Service Costs - Again

[EB2019]

I'm currently looking into the cost of service at VW or a local garage (trusted local garage with all the VW kit etc). As its a used approved I still have 1 1/2 years warranty and roadside anyway.

Like most car enthusiasts my car doesn't just get the bonnet opened at service time so it gets looked after, so I'm not sure if the dealer servicing actually offers much piece of mind or value at the moment. If I was a mum with a Touran that only gets the washer fluid topped up at service time I can understand it for piece of mind, or if it held 10ltrs of 0w40 Mobil1 oil then that can be £100 straight away, but VW are charging a high price and I'm not sure what for.

The service my car needs now is an oil/inspection cost £195 according to VW dealer on Friday. Does that seem a bit high for £10 oil filter and £40 worth of Quantum oil? The inspection part just seems basic check over like half an MOT.

The service plan is £20 for 24months £480 for 1x oil/inspection & 1x oil/inspection, cabin filter and extended scope. So £195 for small and £285 for large?

All I can see the extended scope covers above the oil inspection is:
Remove wheels and check brakes - I check and replace my own as I have done so far to fit CS discs and pads.       
Check/adjust tension of all drive belts   - I don't think they can adjust tension but a visual check is 2 mins max?   
Check gearbox oil level - just checked not replaced   
Check final drive oil level - just checked not replaced (diff oil was replaced at last service)

If I go outside the VW service I can use Miller 5w30 Nanodrive oil which I have used in other cars.

I'm not selling this car now that I'm back in a mk7, so should I just keep it in the VW network and hold my nose or get it serviced properly at a local garage I trust with the oil of choice?

[willni]

Anyone with half a brain can change the oil and filter on a car, wouldn't read into it too much. If you go elsewhere get a spare service extension book from a mk5/mk6 and get it stamped as well.

I do agree with using Millers though, I used to get VW to put it in mine but I've gotten complacent and just use quantum in the gti.

[EB2019]

Good idea about the service book, might look into that.

Correct about the simplicity of an oil change, hence why I can't bring myself to pay £195 for it. Done them over the year on cars I don't have service history or for friend. but want a vat registered garage with invoice for records in the future. Perhaps I'm just being tight and need to cough up the cash 

[fredgroves]

Main dealer service is just an excuse to charge you for them to try and get you to spend more money.

Other than the oil change they don't do anything...

If you have the original warranty of course most things they might find are free warranty jobs but after that you are just getting hosed IMHO

[Exonian]

Being as there’s still a VW warranty on the car I’d be tempted to service at VW personally BUT owing to the OP’s fastidious nature then maybe not. If the car is going to be kept for a good few years the lack of main dealer history won’t make much difference to value further down the line, but in that case the service book is a very good shout.
Go for the trusted local garage option I reckon, especially if you know them well enough to let you have a poke around underneath while it’s up on the ramps yourself.

[Adam T7]

As soon as mine hit 3 years old I started to use a local VW Independent who have a pretty good reputation and most of the Mechanics are performance Golf users. They also have access to the electronic VW service system so as well as the invoice I also get a copy of the updated service record - worth asking if your choice have the same facility?

[EB2019]

I think they mentioned that vw service system feature when I was in there on Saturday getting my gearbox mount replaced, (didn't need to) but I replaced 2 myself and my OCD force me to ask them to do the difficult one under the battery tray.

Think I will use them going forward and keep all the paperwork I can.

Thanks for all your comments.

 

[EB2019]

Booked car into the local garage, they have the VW electronic service system so VW get the records too.

I also have a Millers oil analysis pack to use and send away,  I have used them a few times before for oil analysis and its fascinating (possibly only to me  ) but will be interesting to see the results.

[Finglonga]

I used a Independant after my free services were up (that I haggled when I bought the GTI) then after the Warranty was up I serviced it myself. Invested in an oil Extractor to make the job a 10minute doddle and saved literally hundreds on service costs.