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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: Steve30 on 10 June 2011, 21:54

Title: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 10 June 2011, 21:54
I got a price today of £165 + vat for a first service,compared to VW's £345 , my question is where do I stand warranty wise ? The company named is German motor company seemed very good price.  :undecided:
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Komenda on 10 June 2011, 21:57

No warranty issue at all. It is completely up to you where you get your car serviced. Just has to be a registered business. 
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Jimmymature on 10 June 2011, 21:58

No warranty issue at all. It is completely up to you where you get your car serviced. Just has to be a registered business. 

But it could impact the value of the car from a resale perspective.


Jim
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Jimble on 10 June 2011, 21:59
I thought it had to be a VW approved service centre?
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 10 June 2011, 21:59
What are the pro's + cons of using these indi companies apart from price's ?
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Jimmymature on 10 June 2011, 22:02
What are the pro's + cons of using these indi companies apart from price's ?

If I were buying a car like yours in a few years i'd only pay the right money if it had a full service history through a main dealer.

JIm
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: GolfTi on 10 June 2011, 22:06
Steve

VW won't charge £345 for a first service, they must have quoted for the 3 years servicing.

Why didn't you get the 3 year plan for £250??


Warranty all OK as long as they use VW parts.

Full VW dealer service history is best for resale.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Komenda on 10 June 2011, 22:09
An independent must still use all the manufacturers recommended fluids and parts, plus they may not have the specific diagnostic tools required to scan or reset the car.

The biggest downside is the independent may not be aware of technical bulletins or updates to the car, this includes the update and modification of service parts.

The EC directive brought in to cover this says a warranty can not be affected if a car is serviced to the manufacturers standard. This includes affecting it's value.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 10 June 2011, 22:13
Steve

VW won't charge £345 for a first service, they must have quoted for the 3 years servicing.

Why didn't you get the 3 year plan for £250??


Warranty all OK as long as they use VW parts.

Full VW dealer service history is best for resale.


 My dealer wants £345 for a first service , theres no way i'm paying that for an oil change ,basically thats all your getting for your money ? They do use VW parts also long-life oil .
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Jimmymature on 10 June 2011, 22:15
An independent must still use all the manufacturers recommended fluids and parts, plus they may not have the specific diagnostic tools required to scan or reset the car.

The biggest downside is the independent may not be aware of technical bulletins or updates to the car, this includes the update and modification of service parts.

The EC directive brought in to cover this says a warranty can not be affected if a car is serviced to the manufacturers standard. This includes affecting it's value.

Sorry but you can have as many Directives as you like but you'll never have one that protects the second-hand value of a car! Supply and demand can not be legislated for, more people will want a full dealer service history and as a result demand is higher and as a result the price is higher....


Jim
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: GolfTi on 10 June 2011, 22:22
Over £200 is outragous for a 1st/ oil service.

What else are they doing for this price?


Phone around your local dealers, they will be a bit more than the indies but not £180 more :shocked:
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Komenda on 10 June 2011, 22:22

All true. But it also comes down to the individual and how hard they negotiate when trading a car in.

I buy my cars from my local VW dealer so I have the ease of going back to the source if anything does go wrong, and I have a good relationship with them.  I don't get them serviced there though.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: am1w on 10 June 2011, 22:25
Steve, your dealer is way too expensive. In fact, it's a shocking price.
Try another dealer.
One question: Do they charge more to service a Diesel? I cannot understand why this should be as its only an oil and filter change and an overall check of the car.
I know from others on here who don't have a service plan, that it's approx £170 for a first service with a main dealer for a GTI.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 10 June 2011, 22:35
What are the pro's + cons of using these indi companies apart from price's ?

If I were buying a car like yours in a few years i'd only pay the right money if it had a full service history through a main dealer.

JIm

Jim a lot of these  dealers are very poor at what they do, when it comes to servicing , wrong oil , no oil filter change parts not put back properly just to name few ? Dealer servicing means nothing to me mate , I'm sorry but I don't have much faith dealerships they are a rare breed nowa days !
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Jimmymature on 10 June 2011, 22:41
What are the pro's + cons of using these indi companies apart from price's ?

