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Do you get a refund of any kind if you opt out of the factory maintenance program and DIY?
Opt Out of Factory Maintenance
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That would be nice.VW includes free service for 3 years, Keithuk.
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No its not part of the package you have to pay £250 for the service plan. I asked the cost of a service when I ordered mine and they said the current cost is £150. While its under warranty for 3 years and it has to be serviced by a reputable garage they may as well do it. If prices go up in 3 years as they do its still the same price so this package is a bargin really.
If VW include this as part of your package I don't think you'll get a refund if you decide not to use it.
If VW include this as part of your package I don't think you'll get a refund if you decide not to use it.
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I read somewhere (may have been this forum sometime ago) where someone took their VW into the dealer for service and they also did a complementary wash job and scratched the finish of the car. I also saw something about the type oil you have to use, and questioning whether the dealer actually used the correct oil. So these things lead me to believe it may be better to do it yourself. You know the old saying: If you want it done right do it yourself. I also saw something about opting out of the three year service plan ("free" service), and that made me wonder if you could "opt out." I know you could just not go, but I got the impression there was something more formal you could do.
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Yes I read that thread of someone having their car washed after service and they scratched because they dropped the sponge in the dirt on the ground, I don't think it was on here. You just tell them please don't wash it after the service is completed.
As for the dealer using the correct grade of oil you need to speak to the service manager but I'm sure they know what grade of oil goes in which model.
As for opting out you just don't take it in for a service but if its under warranty then you need the service book stamping and signing by a reputable garage else they will be aukward if you take it back for a warranty claim.
As for the dealer using the correct grade of oil you need to speak to the service manager but I'm sure they know what grade of oil goes in which model.
As for opting out you just don't take it in for a service but if its under warranty then you need the service book stamping and signing by a reputable garage else they will be aukward if you take it back for a warranty claim.
My golf came with 3 years/36,000 free maintenance as is the norm currently in the U.S. I prefer not to have them service it. I don't trust dealers/shops (for very good reasons) and I am more than capable of doing the maintenance myself.
I pay very close attention to detail when I work on my cars. I did not think of trying to get a refund on the cost of maintenance...I do doubt that they would do that anyway, but I was thinking of trying to see if I could get parts like the fuel filter at no charge at the parts department.
I still highly doubt they would even do that, I guess its worth a try. I do document all of my maintenance/keep all receipts and have VW of America update their records on my VIN by having my local dealer enter that I performed my own maintenance with all of the pertinent information.
I pay very close attention to detail when I work on my cars. I did not think of trying to get a refund on the cost of maintenance...I do doubt that they would do that anyway, but I was thinking of trying to see if I could get parts like the fuel filter at no charge at the parts department.
I still highly doubt they would even do that, I guess its worth a try. I do document all of my maintenance/keep all receipts and have VW of America update their records on my VIN by having my local dealer enter that I performed my own maintenance with all of the pertinent information.
Perhaps in Jolly Ol'England... On this side of the Atlantic there have been too many reports of VW dealers not having a clue when it comes to using the correct oil... going back to the first PD engines (2004 model year)...
Yuri
The main thing is don't void your factory warranty. Keep receipts, have your manual stamped if you opt to take it to another shop. I would check with the dealer so there isnt future problems if something happens. Don't give them a loop hole to get out of warranty work.
Well said! This is most important.
Exactly what good reasons do you have against your local dealer? Let alone, if you had such issues why in the hell did you buy a car from that brand?
lol, I'll gladly respond to that...everyone I know, friends and family have been ripped off by dealers as well as local shops both private and franchised. Its a business and some of them know what they are doing and some don't and a lot of times they all try to squeeze an extra few (sometimes a few hundred) bucks out of you. I'm certain that you all have an idea what I am talking about, its very common. I have even seen (though rare) cars sabotaged by a shop (the loose oil filter trick etc), I have friends that have receipts for complete brake jobs including replaced rotors and wheel cylinders and when they have problems later on, I've dismantled them to find out that all the dealer did was replace the pads...trust me, it was very evident.
I feel more comfortable doing as much work myself as I can, due to the fact that I have the proper tools in most cases, the knowledge, the space to do it...I don't always have the time, but I'll arrange it if necessary. I also don't like being talked down to when I go to a dealer (blue moon). As a general rule I find that they don't like dealing with people that have a clue what they are talking about because it spoils their little game. Mind you, I am very cordial when I go and I don't have an attitude or anything, but once I politely question something, the knives come out. I also don't like being pressured to spend extra money on "recommended" services. I'd just prefer to stay away and know the job was done correctly. When you have your car serviced by someone else and then something happens there's a lot of guesswork that points to what the shop did when they had the car last. I eliminate all that paranoia by having first hand knowledge, and I have the satisfaction of doing it myself.
