Dealer Service

[tryingavw]

this is slightly off topic... but interested in your ideas.

My son needed his Polo service for 30,000klm; I paid for the car but he has to service it. Also he was low on coolant.

I told him to go along to the dealer and get a quote and also top up his coolant. So they quoted him $600 and put water in his radiator !

I was not impressed so we rang a local ultratune who have serviced our holdens etc and they quoted $220. including replacing oil with recommened type & new coolant.

Too much of a difference to ignore so its off to ultratune.

Hope were doing the right thing but $380 is a lot of bucks.

[Pana]

Can I ask which dealer?

I'm fairly sure Ultratune can still stamp the logbook for servicing so there shouldnt be any warranty issues (or at least thats how Subaru and Holden worked - is VW the same??)

[Maverick]

this is slightly off topic... but interested in your ideas.

My son needed his Polo service for 30,000klm; I paid for the car but he has to service it. Also he was low on coolant.

I told him to go along to the dealer and get a quote and also top up his coolant. So they quoted him $600 and put water in his radiator !

Volkswagen who manufacturer the car, design it, warrant it and service it via their dealer network stipulate tap water must be used to fill the radiator and mix with coolant. Well or distilled water doesn't have the correct qualities to be mixed with the coolant.

I was not impressed so we rang a local ultratune who have serviced our holdens etc and they quoted $220. including replacing oil with recommened type & new coolant.

Not impressed that the dealer followed Volkswagen's recommendations to top up the coolant or not impressed at the price?

The price seems high but I would have gone to another dealer or asked for a breakdown on the price before heading to somewhere like ultratune (which is really the same as Kmart Auto/Repco and Midas).

[Steve]

My R36 and Mum's GTI have only been to the dealer for warranty work. For servicing they visit a local VW specialist. Cheaper, more convenient, just as OK.

[Maverick]

Can I ask which dealer?

I'm fairly sure Ultratune can still stamp the logbook for servicing so there shouldnt be any warranty issues (or at least thats how Subaru and Holden worked - is VW the same??)

Depends if Ultratune used the correct oils, it wouldn't be the first time that they have skimped on using the correct oils and destroyed a Volkswagen engine with their no brand/no standard oil that one of the locations was importing in drums. At least with a Volkswagen service centre you know you have recourse if something goes wrong. Same applies to items like coolant replacement if they use the wrong one or they miss something that a Volkswagen trained mechanic may pick up.

Not worth it IMO, if I saw an Ultratune/Repco/KMart Auto/Midas stamp in the service book of a car I was looking to purchase I'd walk away. If it was a Volkswagen I'd want either a dealer stamps or a reputable place that specialises in Volkswagens.

[apom]

Not worth it IMO, if I saw an Ultratune/Repco/KMart Auto/Midas stamp in the service book of a car I was looking to purchase I'd walk away. If it was a Volkswagen I'd want either a dealer stamps or a reputable place that specialises in Volkswagens.

After seeing some of the work done at the VW dealership where I bought my car I am more than likely to change to a specialist mechanic that must survive by getting a decent reputation rather than a dealer that comes under the guise of "it must be evil if its not original" slogan

[PassatB6]

Found this at http://www.carservice.com.au/?gclid=...FYcwpAodCRLW1g

Job details

Make: VOLKSWAGEN
Carline: 9N Polo 1.8T GTI BJX Mtm
Service: 30,000km/2Yr Serv
Est Time: 3 Hour(s)
Price Guide: $454.00 - 592.00 (Inc. GST)

Job instructions

* Interogate 5051 fault memories & printed report.
* Reset service interval indicator.
* Carry out service to manufacturer specifications.
* Replace engine oil and filter.
* Check drive belts.
* Check cooling system.
* Check air cleaner element.
* Check exhaust system.
* Replace brake fluid.
* Check all oil levels.
* Check steering & suspension components.
* Check front and rear brakes.
* Lubricate locks, hinges & latches.
* Check all seat belt components.
* Check & adjust parking brake.
* Check lights, wipers, tyre pressure & all fluid levels.
* Replace pollen filter.
* Check battery electrolyte and fluid level.
* Carry out road test to manufacturer handbook.


Parts

* Brake fluid 1 lt - 1 piece(s)
* Oil filter - 1 piece(s)
* Dust and pollen filt - 1 piece(s)
* Element pollen filte - 1 piece(s)

[STV4SYT]

Another thing to consider is not that if you get your car towed in a week, a month or longer after the warranty has run out and it has a service book full of ultra tune, good luck. If its been serviced by the same VW dealer its whole life then you will have a far better chance of getting it looked after.

But defo if i was buying 2nd hand and i saw a log book full of ultra tune id be wondering what else the previous owner had skimped on.

[Rocket36]

Agree with Maverick and agree with apom regarding some dealers. Thankfully I know the guys in the service department at my dealer quite well and know they've got the skills needed. They do a great job!

[Pana]

Depends if Ultratune used the correct oils, it wouldn't be the first time that they have skimped on using the correct oils and destroyed a Volkswagen engine with their no brand/no standard oil that one of the locations was importing in drums. At least with a Volkswagen service centre you know you have recourse if something goes wrong. Same applies to items like coolant replacement if they use the wrong one or they miss something that a Volkswagen trained mechanic may pick up.

Fair enough - I've only ever taken any car I've owned to get logbook servicing by the dealer so have never used Ultratune/Midas/Kmart...