So she's in with the Stealer...

[rskardon]

Just sent a note to the garage via email to ask for the longlife oil change to be completed, be interesting to see the response,

Cheers for the advice,

R

[winrya]

Mine is going in for its 4th year service in a couple of weeks when i have a 2 weeks off.

I'm time and distance and been quoted for

Castrol LL oil
Filter
spark plugs
pollen filter
Air filter (I've asked for this additionally)
brake fluid change
MOT

£280 all in.

I've not gone with cambelt yet, the 3 dealers and 1 specialist I asked for quotes for said (when i asked, not mentioned otherwise) 6 years or 60,000 miles is their recommendation.

I didn't realise until i looked through the service book that the air filter had never been replaced and shouldn't be until 6 years

[Teutonic_Tamer]

With regards to the rear brake light mine doesn't seem to have any water in it but half the LED's are shot.  Quoted £400 to have it replaced (inc new spoiler and spraying) from a VW bodyshop.

Bit late now, but check the angle of your rear squirter - I'm gobsmacked to still see Mk5 Golfs with the rear squirter aiming at the 12'o'clock position - ie straight up, directly at the high level brake light.  The official ElsaWin workshop manual clearly states the squirter should be aimed at the 2o'clock position - at an angle which clears the brake light.

In my case I don't actualy think there is any water in there.  I'm a bit annoyed as I specifically checked for any signs of water / condensation before the warranty ran out so if there was a problem it would be sorted FOC.

The squuirter does aim straight up but the jet of water hits the screen roughly half way 3/4 of the way up so I don't see how this would fill the light anyway.  Unless they are making the lens out of some porus material 

Even though the squirter aims about halfway down, it will still drench the 3rd brake light - as it actually squirts with some force.  Just think when you have a slash in bogs with the old style wall-to-floor p!ss-wall urinal - even when you carefully aim halfway up, you always manage to get splashback on your flip flops!  :embarassed: 

Clearly there is an issue but I think its more likely that for those who have water in them its getting in from the top - probably the point where the cable or screws enters the fitting.

Don't really agree.  Like most things (including headlamps), the 3rd brake light was designed to have rain falling on it from above, and not being jet-blasted from below.  So if your squirter is aiming at 12 o'clock and not 2 o'clock, then I would strongly suggest that it hasn't been set according to VWAG official technical manuals - so if your warranty has expired, VWUK should be looking at goodwill to cover the cost.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Hmmm, well it might be worth me at least sending the dealer an email/letter to have a moan, i might try ringing VW HQ too, though i have a suspicion the dealer will respond that it is standard practice on T&D,

Take it further.  Like I said, Quantum oils are NOT approved for VW (and Audi, Seat and Å koda) official franchised workshops.

And pre-2009, the 'standard practice' was to use a 502.00 oil, but that oil MUST be either a 'genuine' Volkswagen Original Teile® branded oil, or an official 'top-line' oil from Castrol/Fuchs/Shell.  Look at this post to see the difference between genuine VW oil and aftermarket Quantum oil - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=95565 - so for the pre-2009 T&D, they should have used oil begining with "G 052 167 **".

I'm quite surprised they are using non approved oils as they generally seem to be quite good in most repsects. is the Sytha not actually a VW approved oil then? i could use that as an argument.

Quantum oils generally are very good oils, and they are actually made by Castrol for Volkswagen UK.  But nip across to Germany, and I doubt you could buy Quantum - because it isn't listed in ETKA.  The part numbers are a dead-giveaway - Quantum oils have the prefix "ZGB" - and Z simply means "non-standard or non-OEM" part, and you can work out what GB means! 

Regarding Quantum 'approvals' - well the bottle may say they meet certain VW standards, but they aint approved by VW Germany.  To prove my point, log onto this site - https://erWin.Volkswagen.com - you will then need to set up a free account, and then download the approved oils PDFs - you will NOT find any Quantum oils on there.

Actually, you WILL find a Quantum oil on there (shocked, as I thought none had been approved) - but for the 502.00 standard (the min. spec for the GTI on T&D) - then ONLY the Quantum PD Diesel is approved.  Synta Gold is definately NOT approved - so your stealer has fcuked up on two issues!

Worst case, in 10k/ 1 year do you think it poses a risk? She's always had longlife before, i guess i could by some longlife and either change it myself or have a cheaper specialst change it if it is likely to cause damge, there's 48k on the clock,

The Synta Gold wants dumping out the sump ASAP - how you do this is up to you - but I would be adamantly demanding the stealer does it, and picks up the tab.  OK, the stealer may want you to pay the difference between the cost of 4.6 litres of Synta Gold against the same of genuine LongLife3 (which will be about a tenner) - but they can't shaft you with labour charges, as they fcuked up!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Probably getting F**ked as per usual, its in at Drift Bridge in Surrey, they do a reasonable job, i'd probably use the local independant but i need to use main dealers whilst its on Finance still,

Oh well 

Really?  I doubt it...maybe serviced in line with the OEM schedule but if you are able to have it serviced outwith the dealer network and keep the warranty on a new car I don't see why you HAVE to use the dealers for the finance either?

