Advice please on expensive service recommendations

[Lex200]

I'm increasingly unhappy with VW service. They seem more interested in making profit than caring for the custmer and communication between customer and mechanic is a very bad game of chinese whispers. The mechanic tick sheet is no longer provided, so all I get is a list of recommendations communicated via a "receptionist" who seems unable to provide info on how urgent / important the recommendations are.

I've just had a 9 year service on my 2013 103TSI Highline DSG which has only done 81,000km.
The recommendations are:
- replace front brakes, pads and rotors, pads currently at 1mm, $920
- replace timing belt (because due for replacement!) $1580
- rear brakes in 6 months $785
- brake fluid flush $179

My questions are:
- is it safe to wait for the brakes to squeel or the brake light to come on before replacing the brakes?
- am I better to use another brake repairer with non-VW brake pads? If so, any recommendations for a place that does this in Melbourne SE would be welcome.
- Is the timing belt recommendation appropriate? Should replacement be based on mileage or age of car? Why isn't it part of routine service schedule?
- are the prices quoted reasonable?
- is it really necessary to pay for brake fluid flush separately when replacing brakes? Why isn't this part of routone service schedule if it's routinely required?

[MIG]

Pretty much stay away from the dealer once the warranty \ recalls and cap-priced servicing are done. They are only looking for profit in servicing or selling new cars.

1. at 1mm, the sensor should have already kicked in. Did my friend's Skoda the the other day that they quoted the same, had 4-5mm left in the real world. Check them yourself or get a second opinion.

2. Yes, other service centres will be cheaper and can still get OEM pads and rotors if you want the same as the car came with. How far SE are you? There are a few places near me that will do a good job.

3. Timing belts are very important to do on time. Has the car had one done before? you can check the owner's manual for the interval, but I think it would be 100,000KM or 5\10 Years whatever comes first?

4. Seems steep for brakes, no idea about the timing belt sorry.

5. Brake fluid should be replaced \ flushed every 2 years.

[The_Hawk]

Pretty much exactly what I was going to say, so yeah, that!

I've been using Volkwerke in Doncaster for as long as I've been in Melbourne and have always found them knowledgeable and upfront with what needs to be done. They have sorted me out of a couple of tight spots with unexpected issues a few times too (like a failed gearbox where they basically said bring it in tomorrow and had a replacement sourced and me out the door in under a week).

Although that might be a bit of a hike for you, if not give Dean a call and I'm sure he can sort you out.


For brakes alone, pretty much any mechanic/brake place can do the job just fine, there isn't anything special about pads and disks on these cars.

Another option is the DIY route if you're that way inclined. Brake disk and rotors are very easy (if a little messy) to replace with basic tools, although you will need a tool to retract the bake pistons, but these are cheap on eBay. This could save you a large chunk of those prices.

Brake fluid is a little more involved, but still relatively straight forward... that said, if you're getting the brakes or timing belt done it is almost worth just paying them to do the brake fluid too since it's a little more complicated to prime bleed/prime the lines properly by yourself (again there are cheap tools which can help get the job done).

Timing belt... yeah, nah. Leave that to the VAG experts, while I might get KMart to do the brakes if they are cheap enough, I wouldn't let them touch the timing belt.

[Hillbilly]

Pretty much stay away from the dealer once the warranty \ recalls and cap-priced servicing are done. They are only looking for profit in servicing or selling new cars.

1. at 1mm, the sensor should have already kicked in. Did my friend's Skoda the the other day that they quoted the same, had 4-5mm left in the real world. Check them yourself or get a second opinion.

2. Yes, other service centres will be cheaper and can still get OEM pads and rotors if you want the same as the car came with. How far SE are you? There are a few places near me that will do a good job.

3. Timing belts are very important to do on time. Has the car had one done before? you can check the owner's manual for the interval, but I think it would be 100,000KM or 5\10 Years whatever comes first?

4. Seems steep for brakes, no idea about the timing belt sorry.

5. Brake fluid should be replaced \ flushed every 2 years.

Timing belt 105,000or 7 years whichever is first Had one done at 40,000 (7yrs though) also did the water pump as was only an extra $250. Would check pads as by 2mm will be sounding strange and NO dont wait for them to grind as disc will be stuffed. Get discs measured as there is a minimum thickness. Have found dealers tend to be pessimistic so as you dont drop below safety before next service.