Scheduled 40K Svc.
So, my ‘02 GTI GLX is quickly approaching 40K miles & I’m about to schedule my the required service at my local stealership. Any thoughts on what I should expect to be paying for the 40K service on my VR6? I know it is supposed to be a “”major”" service, I’m guessing it’ll be around $400? Anyone want to respond with what they paid & where they are located? I’m in the DC metro area. Thanks!
-Erik
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297 Said,
April 21, 2005 @ 11:11 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – $400 is the ballpark, correct.
297 Said,
May 2, 2005 @ 2:00 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – Go to an independent mechanic with the checklist. Make sure that list is checked and signed by the mechanic, along with the work order and receipt. Also make sure that all parts replaced are OEM VW parts.
The only parts that require replacement are your air filter, pollen filter, and spark plugs, along with fluid level check and fill. Any others will depend on the check.
Most of the cost is in labor (checking this, checking that), so an indie mechanic will give you a better break. The 40k service should only be $400 at a dealership, so I’m not entirely sure what those two dealers are trying to pull (you are welcome to add them to the dealerships database with your experience).
V-dubber Said,
May 2, 2005 @ 2:50 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – It must be the way they are flat-rating the “”Inspect Part”" items. The Service rep. said the mechanic spends “”4 hours”" checking over my car thouroughly….that must be what they bill the labor for ($89/Hr).
I’m afraid to ask what the labor charge for checking the air pressure in the spare tire or changing the pollen filter is.
They also recommended I flush the brake fluid ($100). Apparently it is recommended every 2 years. I told them not to bother, I’d get it done at my next visit. Any thoughts on flushing the brake fluid? Could not changing the brake fluid ever be a reason for caliper failure? I’ve flushed brake fluid with past vehicles, but only when I had disconnected the caliper. Does brake fluid actually deteriorate? Paul, your thoughts would be appreciated.
I’ll be sure to add my dealer experience into the database.
Post edited 05/02/05 3:47 PM by V-dubber
297 Said,
May 2, 2005 @ 3:49 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – Flushing the brake fluid is indeed recommended every two years and is part of the 40k service (it should have been done for free at the 20k service interval). $100 is a reasonable price if you take into account what they charge for labor. Again, an indie mechanic charging half the price for labor will beat the dealer there, too.
The reason you change it:
Brake the car -> hot brakes -> hot fluid -> water condensation -> brake the car -> hot brakes -> hot fluid + water -> hot fluid + water + air -> degrade brake lines
Do it every two years/40k and your brake lines will thank you for it.
V-dubber Said,
May 2, 2005 @ 4:15 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – Paul, thanks for pointing out why it should be changed. Why should they have done it for free at the 20K svc? Would you mind calling them and telling them they should have done it for free at 20K? (joking).
297 Said,
May 2, 2005 @ 4:32 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – Heh. I guess it depends on the year the car was purchased. Some came with the first four service intervals free (I know for sure the 2001 VWs had this warranty). Even so, some dealerships simply throw this in as a courtesy (I know they did this plus replaced my fuel filter gratis when I asked them to, this is Timmons VW Long Beach, one of the better dealerships in Southern California). Considering how much the dealerships near you are charging, I guess they’re not all that up on courtesy.
V-dubber Said,
May 2, 2005 @ 11:23 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – So, I called two local stealerships about my 40K “”Major”" Service & was quoted prices of about $600. Both of them said they’d drop the bill by 10%.
After looking at the checkup sheet, all they are basically doing is changing the oil, the air & pollen filters, & replacing the sparkplugs. That + a few “”hours”" of diagnostics. Oh yea, they will lube my door hinges & the sunroof track.
I can’t believe I actually own a car that cost this much to maintain. I feel like a real jackass. I would take it to an independant shop & have the necessary work done, but I am terrified that if I don’t have VW change the plugs, the next time one of my ignition coils fails (and they will) they’ll try to Fvck me on the warranty.
There is no worse feeling than knowing you have been taken.
V-dubber Said,
May 4, 2005 @ 9:30 am
Scheduled 40K Svc. – Well, the service wound up costing $505. They said they’d knock 10% off for the VW April promotion. When I picked up the car, the disocunt wasn’t on the ticket…I had to have them change it. Probably an honest mistake, right?
The one thing that irked me was when I asked why they charged $4 for window washer fluid when I had refilled it a few days before (plus I had a 1/2 gallon in my trunk) they said that the service was a standard package, they didn’t necessarily add the fluid. WTF, if i’m paying that kind of cash for a scheduled maintenance, why even add window washer fluid as a line-item…that will do nothing put piss off any customer who actually reads the invoice. Bad business.
On the plus side, they did throw in probably the best car wash I’ve had in quite a while. They also wiped down the interior and vacuumed the floor.
The other thing that bugs me, and I’m wondering if this is the result of some VW corporate training….but whenever I speak with my service rep and voice concern about my ignition coil failures or just small-talk, he always steers the conversation to “”Boy, that VR6 is a blast to drive”" or “”What a great car, just imagine how much fun driving an R32 would be.”" He’s a nice guy, so he could be just making conversation, but I get the feeling he wants me to leave the office thinking about how great it is to drive my car…instead of how expensive it is.
Once I picked up my car, I drove next door and test drove a Civic Si coupe. Nice car, although it doesn’t have any center arm rests…which may get annoying considering it has a dash mounted shifter. I’d have to see how it sounds at 75MPH before I would decide to buy one. The honda guys seemed like they were willing to play ball. My only concern is that if I buy a new car i’ll have another 4 years of payments…instead of paying my VW off in a year or so.
When I was picking up my car there was a woman who was either on the verge of screaming or crying (probably both) about her windows falling into the door. I heard something along the lines of “”It worked for a whole three days the last time you “”fixed”" it, I don’t car if it goes down, just get it up and I’ll leave it up, I’m not going to park my car on my street with a bag in the window.”" I felt a little bad for her.
Post edited 05/04/05 9:34 AM by V-dubber