MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Mr Savage on May 28, 2013, 11:23:58 pm
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Evening guys,
I thought i'd share my latest experience with my local VW Dealer in Derby, which has been an absolute joke. So anyone who wants a good laugh, read on. :signLOL:
So, I thought i'd try and tackle the dreaded centre cap white worm corrosion that is so common on VW's but I noticed a few people had managed to claim through the 12 year anti-corrosion warranty and get them changed. I attempted to do the same.
So first of all, I ring the dealer and they tell me to pop the car in and they'll take a look. After waiting for about 20 minutes in reception the mechanic finally came out and shook my hand (he seemed like a great guy actually, not sure of his name). So he comes out to my car and looks at all 4 wheels after discussing with me how common the problem is. After a visual inspection of all 4 wheels he goes "Yep, definitely a warranty claim that one." Then he takes me back inside the showroom to book the car in to have all 4 centre caps replaced under warranty.
That was today. So I get my car in nice and early, hand the keys over and they confirmed that the car was booked in for work under warranty. All is great. They even gave me a taxi to work, result!
So i'm at work when I get a phone call from one of the mechanics, the conversation went like this. "Just been on the phone to the warranty department and they are telling us that the centre caps aren't covered under warranty." "Oh, I thought it was covered under the 12 year anti-corrosion warranty?" "Yeah so did we but they say it's only covered for 3 years." "Right..okay." "Do you still want us to do the work?" "How much would it cost?" "£14.19" "Oh, that's not bad." "That's just for one cap." "??? So how much in total?" "Well around £60 for the caps and a little labour of £34 so a total of £94." "£94!? Don't bother, i'll get it done elsewhere. Thanks." "Bye."
Then I had to walk from work in the rain to the dealer to wait another 20 minutes to be given my key back and nothing more, didn't tell me where my car was or explain anything regarding the warranty, no apology. Then I go out into the car park to find that my car was in the exact same place I had parked it. Not even been looked at, opened, nothing.
So I went an entire day without my car for absolutely no reason at all. I was furious and as soon as I got home I rang up the dealer and the conversation went... "I booked my car in to have warranty work carried out on the centre caps today, I was told by your mechanic that they aren't covered on the phone but VW themselves say it IS covered under the anti-corrosion warranty." Then he puts me on hold while he goes and asks the service department, when he comes back "Yes they are covered under the warranty as long as the damage wasn't caused by stone chips" "????" "You say you had your car here earlier?" "Yes the entire day" "Oh, well take photos of your centre caps and e-mail them to <insert e-mail address here> who is our service manager."
So now they want me to send them photos of the white worm and probably book the car in again to then tell me that they want almost £100 to replace the centre caps. I'm going mad here!
The great part is that one of the sales advisors was trying to sell me the Mk7 GTI while offering that sort of level of service.
So morale of the story, i've given up with VW, going to cancel my service plan and go back to trying VAG specialists again....which brings me to the main part of the story, can anyone recommend a really good VAG specialist in the midlands where the staff actually know what they're talking about?
:sick:
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Tenner a set on fleabay, you don't even need to remove the wheels if you have some plastic trim removal tools.
Not worth the hassle. :happy2:
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Personally I would have just paid the £20 for 4 new caps and popped them in myself and saved the hassle of a dealer visit from the start :happy2:
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:signIWS:
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Personally I would have just paid the £20 for 4 new caps and popped them in myself and saved the hassle of a dealer visit from the start :happy2:
^^^^ what he said!
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That would have made the most sense. However I thought if it's covered under warranty then what's the harm in getting it done for free instead of having to pay.
I almost choked when they told me the price.
Fleabay it is!
:signLOL:
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Evening guys,
I thought i'd share my latest experience with my local VW Dealer in Derby, which has been an absolute joke. So anyone who wants a good laugh, read on. :signLOL:
So, I thought i'd try and tackle the dreaded centre cap white worm corrosion that is so common on VW's but I noticed a few people had managed to claim through the 12 year anti-corrosion warranty and get them changed. I attempted to do the same.
So first of all, I ring the dealer and they tell me to pop the car in and they'll take a look. After waiting for about 20 minutes in reception the mechanic finally came out and shook my hand (he seemed like a great guy actually, not sure of his name). So he comes out to my car and looks at all 4 wheels after discussing with me how common the problem is. After a visual inspection of all 4 wheels he goes "Yep, definitely a warranty claim that one." Then he takes me back inside the showroom to book the car in to have all 4 centre caps replaced under warranty.
That was today. So I get my car in nice and early, hand the keys over and they confirmed that the car was booked in for work under warranty. All is great. They even gave me a taxi to work, result!
So i'm at work when I get a phone call from one of the mechanics, the conversation went like this. "Just been on the phone to the warranty department and they are telling us that the centre caps aren't covered under warranty." "Oh, I thought it was covered under the 12 year anti-corrosion warranty?" "Yeah so did we but they say it's only covered for 3 years." "Right..okay." "Do you still want us to do the work?" "How much would it cost?" "£14.19" "Oh, that's not bad." "That's just for one cap." "??? So how much in total?" "Well around £60 for the caps and a little labour of £34 so a total of £94." "£94!? Don't bother, i'll get it done elsewhere. Thanks." "Bye."
Then I had to walk from work in the rain to the dealer to wait another 20 minutes to be given my key back and nothing more, didn't tell me where my car was or explain anything regarding the warranty, no apology. Then I go out into the car park to find that my car was in the exact same place I had parked it. Not even been looked at, opened, nothing.
