USING INDEPENDENT GARAGE IN WARRANTY PERIOD

[Robbydazzler]

Any thoughts on having routine services done at an independent VAG specialist garage rather than a franchised dealer during the warranty period? I understand that technically the warranty is not invalidated if correct parts/techniques are employed. Is the likely cost saving/ potential quality increase / customer service gains worth the risk? My car is set to variable service but I am unlikely to do more than 5,000 miles per annum. I thought of just having the oil and filter changed after the first 12 months at an independent garage.

Edited 18 January, 2018 by Robbydazzler

[Rooted]

As long as you service to Manufacturers Spec 'Guidelines' as said in the Skoda Warranty T&C's.

So Vat Registered establishment etc. OEM parts and that guff.

 

So non VAG Specialists might not have TPI's or Service Campaign Information, 

and will not be doing the Corrosion / Paint / Body Inspection and report.

VAG Specialist's are still not going to be filling in the Body Check though.

 

So best use that Independent with the Licensed Equipment / Software, so all the gear and more than an Idea, 

& the knowledge on Software Updates / & any Updates required on parts.

Ask Skoda about the Body Inspections if that matters, 

some Dealerships quote £85 for that. where supposedly done as part of services.

[BriskodaJeff]

I guess it depends on your circumstances. If the car is yours and you plan to keep it at least to the end of the warranty period and you know and trust the indy to do things by the book then there are lots of reasons to go down that route. If not, and particularly if you might be selling it during the warranty period, plenty will be put off buying if it doesn't have the (now virtual) dealer service stamps. Irrational? Yes, since a decent independent will do at least as good a job as a dealer. Reality? Also yes - I walked away from one in exactly these circumstances (couldn't be sure the warranty would be honoured and the car supermarket wasn't interested enough to provide service details so I could make a sensible decision).

[RickTT]

All valid points.. Though if you had to claim on warranty or required any good will, you may want the dealer on you side...how much is the saving ?

[juux]

Other consideration is the car's ownership.

 

For outright purchase you're obviously free to use independents as it is your car. It shouldn't, but it still might mean more of a fight if you do have a warranty claim though.

 

For leased cars though you need to check the terms of your lease as they will usually state that maintenance has to be carried out at franchised dealers. This confuses/annoys many as although the requirements to maintain warranty are covered in this thread, with a lease it's not your car and so this isn't the issue at hand. At the end of the day it's the lessor's property and your lease agreement defines what you must do with it.

 

For PCP/HP deals things are not usually as restrictive although I've heard of some occasions where it might be, making it a de facto requirement of the finance agreement, again nothing to do with warranty. However, if you're looking to trade it in at the end of 2/3/4 years then dealers will use any excuse to knock the trade-in price down, and independent servicing is such an obvious one that could cost you far more than the ostensible savings made.

[skidpan]

2 hours ago, AwaoffSki said:

Ask Skoda about the Body Inspections if that matters, 

some Dealerships quote £85 for that. where supposedly done as part of services.

 

No body inspections on any VAG cars, never have been since I bought my first in 1984.

 

What you describe is the situation with Kia. Annual inspections required and any saving is soon taken away by pay a Kia garage £50+ for the body stamp in the service book.

 

Dad had a Rover in the 80's which needed annual inspections. The driver door went rusty between the 2nd and 3rd inspection. It was coming from behind so was a warranty issue. All the garage did was write "drivers door rusty" in the service book. No need to take issue over it, door got badly mangled and was replaced.

[Rooted]

No what i describe is what was in the Service Book on the page after each service, and which was done on a PDA.

& still should be done at services, they used to do at Major when it was Minor / Inspection then Major, 

now with variable should be done at the 2 Year Variable or sooner.

Any Damage noted, position etc.

Reason i know, i used to do them.

Edited 18 January, 2018 by AwaoffSki

[skidpan]

Car due in next month so just rang to check if body inspection carried out as part of this service. Told there are no body inspections.

[Rooted]

Well if they have dropped them, that might be a change.

People put in dirty cars.  The 'Free' wash at dealerships that cared used to be so the Technician could check.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/394506-vehicle-body-work-check-by-dealer 

 

Motability Lease Vehicles get checked when in, or should do, but everything now is about 'Cheap', get them in, get them out.

[nicknorman]

16 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

No what i describe is what was in the Service Book on the page after each service, and which was done on a PDA.

& still should be done at services, they used to do at Major when it was Minor / Inspection then Major, 

now with variable should be done at the 2 Year Variable or sooner.

Any Damage noted, position etc.

