2005 VW Jetta $40K service - getting ripped off? any mechanic recommendation? (Cary: sale, buy)

[meanieme]

My 2005 VW Jetta is due for it's 40K service and Leith VW in Cary quoted me $540. I feel it's a bit high. Any experience or anyone with a better VW mechanic recommendation?

The job would entail:

1.air filter
2.oil filter
3.cabin filter
4.dsg filter
5.spark plugs
6.brake fluid
7.dsg fluid
8.synthetic oil
9.tire rotation

[capt chill]

cabin filter I do not replace. why plugs?? Look at your owners manuel and see what they rec.

[gobirdz27]

Never take your car to the steal...I mean dealer....for your mileage maintenance. This isn't just Cary VW overcharging you, ANY dealer will charge ridiculous prices like this for scheduled maintenance. New car dealers generally make much higher margins off this maintenance than the actual sale of the car. I'd take it to some place like Atlantic Tire for this work.

As a rule I only take my car to the dealer for:

warranty repairs
stuff another mechanic says they can't do

[zinner]

For what you are getting done it doesn't seem like a lot.

Plugs and Transmission fluids are 100k mile items on my car. Could also be because it's 4 years old they are recommending you change them.

As for taking it to a 3rd party, it might be cheaper but they don't have access to the tools and training a factory shop does. Like an oil change at the dealer will include a bunch of lube maintenance items, like seals and hinges that I have NEVER seen done at a Jiffy Lube. You also wont get OEM fluids, you will get something else or maybe something wrong.

[meanieme]

yeah so anyone know a good european auto mechanic that does good job on VW? thanks

[J_Lurk]

We are not fond of Leith.

We are very fond of Village Motorwerks, which used to be in Cameron Village and now is in Boylan Heights. We feel like their costs are very fair.

[rnc2mbfl]

I'd think that I'd buy a new VW before I'd take mine in for a $40K Service. Sorry...I couldn't resist!

[emuneee]

Originally Posted by meanieme

My 2005 VW Jetta is due for it's 40K service and Leith VW in Cary quoted me $540. I feel it's a bit high. Any experience or anyone with a better VW mechanic recommendation?

The job would entail:

1.air filter
2.oil filter
3.cabin filter
4.dsg filter
5.spark plugs
6.brake fluid
7.dsg fluid
8.synthetic oil
9.tire rotation

What majority of that ($350) is the DSG fluid/filter replacement. It is required to be done every 40,000 miles. I just had this done on my '06 GLI at Leith (which I have 0 problems with). I'm told only the dealer has tools required for the DSG service. Get the DSG service done however, because you may run into problems down the line that can easily cost you 5 times the DSG service cost.

For everything else, I recommend Black Forest Industries (blackforestindustries.com). They specialize in VW/Audi cars and have had some work done their. I recently had rear brakes replaced and a brake fluid flush. I change my own oil, spark plugs, air filter, and cabin filter (for about $80 in parts) however because they are easy to do.

[meanieme]

I was just informed that the $550 quote does NOT include the DSG. The DSG is like an extra $250. Are they for real?

[emuneee]

Originally Posted by meanieme

I was just informed that the $550 quote does NOT include the DSG. The DSG is like an extra $250. Are they for real?

Oh wow. Definately get the non-DSG work done elsewhere (Black Forest). The DSG work is expensive because the fluid is expensive.

I had this same scenario, Leith quoted be ~$500 for the 40K service + $350 for the DSG service. I said to myself I can do all the regular stuff (oil, spark plugs, filters, etc.) for 1/5th their price. I did the $500 service myself, except the brake fluid for no more than $80 in parts. Took the car to Black Forest for the brake fluid flush and just had Leith to the $350 DSG service.