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Model specific boards => Golf mk8 => Topic started by: Sniffer on 04 April 2025, 18:24
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I hit a large pothole and recently noticed that my steering wheel was slightly off centre, so I asked my local dealership, yesterday, to check this when the car was in for its first oil service.
They didn't do the additional work I requested because they said they didn't have time, and I've got to book it in again. But, they added that the initial assessment (4 wheel alignment check) will cost me £299 and, if any repair work is required, it will cost significantly more. Apparently, if the steering/tracking needs adjustment, then the Adaptive Cruise Control etc also needs recalibrating, and that's another £300 or so. They didn't say exactly how much all this is likely to cost but I suspect it won't be cheap.
It seems, gone are the days when your local tyre dealer could sort out your tracking in 15 mins, for just a few quid in cash! BTW, I do know that some of the larger, nationwide tyre dealers claim they can do specialist 4 wheel alignment and cruise recalibration work but I'd be rather wary of using one of them. On the plus side, I suppose they'd be significantly cheaper than a VW main dealer.
Has anyone else encountered similar pothole related issues and, if so, what was the outcome?
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I had 4 wheel alignment done when the front arms were changed - cost £66.00. Mines a 7.5 with ACC but I’m sure the process is not significantly different?
Done with local GTI specialist.
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I had 4 wheel alignment done when the front arms were changed - cost £66.00. Mines a 7.5 with ACC but I’m sure the process is not significantly different?
Done with local GTI specialist.
Same here. £299 is outrageous. If a decent tyre centre couldn't do alignment on cars with radar they would soon go out of business, loads of cars have it now. I also reckon the chances of a dealer doing it in-house is unlikely, they probably take it elsewhere anyway.
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The adaptive cruise will not need recalibrating after a simple 4 wheel alignment, take it to an independent local tyre place that has a Hunter alignment machine, will cost around £100 for 4 wheel or less for two wheel. unless there is a good reason, I only have the two wheel alignment if I ever need it doing, as they will nearly always knock the other two out when they do the other ones, and in the process of aligning the 2 you’ve paid for, have to put all 4 back into alignment.
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I hit a large pothole and recently noticed that my steering wheel was slightly off centre, so I asked my local dealership, yesterday, to check this when the car was in for its first oil service.
They didn't do the additional work I requested because they said they didn't have time, and I've got to book it in again. But, they added that the initial assessment (4 wheel alignment check) will cost me £299 and, if any repair work is required, it will cost significantly more. Apparently, if the steering/tracking needs adjustment, then the Adaptive Cruise Control etc also needs recalibrating, and that's another £300 or so. They didn't say exactly how much all this is likely to cost but I suspect it won't be cheap.
It seems, gone are the days when your local tyre dealer could sort out your tracking in 15 mins, for just a few quid in cash! BTW, I do know that some of the larger, nationwide tyre dealers claim they can do specialist 4 wheel alignment and cruise recalibration work but I'd be rather wary of using one of them. On the plus side, I suppose they'd be significantly cheaper than a VW main dealer.
Has anyone else encountered similar pothole related issues and, if so, what was the outcome?
299 is the most ridiculous price i have ever heard as said if you pay over 100 you are being ripped off you wilont need any radar calibration either after 4 wheel alignment.
Had it don on my previous 7.5 performance and cost 77 all in.
Would also use another dealer in future as that one is clearly useless rip off merchant.
They don't do it on site either just take it to some one else and pay possibly 40 quid as they have a contract with tyre place then charge tlypu 299!
Nice bit of buisiness that is.
Even if they were doing it it takes half hour si even there hourly rate can't be that much!
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Many tyre dealers have free alignment checks but beware the cost if changes are required! As already said 4 wheel alignment is about £100 or less and can be a bit fiddly as changing front or rear usually means resetting the other axle and make sure they use the correct car mark (eg mk8) and version (eg clubsport etc). Resetting ACC etc is not required for simple wheel alignment changes. The tolerance on these are larger than any changes caused by wheel alignment.
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ATS Euromaster did a free check for me and showed the measurements to me on a screen. Fortunately my alignment was still almost perfect but I’m sure they said worst adjustments would be around £80.
I get my alignment checked every 18 months and don’t recall paying more than around £60.
