VW Dealer servicing vs independents - 30,000km service, MY12 GTI

[Lemonskin]

**EDIT: I've booked my car in to Platinum Car Service at Pagewood. They seem pretty good, can can do software updates too. Has anyone used them? I'll advise how they are when I get my car back on Monday next week**

Hi All,

So at 29,500km I'm looking to book my car in to get its 30,000km service done. As VW dealers quote $700 for this service, naturally I've been looking at my options. Seems i can get a much cheaper service at somewhere not affiliated with VW dealers (but still use VW parts to keep the car under warranty), many people are quoting around $150-180 for the "service" and then charge for whatever parts need replacing.

My question is: Which is better to go to?

1. Is it really better to go to a dealer to service? I've heard people say dealers are often full of apprentice mechanics. Will a dealer really care for my car better than say a VW or euro car specialist, or even someone like Ultratune?

2. What can the VW dealer do that someone else can't? DSG upgrade maybe, is that all?

3. I don't want to void my new car warranty, many independants claim they use VW parts so as not to void the warranty, does this hold?

forgive my ignorance on this matter as my car for the previous 4 years was a company car so I never paid a cent, and beore that I had a 10 year old Corolla that just got serviced at the local guy, never cost more than $200 for a normal service! What the hell does VW do to command such a premium?

[Ryan_R]

I take my car to the dealer for the cheap services so that they can do whatever independents can't (software updates, etc) (so 15k, 45k, etc), and then go to the independent for the 30k, 60k etc. No problems with warranty.

Dealers have to pay additional salaries for the sales staff, managers, receptionists, etc would be one difference between an independent garage.

[GTI JOE]

Just had my 30k service done at Burwin even though I have only travelled 25K. Was $580. This included a couple of dampers which were sweating and replaced under warranty. I suppose not too bad from a stealership They also advised that if I ever have to top up the oil to use Castrol Edge Titanium 5W-30, which apparently is the version that any joe blog can pick up anywhere as the Castrol Edge Professional is not available to us.