1st Service at stealer

[spikeydoo]

Cars booked in for the first service at my local stealer, it's got one of those service plans, done about 4k in the first year & from what I have been reading I'm a little concerned ....couple of questions:

Is it unreasonable to ask the service manager to inspect the car before I hand over the keys & before they hand them back to me? & I was going to kindly ask that they refrain from washing the car.

Is there anything else I should do?  Am I being a little bit fussy/funny??

[mixit]

You're not being unreasonable at all mate. I had a major service just last week and insisted they didn't wash my car.
I also asked the service guy to come outside and look round my alloys and paintwork too. I have some small scuffs and wanted to be sure he knew if there were anymore after the service then they'd be to blame.

Might also be a good idea to make a note of your mileage and MPG figure in the MFA. If they take it out and thrash it, you'll know if its showing 17mpg.

If you have any potential warranty queries ( no matter how small ) make sure you mention them and get written proof if anything is rectified. Also ask about any recalls that your car may have missed.

Upon collection, ensure they haven't left the 1litre oil bottle rolling around in your boot together with any excess screenwash.
Check your drivers seat for any greasy marks together with your steering wheel and handbrake. 

[cossy]

You sound like me!

I booked in the 1st service said they may hoover it but dont wash it!.

And yes get the service manager to walk round your car before you hand it over!

Mine was £165 with longlife oil, but you dont need to worry about that as its on a service plan

[mixit]

Mine came to £350 for a major service ( 30k ), a brake fluid change and an oil and filter change for the DSG box. 
They originally wanted to charge me £170 for the privelage of changing the DSG oil.  Needless to say, I negotiated.

Is it just me or does the brake fluid really need changing after 30k ? I tend to think that modern synthetic stuff must resist breaking down far better than the old mineral stuff? Is it just another main agent scam?

[cossy]

Mine came to £350 for a major service ( 30k ), a brake fluid change and an oil and filter change for the DSG box. 
They originally wanted to charge me £170 for the privelage of changing the DSG oil.  Needless to say, I negotiated.

Is it just me or does the brake fluid really need changing after 30k ? I tend to think that modern synthetic stuff must resist breaking down far better than the old mineral stuff? Is it just another main agent scam?

I thought that after my old diesel Jetta required a brake fluid change @ 2 years old!

[182_blue]

Cars booked in for the first service at my local stealer, it's got one of those service plans, done about 4k in the first year & from what I have been reading I'm a little concerned ....couple of questions:

Is it unreasonable to ask the service manager to inspect the car before I hand over the keys & before they hand them back to me? & I was going to kindly ask that they refrain from washing the car.

Is there anything else I should do?  Am I being a little bit fussy/funny??

i did just that, i felt a prat to start with but just explained i had an issue in the past (i hadnt but it made it easier) and didnt want it happening again

[Steve Baker]

Cars booked in for the first service at my local stealer, it's got one of those service plans, done about 4k in the first year & from what I have been reading I'm a little concerned ....couple of questions:

Is it unreasonable to ask the service manager to inspect the car before I hand over the keys & before they hand them back to me? & I was going to kindly ask that they refrain from washing the car.

Is there anything else I should do?  Am I being a little bit fussy/funny??

Our local agent has a form with tick boxes they use as they go round and check your vehicle. The car park is usually so jammed they know exactly what I am on about! They also don't let customers retrieve their own vehicle on collection as thats when the open door usually damages the car next to it. 

[spikeydoo]

Quality, will take these on board, esp. like the previous problem line....I may just borrow that one blue....

The miles hadn't even crossed my mind, I'll be sure to make a note - I know it's irrational but i'm still worried

[Andy]

i have known the dealers not take the wheels with such low mileage on ..insisted they remove the wheels and inspected the brakes properly and nod not shine a torch through the wheel to look at the brake pads

[Caz]

na, im sue hed by happy to wlak round the car.
espec if you bought the car from them, they should do their up most to keep you, and keep you a happy customer.. 

[andytran]

i have known the dealers not take the wheels with such low mileage on ..insisted they remove the wheels and inspected the brakes properly and nod not shine a torch through the wheel to look at the brake pads

My best mate is a VW tech and my son is a Ford Tech,

I can guarantee you, for the first service, they will not remove the wheels to inspect the brakes.

You can insist all you like, but unless you wait in a viewing area and physically see them actioning your request, they wont do it.

To inspect the brakes thru the wheel takes seconds. To jack up each wheel, remove it (plus lockbolt) (also wheel may be rusted to hub) and then refit and torque it takes a total of around 20 mins - time they will not give you.

Sorry but its true.

For the first service you pretty much get oil,filter, screenwash and air in your tyres and thats it....All for £145....Im in the wrong job!!!!!

Andy

[Steve Baker]

i have known the dealers not take the wheels with such low mileage on ..insisted they remove the wheels and inspected the brakes properly and nod not shine a torch through the wheel to look at the brake pads

My best mate is a VW tech and my son is a Ford Tech,

I can guarantee you, for the first service, they will not remove the wheels to inspect the brakes.

You can insist all you like, but unless you wait in a viewing area and physically see them actioning your request, they wont do it.

To inspect the brakes thru the wheel takes seconds. To jack up each wheel, remove it (plus lockbolt) (also wheel may be rusted to hub) and then refit and torque it takes a total of around 20 mins - time they will not give you.

Sorry but its true.

For the first service you pretty much get oil,filter, screenwash and air in your tyres and thats it....All for £145....Im in the wrong job!!!!!

Andy

Yes can vouch for that. My Gt 170 didn't have the wheels removed until 55,000 miles when the Brake pads were first replaced!!!    Never known brake pads last so long and they get used 

[spikeydoo]

Righto - had the 1st service on thursday - dealer checked it out & I did the same afterwards, seemed not an extra dent or scratch....all sounding good so far....asked them to check for a slight rattle on the exhaust heat shield -didn't find anything, oh well...

BUT.......

I'm outside washing it just now & ran a microfibre cloth over the rear of the side skirt to find it moves????  I had a look on the underside & it's cracked just by the back fixing point:



Where do I stand now??  It came back from the service & has sat in the garage til now, deffinately wasn't there before it went in - no one else has ever jacked the car or touched it....

[Caz]

take it back straight away and kick of holy hell.. 

[spikeydoo]

no-ones in on a sunday......looks like i'll be phoning 8am monday morning.....not impressed  - still not going to let it ruin a sunny sunday