More proof that a full service history...

How about this then...

Bought my golf TDI new in June 2007, long life diesel engine as the previous one I had, 2years or 20k miles, haven't done 14k in it yet but got it serviced on the 2 year schedule as in the service book.
Anyway to my surprise, I got a call saying it needed a service last June which was only 12 months and less than 5k after the last one.

I said, it's not due for another year, no sir because of the low mileage, we didn't put long life parts/ oil on last time so it's every 12 months when your doing low mileage.
I said, how come my service wasn't cheaper last time then, it was apparently
So a car I bought partly because it wouldn't need servicing all the time, now needed servicing every 12 months, to say I was annoyed was an understatement, after reading this thread, I'm pretty sure half the parts wasn't changed that should've been, I mean 5k, ain't exactly a lot to wear in that time.
I might go independent this year, rather than £230 for a vw one.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

However the pillocks at the Ford Dealership around the corner are a whole different story. I've been lied to, told things that werent true and at one point was being bullied into paying for work that didnt need doing. ( new tyre when the old one had 3mm of tread on it, replacment brakes that didnt need doing )

Ford dealership down the road from me are like that, my Dads got a company Mondeo, its been in 10 times to have a fault with the rear left window fixed of which they kept charging for untill my Dad told his company not to pay them any more, also the whole left headlight kept going out, again took them a few times to fix it and one time they changed the main beam bulb and told him it had "worn out" eventualy he told them not to give the car back till they fitted a new headlight unit, believe it or not, he no longer has the problem.

How ever i work for a Honda motorcycle dealer and you may just think i say it but i can assure you we do everything as per book, on the odd occasion say your bikes done 4k miles but you've booked it in for its 12k service (or 18 months) book says replace the airfilter, if the air filter is clean as its only done 4k miles would you not be a bit miffed if it was replaced and you was charged £25 for the privaliege?

[Bri w]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I think I'm in the Minority then, well almost

VW Golf I had went to the main dealer. Never had a problem with the service or problems with the service not being done properly.

The Audi we have just had, and its been in for its service all done as I requested.

The Ducati goes to a main dealer for its service and I've posted on here before about the labour rates and the quality of service we've had.

However the pillocks at the Ford Dealership around the corner are a whole different story. I've been lied to, told things that werent true and at one point was being bullied into paying for work that didnt need doing. ( new tyre when the old one had 3mm of tread on it, replacment brakes that didnt need doing )

I'm waffling a bit, but I wander if the dealer experience is related to the brand / cost price of the car you are taking in to get work done on it.

I'm certainly from my perspective seeing a relation between price of car /manufacture badge and how the treat the customer.

The VW dealer just did what was required on the service, and then would say in 6 months time / milleage you'll need to get this done etc etc. Havent got to that stage with the Audi. But the Ducati dealer is similar. i.e It hasnt done much milleage so the air filters OK, we've just checked it and blown it out rather than replace etc etc.

As for doing it myself, yes I could I have done in the past, my times more valuable to me and I have better things to be doing on a Sunday than grubbing about in the road changing the oil in my car ! I do know what's what and I am very clear when I book the vehicle in for work on what I want done. I wander if that helps as well.

I don't think its about brand but more to do with the integrity of the dealers.

I had 12 years of Audi in Manchester and they were brilliant, and I mean really brilliant. 2 years of the local Audi dealer here on Teesside, and 3 services 2 of which have been dire.

Service no.2, I took my laptop along and worked in the Service lounge. After 3 hours I was told I would have to bring it back because they didn't have all the parts for the service. Took it back with the understanding it would be completed by 3pm as I had an appointment with a customer to go to. 3:45pm it was almost finished when it was handed back with bits still left to do.

The new A6 arrives on 3rd March and whether it gets serviced there or down in York will depend how nice they are.

Originally Posted by specialone

So a car I bought partly because it wouldn't need servicing all the time, now needed servicing every 12 months, to say I was annoyed was an understatement

Again, get it checked out by an expert and don't take my word for it, but a 25 quid engine flush and longlife oil at the next service, should take you back onto a extended service intervals. The ECU may need to be reset to tell it that's what it has to base it's service indicator calculations on. I don't see any reason why you can't switch back to extended intervals.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Holdup

Ford dealership down the road from me are like that, my Dads got a company Mondeo, its been in 10 times to have a fault with the rear left window fixed of which they kept charging for untill my Dad told his company not to pay them any more, also the whole left headlight kept going out, again took them a few times to fix it and one time they changed the main beam bulb and told him it had "worn out" eventualy he told them not to give the car back till they fitted a new headlight unit, believe it or not, he no longer has the problem.

