Golf 8 Servicing - Main Dealer Network or Independant Specialist?

[p.eTSI]

Hi all,

Our Golf 8 eTSI was registered new in June 2021, we took delivery in Aug/Sept that year.

It's now due for its Oil Service very soon.

Question is, where to take it?

Because it's so new, is there value for going to VW just for the 'stamp'? Will it help future sales value? etc.

 

[p.eTSI]

41 views and no votes. Is the answer glaringly obvious, or...?

 

[Maturedriver]

I tend to use main dealers for my cars, motorcycles and agricultural tractors.

Main dealers know their product and I have had several occasions where I’ve gone to independent repairers and found that they did’t have a clue, especially with newer products which have become increasingly sophisticated and complex.

Having a genuine main dealer service record will help resale values, trouble free warranty claims and often get after warranty goodwill gestures.

 

[SRGTD]

IMHO the answer isn’t glaringly obvious, hence the long post below. There are pros and cons of both main dealers and independents.

Reputable independent specialist
A good reputable independent VW specialist is IMHO opinion likely to be as knowledgeable as a main dealer - they often have ex-VW technicians in their workshops and invest large amounts of money in specialist equipment required to service / maintain VW vehicles. With most independent specialists being (in the main) small businesses, they rely on repeat business and good customer reviews for their continued existence - so customers are more likely to be treated as individuals readily be able speak to the person who worked on your car, rather than a front of house VW service advisor in a main dealership with no technical / mechanical knowledge. Reputable independent specialists use genuine parts and many will have access to VW’s systems so can update a vehicle’s service / repair history. However, they may not have access to software updates for cars - a consideration for anyone owning a mk8 Golf as there’ve been many updates. The independent specialist is likely to be cheaper too as their overheads - and most likely their labour rates - will be lower than a VW dealer (You won’t be paying for ‘free’ coffee and biscuits, fancy waiting areas, free service wash and vacuum of the car etc.).

Main VW dealer
IMHO The main benefit of using a main dealer is less hassle with warranty clams and getting software updates applied to your car - if any are required (independent specialist is unlikely to have access to these). VW also offer service plans which provide reduced cost servicing - lower prices than a main dealer’s normal prices, but maybe not cheaper than an independent’s prices. With VW servicing having gone digital, owners no longer get a dealer stamp in a service book - they update the on line record for the vehicle. Some reputable independent VW specialists also have access to VW’s on line service records, so can update the service record. Therefore dealership stamps in service books are no longer relevant.

Impact of service history on value
When the time comes to sell the car, the value of a dealership v’s independent specialist service history is likely to depend on who you’re selling to;

• many prospective buyers who’re enthusiasts of a brand place more value and importance on a vehicle serviced and maintained by an independent specialist; the perception - and usually the reality - being the Indy will be more thorough and do a better job than a main dealer who’ll be more likely to do the bare minimum required. e.g. with the mk7 Golf R, when the VW dealer services the Haldex system on the car, they don’t clean strainer filter even if it‘s dirty because VW haven’t specified it should be cleaned - even if asked by the customer to clean it, they’ll probably refuse. A good independent will clean it at the customer’s request, or sometimes they’ll just do it without needing to be asked.
• if trading in at a VW dealership, the dealer is likely to value a VW service history more highly than a service history from an independent specialist; I think a requirement of them selling a vehicle they’ve acquired as an ‘Approved Used’ VW is that it has a full VW service history.
• if trading in at a non-VW dealer, it probably makes no difference to value whether the service history is VW or independent.

Warranty claims
It should be less hassle getting a VW to honour warranty claims if a car has been serviced and maintained by a a VW main dealer. However, getting a warranty claim honoured if the car’s been serviced by a reputable independent VW specialist shouldn’t really be an issue, provided you can prove the car‘s been serviced as per VW’s servicing / maintenance schedules, the specialist used is VAT registered and any parts / fluids they‘ve used are genuine VW parts (fluids are VW approved and to VW spec). Therefore, IMHO it’s really important to ensure invoices and receipts for any work carried out provide comprehensive details of the work, parts and fluids and you keep all receipts.

At then of the day, you pay your money and take your choice. I’d personally use a VW dealership while a car’s still in warranty, but seriously consider switching to a reputable independent VW specialist when the car is three years old.

 

[Handydave]

I think many people bought the 2 year service plan - can’t remember exactly but around £270 for two consecutive services? So they’ll be using a main dealer.

 

[feds85]

MK8 is quite new car with complicated infotainment system and other electronic related to hybrid system. I am sure that independent specialist will be not able to solve and software issue or upgrade (see discussion regarding infotainment issue). I have 2 other and older cars (MK6 and Skoda) which I service at independent specialist (oil and filter change, climate service, some repairs). With MK8 as a new car, I use dealer.

 

[p.eTSI]

I think many people bought the 2 year service plan - can’t remember exactly but around £270 for two consecutive services? So they’ll be using a main dealer.

If it was as cheap as £270 for 2 services, I am kicking myself for not going for it.

Currently it is advertised as £496!

 

[Handydave]

If it was as cheap as £270 for 2 services, I am kicking myself for not going for it.

Currently it is advertised as £496!

Have checked the invoice. At the time of ordering (spring 2020) it was actually only £199 inc VAT for 2 services.

 

[p.eTSI]

Have checked the invoice. At the time of ordering (spring 2020) it was actually only £199 inc VAT for 2 services.

Wow. No brainer at that price (or even £270 as previously thought).

