Service at independent garage

[GreggB]

Was wondering what people’s opinions were on getting a Cali serviced outside the VW Van Centre network?

My Beach is out of warranty and having taken the decision not to extend with VW (minimum £500 for named component and £250 excess) I’m considering using a local VW specialist for it’s next service. They use genuine parts and follow VW service schedules. They’re also a lot cheaper and closer to home.

As I work in the trade I’ve always carried out my own servicing and repairs but the Cali is by far the newest and most expensive vehicle I’ve owned. Not working in a garage at present means at the very least I need to pay someone to get a stamp in the book, just depends if it VW or a specialist. Personally I’d have no issue with a vehicle that’s had non-dealer servicing providing it’s requirements have been met but I’m aware some people might.

 

[WelshGas]

Was wondering what people’s opinions were on getting a Cali serviced outside the VW Van Centre network?

My Beach is out of warranty and having taken the decision not to extend with VW (minimum £500 for named component and £250 excess) I’m considering using a local VW specialist for it’s next service. They use genuine parts and follow VW service schedules. They’re also a lot cheaper and closer to home.

As I work in the trade I’ve always carried out my own servicing and repairs but the Cali is by far the newest and most expensive vehicle I’ve owned. Not working in a garage at present means at the very least I need to pay someone to get a stamp in the book, just depends if it VW or a specialist. Personally I’d have no issue with a vehicle that’s had non-dealer servicing providing it’s requirements have been met but I’m aware some people might.

You’ve hit the nail on the head. You might not be concerned about having a VW Service stamp, unfortunately many are. As time goes by maybe not so important but it really depends on when you plan on trading it in.

 

[Velma's Dad]

You’ve hit the nail on the head. You might not be concerned about having a VW Service stamp, unfortunately many are. As time goes by maybe not so important but it really depends on when you plan on trading it in.

+1 for that.

I'm also thinking about switching to an independent now that Velma is out of warranty. I do that with all our other cars, but with Calis having much lower depreciation, the impact of even small percentage drop in value from not having all the main dealer stamps could be significant. Still pondering it.

It would be really useful if anyone could have a stab at the typical level of saving in a typical year from using an independent. Taking into account cambelt changes, maybe a clutch replaced at some stage, etc etc.

 

[WelshGas]

+1 for that.

I'm also thinking about switching to an independent now that Velma is out of warranty. I do that with all our other cars, but with Calis having much lower depreciation, the impact of even small percentage drop in value from not having all the main dealer stamps could be significant. Still pondering it.

It would be really useful if anyone could have a stab at the typical level of saving in a typical year from using an independent. Taking into account cambelt changes, maybe a clutch replaced at some stage, etc etc.

Parts costs should be similar, but Labour costs less. You will also not have the 2 yr Warranty on parts fitted by VW.

 

[rod_vw]

I think you will find the genuine VW parts fitted outside the VW organisation are still covered by the warranty if fitted correctly and you have a VW receipt for them.

 

[zennorboy]

I use my local Independent VW Van Centre, initially because of convenience (the Indepedent is five minutes down the road, VW Van Main Agent, twelve miles on the other side of town) but now out of choice.

The service is excellent, all the technicians are either ex-VW or Porsche, nothing is too much trouble and I have my ‘own technician’ who looks after my bus, who is very methodical, knows what work has been done and when (because he did it) and offers great advice. The whole place is like a clinic...all clean and well ordered. Gives me confidence.

The only ‘difficulty’ I have experienced has been a problem I had with my Side Assist (well documented elsewhere in the ‘Technical Forum’) which my Independent was able to diagnose, but unable to fix as they are forbidden entry to certain areas of the VW central computer which was required to calibrate said Side Assist.

Interestingly, my local VW Van Main Agent was also unable to do this work as they don’t have the necessary equipment. I had to take the bus to the Poole VW California Main Agent some fifty miles away who charged me £90 to plug the bus in to the computer (when the problem had already been identified...but I guess they had to check) and then required me to pay £857 up front because the part was temporarily unavailable...also documented in aforementioned thread.

I’ve never been asked for any money up front from my Indepedent...in fact they do odds and ends for me for free!

I can thoroughly recommend my Indepedent but I guess if I had a reliable local VW California Main Agent I might pay the extra for the ‘Dealer Stamp’, but given that I have a five year old bus, I’m not really convinced it would be worth the extra in the long run.

 

[cbdubs]

My Kombi (alas not a Cali ) is 5 years old this year and I still take to main dealer for service but all other jobs, e.g. cambelt, water pump etc, I go local independent and get them to use genuine parts.

