Recommendations - where to get a Golf TDI serviced in Melbourne?

**Golluble** · 06-04-2011, 02:07 PM

Looking for recommendations. Anyone know of place in Melbourne that services Golfs that they would recommend. Ideally they should be honest and competent, but I'm realistic about the chances.

Just been creamed by a dealer in Melbourne eastern suburbs. Quoted $806 for a 60K service on a Golf TDI. When I rocked up at 7.30am to drop it off was told it would be $1,243. After going ape xxxx they came down to a sub $1K figure.

As expected I got a phone call an hour later to advise that they had found another $2.6K worth of work that must be done. Includes $118 to change wiper blades? The list also included replacing an EPR valve, but the service advisor couldn't tell me what an EPR valve is. "It's a thing on the side of the engine."

Surprisingly I didn't give them the go ahead.

**ian** · 06-04-2011, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Golluble

Looking for recommendations. Anyone know of place in Melbourne that services Golfs that they would recommend. Ideally they should be honest and competent, but I'm realistic about the chances.

Just been creamed by a dealer in Melbourne eastern suburbs. Quoted $806 for a 60K service on a Golf TDI. When I rocked up at 7.30am to drop it off was told it would be $1,243. After going ape xxxx they came down to a sub $1K figure.

As expected I got a phone call an hour later to advise that they had found another $2.6K worth of work that must be done. Includes $118 to change wiper blades? The list also included replacing an EPR valve, but the service advisor couldn't tell me what an EPR valve is. "It's a thing on the side of the engine."

Surprisingly I didn't give them the go ahead.

How old is your GT golf because ive just had 2 valves replaced under warranty one was in the exhaust ?

**Golluble** · 06-04-2011, 04:45 PM

It's a TDI. Just out of warranty.

**Golluble** · 07-04-2011, 08:07 AM

Looking for recommendations. Anyone know of place in Melbourne that services Golfs that they would recommend.

No recommendations!

That would seem to imply that no one is especially satisfied with the servicing options available in Melbourne. I'm not surprised.

**Greg Roles** · 07-04-2011, 03:04 PM

That's ludicrous. I have used VW specialists from the get go, and obviously their level of customer service has been outstanding. The EGR vlave and anti shudder valve are both pre engine in the manifold, and gum up with oil blowby and the introduced exhaust gas recycling ( EGR ). It's why I harp on about installing a catch can, helps prolong any problems with these moving parts. I'm pretty sure I paid about $400 for my 60k, but they may have been quoting you on the timing chain which I believe is due at the 100k mark. Rear brakes do go quickly on these cars, but my "worn" rears are still within spec at 75k, and will be the next thing I do. Oil filters cost sub $20 from the dealers, oil from them or Supercheap is sub $100, and cabin filters and air filters are amazingly cheap.

I'm sure if you are patient you can get a recommendation from someone actually in Melbourne, and if you want to understand EGR and the emission systems in the TDI, do a quick scan of my tinker threads in the diesel section, as I've pretty much pulled everything apart in the last three years. I also think you'll get a much faster response in there too, I rarely check this section, like ever!

What some dealers down there try to get away with is just robbery.

**Golluble** · 07-04-2011, 06:06 PM

I'm pretty sure I paid about $400 for my 60k,

Thanks for the response Greg. I've rung around to several VW dealers in Melbourne. Several belong to the same outfit so they are obviously quoting similar numbers. The going rate appears to be about $1,200++ for a 60K DSG service on a TDI. They then look for the extras, which in the case of the dealer I went to came to an additional $2.5K.

That's $3,700 to service a vehicle after 58,500 KM. Can't help feeling that either the dealer organization is gauging customers or the TDI is defective. Prior to the Golf I've owned everything from Toyotas to Mercs. The only similar experience was my last Golf that a mechanic advised me to get rid of at 60K or be prepared for on-going repairs and costs. At the time I thought it was a one off. Now I'm thinking it's a design feature VW's.

**Greg Roles** · 08-04-2011, 09:23 AM

Oh well mine's a manual, and I know DSG is an expensive thing to service. I'll bet the dealers are trying to milk the old "brakes worn" thing, sure they are worn, but are they still within limits? Sounds like the group down there have the upsell on servicing downpat.

A quick google turned up two highly recommended independant dealers:

Dean @ Volkspower in Burwood.
James @ Audvolks in Clayton.

I'd ring them both and get a feel for them, and I've certainly only heard good things about Volkspower up here in the ( rainy ) sunshine state, but again let the buyer beware.