I know I should learn my lesson, as we have SEAT, VW and now (two) Skoda's in the family, but why is VW Group servicing always such a battle?

 

Took the Karoq in today.  It's just over 2yrs old.  Done 8500 miles (total).  It's not asking for a service as it's set on variable, but the dealer we bought if from last summer said it would need servicing around now as they serviced it last June just before we bought it.   It needs doing annually according to the used car service and warranty package.

 

I called to book it and they denied it needed service, but booked it in anyway.  I then got several emails from the dealer reminding me to book it in!

 

Today they said it would just be an oil service.  I said, hang on, it's the car's second service, shouldn't it have an extended inspection and pollen filter change?  No they said, it had all that last time.  Really, on its first service at 3K miles you changed the pollen filter?  I've got some kind of print out of the service and it says "oil change service".    At that a young lad who seemed to have some authority got involved and printed out their internal record and that says the car had a first variable service, which did include inspecton and pollen filter.

 

Seems odd that the dealer did that, but it makes sense, however it's different to service record I was given.   It also means the work at the annual services going forward and going to be out of sync with the schedule.

 

I was also asked about having the brake fluid changed. Annoys the heck out of that it's a service item but not included in the service packages.  When did the first change become required at  2yrs. "It's always been at 2yrs, sir".  I know it hasn't, it only changed recently to bring it into line with EV servicing.  I declined it, and the a/c service (the compressor was replaced a few mths ago - but is still audible).  Over £200 to have both done, more than it used to cost to have your car serviced!

Happens quite often, when the cars are being prepared for sale the technicians sometimes put it down for a service (even if it's not due) to get some time for bonus scheme. They then reset both the service lights which puts everything out of sync. This doesn't get updated on the main system so you get emails and phone calls to come in for service when it isnt due.

Picked the car up and there wasn't really much discussion - they were adamant a variable service had been done before so they just did an oil service this time.

 

They did change the brake fluid FOC, and they also rotated the wheels which I'd mentioned as I expected the service to like a "wheels off" major service (although I don't believe the dealers do normally remove the wheels, I've used that on other VW Group cars to get the wheels rotated).  They didn't charge for doing that either.  Weirdly they did try and charge for the courtesy car insurance even though they'd taken a copy of my insurance cert.

 

I suppose most "normal" owners don't know / care, but there's nothing other than the dealers own record that shows what was done on the first service and it now looks like it's had the wrong level of service this time.    I bet if I'd been a paying customer they'd have absolutely insisted the car need the extended scope 2nd service.

 

There was also a continuing palava over a chatter / knock from the front suspension but I'll continue that in a thread that already running.  Todays investigation resulted in us driving off with the young lads phone in the car, which startled us when it rang!