 

[larrylamb]

Mine is 4 years old in March, first major service due, cambelt and water pump change, MOT and brake fluid change. Got a quote this week from VW van centre Preston and knew it wasn't going to be cheap with all that work. Came in around £1040, I mentioned the Cali forum and "how's about some discount please". Price came back at £899. Booked in, Thank you very much. Happy with that and keeps up the full VW history.

 

[2into1]

I'm a fan of the independents generally and certainly when out of warranty will consider again. As a buyer of a 2nd hand van, I wouldn't baulk at a van with a consistent service record from the same (1 or 2) specialists local to the owner. I think the independent guys often are more experienced and careful / resourceful than the young lads at VW branches

My independent is worried about the cost of tooling and training for each new generation of tech that gets introduced on new models. Although this has long been a trend, I think its getting harder for them.

 

[Nolan]

I live a couple of miles from Bognor Motors who seem to have a good reputations for all things VW van so I'm wondering if I should go there or Breeze in Southampton for my Servicing requirements.

 

[AlanC]

Provided official VW parts are fitted sourced from TPS, then you will not have an issue if your van ever has to go into the dealer for some work.. However, if pattern parts (parts made by non authorised manufacturers) are fitted, then this will cause the VW dealer to reject working on your van should the need arise.

This edict has been handed down from VWUK apparently and is not necessarily the desire of the local dealer.

Alan

 

[leightonjthomas]

I live a couple of miles from Bognor Motors who seem to have a good reputations for all things VW van so I'm wondering if I should go there or Breeze in Southampton for my Servicing requirements.

I’ve used Bognor Motors for many years, including the last six years for both my Calis. They specialise in T5 and T6 vans and run a fleet of Californias, they use VW parts, and I’ve never been disappointed.

 

[ArunAlec]

I've just had my suspension top mounts replaced by an independent VW commercial trained technician. I'd asked my regular VW Dealer to give an opinion on the rattle coming from the top end of the suspension when the van was in for a big expensive service. Having more or less diagnosed the problem myself I was looking to the experts to confirm and give me an idea of cost etc. On collection, when I asked their verdict, I was told that the technician confirmed there was a rattle! No suggestion of the cause. Basically no help at all!
Went to the independent guy, quick drive round the block, confirmed what I thought, needless to say I booked it in with him and saved about 50% on labour and he uses VW parts.
My gripe with most dealerships is that you don't get to speak to the bloke who will be working on your vehicle.

 

[zennorboy]

I echo the point made by ArunAlec above. The chap who looks after my bus at my local Indepedent always comes out to explain what he’s done and why. Also, rather than having to focus on the specific ‘timed’ job in hand, he always looks around for any other possible problems, cleans things that are grubby, always checks running gear etc and advises me on what might need looking at in the near future. If I pay a little extra for his time to do that, I’m happy.

With regard to Nolan and his thoughts about BREEZE in Southampton, I would have to say that my Cali friends have good things to say about their general level of service etc, but they were reluctant to sort my Side Assist.

Despite being an authorised VW Van Centre they do not sell Californias (VW policy I believe) and in my limited experience of them, they are not too fond of working on any of the specific California bits...they don’t (or didn’t) have all the required technical gear either to calibrate my Side Assist for instance...something which I find quite unbelievable, given that it’s a Van Centre.

 

[Skewif]

I've just had my suspension top mounts replaced by an independent VW commercial trained technician. I'd asked my regular VW Dealer to give an opinion on the rattle coming from the top end of the suspension when the van was in for a big expensive service. Having more or less diagnosed the problem myself I was looking to the experts to confirm and give me an idea of cost etc. On collection, when I asked their verdict, I was told that the technician confirmed there was a rattle! No suggestion of the cause. Basically no help at all!
Went to the independent guy, quick drive round the block, confirmed what I thought, needless to say I booked it in with him and saved about 50% on labour and he uses VW parts.
My gripe with most dealerships is that you don't get to speak to the bloke who will be working on your vehicle.

Was that Tom you used in the end?

 

[ArunAlec]

Was that Tom you used in the end?

Yep, thanks for recommending him.

 

[GreggB]

Good to see plenty of opinions on this
I’ve gone ahead and booked in with the independent. They do use genuine parts and state they come with the 2 year warranty. Also have access to the digital service records and use VW ODIS diagnostic kit (also have Vagcom/VCDS) with online links to VW. Not specifically a van specialist but cover the whole of VAG group, will report back once the work is complete.