Dealer Servicing - Worth it?!

[Starfox]

Hi All,

Time has come for me to service my MK6 GTD Golf.  I purchased it in July 2015 and it is now flashing up that there is only 600 miles to go until a service is required.

My question is - do you think having a full dealer service is worth it?  I was quoted £249 for a major service today.  For what you get it is a lot of money.  Or is it worth going to an independent garage.  I know whenever I am buying I always look for full service history - I am not that bothered if it is not full dealer service history.

Finally - anyone got any good recommendations for independent VW servicing in Northern Ireland?

Thanks!

[jv]

At that age I would definitely stay with main dealer servicing. Might save 50 quid going elsewhere, doesn't seem worth it. If something major fails outside of warranty you may still get some assistance if you have kept up the VW servicing.

[Starfox]

Thanks JV.  I know what you mean which is why I am struggling with deciding what to do.  I got a quote from a very well recommended independent garage who are specialists in VW and they have quoted £150 for the exact same service and will complete the book and put their stamp in it.

I am also getting conflicting reports from two of the main dealers in NI on what type of service is due.  My car has been serviced 3 times,

•   04-10-2011 – 10,341 Miles
•   28-12-2012 – 29,343 Miles
•   04-02-2014 – 49,602 Miles
 
The current miles on the car is 67,675 and it is telling me the car is due a service in 600 miles on the service interval display.  One VW dealer has said it requires a minor service with pollen filter change and the other a major service as they want to change all filters.  I don't have the service report from the last service so I can't check in detail what was done - how do I know what it actually needs?!

Also - the independent garage I spoke to said it would likely need a timing belt change.  Said it was every 4 miles or 80K miles but again I can't find any milestones for this in the service book.  From a VW dealer this would be £350 (including water pump) plus a major service of £250 = £600!    Independent dealer quoted £280...

VW don't seem to make it easy or maybe I am just being dumb!?   

[Rhyso]

I'd go with the independent especially if they use genuine parts and stamp the book.  As long as they can provide an invoice stating genuine parts then should you need any goodwill from VW that evidence should more than suffice 

I successfully argued with Audi to repair the ABS pump on my A3 despite it only seeing the inside of an Audi dealer twice in its life time

The dealers have to pay for their fancy glass workshops somehow 

On a side note I'd be servicing it every 10,000 miles but that's because I don't believe in variable servicing.  At the end of the day its a turbo charged performance (sort of) hatch and no matter how good or expensive the oil is, it does degrade

As for the cambelt most VW's are 60,000 miles or 4 years.  Approaching 70K I'd err on the side of caution and get it done 

[iamrich]

I'm also asking myself this question. My MK7 GTI PP is shortly due it's first year "oil change service" so trying to decide on going with the local VW dealer who I've never used before, or use my trustworthy independent garage.

My local garage comes in about 25% cheaper, are more convenient time-wise and I've used them for other non-performance VAG cars so know they do a good job.

I've used other dealerships in the VAG family and far from impressed. In fact they were why I ended up finding the local guys.

My plan is to ride the depreciation out and sell the GTI when it's 5/6 years old. This morning I came across the below on the Honest John website...

Finally, independent servicing greatly reduces the part-exchange value of a car for the first 5 years or so. Many franchised dealers (particularly Audi) dealers will not buy in stock that has not been Audi maintained throughout its life.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/warranty-servicing

Do VW dealerships have the same policy? (if indeed accurate). Also anyone else think the "greatly reduces the part-exchange value " is a little over hyped - or do you think they have a point when it comes to 5 year old GTI's?

[Waspy]

Do VW dealerships have the same policy? (if indeed accurate). Also anyone else think the "greatly reduces the part-exchange value " is a little over hyped - or do you think they have a point when it comes to 5 year old GTI's?

Pretty sure they do. If you go on their website, you cant buy a car without full dealer service history.

[iamrich]

Pretty sure they do. If you go on their website, you cant buy a car without full dealer service history.

Good point.

I've done a quick nationwide search of the VW Used Car inventory on their website. With the exception of three 2007 GTI's the majority of VW dealers appear to only hold stock aged up to 4/5 years old.

I guess over this age they would just send the part-ex straight to auction or some third-party dealer.

[madmanmart]

I don't think at that mileage, vw history will make a difference.
If it was a low mileage car then a vw stamp may hold some value.

[VWDoesItBetter]

I'm also under the opinion that dealer servicing tends to be overpriced and overhyped. So go independent if you are getting a stamp and everything. You know your car is in good hands and you will save some money.

[Jasikasisback]

Service it yourself..dealers are notorious at flurbing services...I bought a golf with a cambelt done at a dealer...it was only on paper..the cambelt and tensioner were never changed...somehow it lasted twice as long as it was supposed to mileage wise and and 14 years..car was owned by two lady owners before me...also had suspension work done on paper only..by another dealer...I learned that some factory parts have the date stamped on them...unless the dealers have exhausts sitting around since 1996 and fit them 10 years later..always ask for the old parts back...