 

[SRGTD]

Have checked the invoice. At the time of ordering (spring 2020) it was actually only £199 inc VAT for 2 services.

I bought the service plan for £199 back in 2020. I bought it ’at point of sale’ at the same time I ordered my car as it always used to be cheaper buying it at that time than to buy it later on. I don’t know if it’s still the cheapest time to buy it (i.e. at point of sale) but for anyone considering ordering a new car, it’s always worth searching around on VW’s website to find the cheapest price for the service plan.

 

[p.eTSI]

Just to add to the pricing hilarity here. I supplied the number plate to 3 dealerships, different franchises, look at the varied prices!

Citygate Ruislip
232 : Minor
458 : Major
496 : Service plan for Minor + Major if bought now

Windrush Slough
--- : Minor (wouldn't quote as they claimed our Golf doesn't need it, it's been subscribed to a Long Life plan that needs a service only every 2 years?!?)
373 : Major

Marshall Volkswagen Aylesbury
Minor : 204 (for first 3 years)
Major : 364 (first time this is needed is year 4 ?!?)


How can they take the number plate and all advise different service schedules?!?

 

[koolmacher]

I thought mine was on a 2 year/long life service plan because of the built in service schedule countdown on the car dashboard until I booked it in for its 1st service this August (at 2 years old) the dealer has now either switched it to a 1 year service plan without asking me or it was meant to be every year from the beginning. How do you tell what it's meant to be? I don't have any service book to tell me?

 

[p.eTSI]

I thought mine was on a 2 year/long life service plan because of the built in service schedule countdown on the car dashboard until I booked it in for its 1st service this August (at 2 years old) the dealer has now either switched it to a 1 year service plan without asking me or it was meant to be every year from the beginning. How do you tell what it's meant to be? I don't have any service book to tell me?

Precisely! There doesn't seem to be an easy way to tell what the schedule is / what is required next.

I did find this VW document (pdf): https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/content/owners/Longlife_servicing.pdf

However, I would expect all new cars requiring a service each year. The whole 'Long Life' plan seems nonsense, i.e. why would some cars have it and other cars (of the same spec/year) not? Doesn't make sense. They would have the same engine.

 

[SRGTD]

I think long life servicing was originally introduced in the mid -2000’s to help business with large fleets of vehicles ‘manage’ their servicing costs and at the time, the advances in oil technology meant that vehicles could travel further between services. Whether flexible / longlife or traditional time and distance servicing is the right service regime for a particular owner is largely down to how the vehicle is driven;

• vehicles covering mainly short journeys and frequent stop starting are probably better suited to traditional time and distance servicing
• vehicles covering higher annual mileages on longer journeys, where the majority of the time the engine is operating unstressed at its optimum operating temperature and at steady speeds, then flexible / long life servicing may be the more appropriate service regime.

The car’s data sticker used to include a PR (product) code to indicate what the service regime has been set to; QI6 for flexible / long life or QI7 for annual / time and distance servicing, but I’ve checked the data sticker for my car and it doesn’t include either of these codes! However, the default service regime for new cars from the factory is flexible / longlife, and if an owner wants their car set to annual time / distance servicing they need to ask their dealer to change it when the PDI is carried out so it‘ll count down the mileage / time to next service based on the sooner of 12 months or 9,300 miles (15,000 kilometres).

When I buy a new VW, I ask the dealer to set my car’s servicing to the fixed / time and distance service regime because;
a) my annual mileage these days is low; somewhere between 4,000 - 6,000 miles a year and
b) I personally think two years between services is too long.

With service plans, when VW used to produce model brochures, it did state in those brochures that cars with a service plan should be on the fixed service schedule (i.e. annual time and distance servicing). There probably is something under ‘service plans’ on VW‘s website that states the requirement for Fixed (annual time and distance) servicing but I’ve not checked.

The italicised section below is from the last printed mk8 Golf Price and Spec Brochure dated September 2021 - it’s been taken from penultimate page in the brochure at the link below.

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/files/.../Brochures/golf-8-brochure-pricelist-p11d.pdf

Volkswagen Service Plan – retail sales only
We offer Volkswagen Service Plans to cover all new models for their first two consecutive services in line with the Fixed Service schedule required on the vehicle. Your car will be in the hands of Volkswagen trained technicians who use specialist Volkswagen tools, technology and Volkswagen original parts, and all parts and labour are guaranteed for two years. What’s more, the Volkswagen Service Plan will remain with the vehicle should you decide to sell your car.

Volkswagen Service Plan – retail sales only
For vehicles under 1 year old set to the Fixed Service regime that has not had its first service, comprising first two manufacturer’s scheduled services:

– ‘Oil service’ including oil filter change
– ‘Oil service’ including oil filter change and ‘Inspection service’ plus a pollen filter replacement (if required)
Excludes electric vehicles. Service plan covers first two consecutive services, limited to 1x ‘Oil service’ and 1x ‘Oil and Inspection service’. T&Cs apply: All vehicles must be set to the Fixed Service regime by the retailer. Maximum age of car is 12 months (Service plan must be taken out before first service is due). Additional work, including wear and tear is excluded. Servicing must be carried out in line with the requirement of the Service Schedule. All work must be carried out by an Authorised Volkswagen Repairer. Offers may be varied
or withdrawn at any time. Plan validity is dependent on required payments received. Administered by Volkswagen Financial Services. Retail sales only. For pricing and further details, please consult your authorised Volkswagen retailer or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk

 

[Topaz]

As part of the deal on my used March 22 plate golf (220miles) I got a two years' service and two years breakdown cover.