£1,000-plus main dealer bill

MiM

I've got a four-year-old Beetle. I'm planning to sell it and get a cheaper car because I don't want so much cash tied up in a depreciating hunk of metal but decided to get it MOT'd and serviced first. It's got a VWFSH so against my instincts - that the main dealer thing is a cash cow con - I took it to the main dealer.

Just had a call from them to say that on top of the £300 service cost it needs all new brake pads, an exhaust part and something to do with shocks (I'll say it's a shock) - total cost about £1,150. I've told them to do the service then I'll get a second opinion/price elsewhere. Any thoughts anyone?

Throbbe

MiM wrote:

Any thoughts anyone?

Yes, but I wont print them in case children view this board!

I think you've done exactly the right thing, you've still got the stamp in the service book that you wanted, and you're not accepting their price for the other work.

I'd hesitate to say it's a rip-off without knowing the full extent of the work, but as far as brake pads and exhaust are concerned you'll be paying through the nose for genuine VAG items when you don't really need to. It's up to your conscience whether you sell the car fitted with the cheapest parts possible, but even decent aftermarket stuff is cheaper almost every time.

ArsenalFC

£300 for a service is way too steep, on the league of high class bmw/merc/porches. It should cost you about £150-£180 for that car. You can always take the car to kwit fit for a free brakes inspection and exhaust check, they will tell you whether it needs changing.

Brakes pads, part exhaust and some shock absorbers should cost not more than £500 fitted, that could be over estimation too. If you just need brakes pads and part exhaust then I would say it should cost £200.

xycom1

Definitely. I'd never buy tyres or anything else of that sort from a main dealer - go down Kwik Fit and get them to check the brakes and exhaust and give you a quote. The one I go to will show you exactly what needs doing (how thin the brake pads are and measure the disks against book figures, etc.) Compare around on price and you'll get a much better deal than direct from VW.

MiM

This site is the greatest.

Thanks all, I feel so much better as always now.

Just going to pick up car, will then visit Quickfit.

northern_munky

MiM wrote:

This site is the greatest.

Thanks all, I feel so much better as always now.

Just going to pick up car, will then visit Quickfit.

Take it to a decent independant garage, ask around for recommendations. Kwikfit haven't got the best reputation when it comes to giving unbiased advice.

Jorgan_2

MiM, any VW specialists in your area? The one I use is about half the price of the main dealer. Also check out German, Swedish & French parts specialists, you can get the pattern parts a lot cheaper.

bazza1603

Hi,

We use to get £1k bill all the time with our fleet of Polos. I was told once the shockers were leaking and needed changing. I told them to wait until the service as it was only a few thousand miles away. For the next two services a problem was not picked up on.... It must have repaired itself

If you live in Newcastle. I can recommend a VW garage thats does a very good job...

Regards

Barry

blue_haddock

I would not recommend using the likes of kwik fit for brake and suspension work - the will obviously have a vested interest in finding work to be done.

mrnomoneybags

I agree with blue_haddock, by all means take it to kwik fit to get a qoute but dont get the work done there then.

Take it somewhere else and get another quote as well.

Murphy_The_Cat

OK, I'll be the lone voice in the wilderness on this one.

On every maind dealer that I visit, the charges for each level of service are prominently displayed behind the service desk. If you didn't look / ask before you took your car in then you only have yourself to blame. If your car was having a "major mileage" service the £300 may be a reasonable figure. As you never gave any details, it is hard for us to judge.

secondly, the exhaust, shocks, brake bits etc. You go to a VW dealer and you'll get genuine VW parts and pay the going rate for VW service staff.
If your happy using "pattern" parts and non VW trained people on your car, then go for it, you'll save a packet - just don't do back to the dealer when one of the non-VW parts has failed (say a radiator hose) and has seized the engine expecting any sympathy whatsoever from them, because you won't get any.

Before anyone asks, I have absolutely no connection to the motoring trade.

MTC