Interim Service Cost

[Trickeytree]

Hi, my 2014 registered GTI is on the flexible service regime and had a major service just under two years ago. It’s now due an interim service and I have been contacted by my dealer advising me that it is due a routine service - £25 off (plus another 5% for booking on line).

On all the VW eb sites I could see the cost of a routine service is £179 so I was expecting this price to be quoted (before the above discounts) but the service department insisted that the cost of an interim service for cars on a flexible plan is more (£235) even though as far as I could see the same work is carried out.

Does this seem to be right and has anyone else had a similar experience ?
 
Thanks in advance.

[2007GTI]

I just paid £200 at VW West London for £179 service combined with an MOT, as they said they would do me a deal.

As far as I know, each dealer can alter the price as they see fit, as they are franchisees after all, not owned by VW.

Leaving it 2 years to service is never a great idea.

[fredgroves]

None of the Mk7 service schedules will leave it more than a year I thought?

One was 1yr/10k and the long life is 1yr/20k...

Its little more than an oil change and visual inspection (aka "what can we charge you for") though, but you will be missing service stamps in your book which can effect resale value (not warranty now the car is more than 3 years old)

[Guzzle]

Long life servicing is up to 2 years Fred.

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

[Finglonga]

Why dealer? A specialist would be around £125, DIY the cost of your parts and time.

[2007GTI]

Well a VW service stamp is worth more come sale time, IMHO.

Believe me, I have have had my fair share of stealer run ins over the years, and I nearly went independent this time around, but it was hardly worth it to save a few quid, as VW is pretty efficient these days, they have always taken care of the car, video it on arrival, and it's always ready when they say, no arguments. Granted I don't have a good independent local to me, so it's better the devil you know in my case.

Why dealer? A specialist would be around £125, DIY the cost of your parts and time.

[Exonian]

My local dealer is Inchcape and it seems to vary in price every time I go in for a service.
I used to get a quote before going in but don’t even bother anymore. The time before last the guy just swaggered over with the invoice and said he’d knocked £xx off the bill (can’t rememver the exact figure, it was March 2018), and this year it was a 24 month service and he strutted over with a big smile saying he’d thrown in a free aircon service and clean instead of a discount. I’ve no proof they’d regassed as claimed but it’s been keeping it cool and smelled nice (unless you have a dentist phobia as that’s what it smelled like!).

[Yusee]

The main advantage of independents is that they tend to be smaller so you know who’s touched your car.
Mechanics are more diligent in these circumstances.
I used a very small independent for my BMWs for many years because I trusted him more than the main dealers.
The fact that he was cheaper was a bonus.
Cost saving from seeking the cheapest will be small, i’d always try and find a good reputable garage to reduce the likelihood of crap service.

[Jason b]

VW official service centres have fixed priced servicing don't they ?
I paid 175 I think for a intermediate last year on my mk 7 GTI plus they changed a bulb however wasn't charged labour as that is part of the fixed price

[SRGTD]

@Trickeytree; if maintaining a full VW service history is important to you, remember that VW have a price match guarantee on servicing and repairs.

So if you find a good independent within 5 miles of your VW dealer who’d do the service using genuine VW parts cheaper than the price you’ve been quoted by your dealer, they should match the independent’s price.

T’s & C’s of VW’s price match at the link below;

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/price-match