Hi, does anyone know an independent VAG dealer in Hoylake (Wirral) called Discount VW/Audi?

They were recommended on here by Imperator so I had a 20k service done on my Fabia 1.9TDi by them last week. I was quite pleased with everything regarding quality, service, cost etc. but there was one thing which I found very disturbing and I would appreciate your comments on this.

An advisory on the bill stated tyre wear as follows: Front left 6mm remaining. All other tyres 8mm remaining.

I questioned this as the tyres have been on since new, and I have now done 20,000miles, so those figures could not possibly be correct as new tyres start out with about 6-8mm and to have no wear after 20k miles is just not possible.

They re-checked all tyres again and confirmed that their figures were correct.

On the way home I stopped off at a National Tyre Services depot where I was told that the left front tyre had 3mm tread remaining and the other 3 tyres had 4mm.

So my dilemma is this: As the mechanic who worked on my car is also the approved MOT tester at Discount VW/Audi, how could he possibly have got those tyre pressures so wrong? And I wonder what kind of job he did servicing my car if he could make such an error (twice) without realising he was making a mistake.

I would be interested in your views.

How about buying a depth gauge and measuring it yourself?

Personally, i wouldn't trust National Tyres (or any of the big chains) to check anything.

How about buying a depth gauge and measuring it yourself?

For exactly the same reason that I don't buy a paintbrush and paint the exterior of my house.

The point of my post was to question the ability of a mechanic (who is qualified to carry out MoT tests) who has just serviced my car, but doesn't realize that a set of tyres can cover 20k miles without any visible wear. If he can't get that right, what chance is there of the service being carried out correctly?

I didn't know you could measure depth by the air pressures....

Joking aside, buy a depth guage and draw your own conclusion.

did they used to be based in St Helens by any chance ?

Yes, but as the OP said, if they have not got this right, how well have they done the rest of the work? It really is a bit of a let down when this happens and you've questioned it and got the same answer second time. I'd say most if not all new tyres start life with 8.0mm tread depth.

For exactly the same reason that I don't buy a paintbrush and paint the exterior of my house.

Personally, I'd want to verify what tread depth is there, and then have the argument about the competency of the mechanic.

I'm not suggesting you service the car yourself, but how about verifying what is correct (for a cost of a very few quid plus 5 minutes time)?

The point of my post was to question the ability of a mechanic (who is qualified to carry out MoT tests) who has just serviced my car, but doesn't realize that a set of tyres can cover 20k miles without any visible wear. If he can't get that right, what chance is there of the service being carried out correctly?

I appreciate that, but I'd want to know the facts myself before making accusations. I'll agree that it doesn't bode well that the guy servicing your car may not be able to use a depth gauge correctly. As for the 20k miles, how is he to know you haven't swapped the tyres? The only way to know is to measure the depth.

Edited 14 January, 200917 yr by cjb

Personally, I'd want to verify what tread depth is there, and then have the argument about the competency of the mechanic.

I did verify the tread depth, by going to a different garage for confirmation.

I appreciate that, but I'd want to know the facts myself before making accusations.

The facts are that the mechanic twice checked the tread depth of all 4 tyres and reported one tyre at 6mm and three at 8mm despite being told that the car had covered 20k miles and the tyres had been fitted since new.

I'll agree that it doesn't bode well that the guy servicing your car may not be able to use a depth gauge correctly.

A mechanic qualified to carry out MoT tests who can't read a tread depth gauge correctly? Really?

As for the 20k miles, how is he to know you haven't swapped the tyres?

Because I told him so, just before he did the second check.

did they used to be based in St Helens by any chance ?

I don't know, to be honest, but they used to be called 'Beetlemania' a long time ago.

A poster on here called 'Imperator' recommended them which is why I used them.

I did recommend them, as I've always been very happy with their work. They've serviced and MOT'd my car twice now, and done work on my suspension and brakes. All has been first class. The firm has been in business for 25 years working exclusively on VAG cars. I don't know what on earth has happened with your tyres, but it sounds very peculiar.

I did recommend them, as I've always been very happy with their work. They've serviced and MOT'd my car twice now, and done work on my suspension and brakes. All has been first class. .

Thanks for the re-assurance, it seems like the "tyre tread-depth fiasco" was a one-off slip-up and I won't be losing any sleep over it.

hi all

just seen your postings up here about discount vw audi, i have known discount vw audi for approx 16yrs now and always found them to be honest truthfull and very knowladgeable on all things vag and can reccomend them for all your servicing and repair needs