This specific case has nothing to do with the warranty.  If the car is on finance, and the finance company states that it must only be serviced at a VW garage, then you have to bite the bullet.  Because the car is on finance, it is the finance company who are the legal owner of the car, and they can makey any (reasonable) demands they see fit.  But if you owned the car outright (ie without any finance), then you, the owner can choose where to get it serviced.

I did read the bit where he said it was a finance issue.  My point was that if its illegal for car manufacturers to demand that their cars are serviced only by their dealers for the warranty to remain valid then the same competition laws apply to the manufacturers finance companies.  In any case I have finance through VW and although their is a requirement to service the car to the manufacturers schedule / standards it doesn't specify that it has to be VW 

But you missed the cruical point.

I full agree with the warranty issue - but that generally applies to a private motorist, who would own the car outright.  But if the car is on finance, the driver isn't the legal owner, and MUST comply with the instructions provided by the finance company.  And if the finance company demand that the car is ONLY serviced at a genuine dub stealer - then tough - like it or lump it.  You would have had seven days to read over the small print - and if you didn't like, or couldn't agree to ALL the terms of the finance contract - then you should have handed the car back and cancelled the contract (as per your legal right).  A contract is completely separate to a warranty.

Just head over to Seat Cupra net and search for the chap who modded the fcuk out of his LCR - when the car broke down, it got towed to a dub stealer - and because the car was owned by Volkswagen UK Financial Services, they went ballistic.  He had to pay to put the car back to standard, the finance was immediately cancelled, and he had to hand back the car too.

[ub7rm]

With regards to the rear brake light mine doesn't seem to have any water in it but half the LED's are shot.  Quoted £400 to have it replaced (inc new spoiler and spraying) from a VW bodyshop.

Bit late now, but check the angle of your rear squirter - I'm gobsmacked to still see Mk5 Golfs with the rear squirter aiming at the 12'o'clock position - ie straight up, directly at the high level brake light.  The official ElsaWin workshop manual clearly states the squirter should be aimed at the 2o'clock position - at an angle which clears the brake light.

In my case I don't actualy think there is any water in there.  I'm a bit annoyed as I specifically checked for any signs of water / condensation before the warranty ran out so if there was a problem it would be sorted FOC.

The squuirter does aim straight up but the jet of water hits the screen roughly half way 3/4 of the way up so I don't see how this would fill the light anyway.  Unless they are making the lens out of some porus material 

Even though the squirter aims about halfway down, it will still drench the 3rd brake light - as it actually squirts with some force.  Just think when you have a slash in bogs with the old style wall-to-floor p!ss-wall urinal - even when you carefully aim halfway up, you always manage to get splashback on your flip flops!  :embarassed: 

Clearly there is an issue but I think its more likely that for those who have water in them its getting in from the top - probably the point where the cable or screws enters the fitting.

Don't really agree.  Like most things (including headlamps), the 3rd brake light was designed to have rain falling on it from above, and not being jet-blasted from below.  So if your squirter is aiming at 12 o'clock and not 2 o'clock, then I would strongly suggest that it hasn't been set according to VWAG official technical manuals - so if your warranty has expired, VWUK should be looking at goodwill to cover the cost.

Maybe so.  In any case I don't think water is my particular problem.  It seems to be bone dry with no signs of condensation.  I hear what you're saying about the squirter and will re adjust it.

Good news on the goodwill claim, VW have agreed to pay half the costs.  Didn't have that much hope of getting anything so not a bad result  

[ub7rm]

Probably getting F**ked as per usual, its in at Drift Bridge in Surrey, they do a reasonable job, i'd probably use the local independant but i need to use main dealers whilst its on Finance still,

Oh well 

Really?  I doubt it...maybe serviced in line with the OEM schedule but if you are able to have it serviced outwith the dealer network and keep the warranty on a new car I don't see why you HAVE to use the dealers for the finance either?

This specific case has nothing to do with the warranty.  If the car is on finance, and the finance company states that it must only be serviced at a VW garage, then you have to bite the bullet.  Because the car is on finance, it is the finance company who are the legal owner of the car, and they can makey any (reasonable) demands they see fit.  But if you owned the car outright (ie without any finance), then you, the owner can choose where to get it serviced.

I did read the bit where he said it was a finance issue.  My point was that if its illegal for car manufacturers to demand that their cars are serviced only by their dealers for the warranty to remain valid then the same competition laws apply to the manufacturers finance companies.  In any case I have finance through VW and although their is a requirement to service the car to the manufacturers schedule / standards it doesn't specify that it has to be VW 

But you missed the cruical point.

