Reputable Dealer Service in Sydney? Recommendations please...

[Cam]

Hey Guys,

Not having a lot of luck with the only dealer down my way with a warranty repair job.
My aircon is really noisy when its on, I suspect its probably related to this:
http://www.my-gti.com/1038/volkswagen-golf-gti-passat-jetta-and-eos-air-conditioner-compressor-failure

It was noted that it was noisy at its 75,000km service by the tech, who said they would try replacing a fan.

It went in today to have a fan replaced which as I thought made no difference. Its still doing it. So they want to book it in to 'try' and replace another part next week again. This isn't the first time I've had to make 3 or 4 trips just to have something looked at and fixed. I'm under the impression they really don't know (or care whatsoever is the vibe that I get!) what the problem is, despite quietly suggesting to them the earlier failure of compressors. The main issue is that the closest dealer to me is about 2hrs away. If it was local I wouldn't mind so much.

So instead of stuffing around further, I'm hoping someone can recommend a good dealer service centre in Sydney...one that you use or have used that you've been happy with that I can talk to and explain the situation. I'm willing to make the trip up to Sydney and leave my car to get fixed properly somewhere. I feel very uneasy leaving my car in with the dealer down this way. The problem is this business of having to bring it back next week and re-schedule all the time. Its so tiring. I'm hoping one the dealers up in Sydney will have worked on the problem before and have the necessary parts lying somewhere around the city. Biggest downside to living in a regional area...complete lack of services, workshops and shops...lol
:rolleyes:

Car is still under warranty, aircon operates really well its just that it whines really loudly.

Does European Autotech do warranty repairs? I'd feel safe leaving my car with Derek lol.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Cam

p.s Have tried discussing with the dealer but they really don't care.

[∆pex]

unfortunately derek doesn't do warranty repairs, though, a while back he did mention to me knowing the service manager at hornsby (i think).
maybe give him a buzz and see if he can point you in the right direction.

sorry i can't give you any personal experience, never taken mine to the dealer.

[Cam]

Thanks Steve.

[benough]

Hey.

I've had good experiences with DENLO Parramatta. That said I made a bit of effort getting to know the Service Manager and the guys who run it, Nick and Mark.

Nick and Mark are both car heads so if you give em a bit of a chat they love it. Mentioning my name might help? Dunno.

[GTom]

I go to Hornsby (McCarrolls) Very good service with them.

[Jig]

I go to Hornsby (McCarrolls) Very good service with them.

I second this after experiencing it first hand on my wife's R36 and my R32.

[Cam]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Spoke with Mum and Dad tonight when I got home from work and they said they took the car back about 5mins after they drove out with it.
A guy came out and sat in the car and stuffed around for another 10mins, had no idea what he was talking about then started babbling about other crap. To top it off the guy asks my Mum what she thinks the problem is.....he had absolutely no clue. Dad mentioned I had run a scan with vagcom/vcds and he said he didn't know what that was! *face palm* this was a guy from the service department.

If I can avoid it I'll never be taking the car back there again.

[AP]

All Volkswagen dealers are slack on the warranty repair work!! They will always try and get out of it.. I tried to get the leather fixed under warranty on my recaros, the leather had worn away and the car only had 8k on the clock.. What a joke!!

[nath_mk6]

I've had some good experiences with Sutherland McGrath, they replaced the window switches which stopped working and then as they damaged the door trim taking them out they installed a brand new one in its place.

Not sure about them long term though as its a mixed service area for a number of different makes, but they definately know what VAGCOM is >D may be worth a look as it is the closest to you Cam.

[Cam]

Thanks Nath.
I think I'll probably contact them and have a chat.
:)

AP, did they end up repairing the seat? I wouldn't have thought recaros would have done that?

[chris32]

I'm looking into where to take my car for its 1 year service. I've had a bad experience with Denlo where they agreed to fix things under warranty, then change their minds. But saying that my father gets his car serviced at Denlo and has always had an excellent experience.


All Volkswagen dealers are slack on the warranty repair work!! They will always try and get out of it.. I tried to get the leather fixed under warranty on my recaros, the leather had worn away and the car only had 8k on the clock.. What a joke!!

Did they fix your leather AP? I've been having a hard time getting Denlo to repair my leather, it was delivered with a bit of damage on the passenger seat which I didn't notice till I got home (I think its from someone with keys in there pockets. Its tiny, but just pisses me off that I have to look at it in a new car). They also delivered it with gutter damage on 2 of the rims, but they replaced them so I guessing whoever did it came forward.

[Frenchie]

I go to Hornsby (McCarrolls) Very good service with them.

These guys are mod friendly - helped me with some warranty work..

[defaultx]

These guys are mod friendly - helped me with some warranty work..

Is this the dealership you got your first service done with Christophe? Or did you go to them when you needed warranty work done?

