Servicing on VWFS lease car
Servicing on VWFS lease car
Author
Discussion

c1223

Original Poster:

246 posts

167 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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I've got a Golf GTi on a contract hire lease from VWFS. It's on variable servicing and I need to get the oil change done. Apparently with Lookers VW it will cost £269 which is extortionate for an oil & filter change.

The contract says:

"Ensure the vehicle is serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended intervals by a Volkswagen Authorised Repairer. You are responsible for any damage not deemed to be fair wear and tear."

Are there any "Volkswagen Authorised Repairers" who aren't main dealers?

Edited by c1223 on Sunday 19th May 11:49

Edible Roadkill

2,228 posts

207 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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I serviced 2x cars leased via vwfs at a local approved independent, as long as they use the correct parts then it’s fine.

Danm1les

1,020 posts

170 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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Had my golf serviced by ‘the garage down the road’ type of place, no issues with VWFS.

AJB88

15,888 posts

201 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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Any VAT registered garage can do it as long as the parts are genuine, take it to a local VW Group specialist and tell them you need genuine parts and a receipt for genuine parts.


Sheepshanks

41,196 posts

149 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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c1223 said:
I've got a Golf GTi on a contract hire lease from VWFS. It's on variable servicing and I need to get the oil change done. Apparently with Lookers VW it will cost £269 which is extortionate for an oil & filter change.
The proper longlife service is like a major service but without changing much. They allow 3hrs for it, hence the cost. Of course the dealer will do it in 30 mins.

Worth trying other dealers as this came up multiple time on the Alltrack lease thread and some got dealers to do a minor service for around £150 or even just a basic oil change for even less.

It might (everything with VAG servicing is very vague) include a pollen filter change which it shouldn't need if less than 2yrs old - I saw a thread on a SEAT forum the other day saying deleting that knocked £70 off and if you want it changed you can buy it for a tenner and it takes 30 seconds to change.

c1223 said:
Are there any "Volkswagen Authorised Repairers" who aren't main dealers?
I'm not aware there are any independent ones left now - there's a few that are branches of other dealers - you can find them by looking for Servicing on the dealer locator on the VW website, and it'll say authorised repairer without listing new cars as part of their capability.

You're taking a bit of chance getting it done outside the network - some people seem to get away with it though. Maybe there's an issue selling them as Approved Used without VW history?

PenelopaPitstop

2,482 posts

163 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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Assuming that car will ever be approved used. A lot of cars seems to be sold to smaller traders.

zedstar

1,788 posts

206 months

Sunday 19th May 2019
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A guy I know got someone to reset the service indicator with using diagnostic software, also haircut 20k off the mileage, off their Passat Alltrack.

He then threw away the service book and when the BCA man came he said the car came with no service book and shrugged. BCA man said no problem, didn’t ask for a service invoice or anything and that was that.

Don’t think you’ll have any issue therefore, the guy above described the pick up agents as ‘BCA numpties who believe anything you tell them’, sadly in his case he was right!

Burwood

18,718 posts

276 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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zedstar said:
A guy I know got someone to reset the service indicator with using diagnostic software, also haircut 20k off the mileage, off their Passat Alltrack.

He then threw away the service book and when the BCA man came he said the car came with no service book and shrugged. BCA man said no problem, didn’t ask for a service invoice or anything and that was that.

Don’t think you’ll have any issue therefore, the guy above described the pick up agents as ‘BCA numpties who believe anything you tell them’, sadly in his case he was right!
Great advice. For starters they don’t use the hard copy book. It should all be on the vag system. My dealer rarely remembers to stamp the book. If it’s service outside the network you’ll save what, a round of drinks. If they notice it’s a 400 quid charge on a lease. No service book is also a charge. A fraudster gets away with fraud shocker. Most people have a sense of decency

Sheepshanks

41,196 posts

149 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
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Burwood said:
My dealer rarely remembers to stamp the book.
Mine doesn't update the electronic system and for months the App showed the car as being overdue for all sorts of stuff, which had all been done on time.

They sorted it by simply deleting all the overdue items. Having said that it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if they don't actually do any of the work when it goes in. Apart from washing it, even though I always ask them not to.

Kompressor89

96 posts

139 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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I've just paid £175 for the first service (oil & filter change) on my Clubsport a couple of weeks ago at the local main dealer......seemed to be the going rate after ringing around other VW dealers to compare.

I was told the more expensive long life service just has a longer check list, the only parts replaced are oil + filter.

nicanary

11,361 posts

176 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Took my Audi A4 1.4Tsi to the garage I have used for the last 20 years. Car still under warranty but I'd rather trust those I know. Oill change service plus new rear brake pads - £135. Borg & Beck pads, not Chinese rip-offs.

