Self Servicing? FVWSH Importance?

[Luka]

What are people's thoughts on self servicing their GTI? Is it off putting to be looking at buying a vehicle which hasn't been serviced at a main dealer? My car is 06 and won't be going anywhere for a while yet, so how important would this be on a 8-10 year old car?

I'm very skeptical about main dealers and their attitudes towards our cars. To them it's just another job. I'm not concerneded about cost, I just feel its the actual stamp that's being paid for.

Only genuine/approved VAG parts would be used and all the receipts would be kept.

[Phil Miller]

Home servicing is good in the respect that you know whats been done but you cant prove it when you sell, now even when 10 yrs old a GTI is still gonna be worth a fair amount, a think a small garage or an Indy do a better job than any dealer and the price is better win win to be fair

[Gene Hunt]

My mate is a tech for a main VW dealer ship & he does all my servicing.I keep all receipts & ''no'' i won't worry about it.

[Trekmeister]

I use a VAG specialist  as opposed to main dealer, can't see that having much impact on resell value especially as the car gets older (6-10 yrs).

[andrewparker]

If you're not concerned with resale value then home servicing, providing you know what you're doing, is definitely the way forward. However a buyer will always look for main dealer stamps when buying a car. To me it suggests that they haven't tried to cut costs by using independents.

[skard]

In fairness, the first time I used my dealer I needed an engine ECU replaced.
They somehow managed to smash my windscreen, lose my tax disc and deactivate cruise control.
Thus subsequent work has been done at a reputable VAG indy.

[ktlstar]

I do all my service myself. I may not get the booked stamped however i will eventually have a folder full of receipts. oil/filter changes every 5K.

How i see it is that i would rather see a massive folder full of frequently changes on i.e oil/filters/fluids then a few paperwork.

It even costs me more if i do 3-4 oil changed in a year (which i assuming i will be doing so) when i could just pay £120 for the year service from my indy garage.

I know what stuff is going in my car, and IT will be done properly.

I have a few mechanics in the trade and the stories they tell me is unbelievable.



To your question, i wouldnt worry about it, keep all your receipt/ note down the mileage the changes happen.

[Luka]

Thanks for the replies guys.

As said, as long as there has been proof of servicing I suppose it won't matter too much. I'll keep all the receipts as records, it's just peace of mind for me to know it has been done properly. I just like the look of a fully stamped book!

[alackofspeed]

I buy all parts at TPS and stick the receipts in a folder. If the car is worth less at the end of it, so be it - I won't have been screwed royally by a garage and know everything is done perfectly (or at least to a standard I'm happy with).

What's the hourly rate at a typical VW main dealer these days?

[Luka]

That's a good point. I guess it's more important for me to know the car has been looked after whilst I own it rather than proving that fact to the next owner.

[Gene Hunt]

That's a good point. I guess it's more important for me to know the car has been looked after whilst I own it rather than proving that fact to the next owner.

..........my thoughts also   .

[gazon69]

I do all my own work that i feel competent to do. Stealers aren't given that name for no reason. If i need anything major that i dont have tools ir know how then its indy for me. Oh and i keep all my reciepts too.

[reflex11]

for a cambelt/waterpump/tensioners job what would you suggest? indy or dealers?

im looking to do this in the next few weeks

[DJM]

All depends what your car come with and how long you plan on keeping it for in my opinion.

I plan on having mine a few years so although it come with full VW history i have used a independant to do it since. As it needed cam belt water pump etc. I got my mates garage to do it for £170. Saved myself probably about £200 over the dealers. With a few scheduled oil changes over my ownership I would have saved more than enough to cover little drop in price due to not having full VW history i think.

[reflex11]

I understand that but what if your mates garage done the cambelt wrong? and things got messy? obviously he doesn't have surplus VW parts like the stealers, I think I might have the stealers do the cambelt/waterpump etc just for the 2 years parts and labour piece of mind.. even though I hate going there