[anna_r]

Just booked car in for 1st service - its 2 yrs old on long life servicing

Anyway, got told that they would normally do a fuel flush, or something like that, and if i want it done it will be £32! Also asked them to look at a couple of niggles for me - clutch has a habit of not being so great going into 1st/2nd gear of late, and the driver wing mirror sounds like a small tractor. Got told that would probably be charged a 50 quid investigation fee!!

What on earth?! Anyone else been had the flush thing flogged to them? Is it essential, or just garages trying to grab a few quid? Same goes for investigation charge?! - its still under warranty, so not mightily impressed! Told them I wasn't going to be paying that charge and would be taking it up with the garage manager!

I have a service plan too - not that they seemed to be aware of that, which seems a little odd! So much hassle!

 

[cambourne7]

take it to another vw garage for a 2nd quote for the service.

 

[nail-z-gull]

Just booked car in for 1st service - its 2 yrs old on long life servicing

Anyway, got told that they would normally do a fuel flush, or something like that, and if i want it done it will be £32! Also asked them to look at a couple of niggles for me - clutch has a habit of not being so great going into 1st/2nd gear of late, and the driver wing mirror sounds like a small tractor. Got told that would probably be charged a 50 quid investigation fee!!

What on earth?! Anyone else been had the flush thing flogged to them? Is it essential, or just garages trying to grab a few quid? Same goes for investigation charge?! - its still under warranty, so not mightily impressed! Told them I wasn't going to be paying that charge and would be taking it up with the garage manager!

I have a service plan too - not that they seemed to be aware of that, which seems a little odd! So much hassle!

I have to be honest I'm mightily impressed with the service I get from my VW garage. Very friendly, very polite and didn't think twice about investigating a couple of things I wanted them to look at. It's under warranty so why on earth they would charge you an investigation fee - they're having a laugh.

 

[Redimps]

A fuel flush what the ffs some dealers take the piss. No such thing on a service. a fuel filter change at 40,000 miles as the only thing that comes near. Would this dealer be at stourbridge by chance? Roy Rodgers And Trigger come to mind. I would call VW customer services on 0800711811 tell them what they said VW uk don't like that sort of thing.

 

[silvershadow]

Just booked car in for 1st service - its 2 yrs old on long life servicing

Anyway, got told that they would normally do a fuel flush, or something like that, and if i want it done it will be £32! Also asked them to look at a couple of niggles for me - clutch has a habit of not being so great going into 1st/2nd gear of late, and the driver wing mirror sounds like a small tractor. Got told that would probably be charged a 50 quid investigation fee!!

What on earth?! Anyone else been had the flush thing flogged to them? Is it essential, or just garages trying to grab a few quid? Same goes for investigation charge?! - its still under warranty, so not mightily impressed! Told them I wasn't going to be paying that charge and would be taking it up with the garage manager!

I have a service plan too - not that they seemed to be aware of that, which seems a little odd! So much hassle!

My usual reaction to dealers offering "after-market" treatments with proprietary products that are not included in the service list is to tell them to take a long running jump from the highest point in the vicinity. These are purely a profit enhancement opportunity for the dealer. I would not do anything to the fuel tank/lines of a petrol engined car for at least 150,000/200,000 Km[miles] and this would be limited to draining the tank and flushing it to wash out any sediment, refilling with fuel and replacing the fuel filter after the car has travelled a further 1000 Km [miles].

However, there is one exception that I would make for diesel vehicles which have not had diesel fuel conditioner/algaecide added to the fuel tank every 3 months. Diesel fuel can be prone to algae contamination/growth during shipment from the refinery, holding at the fuel seller and storage in the vehicle fuel tank if the conditions are right. This algae will block the fuel filter(s) if not controlled by the periodic addition of fuel conditioner/algaecide to the tank by the owner.

I suggest owners who have not added conditioner to their diesel fuel should purchase a 1 litre [1 quart] quantity and a spare fuel filter to suit their vehicle from an automotive parts shop and add the recommended quantity to the tank just before refuelling. The conditioner is not expensive and the amount used for a car fuel tank is not large [usually less than 100ml].

If the tank is affected by moderate/severe algae, the fuel filter may clog up within a few thousand Km [miles] and the first indication will be a marked reduction in engine power due to the restricted fuel supply. As the occurrence of this problem cannot be predicted with any accuracy, carrying a spare diesel fuel filter allows the roadside assist mechanic/nearest workshop to change the filter and get you back on the road with a minimum of inconvenience.

If the tank is mildly contaminated, the filter will usually last until the next scheduled service change and provided the conditioner is used regularly, it is improbable that blockage problems will be encountered. The main exception being the purchase of heavily-contaminated fuel when away from home or from another supplier. In this case, having a spare filter in the car will be greatly appreciated.

 

[neh321]

Just booked car in for 1st service - its 2 yrs old on long life servicing

Anyway, got told that they would normally do a fuel flush, or something like that, and if i want it done it will be £32! Also asked them to look at a couple of niggles for me - clutch has a habit of not being so great going into 1st/2nd gear of late, and the driver wing mirror sounds like a small tractor. Got told that would probably be charged a 50 quid investigation fee!!

What on earth?! Anyone else been had the flush thing flogged to them? Is it essential, or just garages trying to grab a few quid? Same goes for investigation charge?! - its still under warranty, so not mightily impressed! Told them I wasn't going to be paying that charge and would be taking it up with the garage manager!

