Dodgy Tactics??

[Blitzen]

Let's not be too harsh about the brake flush.

That's part of the 2 year/30,000k service. The fact that you have run up 30,000 in 1 year is unusual, for most people 15,000 a year is usual.

I find this quite weird - you change the oil twice as often as specified willingly, but the thought of changing your brake fluid twice as often as necessary brings forth outrage????

You have tested the brake fluid and found it OK to continue using, which is fine - but do you test your motor oil before each change to see if you could continue using it?

Lets just clear a couple of things up first. Sorry if it came across as me being ungreatful. I have done 28,881 as it stands atm. In the first 7 days of owning the car i did 4,600km running it in for 3 days then driving from Sydney to Darwin. If you have ever lived in or visited the NT you would understand the distances you have to travel to get places(for example 600km round trip from Darwin to Kakadu and back, and at one point I was traveling 80km a day for a month at one workshop I was working at for OJT's) I have also driven from Darwin to Townsville on posting, and now Townsville/Sydney return on leave, and driving in between(over the weekend I have travelled well over 1000km...Sydney/Gosford/Sydney/Gosford/Canberra/Sydney...These short trips add up!! When I was living in Puckapunyal with my Commodoor and Barina, it wasn't unusual for me to see 45,000km in a year. Now that I am settled in Townsville, I expect to do 20,000km this year(I need to do 15,000 to 24,999km a year for tax reasons)

First of all, in the Polo GTI Servicing Booklet 30,000km service states in the extra part over a normal service(as this is an inspection service) that the pollen filter is "...replaced if the car has traveled more than 30,000 in 2 years..."Mine has...And that is all for the 30,000 service.

I have a K&N Filter...No new filter needed, and this was last serviced when I did my TIP at 24,000 odd km.

I have no dramas about the way I inspected the brake fluid at work...We have the appropriate Fluid testers in our workshop in Townsville(infact we have 3!!), and I'm not concerned about it anyway, as at the moment I have 2 options for new brake sitting on the table, as one or 2 of you know, and I will be upgrading my fluid when this is done. I have inspected the current fluid twice in the last 12 months.

I service my Engine Oil regularly, as I drive the car spritedly, and I like to look after it. I have never found anything untoward in my engine oil, and I have pulled apart my filter also to have a looksee(great for fault diagnosys by the way, and not just on engine filters, but hydraulic and fuel filters too). I last changed the engine oil at 22,000 odd kilometers. In fact, I made comment on how clean the oil I dumped was today. I was very happy with it.

What I am pissed about is that the dealer servicer blatantly changed the schedualed servicing proceedures in regards to my particular vehicle to suit there own finacial gains. It's ripping customers off. Im sure you guys wouldn't appreciate this either. How many unknowing people have dropped off their own vehicles and had this happen to them? It amounts to nothing less than a scam to be doing this. Whats more is they charge different amounts for labour depending what make the vehicle is(For example, the the other day I was at this particular Dealer servicer and the quoted labout for Suzuki's as $125...Not a large difference, but why in the first place, when the same blokes will be working on it whether it be a VW, Skoda, Suzuki and any other of the makes sold at the dealership?)

What ****s me off more is I have to go back to see them again tomorrow s that I can get the second rate tint job replaced that they had done 12 months ago. This is my first opportunity to get it done in 12 months...

Sorry guys, I'll get of my pedistal now...

[Spec83]

It's not just VW, my gf had her 2007 Astra serviced yesterday... $540 for a 30,000km service at the steeler. Ended up getting the same log book service (with stamp) done at UltraTune for $215

It's the labour rates which blow it out... I know they are factory trained but $135 an hour seems mighty steep...

[RhysQ]

any specialist on the coast? anyone can recomment?

s1831559 (i'm guessing that's your student number), call my mate Adam at V A Garage on 0405 340 725. He's a VAG specialist and will do your service at a very, VERY good price. When you call, tell him that Rhys recommended him to you. He's located at 59 Johnston St, Southport.

He's a bloody nice bloke and is very much an enthusiast, will look after your car how it should be looked after.

ALSO, if you are worried about warranty, VW Gold Coast send him work when they are too busy as he used to be head mech there..... no warranty issues!

Cheers,
Rhys.

[pologti18t]

I have to admit I got the Polo serviced at Ultratune for its 2yr service.

The cost of the service PLUS a brake fluid change was less than a basic service at a VW dealer without a brake fluid change.

[JCM308]

Can anyone reccommend a reputable mechanic in Sydney (southern suburbs preferrably) as I need to get a 15k service done shortly and want to compare prices with what the "stealer" will quote.

[Blitzen]

Agreed, she has taken for granted its a 2yr. 2yr is correct for the Brake fluid flush minimum.
Jmac

Sorry Jimmy, I also told her both times that the car was 12 months old too. I just went and saw them face to face when I dropped of my car to have its tint redone, and was told the same thing again.

[Matt P]

Curious to see, do any of you forsee your resale to be stronger with all VW stamps in the book?

I've only had my first (15k km) service done ($265 at fleet rates) but plan on taking it to a dealer its whole life (although country dealers instead of city dealers, usually cheaper) to help out on the resale value (as i'm doing 30k kms a year and i'll need all the help i can get to sell a 2yr old polo with 60k on the clock haha)

[RhysQ]

Curious to see, do any of you forsee your resale to be stronger with all VW stamps in the book?

