New Infotainment unit needed...

[Willie Hecke]

We've just been given that wonderful news just before Xmas. Great!


Our local VW dealership has had my wife's 2017 R-Line in to look at a fault - all the 'clock displays' went totally off (speedometer, rev counter fuel gauges etc) indicator flashers at the top of the display area still worked though - as did the actual Infotainment display (it has been slightly off-centre by about 10-15mm or so for maybe a couple of years....but didn't really affect anything as it was just the bit on the left side of the display)


I've just had a call off them saying the actual Infotainment needs changing because it's linked to the clocks display. They've quoted us....wait for it ....£2,850.


We've already fairly recently had to fork out for the dreaded new Mechatronic unit, along with various other smaller faults that have occurred, so it's fair to say, it's not been our best car to own!


Is this something that can be done elsewhere...or does it have to be done by a VW dealer (they mentioned something about 2 new keys too)


The ironic bit is we were not planning on keeping it much longer anyway! Appreciate any advice....

[Whippy53]

Try finding a VW independent.

[Willie Hecke]

Try finding a VW independent.

thanks for the reply...

Will they still be able to register or code the new keys?? I thought that had to be done at VW?

[johnsimcox]

If they have access to the right software then they should be able to do the key coding. Appreciate it is not quite the same, but my wife's previous Golf 8 needed a new infotainment unit after a software update being performed by the dealer completely wrecked the unit. The internal cost alone (the replacement was under warranty) of the unit was £3000 (+vat) and the total bill including labour and VW having to pay the dealer for replacement vehicle rental for 2 weeks was over £4k. One of the reasons we changed both the Golf and my A6 was due to my nervousness of running complex cars like this without a warranty

[Willie Hecke]

One of the reasons we changed both the Golf and my A6 was due to my nervousness of running complex cars like this without a warranty

A very good point.

My Golf GTD is now 6½ years old too. I'm on a VW service plane with it at the moment, but obv still exposed to major costs if something like this happens to it. I'm retired now and my wife will be following in about 18 months time when we plan to trade-in both cars.

A friend of mine has just bought another Hyundai, and because it's less than 2yrs old, you get the 7 year warranty from scratch again. I wish VW would match their scheme because there's 3 VW's in our household - my daughter has recently moved back home, and she has a Polo - so we're obviously fans, but that Hyundai carrot is dangling temptingly for our retirement....our friends are on their 3rd now, and love them!

Come on VW...keep up!

[johnsimcox]

A very good point.

My Golf GTD is now 6½ years old too. I'm on a VW service plane with it at the moment, but obv still exposed to major costs if something like this happens to it. I'm retired now and my wife will be following in about 18 months time when we plan to trade-in both cars.

A friend of mine has just bought another Hyundai, and because it's less than 2yrs old, you get the 7 year warranty from scratch again. I wish VW would match their scheme because there's 3 VW's in our household - my daughter has recently moved back home, and she has a Polo - so we're obviously fans, but that Hyundai carrot is dangling temptingly for our retirement....our friends are on their 3rd now, and love them!

Come on VW...keep up!

I did contemplate VW's (and Audi's) All-In option (think the car needs tote under 6 years old so yours would not qualify), but as the PCP on both would be up within a year and I was not planning to pay off the settlement figure it did not make sense, but as you say Hyundai with 7 year warranty and Toyota with their 10 year warranty providing you have the car services with the dealer network, make many other manufacturers look to be being left behind.

[Willie Hecke]

Try finding a VW independent.

Managed to find a 'VW Specialist' who didn't have the necessary equipment, but that "knows a man who does" (apparently, it's 5 grand for the hardware and a further 1k per year for the Licence off VW)

I rang them today and he said if it's a cluster failure, they just send them away to be 'repaired' at somewhere in Leeds. I told them the report said it needed replacing...to which he replied "That's what they always say...main dealers don't do repairs, just order a new one. I've been sending them off to be repaired for years, and they're fine afterwards"... We'll see. It's booked in for them to check over for themselves next week.

[Crasher]

For an independent repairer, access to the dealer system ODIS costs £1200 for the interface and then €10 per hour to use it so he is talking ********. Yes it is a trial getting registered, you must be VAT registered, CRB checks, solicitors letter, good character references, proof of identity etc and the software is utter ***** but if I can get it, anyone can.

[Willie Hecke]

.....just saying what the guy told me.