I have a service plan too - not that they seemed to be aware of that, which seems a little odd! So much hassle!

I concur with all the others. "Hey, we've got a woman here. She won't know anything. Let's see how much we can con out of her"!

The mirror noise is a warranty item, no question, and the fuel flush is complete and utter nonsense!

 

[anna_r]

Not the stourbridge branch, the main one in birmingham. Must admit I had massive problems with them when I had my golf - it spent more time in the garage in the 1st 2 yrs of its life than i care to remember - at least 18+ visits, and it was def a "you're a girl and dont know what you're talking about" mentality from some of their team - I did make an official complaint about one of them - he's still there tho!

The garage has phoned back insisting that an investigation charge is standard, esp on the clutch as that's only free in the 1st 6000 miles?!

along the same sort of line, when you take your cars in, do you get a courtesy car? if so, what is it? When i was sold the car i was told i would get at least a golf as i was a executive purchaser etc, and the silly little man keeps telling me they only have polos and i cant have anything else - which i konw is a lie as they've given me a golf plus before - I physically cant drive a polo anymore due to my ankle injury! Must say, I can't imagine the Toureag driving men getting given a polo!!

 

[neh321]

Not the stourbridge branch, the main one in birmingham. Must admit I had massive problems with them when I had my golf - it spent more time in the garage in the 1st 2 yrs of its life than i care to remember - at least 18+ visits, and it was def a "you're a girl and dont know what you're talking about" mentality from some of their team - I did make an official complaint about one of them - he's still there tho!

The garage has phoned back insisting that an investigation charge is standard, esp on the clutch as that's only free in the 1st 6000 miles?!

along the same sort of line, when you take your cars in, do you get a courtesy car? if so, what is it? When i was sold the car i was told i would get at least a golf as i was a executive purchaser etc, and the silly little man keeps telling me they only have polos and i cant have anything else - which i konw is a lie as they've given me a golf plus before - I physically cant drive a polo anymore due to my ankle injury! Must say, I can't imagine the Toureag driving men getting given a polo!!

I've been given all sorts as a courtesy car including a Passat once, although generally it's either a Golf or a Polo. I was once offered a Beetle Cabriolet but just coudn't face being seen driving it so declined it for a Polo instead! I keep asking for a Phaeton but for some reason they won't give me one!

 

[john.woody]

A friend of mine bought a Jetta from the main B'ham branch, has had some problems and been back a number of times. He got VW UK involved at one point. IMHO an investigation charge on a clutch on a car under warranty with only 6000 miles is completely unjustified. Why don't you contact another dealer and see if they make this charge, or contact VW customer service and ask them.

 

[anna_r]

There's 12000 miles on my clock - they'll only investigate free of charge if its under 6k.

I might actually see if i can get it serviced in the west country near my parents, far easier! Although I've been told before that as i have a service plan it should be at my "usual" branch. Hopefully that's not the case anymore!

 

[anna_r]

All sorted, the birmingham garage were not budging on the loan car thing, and still insisitng on investigation charges, so have cancelled it with them, and just booked it in one near my parents in somerset. They were delightful on the phone, have given me a minimum of a golf plus, was asked if i wanted an automatic - nice to be asked even if its a no,
Asked them to have a quick look at the niggles - not a problem at all, and just to check i'd be there a couple of days incase they needed parts, they dont charge for investigations, and were shocked at the mere suggestion of a fuel flush!

Yay!!

 

[john.woody]

Yay. FYI you may know this but there are dealers in Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, and Solihull to name but 3. So you do have options in the future.

 

[Redimps]

Watch out for the trust grp around brum of witch stourbridge is one

 

[cambourne7]

When i had my ford focus i found the garage great especialy when i got to know the service manager and would bring along biscates for the guys. VW dont seam to let you get near the men in overalls so I cant butter them up.
But they seam to look after the husbands car ok

The ford garage have offered to service the eos but i think i had best keep it with the vw garage

Great news you got a decent garage to sort your car out

 

[Doolallygirl]

Cambourne it wasn't a Focus convertible by any chance was it?

 

[CPC]

All EOS's come out of the factory with the 2 year service set as standard.

They put higher viscosity oil in instead of the normal grade for greater protection however it has to be changed twice yearly hence the £32 charge and as such servicing costs for the 2 year pack works out dearer.

I was told by the dealer that if I wanted to go on the normal service rota then I would have to have the oil changed to a lower viscosity so that the oil sensor registered the service periods correctly.

Apparently this is standard practice on all German Manufactured cars.

Con if you ask me!!!

 

[anna_r]

All sorted now, lovely garage! No mention of investigation charges, they looked at 3 seperate issues, one i only thought of mentioning whilst i was there - a lovely loud rattle that i know could have been sorted by me doing the seals.
Did the first 2 things under warranty, and they did all the seals in the car for no charge, so bonus!

Car was nicely valeted too.

The £32 thing was nothing to do with the oil - that was done as part of the service, this was a seperate fuel related charge.

Anyway, shall be using this garage again whenever possible!

 

[cambourne7]

Cambourne it wasn't a Focus convertible by any chance was it?

Nope just a ford focus old shape

anna_r sounds like you found a gem keep them happy