I think some of the problem is that the mechnic's just are not given enough time to do things properly so they rush. My brother used to work at a local dealership. They were given a set time to do each job. If they completely the job in under the set time they got a pay bonus. This was supposed to encourage them to do the job properly but in less time in order to maximise profit. In reality it encouraged some of the mechnics to cut corners in order to maximise their bonus quite often the owners would then bring the car back as it hadnt been done properly.

They used to get seriously moaned at by the service manager if they took to long to do a job. It drove my brother nuts as he is a perfectionist and liked to take his time and know that he had done the job right.

I've had bad service from little independant garages to and Kwik Fit once tried to sell me a new steering rack that I didnt need. Again I know what I am doing so I refused and took the car somewhere else to get the suspension re alligned ( I whacked it on the a kerb and damaged the tyre sidewall so went for a new tyre and then told me the steering rack was damaged when it wasnt )

I think its just down to finding a garage / or a dealership that you trust and then stick with them. Its one of the reasons we bought the Audi and we didnt buy the Focus ST we were looking at as I wont go into the local Ford Dealer again after receiving such sh*tty treatment from them.

[yorkie_chris]

Well, I hear from someone that kwik fit monkeys were actually on commission/had targets (can't remember which) to sell a certain number of shock absorbers and other components a month regardless of them needing replacing or not.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

The car has been 100% reliable, until Saturday when it failed because the stealer hadn't done what they were paid to do.

You can't prove they didn't change the plugs, so your claim they are a 'stealer' falls on deaf ears here I'm afraid.

You're making assumptions you can't back up. If you could you'd be taking action against them.

FYI, a mate of mine (Ogden knows this story) famously changed the plugs on his Ducati 750SS with a nice new set of NGKs. He got 53 feet before one plug failed on him and left him having to use his spare bike to do the trip to France he was already late for. Plugs fail, sometimes they fail at 53 feet, other times they fail at 18,000 miles, some last 80,000 miles.

Just accept that not everything lasts forever and sometimes even what you deem to be a reliable car will break down. One stoppage in 61,000 miles - I'd say you are damn lucky and can't see what all the fuss is about. My 60 plate Fiesta TDCi van broke down last week with 15,000 miles on the clock, turned out to be a connector came undone in the engine bay - **** happens, deal with it.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Again, get it checked out by an expert and don't take my word for it, but a 25 quid engine flush and longlife oil at the next service, should take you back onto a extended service intervals. The ECU may need to be reset to tell it that's what it has to base it's service indicator calculations on. I don't see any reason why you can't switch back to extended intervals.

do you know some1 who has done this? im only asking because weve had a couple of customers ask to go back to long-life servicing and the gaffa, aswell as others including myself, have always been under the impression that once taken off long-life there is no going back. (im not arguing/disputing btw, just interested)

SVtomo - i'm due to go back on to long life servicing. the car previous was taken off it and I've been told that you can go back onto it as i will be doing the required mileage but I'll let you know what happens.
though - i'm due a 40k brake fluid and inspection service at the same time!

Originally Posted by Lozzo

You can't prove they didn't change the plugs, so your claim they are a 'stealer' falls on deaf ears here I'm afraid.

You're making assumptions you can't back up. If you could you'd be taking action against them.

FYI, a mate of mine (Ogden knows this story) famously changed the plugs on his Ducati 750SS with a nice new set of NGKs. He got 53 feet before one plug failed on him and left him having to use his spare bike to do the trip to France he was already late for. Plugs fail, sometimes they fail at 53 feet, other times they fail at 18,000 miles, some last 80,000 miles.

Just accept that not everything lasts forever and sometimes even what you deem to be a reliable car will break down. One stoppage in 61,000 miles - I'd say you are damn lucky and can't see what all the fuss is about. My 60 plate Fiesta TDCi van broke down last week with 15,000 miles on the clock, turned out to be a connector came undone in the engine bay - **** happens, deal with it.

I beat you, my 06 plate Renault broke down with 26 miles on the clock as the turbo solenoid broke..but it was French and it was a company car and my tight arsed director wouldn't let us get German cars unless he liked you.