Cali specialist vs Van centre

[TrevorH]

I am shortly due my first service on a 2 yr old 15,000 mile Beach.

There is no Cali specialist that is very convenient for me and I am wondering if there is any difficulty in just going to a nearby van centre since we are talking mechanicals only here . Thoughts/ experiences?

 

[flying banana]

I thi k a lot of vw van centres deal with calis.

 

[jts46]

Even some VW car centres will service a Cali, after all it is only a Transporter.
T L Derby in my locality will service my Cali

 

[Meoncoast]

Say where you are planning to take it and ask for feedback from other users and look and the dealer reviews here. Our local dealer Breeze Totton was not a specialist Cali dealer but has become one. Their branch at Poole was where to go 6 or 7 years ago or SMG in West Sussex - both a good hour + away. So I used Totton 7 miles away. I have noticed over the years they have have been dealing with more and more California's. Repairing our stuck down bed, replacing bellows, cupboard door and window blind all with care and quality of workmanship. My advise decide which dealer you will use go and have a look and chat with the service manager you will get a feel for how they will be. If happy use them if not try another.

 

[GSX1300R]

I suppose its always a good idea taking it to VW for its first service while its under warranty. I know that by law you can take it anywhere as long as they use VW parts. But the difference for the first service is only going to be a hundred pounds or so as its really only an oil change etc not like the main service. And it takes any problems away if you make a claim under warranty...

 

[TrevorH]

Thanks all .

There is no VW van centre ( Cali specialist or otherwise) in Cambridge where I live.

I bought from Robinsons in Norwich and would ideally go back to them but it isn't at all convenient.

I regularly work in Chelmsford and going to the van centre there would be handiest . Does anyone have any experience of them or others within easy striking distance of Cambridge ?

 

[VWDrooper]

Thanks all .

There is no VW van centre ( Cali specialist or otherwise) in Cambridge where I live.

I bought from Robinsons in Norwich and would ideally go back to them but it isn't at all convenient.

I regularly work in Chelmsford and going to the van centre there would be handiest . Does anyone have any experience of them or others within easy striking distance of Cambridge ?

VW Van Center in Bury St Edmunds are good IMO, also Cali specialists

 

[inthemidnighthour]

Thanks all .

There is no VW van centre ( Cali specialist or otherwise) in Cambridge where I live.

I bought from Robinsons in Norwich and would ideally go back to them but it isn't at all convenient.

I regularly work in Chelmsford and going to the van centre there would be handiest . Does anyone have any experience of them or others within easy striking distance of Cambridge ?

We have 2 bought to calis from Robinson’s and had them serviced yearly and their service is always outstanding and if you ask nicely they will lend you a courtesy van for the day as it’s a van centre .

 

[Billywizz]

VW Van Center in Bury St Edmunds are good IMO, also Cali specialists

Don't let Bury wash you van for you as they use a third party company, ended up having mine stage one polished at their expense.

 

[B J G]

Vindis at Huntingdon. Wrong direction though.

New and Used Car Dealer | United Kingdom | Vindis Group

Visit Vindis Group in United Kingdom, established dealership and servicing specialist. Explore the website and browse through our full range of offers.

vindisgroup.com

Or Beadles

dccsearch

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

 

[TrevorH]

Thank you all for helpful replies. Decided to give Chelmsford van centre ( also Beadles) a go and we shall see how I get on

 

[GraemeSmith]

Thank you all for helpful replies. Decided to give Chelmsford van centre ( also Beadles) a go and we shall see how I get on

I need to get my first service and Beadles Chelmsford seem to be my closest dealer. How did you get on? Would you recommend?

 

[KGCali]

Thanks all .

There is no VW van centre ( Cali specialist or otherwise) in Cambridge where I live.

I bought from Robinsons in Norwich and would ideally go back to them but it isn't at all convenient.

I regularly work in Chelmsford and going to the van centre there would be handiest . Does anyone have any experience of them or others within easy striking distance of Cambridge ?

VW Bury St Edmunds are good with Calis

 

[Billywizz]

VW Bury St Edmunds are good with Calis

Not so good at washing them, they use a “3rd party” I can only presume they use yard brooms to wash!

 

[TrevorH]

I need to get my first service and Beadles Chelmsford seem to be my closest dealer. How did you get on? Would you recommend?

As it happens I have just come back today from having them do the first major service and first MOT ( at 21000 miles) . Also air conditioning service. They have been having a problem with their commercial workshop and had to postpone things from last week but were very good about it and rebooked me as soon as possible. Found them pleasant and helpful and they seem to have done a good job.

 

[GraemeSmith]

Thanks Trevor. I called to book into Chelmsford this morning and they said that I don't need a service (10,275 miles but 18 months old) and that the service reminder message must be an error and to come back at 20k miles.

Looking at the various service interval threads on the forum, I think I'll go for the service anyway,

 

[CamperFam]

I need to get my first service and Beadles Chelmsford seem to be my closest dealer. How did you get on? Would you recommend?

Terrible here.

I went in for some warranty work on a van I bought 3 months ago - a split rubber gasket on the bikerack (visible issue) and the canvas popping off the roof at the top corner. I was told it would be a 10 minute visit.

I waited an hour to see someone, and they then needed to take it into the workshop and spent an hour and a bit digging around for some reason, before coming out and asking what the issue was again, along very short tempers by the front-desk staff when I mentioned I was meant to be at my own desk by that time.

Ultimately, they agreed the bike rack was a warranty issue and failed to see the really basic roof issue. I left, to deal with it another time.

On my return, I found a whole load of oily/greesy handprints around the passenger side roof handle where they used it to hoist themselves up.

So - yea, not recommended.


<PS - still awaiting my replacement bikerack (or telephone call), 4 weeks later...>

 

[TrevorH]

Terrible here.

I went in for some warranty work on a van I bought 3 months ago - a split rubber gasket on the bikerack (visible issue) and the canvas popping off the roof at the top corner. I was told it would be a 10 minute visit.

I waited an hour to see someone, and they then needed to take it into the workshop and spent an hour and a bit digging around for some reason, before coming out and asking what the issue was again, along very short tempers by the front-desk staff when I mentioned I was meant to be at my own desk by that time.

Ultimately, they agreed the bike rack was a warranty issue and failed to see the really basic roof issue. I left, to deal with it another time.

On my return, I found a whole load of oily/greesy handprints around the passenger side roof handle where they used it to hoist themselves up.

So - yea, not recommended.


<PS - still awaiting my replacement bikerack (or telephone call), 4 weeks later...>

Clearly disappointing and not equating to my experience but then again I didn’t have any California specific issues : it was basic regular service interval stuff which I guess could have applied to any old Transporter

 

[Ricotansky]

I've used Chelmsford VW before (when they were inchcape). They were fine for servicing but haven't got a clue about Californias so don't expect any help if it's related to anything not specific to the transporter.

And as another poster mentioned, resign yourself to getting the van back dirtier than you left it...

 

[GraemeSmith]

Quick feedback: I had a first service and oil change today at Beadles Chelmsford. No problems at all, and they'd protected the seats, steering wheel, gear knob and carpet. Took about 90 minutes while I waited (..well, I walked the dog around Hylands Park which is conveniently across the road). They're taking lots of COVID precautions also, which is good for employees and customers. So on my sample of just one service, they came out just fine .

 

[Wogga]

Been an MB driver for years and MBUK seem to jump on crap franchises. Do VWUK do Independent follow up satisfaction surveys of their dealerships? Had a poor experience with MB locally reported it on my survey and the dealership were all over me to rectify it and a free copy of a Rick Stein cookbook (obviously nicked off the book club pile) in way of am apology.