30K Service Rip off. Please help

[davewave]

Hello Folks,
My MK6 Gold 118TSI Comfortline is now overdue for it's 30K server (going on 40K) because the guys over at Gold Coast VW tell me it will cost a ridiculous $500+. The guys at ultratune quoted me $420 and Kmart Auto quote me $320.
When I told VW about the lower costs they tried to sell me some bull about "state-of-the-art equipment" which is just VAGCOM and a laptop and honestly I don't need that computer stuff checked, just the SERVICE itself.

Can anyone please advise me if this is a rip off or if VW really do a comprehensive service over Kmart or Ultratune?

Cheers
David

[team_v]

Hello Folks,
My MK6 Gold 118TSI Comfortline is now overdue for it's 30K server (going on 40K) because the guys over at Gold Coast VW tell me it will cost a ridiculous $500+. The guys at ultratune quoted me $420 and Kmart Auto quote me $320.
When I told VW about the lower costs they tried to sell me some bull about "state-of-the-art equipment" which is just VAGCOM and a laptop and honestly I don't need that computer stuff checked, just the SERVICE itself.

Can anyone please advise me if this is a rip off or if VW really do a comprehensive service over Kmart or Ultratune?

Cheers
David

I would never take any vehicle i owned to kmart or ultratune, have heard way too many horror stories and they do not provide the same level of work.

Why not take the car to a vw specialist who will provide a high level of service but lower cost than the stealership using a first year tech apprentice?

[ian]

Mate your nearly 10,000km over the service interval, this could affect your warranty if something was to happen to the car, just get it serviced ,ring a few other VW service centres i'm sure there are quite a few in the pink pages ?

[MiiLos]

+1. I'm paranoid with having to drive 15k before my first service let alone doing almost 25k without at least an oil+filter change.

[Big_M]

Mate try Adam at VAGarage,
He's at 3/7 Olympic Circuit Southport.
Phone - 5591 6009

Car Services & Repairs | V A Garage | Gold Coast, Australia

Matt.

[Corey_R]

So I'm not really sure what it is that you're complaining about.

A generic service group, Ultratune, wants to charge you $420, and the actual VW dealer wants to charge you $500+ (which I take it means less than $600). It's pretty fricken obvious who is the better option there if there is that little price difference....


Have you called any other VW dealer service centres to ask for their price for the service? That will give you an idea of value.
Have you contacted any independent VW specialists to get their prices?

When you do that, please share the quotes you got as that is useful for other forum members. Whilst that's been done for Melbourne, no one has done it recently for QLD

[iamthestig]

Hello Folks,
My MK6 Gold 118TSI Comfortline is now overdue for it's 30K server (going on 40K) because the guys over at Gold Coast VW tell me it will cost a ridiculous $500+. The guys at ultratune quoted me $420 and Kmart Auto quote me $320.
When I told VW about the lower costs they tried to sell me some bull about "state-of-the-art equipment" which is just VAGCOM and a laptop and honestly I don't need that computer stuff checked, just the SERVICE itself.

Can anyone please advise me if this is a rip off or if VW really do a comprehensive service over Kmart or Ultratune?

Cheers
David

Well David you should have looked into this earlier. To tell the truth, if I was looking at used Golfs, I would run away from yours given it was WAY overdue for this service (yes, 25k on the same engine oil is not a great idea). Take it to anyone other than a VW specialist now and you resale will suffer - at least doing it properly you might be able to spin a line about having to wait for a booking... perhaps...

[Transporter]

Some people pay more to get their Hyundai Accent serviced. I'm not joking, I just took a few pictures of the service invoices from Adelaide's well know dealership that my customer showed me, one was done at 8500km and it cost $359 and second one at 16500km cost $549. How bad is that?

OP, you are still getting a bargain where ever you take your car.

[ozgti]

My 30k service was $675. I wouldn't be complaining!

[Ozram]

I can't believe the OP is whingeing about paying $500+ for a dealer service on a $35-45-000+ car.
You are paying a premium sure, but how much does peace of mind cost? I'd rather take mine to a dealer or VW expert than a jack of all trades establishment. How could you let your km's blow out that far between services?

Scenario - your car has a problem developing that you are not aware of. Kmart and Ultra tune do not have the correct diagnostic equipment to scan your car. Vw dealer / specialist does and will check your car as part of the service resulting in you not suffering a breakdown miles from anywhere on a Sunday night in the pouring rain.

Your choice. I know what mine would / will be.

[Ryan_R]

Volkspower in Burwood did my 30K for $300 plus they washed it. Try wiping the grin off my face

The 'VCDS and a laptop' comment is a bit off though, their erWin tools give much more in depth errors than the generic ones VCDS can provide. Their computer probably cost more than your car (about 40k)

[neil]

$500 does seem high.
I have only paid around the $350 mark for all my services,last one being 45000km,
All from the same VW dealer service centre.

[Ideo]

Well done. You have potentially voided your warranty and made a car worth much more on the secondhand market over a couple of hundred bucks.

[Ryan_R]

If you're directing that at me, my car was already out of warranty

[Ideo]

If you're directing that at me, my car was already out of warranty

Nah, sorry, at OP.

Mine will be done at an indie garage using VW parts as per the scheduled servicing required.