Reason i know, i used to do them.

Trouble is, there is no longer a service book so the customer has no idea what should be done!

[Rooted]

If you look here.

The first *  Inspection.

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

 

That Body Inspection should be the first thing.

Good places have a Service Reception person trained to step outside and do the first look around when the keys are handed in and the 

pre-booked papers or what ever are checked, then go see the vehicle. part of Customer Services or should be at their Service Charges.

 

Then for the Dealership / Employees driving the car to the workshop, so that any damage as handed over or moved from the parking to workshop is logged. (helps with kerbed wheel on Road Test arguments. Use a camera if you want, not many do.

Then from there the condition report as should be logged, and if not anymore then Skoda should change websites on Servicing & Inspections,

Inspection of bodywork for defects, loose panels, trim etc, any damage, repairs, non repairs.   

& This is also for Paintwork, then Corrosion Warranty.

*They are your Service & Maintenance people, you put your trust in them and pay them well, it is not Free, even with 'Free Servicing'.*

That was a sales offer, cost you still, they are not a charity.

 

The Skoda, VW, Audi, SEAT T&C's just say Report Damage or report rust etc, so Warranties should not be knocked back on no Annual or bi-annual checks anymore 

but having had checks makes claims easier if each year or 2 there was nothing then you have a perforation....

http://skoda.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Brochures/Warranty-Booklet-single.pdf 

Peace of mind - ŠKODA.mhtml

Factory Warranty Terms & Conditions _ Volkswagen UK.mhtml

Edited 18 January, 2018 by AwaoffSki

[skidpan]

Just looked.

 

It says "Vehicle inspection: inspection of all lights, instruments, bodywork, glass, locks, battery, drive belts, suspension, steering, fuel lines, brake pads/shoes/discs, hoses, wash/wipe system, exhaust system, engine components, fluid levels and tyres."

 

Nothing about an underbody inspection to validate the rust warranty.

 

At the bottom of the list of items its says "ŠKODA stamp in service book" Nothing about a stamp to validate the rust warranty.

 

So just like my dealer said no specific rust inspection.

Edited 18 January, 2018 by skidpan

[Rooted]

No no specific.

No steam cleaning as in the old days.   

Just a Body inspection.  so you win, nothing to do with VAG must be a KIA thing.

 

Go look at the Service Books that were issued and sometimes are, 

i have not one here, each mark or defect was shown and the position, and a signature / date and sometimes stamped there.

Bodywork check, and under,sills etc are part of the Service and should be seen even by Tommy, Deaf Dumb & Blind Technicians.

 

   Kia's,

I had one of those,  a Picanto 2006-2016, never had a Body Inspection as part of the 3 £99 first Services.

Then never went back to them, just serviced independently and swapped with 28,000 miles on it.

Edited 18 January, 2018 by AwaoffSki

[BriskodaJeff]

16 minutes ago, skidpan said:

Just looked.

 

It says "Vehicle inspection: inspection of all lights, instruments, bodywork, glass, locks, battery, drive belts, suspension, steering, fuel lines, brake pads/shoes/discs, hoses, wash/wipe system, exhaust system, engine components, fluid levels and tyres."

 

Interesting Skidpan. Has anyone hung around to watch while they do these services? When I had my A6 it was serviced in Amersham and they had a window / viewing area where you could watch the workshop activity from the showroom waiting area - no such luck with my Skoda dealer. Do they put it up on the ramps, take off the wheels etc to do these brake checks? The reason I ask is because when I asked them could they rotate the tyres on my old SII while at the service they said yes but only for an extra £20 a corner...

[skidpan]

3 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

I had one of those,  a Picanto 2006-2016, never had a Body Inspection as part of the 3 £99 first Services.

Then never went back to them, just serviced independently and swapped with 28,000 miles on it.

 

Afraid your Picanto no longer has a 12 year body warranty. The following is from the Kia Warranty T & C's "For this warranty to remain valid a Kia car should be inspected by a Kia dealer or authorised repairer every 12 or 24 months depending upon the model - the dealer may charge for this." There is a specific area at the back of the service book for stamps. We were never charged, part of the service.

[Rooted]

Skidpan, just as well i served my time as a car sprayer then.

 

BriskodaJeff,

They did do brake checks with Brake Drums off on cars with Brake Drums, then stopped that, and some started again.

Cars can go with Wheels never off unless tyres are being changed, or you pay for Brake Servicing & Maintenance, 

even paying for Brake Fluid Changes is no guarantee wheels come off.

