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.

 

[Seastormer]

I still went to my main dealer even after the warranty had expired as it was a family run business and gave a great service. I had my Leon Cupra 280 done there (FIFE SEAT/CUPRA) for 8 years before I bought my current CUPRA Leon and it too is now out of warranty but will continue to be taken there. Never had a problem with any work done and my cars have ran faultlessly the entire time.

 

[Yern]

All my new cars in the last 28 years or so have been main dealer serviced. In doing a reasonable mileage per year (and often 500-600 miles in the day) I figured if anything went wrong I can simply pass the car over to the dealer with full service history (in warranty) and not have to try and justify in any way whether anything was missed or quality of parts/oils etc were compromised. I used Pentagon Oldham for 2 previous Leon's and had great service. When I needed a simple warranty problem check on the new car with the replacement dealer their appointment date of over 6 weeks didn't inspire me with confidence as a new customer..to them. Needless to say I went elsewhere.

 

[James_R]

All my new cars in the last 28 years or so have been main dealer serviced. In doing a reasonable mileage per year (and often 500-600 miles in the day) I figured if anything went wrong I can simply pass the car over to the dealer with full service history (in warranty) and not have to try and justify in any way whether anything was missed or quality of parts/oils etc were compromised. I used Pentagon Oldham for 2 previous Leon's and had great service. When I needed a simple warranty problem check on the new car with the replacement dealer their appointment date of over 6 weeks didn't inspire me with confidence as a new customer..to them. Needless to say I went elsewhere.

If that was with Swansway, the lead time for appointments is now 3 months. The result of all the local dealers either closing or refusing to take on diag work has created a huge bottle neck.

 

[Loadmaster748]

@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.

I pulled away from the local main dealer due to their lack of interest, when after six months from new the Ateca threw a warning light and they said they couldn't look at it for a month - I was absolutely staggered by that response. I ended up calling SEAT Assistance who were fantastic - they came out next day, diagnosed the problem and the day after came back with the required sensor - fault fixed.

Local indie MD Autobahn has looked after our Ateca since the third service, so for the last three. They provide a fully detailed invoice showing the tasks performed (per the SEAT maintenance programme of course) along with part numbers, fluid specs etc. I'd get the same thing with the Leon, should I decide to swerve away from the main dealer again.

There'd be absolutely no reason for a warranty investigation/claim to be denied by my local SEAT/CUPRA main dealer - I'd hope!

And let's face it, servicing a modern car for the first few years from new is not much more than oil/brake fluid changes and possibly some fluids and spark plugs, dependant on elapsed time/mileage. My Leon isn't a daily and if I keep it for five years it will have no more than 18k miles on it.

 

[CosmicBlue]

My last VZ2 Ateca had all it's scheduled servicing (actually more so - oil changes every 10,000 miles + Haldex at 20k) by an independent (Vastec in Warwick), the only times it visited the dealer was for Warranty work. Vastec updated the VW system with the service records - when I traded it the dealer could see the service history and were 100% happy.

When I was running Audi cars I found that the dealers were sensitive to 'Full Audi dealer service history' being present, whereas the Cupra/Seat dealers seem less fussy.

 

[Yern]

If that was with Swansway, the lead time for appointments is now 3 months. The result of all the local dealers either closing or refusing to take on diag work has created a huge bottle neck.

Yes James, but unfortunately this shows the industry and/or the dealers have a major issue. A lead time of 3 months (in my opinion) is not acceptable...although I understand this may be reality. Many of the subscribers on this forum have issues with their hybrid vehicles which seem to take a long time to be looked at and rectified so glad I went for another petrol non hybrid - apologies eco warriors.

 

[James_R]

My last VZ2 Ateca had all it's scheduled servicing (actually more so - oil changes every 10,000 miles + Haldex at 20k) by an independent (Vastec in Warwick), the only times it visited the dealer was for Warranty work. Vastec updated the VW system with the service records - when I traded it the dealer could see the service history and were 100% happy.

When I was running Audi cars I found that the dealers were sensitive to 'Full Audi dealer service history' being present, whereas the Cupra/Seat dealers seem less fussy.

For Audi to sell a used vehicle that's fully approved by the brand it has to have Audi main dealer history.

 

[James_R]

Yes James, but unfortunately this shows the industry and/or the dealers have a major issue. A lead time of 3 months (in my opinion) is not acceptable...although I understand this may be reality. Many of the subscribers on this forum have issues with their hybrid vehicles which seem to take a long time to be looked at and rectified so glad I went for another petrol non hybrid - apologies eco warriors.

It is the reality unfortunately. The motor trade is an often thankless and underpaid job for some, that, coupled with the immense amount of knowledge you need to do the job at a high level plus the ever changing environment has seen more people leave since covid than ever before. Oil, gas, aviation, plant, rolling stock (to name a few) industries where a mechanic can transfer their skills, get paid more money, work less and don't have the hassle that comes with working on cars.