I've only had my first (15k km) service done ($265 at fleet rates) but plan on taking it to a dealer its whole life (although country dealers instead of city dealers, usually cheaper) to help out on the resale value (as i'm doing 30k kms a year and i'll need all the help i can get to sell a 2yr old polo with 60k on the clock haha)

for the extra $1000 or so you may achieve in re-sale, you probably will have more than spent in extra service costs (depending on how long you own the car), so probably not really worth it. also, no one REALLY cares whether it's only been serviced by VW, only the hard bargainers do, who will try to smsh you down on price anyway.

[Blitzen]

I personally don't, but I rang up and asked due to the fact that I had to go there anyway to get my tint redone, so I figured that I would get the service done while it was there. When I got the information for the servicer that I did, I went to see Loon, made use of his facilities, and his and his employees knowledge, and I also gave the car a good inspection too. For this I am greatly appreciative.

[Spec83]

Provided the book is stamped and the service km match closly with the recomended intervals, then I doubt you will have any problems regading resale...

[seangti]

I'd prefer to see the same worskshop service the vehicle religiously over it's life, rather than a different one at each service interval. As a buyer I take more piece of mind knowing that all the parts used are genuine, as opposed to after market (won't stop me using non-genuine parts though).

Who is this reputable brisbane mechanic? How and where? I'm due for the 15,000, though done 13,000, it's now almost 12months old. Need new oil for feb track day

The other thing we must bear in mind is that service intervals are now 15,000km, as opposed to 10,000, so the price they feel they can justify will reflect this.

60,000km @ $500 per 15,000km service Vs 60,000 @ $300 per 10,000.... It's not a significant difference.

Can't argue with feeling your pain though.

[DaveMack]

Who is this reputable brisbane mechanic? How and where? I'm due for the 15,000, though done 13,000, it's now almost 12months old. Need new oil for feb track day

PM Jmac ... he'll give you his contact / location details (you won't regret it).

Dave

[mozzzy_2000]

I Hope I don't sound like a prat but I thought it was common knowledge that dealer's always charge a premium? I also thought it was common knowledge that you don't have to have you car serviced by the dealer to retain your warranty? My 2 year service done just over a month ago I think cost me approx $350 with a brake service incl. and this workshop is an Audi/VW & Mercedes specialist. They may not be able to offer warranty replacements but that doesn't mean you are still not covered. If there was any major warranty issue I would just take it back to the dealer (albeit reluctantly).

I personally would never take my car to the dealer for the simple fact they give lousy service, period. You have to realise that they use very inexperienced apprentices to service your cars and have the gaul to charge you premium for the service. That just doesn't cut it with me I am affraid. I prefer to use reputable specialist mechanics who have little to gain from ripping you off and are far more experienced. In Perth there are only a handful of these aforementioned mechanics so I imagine over east there would be plenty of Audi/VW specialists.

In regards to the brake service it does specify 2 years but it doesn't go on to say "or 30000KMs" although having said that it doesn't supprise me that the dealer would say this as well. On a personal level if I had done such a high load of driving in one year and lets face it, 30K in a year is massive, I think it would be prudent for you to get a brake fluid service. Brake fluid does go off overtime and it does loose pressure in the brake lines so having the brakes bled and refilled is probably not a bad idea. You will definately feel the difference thats for sure. Thats just my honest opinion but getting a dealer to do it? Definately not necessary.

[Blitzen]

I Hope I don't sound like a prat but I thought it was common knowledge that dealer's always charge a premium? I also thought it was common knowledge that you don't have to have you car serviced by the dealer to retain your warranty? My 2 year service done just over a month ago I think cost me approx $350 with a brake service incl. and this workshop is an Audi/VW & Mercedes specialist. They may not be able to offer warranty replacements but that doesn't mean you are still not covered. If there was any major warranty issue I would just take it back to the dealer (albeit reluctantly).

I personally would never take my car to the dealer for the simple fact they give lousy service, period. You have to realise that they use very inexperienced apprentices to service your cars and have the gaul to charge you premium for the service. That just doesn't cut it with me I am affraid. I prefer to use reputable specialist mechanics who have little to gain from ripping you off and are far more experienced. In Perth there are only a handful of these aforementioned mechanics so I imagine over east there would be plenty of Audi/VW specialists.

In regards to the brake service it does specify 2 years but it doesn't go on to say "or 30000KMs" although having said that it doesn't supprise me that the dealer would say this as well. On a personal level if I had done such a high load of driving in one year and lets face it, 30K in a year is massive, I think it would be prudent for you to get a brake fluid service. Brake fluid does go off overtime and it does loose pressure in the brake lines so having the brakes bled and refilled is probably not a bad idea. You will definately feel the difference thats for sure. Thats just my honest opinion but getting a dealer to do it? Definately not necessary.

You don't sound like a Prat at all. As mentioned, I was going to get it done there for the conveniance as I was dropping the car there already for another job.
I'm a Mechanic by trade(Light Petrol up to Heavy Diesel), and although 30,000km in a year may sound like alot, most of this was highway driving(about 70% of it). As stated too, I have tested the brake fluid twice in the last 12 months. Living in an isolated ****hole places like Darwin, and to a lesser extent like Townsville has had this effect on my cars. It dosn't really bother me in the slightest.
Its very hard for brake fluid to loose pressure in the lines(unless of course there is a hole in the line). The Brake fluid however is Hygroscopic. This means that it absorbs moisture and impurities. This is what causes brake fade. After repeted hard applications of the brakes, the moisture in the brake fluid starts to boil. This boiling produces tiny air bubbles that result in air in the brake line, making the braking feel "spongy".
When I tested my brake fluid back in November, the fluid came up as a "Very Good", and I have never had any issues with brake fade.