40,000 mile service = $650???

[BLeeber]

I am new to owning a TDI. I have been enjoying the great fuel milage. I bought the 2012 Jetta TDI for my commute to work...100 miles each way. It is one long, straight stretch of Interstate. So, I've been putting about 1,000 miles per week on the car.

My first 3, 10K mile service visits were free. Well, I am approaching 40K and called the dealership to find out what the cost would be. I couldn't believe that the woman on the phone told me $650.

Is all that they do really necessary? And, should it really cost that much? By putting that many miles in, I will have 5 service visits per year...a LOT of money. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[South Coast Guy]

here is what I spent at the dealer: $375 for DSG service and fuel filter change. Cabin air filter and engine air filter I replaced myself. Bought filters at dealer because it was cheapest when I included shipping charges.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Is it a DSG or manual?

 

[Waynoooo]

I have heard of prices as high as $1200 and as low as $599. Your price sounds reasonable based on my local dealer telling me $699 for the service.

I am not a huge motorhead, so it works for me to take it to my local dealer. They are very good, and I have been very happy with their attention to detail and ability to KNOWLEDGEABLY answer my questions, especially when I tried to trick them, and they answered correctly!

I do not know if there is a good dealer in your area, but check around and see if there is a guru in your area who is willing to give you a hand with wrenching. You buy the parts and the beers, and he provides the experience and knowledge to "teach you how to fish". It's always worth checking for the local gurus to see if you can touch base with them and learn things.

 

[mjwilson]

As awful as it is, $650 is in the ballpark. Since it's still under warranty, you might consider just to go with their 40K service as prescribed for piece of mind. This service, though, is largely just inspect this and inspect that. About the only work that gets done is an oil & filter change, air & cabin filters replaced, and tires rotated. The next "big" service at 80K (of course, change oil every 10K) you should consider doing the routine maintenance yourself. I know I was pretty nervous about doing so with my '04 but with the knowledge and help here you'll get confidence to give it shot and in the end you'll find the general maintenance not too difficult and save $$$$.

 

[Strykeviper]

When I had my 2009 I had the service done at the dealer. It cost around $400 but mine was a manual. I only let the dealer do services prior to the powertrain warranty expiring, just to eliminate a possibility of any warranty issues. I also trusted the dealer I was using since my original service person is now over the service department and they would even allow me to go in the back and oversee the maintenance being done.

 

[paramedick]

Man, I gotta start charging more! You'd be out the door for a bit less than $400, and I'd make decent money on the job.......

 

[6DOF]

My local stealership quoted me $652.42 for the 40K service when I was in last week for the 30K service. Basically $600 plus sales tax. This was on our 6 speed and they quoted for the DSG fluid change. Someone isn't paying attention. They are friendly helpful people at the dealership but I'm not cool with paying up to wazoo for something I can take care of for 1/3 of the cost at home.

 

[MedicPatriot]

Why not just take it to a private mechanic? I'm pretty sure that they can't void your warranty if a privater mechanic does the work.

 

[ezshift5]

My local stealership quoted me $652.42 for the 40K service when I was in last week for the 30K service. Basically $600 plus sales tax. This was on our 6 speed and they quoted for the DSG fluid change. Someone isn't paying attention. They are friendly helpful people at the dealership but I'm not cool with paying up to wazoo for something I can take care of for 1/3 of the cost at home.

The 6M is so rare I reckon they ASS-U-ME a DSG (I wouldn't be too cool with that).


Now I wonder the 40,000 service cost here in the great central valley of CA.

ez

 

[BLeeber]

Thanks for all the replies! Helped quite a bit.

 

[Powder Hound]

My suggestion: move closer to work.

Cheers!

PH

 

[No More Buffalo]

Why not just take it to a private mechanic? I'm pretty sure that they can't void your warranty if a privater mechanic does the work.

At 40k+ his warranty is long gone anyway.

As others have mentioned, the bulk of that cost (perhaps $350-400) is the DSG service. That's only every 40k. The other 3 10k intervals will not be nearly as expensive.

The one to really save up for is the 120k (and 240k etc) ...that is DSG + timing belt, so plan on maybe $1,500.

 

[APT]

Powertrain warranty is 60k miles.

 

[Henrick]

Some offtopic question: how do yo ufind such worplaces that far from you living place? 100 miles one way it at least 1.5-2 hours drive. So per day you lose 3-4 hours just for driving. That time you could spend with your GF/wife/family/kids or doing your hobby. You need to wake up early and you get home back late. Sorry, but I find it kinda strange.

If you really need or like that particular job, why not renting a flat within 10 miles of the workplace? I think it would be still cheaper than spending money on the car, fuel, DSG service costs, etc..

 

[strayts]

Why not just take it to a private mechanic? I'm pretty sure that they can't void your warranty if a privater mechanic does the work.

Slightly OT, but even if you do the work yourself, they can't void your warranty as long as your work didn't directly cause a system failure AND as long as you document everything with receipts, etc. It's a wonderful thing called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act).

OP, sounds about right. Are you mechanically inclined at all? You could potentially save a bunch of money working on it yourself, even if you have an indy shop do the DSG and fuel filter service. Steer clear of the stealer if you can.

 

[BLeeber]

Move closer, I like that!