So I went an entire day without my car for absolutely no reason at all. I was furious and as soon as I got home I rang up the dealer and the conversation went... "I booked my car in to have warranty work carried out on the centre caps today, I was told by your mechanic that they aren't covered on the phone but VW themselves say it IS covered under the anti-corrosion warranty." Then he puts me on hold while he goes and asks the service department, when he comes back "Yes they are covered under the warranty as long as the damage wasn't caused by stone chips" "????" "You say you had your car here earlier?" "Yes the entire day" "Oh, well take photos of your centre caps and e-mail them to <insert e-mail address here> who is our service manager."
So now they want me to send them photos of the white worm and probably book the car in again to then tell me that they want almost £100 to replace the centre caps. I'm going mad here!
The great part is that one of the sales advisors was trying to sell me the Mk7 GTI while offering that sort of level of service.
So morale of the story, i've given up with VW, going to cancel my service plan and go back to trying VAG specialists again....which brings me to the main part of the story, can anyone recommend a really good VAG specialist in the midlands where the staff actually know what they're talking about?
:sick:
Well Done :congrats:
We all tend to learn the hard way, after being loyal VW Customers.
Some of the VW technicians I wouldn't trust to change a tyre valve cap. :surprised:
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Haha :D Yes, it has filled me with much doubt!
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Anyone happen to know what size the centre caps are? Think I'll go order mine on eBay now!
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Center caps are only covered by three year warranty . I went to the same dealer in derby and still do . Had centre caps x4 boot badge and 3 wheels replaced under warranty no problem and all done in one claim .
Fun to read this because I got 2 centre caps ( genuine vw ) today off e/bay from a vw dealer .£.7.99 each .
Just drill the old one in the middle and flick it out with a Allen key or even a flat screw driver
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Sorry to hear about your troubles. I too have packed in using VW after they kept trying to tell me the drop link were shot. Well it's passed MOTs fine and has been inspected by other people who said there is nothing wrong. Just trying to get money out of me I think after having to fight to get the injector recall done.
As for VAG specialists I make the journey down to Alex at AKS now. He is the only person that will work on my car from now on. For the level of service, for me it's worth the one and a half hour drive. Oh and please please please don't consider using SoloVW in Burton. My mk4 died a slow and horrible death at their hands.
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Easy, midland vw.
Guys are awesome and really cheap too. Had my interim service yesterday for £95. Not bad at all.
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Cheers for the replies guys,
I have some good news! I sent a complaint to there service manager and he's agreed to replace all 4 centre caps under warranty, free of charge. So it's booked in for Monday morning! :happy2:
Result! But yes definitely Midland VW from now on I think as they're closest.
F1 Fan I think they're 65mm but best to measure them.
Cheers!
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Sorry to hear about your troubles. I too have packed in using VW after they kept trying to tell me the drop link were shot. Well it's passed MOTs fine and has been inspected by other people who said there is nothing wrong. Just trying to get money out of me I think after having to fight to get the injector recall done.
As for VAG specialists I make the journey down to Alex at AKS now. He is the only person that will work on my car from now on. For the level of service, for me it's worth the one and a half hour drive. Oh and please please please don't consider using SoloVW in Burton. My mk4 died a slow and horrible death at their hands.
Another vote for AKS :happy2:
I travel up from surrey to have Alex work on my car and will be doing the same for the rest of my VAG ownership :happy2:
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^^^^ me too.
Travelled up to Alex yesterday from Sussex and from now on he will be getting ALL my business.
I'd even make the 4-5 hour round trip to change the centre caps (he's that good)!! :laugh:
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^^^^ me too.
Travelled up to Alex yesterday from Sussex and from now on he will be getting ALL my business.
I'd even make the 4-5 hour round trip to change the centre caps (he's that good)!! :laugh:
Bit harsh if he's doing a good job.
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F1 Fan I think they're 65mm but best to measure them.
I wish I had measured them when I swapped from winter to summer alloys. I'll see if I can pop them off tomorrow and measure them, thanks.
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^^^^ they are 65mm. :happy2:
Dozens of sets on ebay, here is just an example. £8 for 4....
~~ Clicky here ~~ (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLKSWAGEN-ALLOY-WHEEL-CENTRE-CAPS-SET-OF-4-65MM-TOP-QUALITY-UNLIKE-OTHERS-/181148251804?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a2d46f69c)
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^^^^ they are 65mm. :happy2:
Dozens of sets on ebay, here is just an example. £8 for 4....
~~ Clicky here ~~ (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLKSWAGEN-ALLOY-WHEEL-CENTRE-CAPS-SET-OF-4-65MM-TOP-QUALITY-UNLIKE-OTHERS-/181148251804?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a2d46f69c)
Think I might try a set of those. Can't work out if they are genuine VW parts, but they look good.
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^^^^ they're not OEM as the genuine ones are around £30 a set last time I bought some. I bought these copies as well and they are as good as the real thing.
:happy2:
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^^^^ they're not OEM as the genuine ones are around £30 a set last time I bought some. I bought these copies as well and they are as good as the real thing.
:happy2:
Thanks for that, I usually only go originals when it comes to parts like that but I think this time I'll try them.
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I compared a new oem vw cap I bought from local dealers (£8.50) with the 4 Ebay "oem spec" (£10 for all 4), that I purchased recently.
Tbh there is very little difference between them to the untrained eye. The individually bagged and sealed Ebay caps were covered in blue protective film, the alloy logos were nice and shiney and correctly raised, and even had the same rough-feel black plastic indents inbetween the logo. Only differences between them was the country of origin and batch info layout on the back and very very small differences with regards to the space between vw lettering on the logo. They even weighed the same!!. Very good copies if I may say so!! :happy2: lets see how long they last tho......
Ebay seller;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200923324347?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649