Mystery miles

[georgemojo]

Can't work out if somebody used my Cali to take advantage of the hot weather last weekend or whether it was just a test run by the mechanic. Betsy was in for a roof repair (failed hydraulics) for a week. I took a photo of the miles when I dropped her off at the dealer 16,144. On pick up the mileage was 16417 = that's 273 miles. I left it with a full tank and it was returned with one. I've still got major work to do on the van so don't want to rock the boat just yet.

 

[Hotel California]

And you think your dealer is reading on here.....?
Need to ask him imo.
Probally the Cali has been driven to a bodyworkshop.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Hmmmm....

Maybe they had to take it to another site (136 miles away?) for specialist work to be done? But if so, surprising that they didn't choose to be transparent with you about that.

I would definitely be inclined to just pose the question to them straight away (nicely of course) as they certainly owe you an explanation.

 

[Volkywagen]

perceptive - definitely ask the question...
Please let us know what they say!

 

[cbdubs]

Do you have the VW Connect? That records trips and would tell you where its been.

 

[georgemojo]

I do have the VW Connect dongle but didn't think of turning it on on my phone as I thought she would be laid up for the week. I'm sure there's a valid reason for the mileage done (maybe they had to take it to specialist to check as the electric roof is very complicated). I will quiz them nicely when I'm back in next week.

 

[GillianC]

Can't work out if somebody used my Cali to take advantage of the hot weather last weekend or whether it was just a test run by the mechanic. Betsy was in for a roof repair (failed hydraulics) for a week. I took a photo of the miles when I dropped her off at the dealer 16,144. On pick up the mileage was 16417 = that's 273 miles. I left it with a full tank and it was returned with one. I've still got major work to do on the van so don't want to rock the boat just yet.
View attachment 34862

273 miles is a lot! If it was in for the hydraulics then it should need to go to a repair shop unless they did some damage when fitting them? Also if they did have to take it out that far why then re-set the trip to 1.4 miles?
I think that you are quite right to be very suspicious and to ask the question. If they did use it for a little jaunt and it is going back then they might be tempted to do it again!

 

[ArunAlec]

Do you have the VW Connect? That records trips and would tell you where its been.

I don't think that would work unless you'd left your mobile in the van whilst it was with the dealer. As far as I'm aware and from experience the data is stored on your phone, not in the dongle. I recently reloaded the app onto my phone and lost all my old trips.

 

[ArunAlec]

273 miles is a lot! If it was in for the hydraulics then it should need to go to a repair shop unless they did some damage when fitting them? Also if they did have to take it out that far why then re-set the trip to 1.4 miles?
I think that you are quite right to be very suspicious and to ask the question. If they did use it for a little jaunt and it is going back then they might be tempted to do it again!

Think the 1.4 was at the start at 16144.

 

[westfalia]

Service manager using it for the weekend to control that the repair
was carried out successfully ???

What was diagnosed as being the problem with the roof, electrical or hydraulic ram ?
It would be good to know for future ref.
Also cost of repair would be handy to know.

 

[T6 CFO]

A polite query is all that’s required. Far better than guessing.


Mike

 

[Borris]

Our daughter had this issue last month. She dropped her Discovery off at the dealers for a service and made a note of the mileage. After she had picked it up the following day she saw that the vehicle had done considerably more miles than any test drive would have required. Unfortunately she had driven away by then and had forgotten to check it at the garage. She therefore decided to put it down to experience and take a photo next time.
However several days later she received a fine for driving in a bus lane. This turned out to have been during the time the vehicle was in for it's service. She told the Council that she was't driving at the time and that the garage were responsible. The Council said that it didn't matter, as she was the registered keeper she was responsible!!!
Anyway, after showing the dealer principal the photographic evidence and complaining about the excessive mileage, they agreed to pay the fine and to replace the alloy spare wheel and tyre and spare wheel winch that had all been stolen at Legoland several months ago, as compensation. A total cost of about £1500. Mind you she had threatened to go to the local press if they didn't sort the matter out to her satisfaction.
The mechanic responsible admitted to going into the bus lane because he was going too fast to stop behind the stationary traffic in front. It was a 30mph limit! He was given a written warning and had the cost of the fine docked from his wages. Unfortunately, she didn't managed to find out where he'd been.

So the lesson here seems to be to record the mileage at drop off and collection and then to question excessive mileage before leaving the garage. It makes you wonder how much of this is going on?

 

[MattBW]

However several days later she received a fine for driving in a bus lane. This turned out to have been during the time the vehicle was in for it's service. She told the Council that she was't driving at the time and that the garage were responsible. The Council said that it didn't matter, as she was the registered keeper she was responsible!!!

Wow that is a shocking, although I can't see them refusing.

With a speeding fine you have to state who was driving but with a PCN its just straight to the keeper.