If I were buying a car like yours in a few years i'd only pay the right money if it had a full service history through a main dealer.

JIm



Jim a lot of these  dealers are very poor at what they do, when it comes servicing , wrong oil , no oil filter change parts not put back properly just to name few ? :cool:

I agree mate, but the used value of our cars is directly impacted by having a main dealer service history. The price you've been quoted must be an error, I was offered two services from my dealer for £300 the other day! I wish I'd accepted it now



Jim
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: evo1986 on 10 June 2011, 23:45
That price must be wrong steve.........main dealer servicing cars keep there pedigree and certainly sell alot easier
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Snoopy on 11 June 2011, 10:14
Ask them to price match. My local VW dealer does.
As for full dealer history sorry thats a saleman BS line to get the part ex price down they try every trick in the book its meeningless.
Disadvantage = of indy is you won't get the hidden 'service bulletin' updates or corrections to the car they don't tell the public about  :wink:
Advantage = They give a sh!t and will probably do a better job.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: R32UK on 11 June 2011, 10:57
phone your local skoda/seat dealership and ask them for a price. they will be cheaper by some margin.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: p3asa on 11 June 2011, 12:01
Call me paranoid but I don't trust certain garages in respect to cars being sold with "Full Service History"

I mind going to look at a car with my wife that was 4 years old and in excellent condition and the dealer claimed it had a FSH. When I asked to see it they made some cock and bull story that the book was locked away in admin but I could come back and see it. I agreed to come back and test drive the car as it was seriously blocked in at the time. Anyway when I came back they had the service book ready for me. No grubby marks, pritine condition, all services conveniently stamped by the selling dealer, all with the same pen. Yeah it might have been legit but it just didn't sit right. I reckon they had just done it themselves. I had no proof but just walked away.

Yes I could have contacted the previous owner but that would have been once I purchased the car and had the new Reg document. Far too much hassle.

I always keep receipts now and staple them in to the back for any services / parts / work done on the car in case I sell privately.

Steve, as for your £345 for the first service, you must have picked them up wrong
VW are still offering a 3 year service and free MOT for life of the car, for cars over 90 days old for £349
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/fixed-price-servicing
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: mac7 on 11 June 2011, 12:13
I'm fortunate that I can service our cars myself. I follow the service schedule, use VW parts and keep all the receipts in a folder. We recently sold our four year old Passat without any problems and got within a few hundred quid of the asking price. It only went into a dealer once, for warranty/recall work.

As Snoopy says, the main issue surrounds the service bulletin updates, which usually seem to be software related anyway. A friendly chat with the tec's at the local VW dealer sorted that out.

So much of the service seems to involve simple 'inspection' these days which I'm sure doesn't always get done but helps the garage justify the costs.
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 11 June 2011, 12:22
I just had a quote again same dealership £305 the car is on longlife and its only done 12K , not sure what to do my new car is due in Sept2011 ?
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: p3asa on 11 June 2011, 12:31
I just had a quote again same dealership £305 the car is on longlife and its only done 12K , not sure what to do my new car is due in Sept2011 ?

If I wasa trading a car in any time soon, I certainly wouldn't be geting it serviced. Any garage that I've ever traded a car in to might have asked me about a service history on my car but not once looked at the document when the actual handover took place.

Which to me just adds to my paranoia about them stamping the book themselves!!!
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: evo1986 on 11 June 2011, 21:50
I just had a quote again same dealership £305 the car is on longlife and its only done 12K , not sure what to do my new car is due in Sept2011 ?

New tiguan Deliveries will be around then : )
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 11 June 2011, 22:01
I just had a quote again same dealership £305 the car is on longlife and its only done 12K , not sure what to do my new car is due in Sept2011 ?

New tiguan Deliveries will be around then : )

Face lift Tig Lee , I tried to order today but no can do ? :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: evo1986 on 11 June 2011, 22:05
Yes orders not open yet but not long.......must of been pretty good deal on the match?
Title: Re: Independent service ?
Post by: Steve30 on 11 June 2011, 22:11
Yes orders not open yet but not long.......must of been pretty good deal on the match?

Yea not bad really , got a sunroof and a few other bits on it 25k :cool: