VW Polo Service 105k + 120k Km - thoughts/advice

[jjslovww]

Hi all,

I'm new to auto service/repairs, and just took my 2010 VW Polo Diesel to a 3rd party brand specialist(Melbourne) for a major service(timing belt replacement was due). After some complications, total came up to $2100.

Here's the service receipt:
IMG1 — ImgBB
IMG2 — ImgBB

Things to note:
1. When bringing the car in, mechanic says forced regen due to clogged DPF(light came on) is needed before they are able to do anything else. I give the go ahead, but ask that they call me first after the regen before moving ahead with any other work. I get a call later to say they've done the regen plus started on the oil change for the 120k service(without my authorisation) because it was due anyway. Talk it over with head mechanic who agreed to do both 105k(timing belt + water pump replacement) and 120k service(air and fuel filter, brake fluid replacement etc.) for a discounted price of $2100 to make up for their error.

2. I've asked in other forums, and feedback has been that the $340 for regen is massively overpriced, same with $260 for the 105k service and charging $80 for oil on top of that, but the timing belt replacement itself was priced reasonably.

3. The work listed in the receipt didn't exactly match what the mechanic ticked off in service schedule logbook ie. fuel filter, air filter, brake fluid renewals were not ticked. Have been told that this is probably just a recording issue and I can tick them off myself though I'm still wondering if the 120k service wasn't performed completely. Is there any way I can check this?

4. I saw a comment by Lucas_R at Service schedule and it seems ~$1000 for a major service is expected. Are both the 105k and 120k major services? If so, is $2100 a reasonable price if both services were done?

Plan is to call them up again to clarify all of this, but wanted to run this by more experienced members here first. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

[Lucas_R]

Hi and welcome.

$80 for oil is normal - modern cars with turbos need good quality synthetic oil and its about $15-20 per litre. And your car will take about 5L of oil.

The $340 for a DPF regen is expensive, as its just a few button clicks on their diagnostic machine, and then the engine revs up for 20 mins or so while the regen takes place. But if thats what this place charges for that service then what can you do. You can save yourself cash by buying a Carista OBD dongle and then pay for access to the app and then you can do DPF regens yourself.

As for your other concerns, you would be best to call past the workshop and speak to them in person I think. It looks like you needed some parts which are not usually part of that service (coolant bottle, coolant cap, serpentine belt etc). Im sure their invoice service details are just a standard generic thing - but it states "replaced spark plugs" which of course a diesel engine does not have.

[JustCruisn]

Yeah I saw the same on spark plugs, but there is no charge for it on the parts list.
The regen looks too dear to me, and the brake fluid flush could be had for a lot less elsewhere.

That oil is $85 at Super Cheap Auto, so not too bad, but it does drop under $60 a few times per year.
$595 for labour on the timing belt is not bad at all.


Given all that work I'd say you got nothing to worry about for quite some time now.