This is the case that resulted in that ruling I think.. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...-liable-for-garages-parking-fine-1351118.html

 

[Jay586]

Oooh, I think someone had a sneaky away trip. Do a circle from the dealership to find possible destinations?

 

[Jay586]

Tho I should admit Ferris Bueller's Day Off is my favourite film...

 

[Borris]

Wow that is a shocking, although I can't see them refusing.

With a speeding fine you have to state who was driving but with a PCN its just straight to the keeper.

This is the case that resulted in that ruling I think.. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...-liable-for-garages-parking-fine-1351118.html

Well I didn't know that. Despite the ruling that still doesn't sound right to me. I agree though, they would have to pay the fine and offer compensation or it could get rather ugly for them.

On the other point, an unscrupulous garage or employee could get up to all sorts of things with your vehicle when they have it and with a flexible Cali the mind boggles!

 

[Borris]

Tho I should admit Ferris Bueller's Day Off is my favourite film...

Wasn't that a California as well? Well OK not the VW one!

 

[MattBW]

Well I didn't know that. Despite the ruling that still doesn't sound right to me. I agree though, they would have to pay the fine and offer compensation or it could get rather ugly for them.

On the other point, an unscrupulous garage or employee could get up to all sorts of things with your vehicle when they have it and with a flexible Cali the mind boggles!

I agree it sounds wrong and unfair at best. It was probably just an oversight when they wrote the laws in that they didn't account for those situations.

 

[georgemojo]

It was hydraulic failure in the roof - just under 2K to repair everything (been quoted), that includes the roof dent caused by the scissors twisting on lowering. I'm now torn about going down the road and getting a manual roof fitted - there is a company in Cornwall offering to do the conversion with a Beach roof they have in stock - it's a project they are keen about and with all the roof problems I've been through in the last three years I really am open to ideas.

 

[Borris]

It was hydraulic failure in the roof - just under 2K to repair everything (been quoted), that includes the roof dent caused by the scissors twisting on lowering. I'm now torn about going down the road and getting a manual roof fitted - there is a company in Cornwall offering to do the conversion with a Beach roof they have in stock - it's a project they are keen about and with all the roof problems I've been through in the last three years I really am open to ideas.

The Beach roof is simple and you physically control it's closure so the same issues don't occur. All the over complicated stuff isn't required.

 

[MattBW]

It was hydraulic failure in the roof - just under 2K to repair everything (been quoted), that includes the roof dent caused by the scissors twisting on lowering. I'm now torn about going down the road and getting a manual roof fitted - there is a company in Cornwall offering to do the conversion with a Beach roof they have in stock - it's a project they are keen about and with all the roof problems I've been through in the last three years I really am open to ideas.

I do like the Beach roof, but it can have its own quirks too, mine sometimes doesnt always slot into place first time. The way I look at it though it is less to go wrong and gas struts are cheap to replace if they fail. Less windows is the only downside I can see.

 

[Gary&Heather]

Definitely ask the question... This happened to us about five years ago when our new California went in for repair due to a fault on the electrical side in other words it would not charge when on electric they had the vehicle for nearly 2 weeks and when I telephoned the garage for an update I just got fobbed off they kept saying they was waiting for a fix from Germany and when I went to pick the vehicle up it had an extra 450 miles on the clock luckily I had photographic evidence of the milage when I left it with them but to cut a long story short in the end I discovered that the service manager had use the vehicle for a weekend after being repaired they justify this by saying it had to be tested properly before coming back to me and that's why the service manager had took it upon himself to test it and that it had been looked after and cleaned after being used they seemed to think that this was okay for them to do and I was getting nowhere with it until I threatened to make contact with VW customer services to make a complaint this certainly got them focused which then escalated into an internal investigation after the area manager heard me in the showroom in the end the service manager was demoted and a couple of months later left the company I got a set of alloy wheels of my choice I also got my California lowered and four free service's free of charge of course and a letter of apology from the area manage this particular garage in question no longer sell's California's anymore.

 

[Borris]

I do like the Beach roof, but it can have its own quirks too, mine sometimes doesnt always slot into place first time. The way I look at it though it is less to go wrong and gas struts are cheap to replace if they fail. Less windows is the only downside I can see.

I'm now wondering how big a job it would be to convert an SE/Ocean roof to the manual beach version? Could you keep the original roof and canvas? Apart from the extra front vent, are they different? Could the wiring, motor and hydraulics just be drained and isolated with the extra SE/Ocean struts being removed and stored? If left in situe, the main gubbins could always be reinstated at a later date. Or is it a much more complicated issue? I'm curious.

 

[Jay586]

On a serious note, I wouldn't be calm. I know you need more work done but they might be tempted to repeat this.

I need my windscreen changed & that's worrying me enough.

 

[SallyW]

My husband had an MX5. He left it with a garage to be serviced. That evening he went to the pub with some friends and was most surprised to see his MX5 parked outside of the pub. The mechanic from the garage had borrowed it for the evening. Very naughty mechanic.