[AP]

I'm looking into where to take my car for its 1 year service. I've had a bad experience with Denlo where they agreed to fix things under warranty, then change their minds. But saying that my father gets his car serviced at Denlo and has always had an excellent experience.



Did they fix your leather AP? I've been having a hard time getting Denlo to repair my leather, it was delivered with a bit of damage on the passenger seat which I didn't notice till I got home (I think its from someone with keys in there pockets. Its tiny, but just pisses me off that I have to look at it in a new car). They also delivered it with gutter damage on 2 of the rims, but they replaced them so I guessing whoever did it came forward.

No they didn't fix it!!! I just gave up..

[GBJ-R32]

ok i've got my first service fast approaching, in the next month.

by then ill have my H&R sways and Either the V3's or Teins Coil overs in plus a few other things.

i bought this car from Parramatta Delano group (if that's how you spell there name)

so whom should i take it to where they will still work on the car even with the mods

[∆pex]

any dealer will service your car, even if it has mods. it's when you try and get warranty work done that your mods can cause issues with some dealers.

[GBJ-R32]

Ooo thanks for clearing that up for me was worried about that for abit

[Frenchie]

Is this the dealership you got your first service done with Christophe? Or did you go to them when you needed warranty work done?

No I only went there for warranty work around the suspensions area..sorted so I was happy..

Now going to Fivedock for some other warranty work >D

[onpole01]

Like the other guys I get my servicing done at Hornsby-had no issues, friendly and reliable etc.
Have also had a service done at Chatswood classic cars-no probs with the service, bit more expensive than Hornsby also a bit of stuffing around with shuttle buses etc as the workshop is not locate near the dealer but rather in the industrial area of Artarmon but the coffee was good there!

Also at Penrith and all seemed ok.-All were performing basic log book servicing

I think all the dealers generally will be ok for servicing but warranty work is very much attitudinal and each dealership's approach /enthusiasm for it will vary from dealer to dealer, service manager to service manager

[chris32]

No they didn't fix it!!! I just gave up..

Thats a shame :( I'm going to try one more time and see what happens.

[Capercat]

This is my experience with three dealers I've dealt with:

Hornsby = Good

Chatswood = ok

Denlo = crap

[Jig]

Chatswood = not very appreciative of after market mods.

Hornsby = good. they appreciate mods a lot more.

Parrammatta = why bother

Five Dock = good but give or take with after market mods.

[Capercat]

Apparently Chatswood & Denlo are owned by the same group...

[Jim]

Apparently Chatswood & Denlo are owned by the same group...

Yes... City's, CCC & Denlo are owed by (INCHCAPE) UK. (City Automobiles now gone). Try Southern Classic (SCC) in the Gong, as the old service MGR from Penrth VW (Sebastian) has been there since March 2010. He was my old boss from City's VW (Alexandra) from 00 to 04 & Penrith VW from 07 to 09. Sab is very proactive in working out VW issues with VGA, if one of his boys are unable to sort out the noise issue 1st up.

[Cam]

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the info. SCC are actually who I've been having issues with.
I haven't spoken to Sebastian yet but I think I will. Hopefully he will be able to sort something out. Its a little strange, I've had good dealings with SCC and as you have probably read some not so good dealings. I remember Carla or somebody else mentioning there was a new service manager starting.
Hopefully Sebastian will be understanding of the issue (as you know its a decent trek up to Wollongong)
:)

You wouldn't happen to know anything about the Kinghorn VW dealership opening in town would you? (I used to live in Bomaderry but I'm down in Sussex Inlet now) I pass the yard everyday on my way to work. I've probably seen you around Nowra.
:)

[Jim]

Hi there,
Yes I have had Kinghorn ring me up a few times in the last 12 months asking me if I would work for em, but the pay is about 30k less then Syd & they won't budge, so at this point in time I have declined there offer. I did have an interview there about 10 months ago that's when they told me they would be opening VW in Sept 09!! At this stage they have no help from VGA until they send somebody to basic training in August. (They missed the Jan/Feb training). They have my phone # if they get stuck, so unless they up the $$ I 'll just keep doing my own thing. Oh.. they did ring last week to see if I wanted the service advises position... no thanks!!

[Cam]

Interesting read Jim. Sorry I didn't see your post until now!
Thats a big difference in salary.

Quick update, my car went in for its 90k today.
I've taken all of our Golfs into Kinghorn now and had exceptional service on all occassions. I asked to have the aircon checked and it does indeed (no surprise..) need a new compressor.
The AC is still working ok, but its pretty noisy when operating. So now the claim goes into VW Aust with all the paperwork and hopefully soon I'll have a new compressor and everything will be fixed. My car has extended warranty so it will be covered anyway.
:)

No hassles at all, all acknowledged written down and everything has run smoothly. I'm not used to people actually caring when it comes to servicing + warranty work lol so I tend to expect the worst. But its great having the service yard close to me now, saves the 2hr drive to Wollongong and the added bonus is I can drop the car off in the morning and its only 10mins walk to work.