TDI 24-month service

[Idle]

My TDI 2.0 DSG is due for its second service (2 year) next month, and I just checked what it's going to cost me.

The two nearest dealers quoted $579 and $610 respectively, which I think (and as a former fleet owner I have lots of experience with both professional and in-house servicing) is a straight up ripoff — the car has only just gone past 7000k and isn't showing any fault codes.

So far as I can see, the service would be what I had last year, with the addition of brake system flush and refill (in my (now far too long...) experience of dubious value under 4 or 5 years, and certainly not worth $$$'s), and the cost is almost double!

Further, if I want while-you-wait service I need to have the car there about 7.30AM, if I wait 'til after peak traffic subsides I'll have to either sit around until about 5PM or use taxi's.

My question is: If I take it to my local garage, who have serviced my other cars for about 25 years and are 5 minutes walk away, what effect does that have on any future warranty claims?

He's not a VW specialist, but is fully qualified A grade (actually he's on the board of examiners for A grade rating) and services lots of Euro cars.

[Big_Dave]

Go your local guy.
It is really only necessary to use a VW service centre when you have to make a warranty claim, or get a software update.
Although ask him re price as well.

[brad]

I can't agree that it's OK for brake fluid to be in for 4-5 years (especially a car that appears to get bugger-all usage) but it's your car I guess. I've thrown out unopened bottles of brakefluid that have sat on the shelf for 4 years because they suck up water just sitting there.

I had similar issues with my dealer & asked them to justify the excessive cost quote ($950) of the 60,000km by using the basic service as a starting point & then adding on the extras with agreed times (eg: fuel filter change agreed as 30 minutes; spark plug replacement agreed at 15 minutes each - Geez I was nice too them). When we got to the end they were still charging 2 hours more than we'd worked out, so they agreed to reduce the labour charge by that amount (which was still way more than the local independant specialist).

Look on the bright side - at least you only have to get 1 service per year........ Can't work out why you bought a diesel though. I assume circumstances/usage changed shortly after purchase?

[Idle]

I can't agree that it's OK for brake fluid to be in for 4-5 years (especially a car that appears to get bugger-all usage) but it's your car I guess. I've thrown out unopened bottles of brakefluid that have sat on the shelf for 4 years because they suck up water just sitting there.

I had similar issues with my dealer & asked them to justify the excessive cost quote ($950) of the 60,000km by using the basic service as a starting point & then adding on the extras with agreed times (eg: fuel filter change agreed as 30 minutes; spark plug replacement agreed at 15 minutes each - Geez I was nice too them). When we got to the end they were still charging 2 hours more than we'd worked out, so they agreed to reduce the labour charge by that amount (which was still way more than the local independant specialist).

Look on the bright side - at least you only have to get 1 service per year........ Can't work out why you bought a diesel though. I assume circumstances/usage changed shortly after purchase?

Yes, circumstances did change — I expected to have at least 20-25000 up by now, including a planned long outback trip that didn't eventuate due to health problems (not mine, BTW.)

Aside from that, this will obviously be my last car and I liked the way the diesel drives.

As to the hygroscopic qualities of brake fluid, that's something I'm quite aware of, but haven't had any problems with it to date — probably because I don't drive on the brakes anyway (learned to drive on machines that hardly had any (1920's Dodge with 2-wheel brakes, Model T with effectively none (the reverse pedal stopped it quicker...) etc.), and the lessons stuck — I still expect 100,000K or more from a set of shoes or pads, even round the suburbs.) And no, I don't hang about and obstruct traffic, just drive to the prevailing conditions.

Aside from the excessive price of VW service, what sticks in my craw is the high-handed attitude of the service departments — you dance to our tune while we take your money.

Just a few weeks ago I took a sick relative's Yaris for its third 6-monthly service — on distance that would have been 30,000K, same as a Golf's 2-year one — she'd booked it in for 11AM, it went straight into the shop and I was on my way home with it by 12.30PM (it cost $130 and they didn't even try to sell me any extras.)

Major suburban dealership, too — every bit as big and busy as any dealership I've seen (including VW's.)

If Toyota dealers can make appointments like that (and honour them...), why can't they all?

[Flipper Dog]

Sounds like the dealer/dealers you have looked at have an attitude problem.
I know I am in a different location but my local dealer have very good appointment times, if you are in a hurry a basic service is done while you wait or to the time you ask for. If you wait they offer you breakfast or lunch in their cafe, provide a bus service to the local area or (if you book well in advance) the use of vehicle.
Their pricing is reasonable (for a dealership) and you have the option to add/subtract work to the standard list.

Back to your post, use your local guy if you know his work and trust him, but at least contact the dealer with your VIN number to see if any updates/recalls/free extras are available. And be sure to take it in prior to your warranty expires for any needed work.

[Corey_R]

Just a few weeks ago I took a sick relative's Yaris for its third 6-monthly service — on distance that would have been 30,000K, same as a Golf's 2-year one — she'd booked it in for 11AM, it went straight into the shop and I was on my way home with it by 12.30PM (it cost $130 and they didn't even try to sell me any extras.)

Major suburban dealership, too — every bit as big and busy as any dealership I've seen (including VW's.)

