Servicing - Main Dealer or VAG Indie Specialist during Warranty Period?

[Loadmaster748]

I'm considering NOT having my 2025 Leon, which has 4 years and 2 months warranty remaining, serviced at my local main dealer but using one of two very good VAG indies within a few miles of me for the duration of the warranty. One of them already services our Ateca and has done so from the third service. This is of course allowed and shouldn't affect any warranty claim that might pop up during this time.

It's not the cost, which isn't expensive anyway, as my indies are only slightly cheaper than the main dealer, but I do value the personal service and quality work that I've received from both before now, with other VAG products. My local main dealer, well that's been a different case.

What do people think of this approach and is anyone doing the same thing whilst their car is within warranty? If I did need to go to the main dealer with a problem I don't want to be met with sharp intakes of breath when they see I've strayed from main dealer servicing, particularly if the problem had nothing to do with tasks carried out on a service.

 

[tracktoy]

To be honest because I modified my car from almost day one I never bothered with main dealers but went very much like you to people who give service and good advise which I have received in bucket-loads.

Personally I am very much about the quality of the service and personal relationship with the garage. Warranty is (as i understand it) unaffected if you VAG Specialist uses the recommended materials and follows the preset details.

 

[Loadmaster748]

To be honest because I modified my car from almost day one I never bothered with main dealers but went very much like you to people who give service and good advise which I have received in bucket-loads.

Personally I am very much about the quality of the service and personal relationship with the garage. Warranty is (as i understand it) unaffected if you VAG Specialist uses the recommended materials and follows the preset details.

Thanks, completely agree. Both my VAG indies even record their servicing onto the SEAT/Cupra database as well, so even the main dealer can see.

 

[SRGTD]

@Loadmaster748 - I don’t know what level of detail is recorded on the Seat / Cupra database for servicing / repairs work but it may not particularly detailed if it includes the same information as the service history print out that VW customers can request for their cars (I’m assuming VW’s database is the same as Seat’s / Cupra’s). I asked the VW dealer for a print out of my last VW’s service history and it included very little information - e.g. ‘service event’, ‘repair event’ - no information on the parts / fluids used or what any repair events entailed.

I’d therefore recommend you get - and keep - detailed itemised invoices listing parts / part no’s, fluid specs from the independent specialist that can be used as evidence (should you need to make a warranty claim) that for any servicing / repairs carried out, genuine Seat / Cupra parts have been used and any fluids used are to VW spec. The invoice should also show the independent specialist’s VAT registration no. With VW, it’s a requirement that they’re VAT registered so I assume the same requirement applies to other VAG brands using independent specialists.

 

[James_R]

Indys can populate the same check sheets used within the dealer network. Ask for a copy of the check sheet, service record and invoice showing VWG parts have been used. That way you should have zero issues with the warranty providing any faults that may occur are not a result of missed or incorrectly carried out service work.

One thing you might not benefit from using an indy is the recall campings being checked and carried out, but it's only a small price to pay and you could always contact the brand to see if there is anything outstanding then book it in.

I agree with you about the price difference. We surprise loads of people with how cheap our servicing prices are and the benefits that some people find with the monthly plans. Our two local "specialists" are complete charlatans and I can say that with confidence based on what I see them extort from their customers and the poor quality of work they turn out.

We're the bad guys though

 

[tracktoy]

I would agree main dealers have a bad rap but to carry on with your comments its very much about the level of service and cost you get from any garage. You have to use them (main dealer and specialist) to find out if they give you the level of service you are after.

My old next door neighbor had a nice Merc, she would drive into town park the car at the garage and take her into town and come and pick her up and cleaned her car whilst she was shopping. All for no cost. She switched to an equally expensive Jag went to the Jag garage and they just laughed at her.

Now i spoke to a guy I know at Jag and he did say they were having issues with quality of customer care and were trying to fix it but bottom line the lady got rid of the jag and went back to Merc.

So as with people there are good garages and bad garages.

 

[James_R]

There's good and bad garages and there's good and bad staff. It's finding somewhere where people turn up to do a good job and not just turn up that's key.