Illawarra servicing

[iluvbrownale]

Any Gong/Sth Coasters used Georges Auto Prestige in Fairy Meadow for their servicing? I've had enough using the dealer for anything other than warranty work, or could you recommend any other workshops Sutherland to the Gong?

Also, my dashboard creaks really badly. I've had a 2.0 FSI and this is my second GTI so I've got a few years of Mk5 ownership in me and my 1 yr old car creaks worse than any of the others: when you lane change and the wheel hits the cats eyes on the motorway, the dash creaks. It's basically the plastic centre console. When you push it it creaks so badly it reminds me of a cheap TV when you pick it up. So I know our Golfs aren't Audis or Benzes, but is this a warrantable defect on a 45,000km 1 yr old car? i.e. is the dealer obliged to do something about it?

[iluvbrownale]

in the style of Kevin Rudd, I'll answer my own question:

$330 for the service and I'm prepared to be a guinea pig for them.

[nathan]

Mike, ive never been to George's before but have been recomended from people that he's good out there.
Your second part of the question i got nothin.

[Cam]

I've seen him advertise on the tv but I've never been to them.
I haven't heard any bad things, so I suppose thats a good sign
:p

If the new VW dealership hadn't have opened closer for me, I probably would have tried them instead of going to SCC.

[amrjon]

I went to R&C automotive last service, very happy.
The subaru boys love them and I've a few friends that are very happy with them too.

[iluvbrownale]

Booked in for tomorrow. At least receptionist seemed switched on and frankly, I'm impressed with the fact that they have fitted me in with 1 day's notice or could have done Saturday. TAI goes in at same time and might have them put the skoda boot struts in so does anyone around here have Vagcom they can help me with? I need to do something different so the boot unlock button pops the boot a bit more than usual (I have the relevant instructions somewhere but not a Vagcom thingo). Any helpers?

[tjoe]

Not sure if McGrath Sutherland is any good but booked in next Jan. 15000km for around $380 with free loan car. I drive pass Georges very often, may give them a go in the future. Let us know how you goes with Georges

[polymer]

Good question, Southern Classic cars (VW dealership in Wollongong ) very disappointing experience. Avoid!

[nathan]

Good question, Southern Classic cars (VW dealership in Wollongong ) very disappointing experience. Avoid!

Can i ask why it was dissapointing? I've been there twice and the first time i went there they filled my log book out with someone else's car details, that's gonna look sus when i try to sell my car.

[iluvbrownale]

realised I hadn't updated. Here's my experience:

The Good
- Called Thursday, booked it for the next day - 2 weeks out from Xmas! Try doing that at SCC or any other dealer. Yes he was flat out but still made room.
- Open Saturdays
- Car cleaned outside - properly, windows had no watermarks, AND vacuumed inside. SCC doesn't do inside and I've had 2 services so late that I gave up on any wash.
- Receptionist got me to meet George and was very professional
- Location - Maccas opposite, Supercheap up the road, Holden/Mitsu dealer to have a nosey. Main road.
- Everything ran smooth as it should - SCC have failed to stamp my book, forgotten to wash it, delivered it back super late, not addressed simple problems and done pretty much everything they could to lose the business. Congrats.

The Bad
- Car was slightly (5-10mins) longer than anticipated. Compared to SCC where I've had 3 or 4 that ran over by, oh, 3-4 HOURS I can cope :)
- Premises not quite as schmick in reception as it could be

The REALLY good
- $330 for a 45k service. They have invested in good diagnostics and George had achieved the highest rating in his days as a Mercedes mechanic so don't feel I was cutting a corner (assuming dealers are somehow more likely to better in the first place)

I'm going to get my sway bar and springs done by them too.

[Cam]

Glad to hear you had a pleasant experience Mike.
Its good we have a decent place in the Gong for Euro work.

What springs + sway bar are you having installed?

Funny you mention about the 3-4hr late aspect with SCC, I've had that too...
Haven't been there for about 8 months and plan never to go back.

[jeff]

just had my golf 1.9 tdi 105k service done, i had air bag fault light up and needed pink slip also adjusted brakes 340 for the lot, qouted 800 dollars for scc to replace rear brakes last service at georges around 400 and he said no need to change until next service thats an extra 30k scc are rip off

[iluvbrownale]

Cam, Neuspeed both for springs and bar. Having them done at Spot-On where Jaqcues got his coils done.