I have never owned a car that gave me significant trouble or an expensive repair bill, which I largely attribute to doing the maintenance myself and not paying for labor by catching a problem early and overting a crisis by doing repairs myself. And by keeping proper records, receipts and documentation, there is no way anyone is denying me warranty work. I go out of my way to create a papertrail that shows that my work is credible. I've had (minor) warranty claims before (not on the Golf) and I never had a problem. I really don't kill myself doing this stuff either. I enjoy it and to me it beats having to take time off or work to drop the car off and wait around only for them to tell me it needs this and that.
I feel more comfortable doing as much work myself as I can, due to the fact that I have the proper tools in most cases, the knowledge, the space to do it...I don't always have the time, but I'll arrange it if necessary. I also don't like being talked down to when I go to a dealer (blue moon). As a general rule I find that they don't like dealing with people that have a clue what they are talking about because it spoils their little game. Mind you, I am very cordial when I go and I don't have an attitude or anything, but once I politely question something, the knives come out. I also don't like being pressured to spend extra money on "recommended" services. I'd just prefer to stay away and know the job was done correctly. When you have your car serviced by someone else and then something happens there's a lot of guesswork that points to what the shop did when they had the car last. I eliminate all that paranoia by having first hand knowledge, and I have the satisfaction of doing it myself.
I have never owned a car that gave me significant trouble or an expensive repair bill, which I largely attribute to doing the maintenance myself and not paying for labor by catching a problem early and overting a crisis by doing repairs myself. And by keeping proper records, receipts and documentation, there is no way anyone is denying me warranty work. I go out of my way to create a papertrail that shows that my work is credible. I've had (minor) warranty claims before (not on the Golf) and I never had a problem. I really don't kill myself doing this stuff either. I enjoy it and to me it beats having to take time off or work to drop the car off and wait around only for them to tell me it needs this and that.
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59 Posts
When I graduated from college more than 30 years ago, I bought myself a new 1980 VW Scirocco. I had always had a VW starting with a 1965 VW Bug and while I was in college I had a 1976 Rabbit. The Scirocco was the first new car I ever bought. After I had negotiated the deal and went to take delivery of my new VW, I noticed the carpet floor mats were not in the car. The salesman then tried to "sell" them to me as an add-on. I said thanks but no thanks to avoid giving him the satisfaction. Today, I would simply call his hand and advise the car I negotiated the price on had floor mats and, if necessary, would walk away. But at that time I really wanted the car. I never forgot getting ripped off by the VW dealer for a set of carpet floor mats. I never bought another VW until I bought my Golf TDI 30+ years later. My next car after the Scirocco was a Honda Civic, and I basically drove new Hondas or Toyotas for the next 30 years. So that set of floor mats cost VW alot. I also am very cautious of my dealings with car dealers. One unethical salesman/dealer can have a long effect.
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offtopic2
When I ordered mine I asked do they come with floor mats back and front they said no so I ordered the basic protection pack £220, carpets, mud flaps and load liner. A few days later VW sent me the GTD brochure and it said in the it comes with floor mats back and front. Incompetent sales girl so I now have a spare set.
When I ordered mine I asked do they come with floor mats back and front they said no so I ordered the basic protection pack £220, carpets, mud flaps and load liner. A few days later VW sent me the GTD brochure and it said in the it comes with floor mats back and front. Incompetent sales girl so I now have a spare set.
I'm well beyond the warranty period, my local dealer told me the only place I could purchase oil is the dealer. So all the thousands of vw's on the highway need to go back to the dealership. This aint my first rodeo!! Oil can be bought anywhere as long as it meets the specs. It's a shame dealerships dont know what type oil to put in cars they sell.
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Well I find that very hard to believe that the dealer doesn't know which type of oil goes into each model. Are these dealers totally VW or do they have other franchises? Now it should say which oil type in the handbook but I've heard people say they don't anymore I haven't really looked for this option.
In the UK there are loads of auto accessory shops that sell all grades of oil so you don't have to goto the dealer for it.
In the UK there are loads of auto accessory shops that sell all grades of oil so you don't have to goto the dealer for it.
Just do a search over on the TDIClub for message threads titled something like "Dealer put the wrong oil in my car"... Yes, these are full-fledged VW dealers... one of the problems was that starting with the 2004 model year (first PD engines over here), these cars were not available for sale in a number of states that followed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards for emissions, so that those dealerships didn't carry the 505.01 spec oils... I can't recall when was the last posting I saw about a dealer not being aware of that spec, but it wasn't long ago - I'd say not more than a year or so... And now with the Common Rail engines we see more of the same...
If you want something done properly...
Yuri
If you want something done properly...
Yuri
It's called laziness and they fact that the 507 oil is not very common and the techs think oil is oil and just put whatever they have around in the car.
Have you tried to buy 507 oil, it's quite difficult to find.
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