There's a huge skills gap in the motor trade, businesses have finally come to realise this and are willing to train staff appropriately, the problem is, it's too little too late because the aren't there anymore.

You'll see lots of small dealers disappear over the next few years, and the larger multi franchise sites taking over. There's already been three casualties in Manchester alone.

 

[Yern]

It is the reality unfortunately. The motor trade is an often thankless and underpaid job for some, that, coupled with the immense amount of knowledge you need to do the job at a high level plus the ever changing environment has seen more people leave since covid than ever before. Oil, gas, aviation, plant, rolling stock (to name a few) industries where a mechanic can transfer their skills, get paid more money, work less and don't have the hassle that comes with working on cars.

There's a huge skills gap in the motor trade, businesses have finally come to realise this and are willing to train staff appropriately, the problem is, it's too little too late because the aren't there anymore.

You'll see lots of small dealers disappear over the next few years, and the larger multi franchise sites taking over. There's already been three casualties in Manchester alone.

Fully agree, and after working nearly 50 years in the motor trade, the first 25 years in retail aftersales (but now retired) I could see the way things were going. Before I left retail Master Techs were needing to be full diagnostic techs. In the 'old days' of servicing 6 months/6K miles we had customers literally queueing out of the door in the morning with a massive car park full of cars and we still managed to turn most of them out by the end of the day on no more than a week's lead time. Not sure Starmer's apprentice incentive will have a massive effect.

 

[Tell]

I only had one useless dealership with the radio slogan "nice people to do business with". Contrary they were useless. A North London Seat dealership. They closed down. No surprise there. They apparently glued the turbo boost pipe onto the engine after it blew off in the smoke test. Had no clips. Didn't tell me. Driven back for me. Left outside. Turned it on to park it up the road. Pipe blew off went into limp home mode. The outfit were complete jokers. Family owned business I find much more reliable. I swapped to a Harlow dealership when I bought the Ateca knowing that the North London outfit at the time were useless. Useless dealerships dont help themselves.

I had a Citroën diesel before that which developed a starting issue. Whether franchise or specialist nobody could get down to the bottom of that issue. Pin hole in that rubber bleed thing some suggested. Basically the fuel drained away from the engine. Lots of smoke in the winter to start it. Sold it to my brother at 10 years old... he didnt manage to sort it either. Winter starting fun.

 

[James_R]

I only had one useless dealership with the radio slogan "nice people to do business with". Contrary they were useless. A North London Seat dealership. They closed down. No surprise there. They apparently glued the turbo boost pipe onto the engine after it blew off in the smoke test. Had no clips. Didn't tell me. Driven back for me. Left outside. Turned it on to park it up the road. Pipe blew off went into limp home mode. The outfit were complete jokers. Family owned business I find much more reliable. I swapped to a Harlow dealership when I bought the Ateca knowing that the North London outfit at the time were useless. Useless dealerships dont help themselves.

I had a Citroën diesel before that which developed a starting issue. Whether franchise or specialist nobody could get down to the bottom of that issue. Pin hole in that rubber bleed thing some suggested. Basically the fuel drained away from the engine. Lots of smoke in the winter to start it. Sold it to my brother at 10 years old... he didnt manage to sort it either. Winter starting fun.

The little family run dealerships are becoming a thing of the past, it's a real shame. The first dealer I worked at was owned and ran by the Cook family, they all pitched in. Unfortunately these days it's all about volume with the illusion of "good service". Lots of UK dealer groups are being snapped up by huge corporations, it used to be the Chinese and Japanese, now it's the Americans.

I'm happy to say that the company I work for is family owned. The lovely old boy who's at the helm visits us on occasion, he's a real stickler for high quality.

 

[Tara]

Id say from years of experience and human nature that when it comes to sale time a Full Main Dealer Service History will always be more attractive to buyers which is a shame as its no different in real terms but just the way it is.

 

[James_R]

Fully agree, and after working nearly 50 years in the motor trade, the first 25 years in retail aftersales (but now retired) I could see the way things were going. Before I left retail Master Techs were needing to be full diagnostic techs. In the 'old days' of servicing 6 months/6K miles we had customers literally queueing out of the door in the morning with a massive car park full of cars and we still managed to turn most of them out by the end of the day on no more than a week's lead time. Not sure Starmer's apprentice incentive will have a massive effect.

At the moment (even in the month leading up to Christmas) we're seeing 30 booked customers, at least 10 hours of diag and on average 3 recoveries a day.

Our site was busy with diag and recoveries since the day it opened, now we have four brands to cater for.

At one point we had seven apprentices to help repopulate the building but the skill levels and experience are still catching up.