Jeff, I really think Georges could be a real problem for SCC. Scheduled servicing isn't rocket science and I'm not after a back rub as part of the experience, just the stuff needs to get done and DON'T BE LATE! I don't want to take a whole day off just to get my car serviced.
The dilemma I have is that I have bought both GTI's here, got my F-in-law to get his S3 there and his brother a Tiguan: been happy with the sales side of things, but I can't help feeling the after sales is so poor that they don't warrant any more business. To be honest, I can't understand why dealers make such a cock up of this part of their business.

[MrX]

Good to hear about Georges. I'm a couple of weeks away of getting my new GTI and been worried about SCC Servicing. Will definately give them a go.

Cheers

Chris

[tjoe]

Look like Georges are trustworthy mechanic and reasonable priced as well. The only question left is: would you (in fact me) still consider it is worth the extra money to get the log book stamped by dealer knowing that it is brand new GTI? I guess this is something I would have to think about.

[iluvbrownale]

Look like Georges are trustworthy mechanic and reasonable priced as well. The only question left is: would you (in fact me) still consider it is worth the extra money to get the log book stamped by dealer knowing that it is brand new GTI? I guess this is something I would have to think about.

If your question is, do you feel 'safer' knowing its been done by a dealer on your own car, then after all the balls ups I've had when geting my car serviced at SCC then I'd have to say no way. This is especially true when you see what is actually involved in a standard service (not much - youtube 'Fifth Gear servicing' and you'll probably find the one where the presenter does a service on a Z4). The slapdash way most of the basic jobs have got done makes me only think bad things about the more technical things e.g. the greasing of the door joints looks like a grease shotgun was used and leaves filthy grease all over the lower B pillars. If that's the care and attention given to door hinges, then I don't want anyone there touching anything more technical than the washer fluid.

If the question is, will my car be worth more with VW dealer stamps than something else, well I'd have to say, perhaps, but gee, it'd have to be a LOT. If you end up selling your car in warranty then shouldn't make one bit of difference but let's assume you sell at 60,000kms. Back of fag packet says you'll have saved over a grand using an independent over a dealer and I would suggest that your GTI sold in 3 years time a thousand less than everyone elses will sell pretty darn quickly (all other things being equal).

I would pay the premium IF the servicing was demonstrably better in the same way Four Seasons is 'better' than Ibis for overnight stays. You'll get a sleep in each, but if i'm paying a premium I expect more for my money, not less. 6 services at SCC was enough to turn me.

[tjoe]

If your question is, do you feel 'safer' knowing its been done by a dealer on your own car, then after all the balls ups I've had when geting my car serviced at SCC then I'd have to say no way. This is especially true when you see what is actually involved in a standard service (not much - youtube 'Fifth Gear servicing' and you'll probably find the one where the presenter does a service on a Z4). The slapdash way most of the basic jobs have got done makes me only think bad things about the more technical things e.g. the greasing of the door joints looks like a grease shotgun was used and leaves filthy grease all over the lower B pillars. If that's the care and attention given to door hinges, then I don't want anyone there touching anything more technical than the washer fluid.

Good point. I do have a bit of doubt about SCC/dealer service quality (taking 3 visits over 3 weeks to fix air con problem).



If the question is, will my car be worth more with VW dealer stamps than something else, well I'd have to say, perhaps, but gee, it'd have to be a LOT. If you end up selling your car in warranty then shouldn't make one bit of difference but let's assume you sell at 60,000kms. Back of fag packet says you'll have saved over a grand using an independent over a dealer and I would suggest that your GTI sold in 3 years time a thousand less than everyone elses will sell pretty darn quickly (all other things being equal).

Yeah that idea is sticking to my mind. dealer mechanic > well-known mechanic > local mechanic > backyard mechanic. I do hope if I pay more I have the service quality but will have to admit it may not be the case sometimes.

[Cam]

Had my 105,000km service done at George's last week.
Very happy with the service. Logbook, service indicator, sticker etc all done.

They even washed it for me!

$290 for the service and they were very organised.
They seem to take good care of the car's, every mechanic I saw reversing a car out of their steep/dodgy driveway did it with the utmost care. Which is nice to see for a change.
Bit of a trek up to Wollongong for me but my future services will probably be with George.

[HOTHATCH]

Anyone had a DSG service done at George's ?

[HOTHATCH]

Seeing nobody seems to have had a DSG service done at Georges I rang them and was quoted $520 just for the DSG oil and filter change.