I full agree with the warranty issue - but that generally applies to a private motorist, who would own the car outright.  But if the car is on finance, the driver isn't the legal owner, and MUST comply with the instructions provided by the finance company.  And if the finance company demand that the car is ONLY serviced at a genuine dub stealer - then tough - like it or lump it.  You would have had seven days to read over the small print - and if you didn't like, or couldn't agree to ALL the terms of the finance contract - then you should have handed the car back and cancelled the contract (as per your legal right).  A contract is completely separate to a warranty.

Just head over to Seat Cupra net and search for the chap who modded the fcuk out of his LCR - when the car broke down, it got towed to a dub stealer - and because the car was owned by Volkswagen UK Financial Services, they went ballistic.  He had to pay to put the car back to standard, the finance was immediately cancelled, and he had to hand back the car too.

Why must we argue so TT 

I think you missed my crucial point about anti competition law.  They simply cannot insist that a VW dealer does the work.  That would be illegal.  Just because its in a contract (and I don't think it is) doesn't make it legal anyway.

You also missed the bit where I said I have VW finance and this is not a condition of it.  Regular maintenance yes, but not necesserily at a stealers.

The case of the LCR was different.  The finance does state that you have a duty to maintain the car to the manufacturers specification and service schedule and not to take any action that will result in reducing the cars future value or saleability.  This is what the LCR tube failed to realise and was busted on.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

With regards to the rear brake light mine doesn't seem to have any water in it but half the LED's are shot.  Quoted £400 to have it replaced (inc new spoiler and spraying) from a VW bodyshop.

Bit late now, but check the angle of your rear squirter - I'm gobsmacked to still see Mk5 Golfs with the rear squirter aiming at the 12'o'clock position - ie straight up, directly at the high level brake light.  The official ElsaWin workshop manual clearly states the squirter should be aimed at the 2o'clock position - at an angle which clears the brake light.

In my case I don't actualy think there is any water in there.  I'm a bit annoyed as I specifically checked for any signs of water / condensation before the warranty ran out so if there was a problem it would be sorted FOC.

The squuirter does aim straight up but the jet of water hits the screen roughly half way 3/4 of the way up so I don't see how this would fill the light anyway.  Unless they are making the lens out of some porus material 

Even though the squirter aims about halfway down, it will still drench the 3rd brake light - as it actually squirts with some force.  Just think when you have a slash in bogs with the old style wall-to-floor p!ss-wall urinal - even when you carefully aim halfway up, you always manage to get splashback on your flip flops!  :embarassed: 

Clearly there is an issue but I think its more likely that for those who have water in them its getting in from the top - probably the point where the cable or screws enters the fitting.

Don't really agree.  Like most things (including headlamps), the 3rd brake light was designed to have rain falling on it from above, and not being jet-blasted from below.  So if your squirter is aiming at 12 o'clock and not 2 o'clock, then I would strongly suggest that it hasn't been set according to VWAG official technical manuals - so if your warranty has expired, VWUK should be looking at goodwill to cover the cost.

Maybe so.  In any case I don't think water is my particular problem.  It seems to be bone dry with no signs of condensation.  I hear what you're saying about the squirter and will re adjust it.

The best way to readjust it is to remove the large plastic cap which covers the wiper spindle and squirter.  You should then see, looking end-on that the squirter body is D shaped.  The whole of that D can be rotated on its shaft (you may need a pair of pliers), rather than adjusting the ikkle eyeball jet.

Good news on the goodwill claim, VW have agreed to pay half the costs.  Didn't have that much hope of getting anything so not a bad result  

See, they do have a heart!  Good news indeed.  So does yours have a genuine VW service history?

[ub7rm]

Yes.

I even buy my screen wash from them - which I was sure to point out. 

[stealthwolf]

Finally, ALL Quantum oils are NOT authorised for 'workshop use' - Quantum oils are only supposed to be 'sold over the counter' for independents or home users.  All VAG franchised workshops must only use either Volkswagen genuine oils, or oils agreed from an official contract supplier, such as Castrol, Shell, Fuchs, etc.

Take it further.  Like I said, Quantum oils are NOT approved for VW (and Audi, Seat and Å koda) official franchised workshops.

Quantum oils generally are very good oils, and they are actually made by Castrol for Volkswagen UK.  But nip across to Germany, and I doubt you could buy Quantum - because it isn't listed in ETKA.  The part numbers are a dead-giveaway - Quantum oils have the prefix "ZGB" - and Z simply means "non-standard or non-OEM" part, and you can work out what GB means! 

Oi! Damn local dealer gave me the Quantum stuff when I asked for a 1l bottle. Thought they'd have given me Castrol SLX like the dealers where I bought the car from. At least the local dealer used Castrol for the service (at least that's what it says on the invoice).

Why did they give me Quantum?
Why not Castrol like my usual dealer?
If Castrol make Quantum, what's wrong with it? Why doesn't it meet the spec?
Should I go back, return it and demand ask for Castrol?
Is the Quantum safe for use as top-up or should I stay away from it completely?

I wonder whether I told them the car had been changed from LL to TD had any effect.

There's a local VAG parts place that seems to flog Quantum - again, why?