Actually, it's about an hour and 20/30 minutes each way. I live is SW Florida and drive straight through the Everglades to the East coast of FL. It's actually a beautiful drive and not much traffic.

We don't move there because the commute is temporary, 24 months. They doubled my salary for me to do it and cut my work hours to compensate. I work 10:30AM to 5:00PM. I still have time for my family. Pretty good deal, I think.

Thanks again!

 

[Victor Ward]

I just looked at the service schedule for the first time.
I cannot imagine paying $650 for what they do at $40,000.
Any able bodied person who is staring down this 40k service who has never done this kind of thing before should see it as an opportunity to save money, learn about their car and get some neat new tools to keep.
You will drip some oil but when it comes time for the 80k you will have the tools and the know how, it'll be easy.

 

[skinnyb]

I just looked at the service schedule for the first time.
I cannot imagine paying $650 for what they do at $40,000.
Any able bodied person who is staring down this 40k service who has never done this kind of thing before should see it as an opportunity to save money, learn about their car and get some neat new tools to keep.
You will drip some oil but when it comes time for the 80k you will have the tools and the know how, it'll be easy.

I agree. Piece of cake. Sure I had to buy a few tools I didn't have but I am prepared for the 40k on my JSW and the 80k on the Passat. Not to mention it is satisfying knowing you done it yourself and it was done right.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[No More Buffalo]

It's not really THAT unreasonable. The fluids and filters alone would be over $200, and there is a good bit of labor involved. Even the indie mechanics won't go lower than about $450 for that service.

 

[WutGas?]

If that's 650 without the DSG service....it's a huge rip off. If 650 includes DSG service then it's still a rip off in my opinion but better justified.

For 200 bucks and 2 hours of your time, you can do it yourself. It really is simple.

 

[LarBear]

I'm getting to the point where getting up off the floor while changing oil is getting to be more and more fun. If in four years I'm still able to get under the car I'll at least change the engine oil and filter and maybe DSG lube and filter, engine and cabin air filters are no sweat, tire rotations need to be done more often than 10k miles IMHO so I can see the CV boots, struts/shocks/springs, disc pad wear, and steering joints every 5k miles. If the check engine light isn't on, the car is running and steering as it should, and nothing is rattling what's the problem? Nothing that's worth $200 to $400 to me.

If I can't do the services I'll check the local dealer, the next closest dealer, and the former VW dealer (VW wanted a fancy new store and dropped them) who always did good and reasonably priced work on our old Passat. Whoever can do the work right for the best price will get the job.

If service is properly performed at the prescribed intervals the law requires the manufacturer or importer to honor their mechanical warranty in the USA anyway, so not to worry.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Man, I gotta start charging more! You'd be out the door for a bit less than $400, and I'd make decent money on the job.......

It's not really THAT unreasonable. The fluids and filters alone would be over $200, and there is a good bit of labor involved. Even the indie mechanics won't go lower than about $450 for that service.

I'm curious what other TDIClub gurus / trusted mechs charge.

 

[Victor Ward]

It's not really THAT unreasonable. The fluids and filters alone would be over $200, and there is a good bit of labor involved. Even the indie mechanics won't go lower than about $450 for that service.

But for $450 you can get:
-a sizable Craftsman mechanics socket set
-a floor jack
-jack stands
-ramps
-a torque wrench
-a set of torx sockets
-an oil pan
-roll of Shop Towels
-box of latex gloves

You will then have everything you need to do your regular maintenance.
You are no longer paying someone else for something you can do on your own.
You can now do these things on your schedule, not the shops schedule.
You will know everything has been done correctly without cutting corners.
You will have the satisfaction that comes with learning a new skill and doing something for yourself.
You put $450 directly into your pocket for the 80k service that you can now spend on something you actually want.
You will no longer have to FEAR turning a wrench on your car because you will discover that it is far easier than you thought, really.
This kind of thing may actually become fun to you.

 

[WutGas?]

While I agree and do my own maintenance, I can understand that not everyone wants to.

 

[TDICAT]

This kind of thing may actually become fun to you.

Changing the oil and hydraulic fluid in the tractor was one of the most fun projects I have done recently.

I'd love to do my own service, but it makes more sense to me to wait out the 60k powertrain warranty because i don't really have the means to do it.

 

[Lightflyer1]

There are 3 or 4 trusted mechanics in the area as well.

 

[Rico567]

It's not really THAT unreasonable. The fluids and filters alone would be over $200, and there is a good bit of labor involved. Even the indie mechanics won't go lower than about $450 for that service.

I completely agree- solely from the standpoint of the dealer / mechanic who has to do the work. It is completely unreasonable from the standpoint of design. I've been through the descriptions and video of the DSG fluid / filter change done with the factory tool, and that was designed by monkeys.....more accurately, armchair VW engineers who never turned a wrench in their lives. No thought whatever given to cost of service.
When 40K rolls around on our Passat, I'll just get the fluid and filter and employ the measure / refill method. Easy, and my time is cheap.

 

[LarBear]

Talked to a guy today while we were walking our dogs about a $650 40k mile service, and he said that he was charged that for a service on his Jeep gasser. GULP! Guess I'm too cheap for that.

 

[Daekar]

What is so expensive about the DSG service? They're just changing the fluid, right? Surely that won't be costly unless the thing requires super premium Teutonic gnome fluids...