If Toyota dealers can make appointments like that (and honour them...), why can't they all?

Toyota have "fixed price" servicing now. It's generally accepted by asking the opinions of other people in the industry that 1) it's a "cut back" service or 2) a money losing service to attract people into buying their cars.

Back when there was an Toyota Echo Sportivo in my family, the service cost was $180 to $240 (2002 to 2007) being serviced at Pennant Hills Toyota in NSW. Even if you were one of the first appointments in the morning and waited, it took about 2 hours, or about twice as long as you describe....

[Idle]

Toyota have "fixed price" servicing now. It's generally accepted by asking the opinions of other people in the industry that 1) it's a "cut back" service or 2) a money losing service to attract people into buying their cars.

Back when there was an Toyota Echo Sportivo in my family, the service cost was $180 to $240 (2002 to 2007) being serviced at Pennant Hills Toyota in NSW. Even if you were one of the first appointments in the morning and waited, it took about 2 hours, or about twice as long as you describe....

Actually, I think whatever they discount on the fixed price service is built into the selling price — and the last time I had the old Cressida serviced (by the local outfit I'll probably take the Golf to, and now nearly three years ago) it cost me $160 (oil change, coolant change, wiper blades, regular checkup and rotate wheels.)

And maybe I was lucky with the time on the Yaris service, but it was much the same on the previous two, I'm told.

I can also clearly remember getting delivery vans serviced for less than $20 whenever we were too busy to do it ourselves.

Was a very long time ago, tho'.

[brad]

As to the hygroscopic qualities of brake fluid, that's something I'm quite aware of, but haven't had any problems with it to date — probably because I don't drive on the brakes anyway (learned to drive on machines that hardly had any (1920's Dodge with 2-wheel brakes, Model T with effectively none (the reverse pedal stopped it quicker...) etc.), and the lessons stuck — I still expect 100,000K or more from a set of shoes or pads, even round the suburbs.) And no, I don't hang about and obstruct traffic, just drive to the prevailing conditions.

I drive in the same manner - Octavia is on target for 150,000km from the pads & rotors.
I'm not talking about brake fade from reduced boiling point - relatively few people ever experience that. I'd be more concerned about corrosion/gunk build-up due to the moisture falling to the lowest point of the master cylinder or caliper body. I've seen it on many occasions when rebuilding failed master cylinders & seized calipers.

Aside from the excessive price of VW service, what sticks in my craw is the high-handed attitude of the service departments — you dance to our tune while we take your money.

Just a few weeks ago I took a sick relative's Yaris for its third 6-monthly service — on distance that would have been 30,000K, same as a Golf's 2-year one — she'd booked it in for 11AM, it went straight into the shop and I was on my way home with it by 12.30PM (it cost $130 and they didn't even try to sell me any extras.)

A few of the Toyotas are on fixed price (subsidised) service for the warranty period. One of my work colleagues has a Yaris, as you said, it's compulsory service every 6 months/10,000km. If I had a Yaris then I would have just paid for service #7 in less than 3 years = $780 + whatever service 7 costs - $150-$180?? (ServiceAdvantage programme ends at 60,000km/3years whichever is first). The first 5 services are simple oil/filter changes; #6 they do the air filter as well. Pollen filters aren't covered. They use semi-synthetic generic oil.
In the same time period the Skoda has had 4 services and has cost $1030 but that includes a brake flush @ 2 years, 2 pollen filters, fuel filter, airfilter. So if your doing the miles, there isn't a huge difference IMO (and I'd rather be driving 25,000km a year in the Octy than a Toyota)

As stated by Corey R, the services are trimmed right back (and also subsidised by Toyota Australia). Toyota are also a bit tricky in that, apart from oil & filter, everything else is "inspect". You can go right through to 160,000km & if the mechanic isn't on the ball, never have your air filter, fuel filter, fuel tank gasket, gearbox oil or anything else replaced - they just have a look at it & make a judgement call. Because of oversite by mechs, often a dealer will device their own standard services so they can quote properly & not surprise the client.

Oh and to top it off, my mates Yaris has half the power of my Octy but uses more fuel & he's had half a dozen warranty issues (rattles, bluetooth, cd player & others).

Major suburban dealership, too — every bit as big and busy as any dealership I've seen (including VW's.)

If Toyota dealers can make appointments like that (and honour them...), why can't they all?

Yes, I find VW group dealers to be a bit odd - snowed under & confused.

[Corey_R]

Actually, I think whatever they discount on the fixed price service is built into the selling price

Well, I wasn't going to get into the selling price of Toyota's these days. But as an ex-Toyota owner, it's simply disgraceful at the "value" of the Yaris and Corolla these days... they're absolutely crap for the money you pay for them. So it wouldn't surprise me if some of the service cost is built into the car costs.

[Mountainman]

My TDI 2.0 DSG is due for its second service (2 year) next month, and I just checked what it's going to cost me.

The two nearest dealers quoted $579 and $610 respectively, which I think (and as a former fleet owner I have lots of experience with both professional and in-house servicing) is a straight up ripoff

You are living at the wrong address. The 30,000km service done on my 90TSI manual last week by Wippells VW in Toowoomba only cost $302.