Stealerships

[ToxicBunny]

I can tell you what Ford wanted on my Fusion for a leaking EGR cooler...

I have a rough idea of what VW wanted on mine as well. Was give or take R10k for a new one and labour to fit it.

My solution (because my car is old enough thankfully), spend R700 and buy EGR blanking plates and code the damn thing out of the car.

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

I am pretty sure I got a quote from VAg in Centurion for service and they seemed more expensive than VW.

 

[Neuk_]

I am pretty sure I got a quote from VAg in Centurion for service and they seemed more expensive than VW.

I have never experienced that from VAG Spec, even on big jobs. Was it just a 'normal' service?

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

I have never experienced that from VAG Spec, even on big jobs. Was it just a 'normal' service?

Yes think it was just the minor, basically oil service.

 

[airborne]

Yes think it was just the minor, basically oil service.

Vw has an oil service special at times but other than that I highly doubt they would be cheaper with their regular pricing.
In any case doing the oil service at VW so that your service book is stamped as worthwhile doing and generally won't cost you a huge amount more than using an independent.

Using an Indy matters when theres real work that needs to be done, that's when VW will rip you a new one and the Indy will show why they are worth their weight in gold.

 

[Neuk_]

Vw has an oil service special at times but other than that I highly doubt they would be cheaper with their regular pricing.
In any case doing the oil service at VW so that your service book is stamped as worthwhile doing and generally won't cost you a huge amount more than using an independent.

Using an Indy matters when theres real work that needs to be done, that's when VW will rip you a new one and the Indy will show why they are worth their weight in gold.

Just get the indy to stamp it, if you use a decent indy there is no benefit to getting a dealer stamp other than if the car is in warranty/maintenance/service plan periods.

 

[airborne]

Just get the indy to stamp it, if you use a decent indy there is no benefit to getting a dealer stamp other than if the car is in warranty/maintenance/service plan periods.

It’s for the people that believe a full dealer service record is a sure sign of supreme vehicle maintenance, which it isn't but it definitely does add value if you ever sell a vehicle.

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

Using an Indy matters when theres real work that needs to be done, that's when VW will rip you a new one and the Indy will show why they are worth their weight in gold.

Not always if you want to use genuine parts.
Went to indy last year to replace master and slave cylinder. They said they will only use genuine parts for that. Parts was around R13K, I phone VW and parts was under R10k. Ask indy and he said they put 30% mark-up on parts. Told him then I could just do it at VW as their labour would not be R3000 more than indy's. Appently most indy's put around 30% mark-up on parts.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Not always if you want to use genuine parts.
Went to indy last year to replace master and slave cylinder. They said they will only use genuine parts for that. Parts was around R13K, I phone VW and parts was under R10k. Ask indy and he said they put 30% mark-up on parts. Told him then I could just do it at VW as their labour would not be R3000 more than indy's. Appently most indy's put around 30% mark-up on parts.

No, most indy's I've ever dealt with don't put any markup on the parts, they charge for their labour.

The ones that I've dealt with that do markup, its like 5% or so for the trouble of having to go get the part from the dealership.

 

[Neuk_]

It’s for the people that believe a full dealer service record is a sure sign of supreme vehicle maintenance, which it isn't but it definitely does add value if you ever sell a vehicle.

Yes, the same people that ride their clutches in traffic and then have a hissy fit when they need a clutch replaced at 50k km's.

 

[Claymore]

I have a rough idea of what VW wanted on mine as well. Was give or take R10k for a new one and labour to fit it.

My solution (because my car is old enough thankfully), spend R700 and buy EGR blanking plates and code the damn thing out of the car.

For want R32K for the EGR, and the cooler is part of it. When I had EGR issues, I had it blanked and deleted in software, and when the cooler started leaking, I bought the separate cooler part off Ebay for R2K.

 

[Sunrise24]

Compliments of the Season to all.

When dealerships replace brake fluid, are they required to flush out all the fluid or only siphon out and replace the fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

Well depends what they say they did. Top up is just that, Replace is they should flush everything and put new and bleed.

 

[Sunrise24]

Well depends what they say they did. Top up is just that, Replace is they should flush everything and put new and bleed.

Was replacement. So they were supposed to flush out. Instead they replaced the fluid in the reservoir only.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Was replacement. So they were supposed to flush out. Instead they replaced the fluid in the reservoir only.

Depends on how much fluid they charged you for, and how much labour really.

 

[airborne]

Depends on how much fluid they charged you for, and how much labour really.

True, post what they put on the invoice for the brake fluid change, to do a full flush is a much bigger job than just doing a change of whatever is in the reservoir.

 

[Düber]

Compliments of the Season to all.

When dealerships replace brake fluid, are they required to flush out all the fluid or only siphon out and replace the fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.

The whole system should get new brake fluid in it, a lot of the fluid spends it's life just see-sawing in the pipes.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Compliments of the Season to all.

When dealerships replace brake fluid, are they required to flush out all the fluid or only siphon out and replace the fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.

Depends on the job they were doing.

Every couple of years the entire system gets flushed as the brake fluid breaks down over time.

In between can just be a top up.

 

[Sunrise24]

Depends on the job they were doing.

Every couple of years the entire system gets flushed as the brake fluid breaks down over time.

In between can just be a top up.

The brake fluid replacement was required during the 135 000km service. Was charged R139.81 for the brake fluid.

After the service I noted that the colour of the brake fluid in the reservoir tank was dark green in colour. Sent a photo to the dealership. Their response was that the brake fluid was changed. After deliberations I was requested to bring the car into the dealership. The technician opened the brake fluid reservoir tank and informed me it needs to be replaced. Drove the vehicle into the workshop. I had my dashcam in the vehicle. Vehicle was in the workshop for 11 minutes.

The brake fluid in the reservoir tank was now clear. Examined the brake bleed nipples. All were still covered in grit. This raised suspicions. They just siphoned the fluid from the reservoir and replaced.

I did the flush via the bleeding nipples and as expected, the fluid was green.

Also, I noted that the oil filter reflects that it was manufactured in 2023. They are normally a year old. Not sure if this was replaced with a new one or a used filter from another vehicle was wiped clean and fitted to my vehicle. When I have a gap, I am going to replace the filter and cut open the existing filter. I might see some signs of a used filter.

 

[airborne]

The brake fluid replacement was required during the 135 000km service. Was charged R139.81 for the brake fluid.

After the service I noted that the colour of the brake fluid in the reservoir tank was dark green in colour. Sent a photo to the dealership. Their response was that the brake fluid was changed. After deliberations I was requested to bring the car into the dealership. The technician opened the brake fluid reservoir tank and informed me it needs to be replaced. Drove the vehicle into the workshop. I had my dashcam in the vehicle. Vehicle was in the workshop for 11 minutes.

The brake fluid in the reservoir tank was now clear. Examined the brake bleed nipples. All were still covered in grit. This raised suspicions. They just siphoned the fluid from the reservoir and replaced.

I did the flush via the bleeding nipples and as expected, the fluid was green.

Also, I noted that the oil filter reflects that it was manufactured in 2023. They are normally a year old. Not sure if this was replaced with a new one or a used filter from another vehicle was wiped clean and fitted to my vehicle. When I have a gap, I am going to replace the filter and cut open the existing filter. I might see some signs of a used filter.

Dark green isn't the worst colour, brake fluid goes near black when it’s really on it’s last legs but without bleeding at each wheel the fluid isn't getting fully replaced. The dirtiest fluid is always at the calliper ends of the system so just siphoning at the reservoir doesn't get the bad stuff out.