[Cam]

How does that fair compared to vw cost wise? Seems a bit high

[HOTHATCH]

How does that fair compared to vw cost wise? Seems a bit high

Cam, that's what I thought. I seem to remember enquiring sometime ago now at Southern Classic and was quoted $370. It really isn't rocket science. The whole procedure is on Wikipedia. I could do it myself but as you know I got the VW extended warranty.

[iluvbrownale]

Prescient....

...was nipping back to forum after a three month work induced hiatus as I have 60,000km service coming up. My main thought was if I could buy DSG fluid from ECS @ $17 a litre and use it at the next service to save costs. I was assuming I'd use George too for the job as was pleased last time around but have called SCC now to get a quote on the 60k service inc DSG gubbins...which is....

$1193.80

Apparently there is a bit of rocket science in that the oil needs to be heated to an exact temp first, plus special tool needed.

George's service is about the $300 mark so I figure he'd be $850 all up then, which is a reasonable saving.

[HOTHATCH]

Prescient....

...was nipping back to forum after a three month work induced hiatus as I have 60,000km service coming up. My main thought was if I could buy DSG fluid from ECS @ $17 a litre and use it at the next service to save costs. I was assuming I'd use George too for the job as was pleased last time around but have called SCC now to get a quote on the 60k service inc DSG gubbins...which is....

$1193.80

Apparently there is a bit of rocket science in that the oil needs to be heated to an exact temp first, plus special tool needed.

George's service is about the $300 mark so I figure he'd be $850 all up then, which is a reasonable saving.

Hi Mike, long time no see. Mate, the only rocket science is that you monitor the temp with VAGCOM and when the oil temp reaches 35 to 40 degrees the excess oil runs out and you cycle through the gears with the engine running. I can't see anywhere it saying there is some mystical reset or anything else that needs to be done. See this link http://www.mkv-gti.net/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_change_DSG_transmission_oil I also rang another workshop who I won't name who told me that the DSG is "Quote" RUBBISH and that when they do a DSG oil and filter change they make the owner sign a disclaimer so it the gearbox fails after them touching it they won't be liable. They also said they will only do the service if they know the car and customer. They won't be getting my business needless to say. ECS also sell the whole kit including the oil and the apparatus to do the oil change for about $300 I think. Oh this other workshop also told me I had voided my warranty by me changing my cabin and air filter myself.

Oh, I should also mention Craig from BWA Auto one of our sponsors who promptly got back to me with a quote of $370 for a DSG Service, parts and labour included. Thanks Craig.

[iluvbrownale]

Hi Mike, long time no see. Mate, the only rocket science is that you monitor the temp with VAGCOM and when the oil temp reaches 35 to 40 degrees the excess oil runs out and you cycle through the gears with the engine running. I can't see anywhere it saying there is some mystical reset or anything else that needs to be done. See this link http://www.mkv-gti.net/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_change_DSG_transmission_oil I also rang another workshop who I won't name who told me that the DSG is "Quote" RUBBISH and that when they do a DSG oil and filter change they make the owner sign a disclaimer so it the gearbox fails after them touching it they won't be liable. They also said they will only do the service if they know the car and customer. They won't be getting my business needless to say. ECS also sell the whole kit including the oil and the apparatus to do the oil change for about $300 I think. Oh this other workshop also told me I had voided my warranty by me changing my cabin and air filter myself.

Oh, I should also mention Craig from BWA Auto one of our sponsors who promptly got back to me with a quote of $370 for a DSG Service, parts and labour included. Thanks Craig.

are you for real!!!? they're a workshop that says effectively anything we do we're not liable for?! that's reassuring - here have a grand! can you PM the name so I can avoid if ur not comfortable with posting it here?

Yeah, the change doesn't look that hard, just sounds it to someone who literally would struggle to put up some shelves, let alone fanny about with anything mechanical i.e. me.

my GTI is being used every single day now that we have opened another business (Bowral) so location is hugely important, otherwise I'd give BWA a go.

[iluvbrownale]

UPDATE: Just called Moss Vale motors. $800 give or take twenty bucks for 60k service & DSG. If I can give them 3 weeks notice the courtesy car is available for nix.

That seals the deal for me. Good price I reckon.

[HOTHATCH]

UPDATE: Just called Moss Vale motors. $800 give or take twenty bucks for 60k service & DSG. If I can give them 3 weeks notice the courtesy car is available for nix.

That seals the deal for me. Good price I reckon.


Make sure you sign their disclaimer for your "RUBBISH" gearbox.

Only Joking:lol:

Sounds like a good deal to me.