Any VW mechanics here (or any mechanic really)? Golf TDI 2003 service question

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Izi

Izi

Izi

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I have just got a golf which has never been serviced at a main VW dealer, but an independent.

I decided I wanted VW to service my car so I could get the computer reset and also get it on the diagnostics. Also would be nice to see if its due any recall work!

I rang up and they said it would be £149 for the smaller service or £289 for the full service.

On asking the difference they said both have full oil & filter change, full diagnostics and basic health checks. With the full service they also change the fuel filter, air filter and I think they mentioned some other filters. However, if this is true doesn't that mean the full service is a waste of money? Air filter and fuel filter are an easy change, I must not have been told the whole truth?
 
I think that they are taking the pee with the service cost.
You can do all that yourself for far cheaper.

Also, why do a diagnostics test if there is no warning light on the dash? :p Sounds like they would say that the diagnostics test gave a fault as you cannot prove otherwise.

I wouldn't bother with main dealer servicing on a 10 year old Golf as there isn't going to be any lost value through non-dealer servicing at this age.
 
A independent should be able to read the diagnostics and reset any service items. You can even do that yourself with a £10 ELM lead and a laptop.

I find it a bit strange the dealer has given you two options. They usually go by service schedule according to mileage. Your owners book should be able to help you with this. Basically they check and change a variety of different things according to the mileage.
 
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Cheers for the replies.

The only other thing I wanted it to go in for was to see if there had been any recalls on the car. i know they check that and fix if needed.

I have done many oil changes. I know the oil and filter is £40 + 30 mins of my time. I suppose it does seem a little silly, but would be nice to get the service light reset and a last stamp in the old service booklet.

They did ask for my milage, but it is strange as you have said they have not offered a service based on age + mileage.
 
I'd have thought they could tell you the recall history of the car over the phone from a registration number or chassis number
 
£149 will probably drop down quite a bit if you bring your own oil, probably by £50.

Chuck in that £10 halfrods 5w30. I think it's vw spec.
 
Reset the light yourself as follows.

switch off the ignition,
press and hold the mileage trip reset button,
switch on ignition,
release trip button,
service indicator will appear,
turn the clock adjust button clockwise and hold in for about 5 seconds,and the service now reminder should go.
release the button and turn off the ignition.
when you turn ignition back on service now reminder should be gone.
 
77k

ok, on a car like that, rather than pay through the nose for a service, id rather spend the monies else where

i would expect the car to have a list of failures, or soon to be failures, as below
dampers
bushes (all of them)
pcv system
egr
maf

im sure there are more, but after all these years, important items like those are likel to be past their best and getting those sorted out will be a much bigger benefit to the car
 
Matt82 said:
77k

ok, on a car like that, rather than pay through the nose for a service, id rather spend the monies else where

i would expect the car to have a list of failures, or soon to be failures, as below
dampers
bushes (all of them)
pcv system
egr
maf

im sure there are more, but after all these years, important items like those are likel to be past their best and getting those sorted out will be a much bigger benefit to the car
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Yeah good idea. Just want to make sure it lasts as long as it can. I am on super cheap motoring mode for house renovation so want to get a few more years out her before trading.

I had two springs replaced last year for MOT @ £200... So you are right- oil change and keep fingers crossed for MOT.
 
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Only recall i can remember on the Mk4 Golfs is the spark plugs but you probably already have different ones from new in there anyway.

The VW servicing prices are a joke, a service kit is only £40 or so and then £30/40 for oil.

Do it yourself :)

I love my MK4 and saved quite a bit doing stuff myself!
 
Izi said:
Yeah good idea. Just want to make sure it lasts as long as it can. I am on super cheap motoring mode for house renovation so want to get a few more years out her before trading.

I had two springs replaced last year for MOT @ £200... So you are right- oil change and keep fingers crossed for MOT.
Click to expand...

super cheap mode, well the brilliant thing about Golf is that decent quality parts are cheap

if you had to, you can replace nearly the entire suspension for c.£500, nothing costs the earth

if youre aiming for super cheap, i commend you disable your EGR, take off the inlet manifold and cheap out all the junk that will be built up in there and make sure there are no boost leaks

those steps are free and if you do discover a problem, sorting out those bits will improve power and economy by leaps and bounds
 
rhysduck said:
Only recall i can remember on the Mk4 Golfs is the spark plugs but you probably already have different ones from new in there anyway.

The VW servicing prices are a joke, a service kit is only £40 or so and then £30/40 for oil.

Do it yourself :)

I love my MK4 and saved quite a bit doing stuff myself!
Click to expand...

its a TDI does not have SPARK plugs :)
 
While on the topic of self servicing, I don't think it's worth continuing dealership servicing on my '06 Polo. I've always maintained my Minis, far beyond servicing, so it's no real bother, but might I ask where the best place to get a service kit from is? I can get the bits separately but if the price is favourable and the purchase is more convenient then I'll go down that route.
 
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