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I work in a fast fit centre and bosch trained
ANY WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT CHANGES STEERING ANGLE/ DRIVE LINE WILL REQUIRE ADAS CALIBRATION
THATS RADAR AND CAMERA
IF NOT CALIBRATED THEN ACC LANE ASSIST BLIND SPOT PEDESTRIAN DETECTION AND
SIGN RECOGNICIAN WILL NOT WORK
IF NOT DONE YOUR CAR INSURANCE COULD BE VOID
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My ADAS and ACC works absolutely fine post alignment.
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My ADAS and ACC works absolutely fine post alignment.
Yes indeed! It will carry on working fine much as it would if you knocked it out of alignment.
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My ADAS and ACC works absolutely fine post alignment.
Yes indeed! It will carry on working fine much as it would if you knocked it out of alignment.
What are the symptoms of a fault (apart from crashing)?
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Warning lights on dash possibly esc may not work, lane assist error and associated driver assistance errors. Main problem is usually scs and that can easily be checked with obd11. Not had a problem when checking scs after alignment so assumed rest was OK. The hunter alignment system has an add on that interrogates the sensors and resets to manufacturers spec if necessary.
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Warning lights on dash possibly esc may not work, lane assist error and associated driver assistance errors. Main problem is usually scs and that can easily be checked with obd11. Not had a problem when checking scs after alignment so assumed rest was OK. The hunter alignment system has an add on that interrogates the sensors and resets to manufacturers spec if necessary.
Thanks, nothing like that on mine since work done in early December. Don’t use ACC much but Anti collision seems fine (apart from when the front sensor gets covered in snow).
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I work in a fast fit centre and bosch trained
ANY WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT CHANGES STEERING ANGLE/ DRIVE LINE WILL REQUIRE ADAS CALIBRATION
THATS RADAR AND CAMERA
IF NOT CALIBRATED THEN ACC LANE ASSIST BLIND SPOT PEDESTRIAN DETECTION AND
SIGN RECOGNICIAN WILL NOT WORK
IF NOT DONE YOUR CAR INSURANCE COULD BE VOID
REALLY!?🤔
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Warning lights on dash possibly esc may not work, lane assist error and associated driver assistance errors. Main problem is usually scs and that can easily be checked with obd11. Not had a problem when checking scs after alignment so assumed rest was OK. The hunter alignment system has an add on that interrogates the sensors and resets to manufacturers spec if necessary.
Thanks, nothing like that on mine since work done in early December. Don’t use ACC much but Anti collision seems fine (apart from when the front sensor gets covered in snow).
I agree with you Adam. I got the tracking redone in my Focus ST (recently changed from an 8.5 GTI) a couple of days ago following a couple of 'pothole incidents'. All the Driver Assist systems (radar and camera based) continue to work absolutely fine and the steering feel is now perfect (better than when I bought it). Work was done at an F1 Autocentre. All in (diagnostics and front + rear realignment) £84 - took just over an hour all told.
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Thanks for all of your helpful comments.
I have queried the £299 quote from my VW dealership and they attempted to justify it, by saying the job involves a long test run and around 2 hrs labour, involving checking all of the steering components. Wow, are they now charging £150 per hour?
Anyway, I told them thanks but no thanks and I have now booked my car into a local tracking and suspension specialist, who come highly recommended and significantly cheaper. They have all of the latest alignment and ADAS kit on their premises, too. Their prices start at around £80, depending on what needs done, which seems a lot more reasonable than the main dealers.
As some on here have said, the dealership quote was a real rip off and I bet they don't even do the job in-house.
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Thanks for all of your helpful comments.
I have queried the £299 quote from my VW dealership and they attempted to justify it, by saying the job involves a long test run and around 2 hrs labour, involving checking all of the steering components. Wow, are they now charging £150 per hour?
Anyway, I told them thanks but no thanks and I have now booked my car into a local tracking and suspension specialist, who come highly recommended and significantly cheaper. They have all of the latest alignment and ADAS kit on their premises, too. Their prices start at around £80, depending on what needs done, which seems a lot more reasonable than the main dealers.
As some on here have said, the dealership quote was a real rip off and I bet they don't even do the job in-house.
They are 100% ripping you offer NEVER use that dealer again bet you pay £100 max at local for tracking with no calibration to anything else.