I reckon main dealers will always charge too much because lease deals are a captive audience. They'll say you've broken terms of the lease when it's a fair bet they can't legally enforce the rules.

My dash readout says my next oil change is 1400 miles , and the next inspection is 3000 miles, so I'm going to top-up the oil and go throughh another 2000 miles and get both done at once. Good chance it's all scare-mongering.

Tomo1971

1,177 posts

187 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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For those answering that you have taken an in warranty car to a garage other than a main dealer and had no issues, were these all LEASE vehicles and NOT HP / PCP.

There is a very distinct change in wording on the VWFS lease agreements compared to PCP - block exemption does not apply to lease vehicles as you have no [guaranteed] option of purchase. PCP, service where you like as long as its genuine parts but with lease, the agreement does state that it MUST be done at a VW authorised dealer. It is a contract you (and I) have signed.

When I have asked the same question, the overwhelming response was that it does need to be a Audi dealer (not even a SEAT or VW Dealer).


Macneil

1,100 posts

110 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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Tomo1971 said:
For those answering that you have taken an in warranty car to a garage other than a main dealer and had no issues, were these all LEASE vehicles and NOT HP / PCP.

There is a very distinct change in wording on the VWFS lease agreements compared to PCP - block exemption does not apply to lease vehicles as you have no [guaranteed] option of purchase. PCP, service where you like as long as its genuine parts but with lease, the agreement does state that it MUST be done at a VW authorised dealer. It is a contract you (and I) have signed.

When I have asked the same question, the overwhelming response was that it does need to be a Audi dealer (not even a SEAT or VW Dealer).
It’s a Golf?

Tomo1971

1,177 posts

187 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
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nicanary said:
They'll say you've broken terms of the lease when it's a fair bet they can't legally enforce the rules.
.
As the terms of servicing are in the lease agreement that is signed, I would say that in a court of law, they could and they would win.

I am not defending the dealers / VWFS, just hoping that someone doesn't get stung by it, or is at least aware of the pitfalls.

When I looked into using my local SEAT, Skoda or VW dealer to service my leased A6 I was told it wasnt allowed - That situation I cant see VWFS pursuing - it would be one thing going to court and saying that Bob's Garage cant do a service to the same standard as Audi but cant ever imagine them standing in front of a court and saying that a VW dealer isnt capable of servicing an Audi when it has the same engine as VW's!



Burwood

18,718 posts

276 months

Thursday 23rd May 2019
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Tomo1971 said:
nicanary said:
They'll say you've broken terms of the lease when it's a fair bet they can't legally enforce the rules.
.
As the terms of servicing are in the lease agreement that is signed, I would say that in a court of law, they could and they would win.

I am not defending the dealers / VWFS, just hoping that someone doesn't get stung by it, or is at least aware of the pitfalls.

When I looked into using my local SEAT, Skoda or VW dealer to service my leased A6 I was told it wasnt allowed - That situation I cant see VWFS pursuing - it would be one thing going to court and saying that Bob's Garage cant do a service to the same standard as Audi but cant ever imagine them standing in front of a court and saying that a VW dealer isnt capable of servicing an Audi when it has the same engine as VW's!
There are T&C's and what you 'get away with'. I have it on good authority that BCA simply look at the cars screen to see if a service is overdue. So if you had it cleared by Vag Com or whatever you would probably skirt the issue. Same with tyres. There are 6 main brands which must be used (Conti, Dunlop, Hankook (i thought they were rubbish), Goodyear, Pirelli, Michelin.. The term states same spec/rating and 'OEM'. So you can not thrown £100 ditch finders on it but some may do exactly that and get away with it. You take your chances.

Tomo1971

1,177 posts

187 months

Thursday 23rd May 2019
quotequote all
Macneil said:
Tomo1971 said:
For those answering that you have taken an in warranty car to a garage other than a main dealer and had no issues, were these all LEASE vehicles and NOT HP / PCP.

There is a very distinct change in wording on the VWFS lease agreements compared to PCP - block exemption does not apply to lease vehicles as you have no [guaranteed] option of purchase. PCP, service where you like as long as its genuine parts but with lease, the agreement does state that it MUST be done at a VW authorised dealer. It is a contract you (and I) have signed.

When I have asked the same question, the overwhelming response was that it does need to be a Audi dealer (not even a SEAT or VW Dealer).
It’s a Golf?
Sorry, I had typed I had an A6 but then deleted it from the text - but same finance (VWFS) so the point still stands