Edited 18 January, 2018 by AwaoffSki

[BriskodaJeff]

Ok thanks AwaoffSki - that explains why they wanted to charge me for it.

[Rooted]

People need to remember they are in business to make money and profits.

 

With Paint , Corrosion & Defects though, report them early, and what they say at Dealerships and HQ's are not always to be just taken as correct.

They try to get away with lots.

Have your body inspections logged.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/442777-paint-work-warranty 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/438793-paint-defect-opinions-please 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/430237-bonnet-paint-defect 

Edited 18 January, 2018 by AwaoffSki

[xman]

A trusted independent I know (not particularly cheap) told me Yes, its possible but from his experience, unless all parts are purchased at retail from the dealer and the paperwork and procedures are meticulously documented, warranty is an uphill battle. Procedures are changing constantly too. He says chance of a failed warranty is high so he recommends stick to the dealer until warranty runs out.

 

Then there is the goodwill issue. But from personal experience, the price before goodwill is applied is so ludicrously high, even with goodwill the price is often a fair bit higher than if the trusted independent just fixed it.

[Rooted]

Plenty UK VW Specialists get the parts in from http://tps.trade  and there are no issues.

There are even ones that can do Warranty work having the licensed equipment and the TPI, Service Campaign & Servicing stuff as needed.

[xman]

He gets his oe stuff from tps but said even that is sometimes not enough to please the warranty people.

 

In the end its all about risk. Are you feeling lucky?....

Edited 18 January, 2018 by xman

[Rooted]

Many things have them not happy, or someone there that says they are not.

Buying Retail at a Main Dealers parts desk is not something that has them happy, just the accountants of Dealerships, 

and takes the pith really.

 

But then there is a Free Market while the UK still in the EU there can not be restrictive practices and manipulating Manufacturers Warranties is illegal, 

and sometimes you remind Warranty Providers & Warranty Managers of that. 

You might have people call them Stealers, but they do not need to get away with it.

VAT Registered places charge customers VAT, it is not their money, it goes to HMRC, that applies to Main Dealerships as well.

 

Easier to have a Simple life, get the Manufacturers Servicing to Guidelines with OEM parts, 

pity the Main Dealer Servicing desks can not set that out clearly, what is being done, 

and do not charge Labour & Parts and VAT on stuff not provided, 

because a Technician decides, Plugs or Air Filters do not need changed, Drums do not need taking off, 

or something like a DSG Oil Change or Haldex change does not need brought to a owners attention, 

and a Service Plan does not include that, or a A/X service, or the Brake Fluid change.

Edited 18 January, 2018 by AwaoffSki

[Robbydazzler]

I have read with interest  the above comments on my post. Has anyone stuck to the variable service schedule with an annual mileage of approximately 5K and have there been any consequences?

[nicknorman]

2 hours ago, Robbydazzler said:

I have read with interest  the above comments on my post. Has anyone stuck to the variable service schedule with an annual mileage of approximately 5K and have there been any consequences?

Bearing in mind the type of car and the cheap cost of an oil change, I wouldn’t like to go for 2 years between oil changes. To some extent it depends on what you 5k is - a few long journeys with the car parked up in between, or a lot of short urban journeys. With the latter I’d definitely want annual changes.

 

I have done something similar to you in that I have left it on variable, and do about 10k per year mostly long journeys. I have recently done an intermediate oil and filter change (after about 9k since dealer service) using the correct oil and parts from TPS (genuine filter and sump plug). If you are complying with the variable service and do mostly long journeys, I can’t see how that could be grounds for refusing a warranty claim as you are meeting and exceeding the service schedule.

 

If you do mostly short journeys, I would check the wording of the eligibility for variable servicing because I suppose they could say Variable is inappropriate for your usage pattern.

[Rooted]

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes 

 

If you only use your car 5,000 miles a year do you really want to go 2 winters / 730 days or so without Servicing & Maintenance 

and someone checking your tyres inside walls, steering, brakes, suspension etc.

 

Unless you are doing it yourself obviously, and it is just the Oil / Filter you are leaving for 2 years with low mileage usage.

Each to their own.

But if you leave it for 2 years to have your car inspected from the PDI, are you having it done next time in 12 months before the Warranty Expires and the MOT?

 

Surely after 12 months from the PDI is as long as any vehicle should go before an Inspection Service is carried out.

 

Thankfully the UK Government has scrapped the plan to have the first MOT's at 4 years.

As it is too many cars are on the road for 3 years with lights set wrong that then fail a MOT.

Not that Light Alignment gets checked as Services...