Independant Service while in Warranty?

[Cylon2007]

OK my Passat is nearly due it's second long life service (600 miles to go) and it will be on 35.5K by then. So I contacted the local VW garage to get a quote for the service, basically a 40K service which includes Pollen and fuel filter change, cost £342!!!!.

So had a look on 'tinterweb and have come up with 3 local independant garages that can do the job for half the price

2 questions has any one any experience of these garages?
http://miltonkeynescarservice.co.uk/ (http://miltonkeynescarservice.co.uk/)

http://boschcarservicing.rtrk.co.uk/?scid=6810&kw=189302:163768 (http://boschcarservicing.rtrk.co.uk/?scid=6810&kw=189302:163768)

http://www.inde-tech.co.uk/index.html (http://www.inde-tech.co.uk/index.html)


second question, would you use an independant while the car is still under VW warranty, under the block exemption VW are not allowed to refuse warranty wotk if an indepedant has been used for service but would you??

[Teflon]

Two bits of advice.

Firstly, while ever it is within the VW warranty period/mileage you are, at least in theory, bomb proof so long as you have servicing done at a VW dealer. Phone around for prices and be prepared to haggle. There is remarakable variation in pricing and they can be very flexible if it means they will get the job. I drive 50 miles to get the best deal (and a workshop I've found I can trust, compared with my local dealer who I wouldn't pay in washers).

Secondly, it has been reported on this forum before that by law they cannot refuse warrantly claims if you have used an indy, so long as you can prove that only genuine VW parts have been used (maybe also lubricants?) and that the job has been done to the correct schedule and standard. So this gives VW UK a bit of wiggle room. Make sure you get copies of the parts purchase receipts for your job and that your indy endorses his receipt to guarantee that he has used genuine parts.

[Crasher]

There are no warranty implications having the car serviced by a non VW franchised garage as long as the work is done correctly and the correct quality parts are used, that is European law. However, one area that can catch you out is the awkward aspect of “good will” outside the warranty period, say for a major failure a few months outside the warranty up to about the 4th year. If the car was purchased or serviced outside the VW franchise there will be absolutely no good will forthcoming unless you are extremely lucky or, err, “instant”, so to speak…

[james_tiger_woo]

As above, you'll lose out on Goodwill - however, ring around, you should get the service for less than that. You could, however, say to the dealer that the indy will do it for a lot less and while they might not match that price, they might lower their price some....

[Stuart W]

OK my Passat is nearly due it's second long life service (600 miles to go) and it will be on 35.5K by then. So I contacted the local VW garage to get a quote for the service, basically a 40K service which includes Pollen and fuel filter change, cost £342!!!!.

VW have never charged me much more than £200 for any of the services, although I don't live in the most expensive part of the country. I think you should be looking for at least £100 off your quote from a VW dealer.