R32 30.000km service $2k! Have I been ripped off?

[LucasR32]

I have just put my Mk.V R32 in for its 30,000km service and the dealer service department claimed that I needed four new brake pads AND new front discs.

Does this sound right to anyone, that I could have worn out the front discs on the first set of disc pads? This is just daily regular traffic driving not on the track.

Total bill for the service, parts and labour came to $2000!!

[Tim]

has the work already been done? sounds a bit premature for fronts unless you drive the thing like you stole it.
Easy way to tell would be to measure the rotors thickness and see if they are within tolerance. Might be hard if you have already had the work done and VW have "disposed" of the old rotors.

[ian]

I would of sorted a second opinion , [better brakes] or any large brake company, i just hope you didn't aprove for the work to be done on their word only ?

[Mountainman]

More frightening is the thought that this is going to happen every 30,000km. I'd try a different service centre next time and ask for the used parts back.

[VW Convert]

30,000 Km is a very short life for pads and discs. As a comparison, my MK V Jetta turbo had rear pads (not discs) at 45,000 (with the benefit of hindsight I reckon they would have gone to 60,000 KM) and fronts were still OK at 60,000 KM.

I would have been down there quick smart to have a look at the old parts before authorising replacement.

[Valver.]

30,000 Km is a very short life for pads and discs. As a comparison, my MK V Jetta turbo had rear pads (not discs) at 45,000 (with the benefit of hindsight I reckon they would have gone to 60,000 KM) and fronts were still OK at 60,000 KM.

30k isn't a short life for the front brakes on a large, front-heavy vehicle, and neither is the comparison with the 4cyl Jetta valid, given that the front end is so much lighter!

I've already sold a number of the 345mm rotors to workshops seeing fairly new S3s and R32s.

You have to bear in mind that most workshops (particularly dealers) are no longer machining rotors when the resulting thickness would bring them even slightly close to minimum - they also don't want to leave the car on the hoist as these are hours that can't be charged out. There's a significant delay time as dealers rarely have their own brake lathes and need to sublet the work.

The price has come from the fact that you took the car to a dealer, probably not the fact that parts needed replacing! Sorry to be blunt, but there's no reason not to use private workshops nowadays - they are immeasurably better than dealers and treat your car with loads more respect... there are also rather a lot less apprentices to bounce your car off its limiter too!

It's worth also pointing out that how you drive is a big factor here (and I'm talking about fast or slow): is your car a DSG and do you manually down gear when coasting down hills, or do you drag the brakes? There are SO many variables!

P.S. By the way, my R32 only has about 27k and the fronts are noticeably worn too. The car is a manual aswell. They are heavy cars and aren't kind on anything - including tyres as there's so much mechanical grip under braking.

[Transporter]

Regardless of, if you needed front brakes and brake discs $2,000 with 30,000km service, the price is a bit excessive.

Can any dealer in the forum shed some light on the cost of 30,000km service with front brakes job?

[brad]

Depending on how greedy the dealer is, a 30k will be anywhere from ~$270 - $400. IIRC, it will be an inspection service plus Pollen Filter & Brake Fluid flush (yes I know brake fluid is time based but the dealers want to do it every 30,000km because they have a tick & flick chart that says to do it that way).

My question would be, how much friction material was there at the 15,000km service? Also, how many mm did they say was left now? They would be working on it not making the 45,000 service so there could well have been 10,000km left in them.

Did they show you the old parts?

Anyway, you've fallen for the "get it done now" tactic rather than asking if you could stretch it for a while. You should have just told them you were broke & then gone & got some more quotes. Oh well. live & learn.

[simple_man]

Sounds a bit steep to me. I got MKV R32 DSG. Had it on few skidpan sessions and generaly do not baby the car. Brakes lasted about 60K, costed me from UK about 600AUD (from memory) for all 4 rotors and pads (OEM), instal was pretty cheap.

You ether had somthing wrong with your brakes (unushual wear/tear) or you drive with your foot on brakes all the time

[MACCAA]

I've got an 08 S3 with the same brakes as the R32.
Done 35000k's,lots of Track laps.
Still on the original discs,with pleny of meat left on them.

[MelbMan]

With my wifes 1.6L Golf we got much the same story as you around 44,000km. It's all in an earlier post. She was down at the Melb VW dealership and either she or they phoned. I got back to them and they wanted $1300 to do all the brakes. To say I hate calls like this would be an understatement! Quickly phoned around for some price ideas, phoned them back told not to touch the brakes.

Took the car to a local independent. He basically told us to drive the car until the brake light came on. At a later stage the rear brakes were done (discs machined as there were no new ones in Australia). The fronts I reckon were done at something more like 70k. It was the end of us using factory dealerships. What some of these dealerships do is pretty much criminal to my mind. Its really no different to robbery. No use asking to see the old parts... the only true way is to get a second opinion.

[wastegate]

You left foot brake?

Seems very odd to me, when I had my 30,000km service the pads were 60% I just had my 45,000 service and they were at 40% so I'm not easy on my brakes. Not sure what you are doing to need the rotors replaced after 30,000kms. I wouldn't rule out your driving style.