Matt on here aka Golf Loon or speak to Peter from Peter Hallworth Motors in Homebush on 9746 6533, both very trustworthy individuals.

[mikinoz]

If Costa sees this he can provide you the details of another VW tech that freelances from his garage. I don't want to drop his name on here incase that is not appreciated.

Another option Milan at TCCA.

[JP2]

45K service should have more than oil & filter change.

[gerhard]

45K service should have more than oil & filter change.

Wrong. 45k service is basically an oil change, and a check over the car. That was done, the owner was told it needed brakes, which confirmed what he already knew.

To the OP, I get the feeling you are going to have a lot of trouble with the servicing of your car. You put great faith in the pre-purchase inspector, and the Lube-Mobile man, both of whom are highly unlikely to be Euro vehicle trained. It seems you approached the Euro specialist with great suspicion and the attitude that he knows nothing, whereas the non-euro experts know it all. If I was doing the service as a specialist with the customer questioning my every move, I'd want you out of my workshop quick smart as well.

Good luck with Lube Mobile.

Oh, and get your brakes and rotors replaced soon. 45k is not a short lifespan for Golf brakes, virtually all other Euro vehicles are the same.

[mk5 golf]

PM Matt on here aka Golf Loon or speak to Peter from Peter Hallworth Motors in Homebush on 9746 6533, both very trustworthy individuals.

Thanks for the advice. Will do that.

[mk5 golf]

If Costa sees this he can provide you the details of another VW tech that freelances from his garage. I don't want to drop his name on here incase that is not appreciated.

Another option Milan at TCCA.

Thanks for the advice. Will also check this one out.

[mk5 golf]

Wrong. 45k service is basically an oil change, and a check over the car. That was done, the owner was told it needed brakes, which confirmed what he already knew.

To the OP, I get the feeling you are going to have a lot of trouble with the servicing of your car. You put great faith in the pre-purchase inspector, and the Lube-Mobile man, both of whom are highly unlikely to be Euro vehicle trained. It seems you approached the Euro specialist with great suspicion and the attitude that he knows nothing, whereas the non-euro experts know it all. If I was doing the service as a specialist with the customer questioning my every move, I'd want you out of my workshop quick smart as well.

Good luck with Lube Mobile.

Oh, and get your brakes and rotors replaced soon. 45k is not a short lifespan for Golf brakes, virtually all other Euro vehicles are the same.

Thanks for the reply. For sure I will get them replaced soon. But first of all I had no suspicion whatsoever towards euro specialist. I got a quote over the phone yesterday and was given a quote on the service and the list of things that will be carried out. So I was aware that it was more expensive than the other but I trusted and thought euro cars should be serviced by their experts and therefore have taken it to him.

I wasn't questioning him at all while he was working on the car. I asked him some questions before he started working on the car with the inspection report in hand. I am not saying the non-euro ones are better but I have "seen" the oil filter area not being opened. He did tell me at the end of service that the oil and filter have been changed and were put on tax invoice. It is just a matter of honesty. I still don't get why I look like I had suspicion when I approached the euro specialist. I've "seen" the car just going up and oil drained and the car coming down on hoist and that was it. I am sure he knows a lot mechanically since he deals with a lot of euro cars but I am talking about the oil filter not being changed or even touched on. I am not trying to bad mouth anyone here or saying some mechanics are better or worse as I myself don't know much about cars.

[gtimk5]

I am efficient with my work, like to get the cars in and out as painlessly as I can for my customers and myself.
20 minutes seems like a record for a service on any Golf, tyre pressures including spare, lubing door parts, checking for fault codes, resetting the service indicator and testing.
I allow up to 1.25 hours for a normal 45,000 km service.
Cheers, Andrew

[mikinoz]

In the OP's defence, I actually want to be able to speak to the mechanic about my car and if they are unwilling/unable to manage that then I will generally not deal with them again.

If you are not happy, you need not return to this operator. No there is not that much to do in a service at 45K (and is deemed a cheap service by VW) but all the same as Andrew says above - there really should be a certain level of attention given to the details mentioned.

[mk5 golf]

BTW I had the car checked out by lube mobile guy and he hesitated to tell me whether it was done. The reason was that the area was covered with a plastic cover and could not see it through (also he was in a hurry). Instead he showed me two types of filters, one with some paper material around which is capped with a small plastic cover to be placed under another large plastic cover and the other with a filter in a plastic covering which can be just placed in as it is. I told him I could understand his position as it would put him in an awkward position.

Then I headed back to the euro specialist and said to him I don't mean to be rude but I haven't seen you changing the oil filter and it was just too quick to be done. I also told him I've never seen a service being done that quick (literally 20 mins ). I understand that the brake pads and discs are visible even without taking off the wheels but what does an oil filter cost.. $20? I was upfront in saying you were on the phone then that you might have forgotten to put it in. I was trying to be very polite and told him I just don't want anything to happen to the motor because of a small thing that was not done but he tells me how the "system" works even at vw, which I've heard many times before. Then he goes on to say he's got this special tool that he can unscrew the cover quickly and get the job done quicker (therefore I missed it? wow..). I didn't say any more and on the way home I've realised that the tool that he picked up and showed me wouldn't even fit in to unscrew the part to remove the filter. I don't know what it's called, it's not a screw driver but it had a hole in its head so that it can be just placed on something to unscrew - spanner(?). Just bad bad experience and what a rip off. I would expect at least an hour spent on the car... yes.. just checking over the car.. but properly. Not like glancing through parts. And not missing on replacing a filter.

[mk5 golf]

I am efficient with my work, like to get the cars in and out as painlessly as I can for my customers and myself.
20 minutes seems like a record for a service on any Golf, tyre pressures including spare, lubing door parts, checking for fault codes, resetting the service indicator and testing.
I allow up to 1.25 hours for a normal 45,000 km service.
Cheers, Andrew

Now this makes much more sense. Although I don't know anything about cars I do have my eyes - none of them were done.. not even tyre pressure. wow do they do pressure check on spare tyre as well. I am definitely not going back there again.

[mk5 golf]

In the OP's defence, I actually want to be able to speak to the mechanic about my car and if they are unwilling/unable to manage that then I will generally not deal with them again.

If you are not happy, you need not return to this operator. No there is not that much to do in a service at 45K (and is deemed a cheap service by VW) but all the same as Andrew says above - there really should be a certain level of attention given to the details mentioned.

That is so true. That was my main concern (not suspicion) not being able to talk with the person who carries out the job hence the lube mobile guy. I will go check out the ones you guys recommended. Thanks again.

[mikinoz]

2 things.

Was the part listed on the receipt?

What is the licence number of the repairer? - you have consumer rights if you wish to pursue them.