Hi Guys....Just thought I'd post a topic about my recent dealings with my local VW dealer and the dreaded high level brake light problem....
Took my car to get serviced a couple of weeks back and at the end of the service they said the high level brake light was 'in op' (all LED's had gone completely) and under possible warranty....(i had about 3 weeks to run on my warranty).
As it still had warranty i booked it for them to do a week later....i got a phone call at the end of the day from the workshop manager, he told me they had stopped work on it/ hadn't started work on it as they found a bit of spray paint residue on the back windscreen and he suspects the spoiler and brake light had been tampered with, and there was water and moisture in the light...i brought the car second so i couldn't confirm either way..but i still suspected it was bull sh*t and after all how could i prove that its not warrantied once cut of in the bodyshop??.... so i decided not to go ahead with it as he couldn't confirm how much it would cost me if if turns out it wasn't warrantied..basically writing himself a 'blank cheque'
after this i went on this forum and have read about all the problems with the high level brake light and the crap procedure of 'cutting' and 'cheese wiring' the spoiler off etc, all the read numerous threads about water getting in the light....and how a couple of people have done it themselves.....basically a damn awfull design by VW!
Anyway, i got in touch with the previous owner and she told me that she put a bike rack on upside down and scratched the boot..so it had been touch up and thats were the spay must have come from! and she said its nver been messed with or changed etc...i say to myself 'great news'..definitely covered under warranty!...i book the car certain it hasn't been messed with....although a bit worried with all the comments ive read on here
So yesterday, it went in to VW to get done.....i got a phone call from them saying its not covered under warranty as its been took off before and when re tightened its cracks the seal and then then water got in.....now i knew this was absolute rubbish as I've read how many people this has happened to!(again how can i prove it, there word against mine)..anyway they tell me it will cost me £178 plus Vat (half than what i read on a different thread to be fair)....obviously i had to pay it to get me car back...handed the credit card over with disgust and got out of there....although i must say they seem to have done a good job...but hey its still should have been done for free
So basically i am thinking about writing a very stern letter to VW UK, about this and how peed off about paying over £200 when it is covered under warranty!...(no matter what those robbing bast**ds at the dealers say), even if they don't do anything for me at least my mind is at rest as it has proper greaved me!...Ive been MK5 GTI owner for almost a year now...loved every minute except for my recent time at the main dealers!
Has anyone tried writing letters to VW UK before? got any money back etc?...or just a heartfelt apology?.
(Sorry for the long thread, but had to tell the whole story)
P.S its Stafford Volkswagen