Acceptable Dealer in Mass ?

[Alan Drake]

Coming up on time to change oil, 10K miles. Does a dealer exist near Boston (north is best) which anyone feels confide of?

Want car raised correctly, plug not taken out/in with air gun, and leave the computer alone.

 

[turboboost1]

I would try Atamian in Tewksbury. They've been good so far with mine. Just tell them what you want.

 

[PeterV]

NOOOOOO Dealers have NO clue about these cars. That is why we have GURUs here. Save your hard earned $$$.

That being said come to the HO5G (house of 5 garages) Bring oil Filters and do the job on the TDIclub lift for beer..... I'll hook upthe VCDS also.

 

[turboboost1]

NOOOOOO Dealers have NO clue about these cars. That is why we have GURUs here. Save your hard earned $$$.

That being said come to the HO5G (house of 5 garages) Bring oil Filters and do the job on the TDIclub lift for beer..... I'll hook upthe VCDS also.

PeterV, Where is this located?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

x2. Keith Harley (KMH Motors) is in Chelmsford and can help you out. Or Kraftwerke in Braintree. Or go visit Peter at Ho5G. And I know where you can get the oil change kit.

 

[Lug_Nut]

....do the job on "the TDIclub lift for beer"......

Must be summer time... The hydraulic lift is again needed for the quantity of beer.
In winter the Kubota's front bucket has sufficient capacity.

Heaven forbid if we had to lean over and reach down into a cooler to get our sustenance,..

 

[MayorDJQ]

The OP's car is a '10 with "free service"....therein lies the problem. Does one flip a coin and take advantage of said "free service" and risk the wrong quality & quantity of oil, stripped drain plug, a return trip to have some oil drained out? To me, it's not worth it.

Ho5G is a good option. MrCHill in Braintree is another good option.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Skip the free service. That's my vote. Not worth the risk.

 

[btcost]

We skipped the "free" service with my Father's car

I wrote in the service book, and kept my itemized recite from idparts.com

that proved that you used the correct oil (507 spec) and filter and keeps your warrentee good

 

[Alan Drake]

Thanks for the info guys, I think.
Now what is in a "oil change kit" ????? And what's a VCDS ? Can you tell I'm new!

Have a case of oil anyone have pn on VW filter and is there a torque specifiaction ?
Remember on my 80 Ouch -ie if you did not torque it leaked - you can not fool with the Germans.

As for Atamian, looks like they just put lift arms at four jacking locations an up it goes?

Understand there are four special points inside where the lift arms need to go ?? Did not see that at Atamian.

For floor work have made (in wood) a slotted block to protect the car.
Thanks for offers however should not have any problems doing, will I?

 

[MayorDJQ]

Thanks for the info guys, I think.
Now what is in a "oil change kit" ????? And what's a VCDS ? Can you tell I'm new!

Have a case of oil anyone have pn on VW filter and is there a torque specifiaction ?
Remember on my 80 Ouch -ie if you did not torque it leaked - you can not fool with the Germans.

As for Atamian, looks like they just put lift arms at four jacking locations an up it goes?

Understand there are four special points inside where the lift arms need to go ?? Did not see that at Atamian.

For floor work have made (in wood) a slotted block to protect the car.
Thanks for offers however should not have any problems doing, will I?

If you look closely at the rocker panel(s), you'll see a dimple just behind the front wheels and just ahead of the rear wheels, on each side. Said dimples indicate the jacking points under the car, on the body seam. There's really nothing hi-tech to it. They just drive the car into the lift-bay and position the arms.

An oil change kit is a package deal that many of the online vendors sell that include the correct quantity & quality of oil, a filter, and a drain plug (if applicable). It's usually a little cheaper than buying the items individually, and a lot cheaper than buying them at an autoparts store.

VCDS is a computer program that along with the proper cable allows you to access the ECU and do diagnostics and modifications to many VW products.

 

[ChuChu]

I can highly recommend Wellesley VW. They've done all service on my car with the right oil and parts. Friendly staff too.

 

[PeterV]

HO5G is in So NH. see link for last GTG here. & Pics too.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=301747&highlight=HO5G&page=3

 

[PeterV]

Newbies remember the dealer is NOT your friend. Service is a profit center and you are the profit part.

 

[MayorDJQ]

Newbies remember the dealer is NOT your friend. Service is a profit center and you are the profit part.

Well said.

My friend has an '09 Jetta 2.5 that she took to the dealer for its oil 3 "free" changes. At 40k they tried to sell her a coolant flush for $180 and engine decarboning for another $180. She called me to ask about these "services" and I told her to run away! Now her buddy at work does her oil changes.

 

[sgtpopeye43]

When I bought my 03 Jetta TDI Wagen new in 03 in CT I found out that the sale of new TDIs in Mass was not permitted. I don't know if this policy is still in effect in Mass but no doubt it has a negative effect on dealership service departments experience levels when it comes to servicing TDIs. And we all know how great VW dealership service departments can be!!!
sgtpopeye43 in CT

 

[Alan Drake]

Thanks to everyone! Guess I'll do it myself.
Appears the WIX gold filter @ NAPA is a good filter, anyone have number for it.
I'll just make 3 more lift protection blocks for the 4 post and lift from sides.

The free 36K mile service is the oil change and one fuel filter so to avoid any problems will just do these myself.

Any warranty problems in changing the fuel filter to an after market set up using the finer fuel filters ??

 

[MayorDJQ]

When I bought my 03 Jetta TDI Wagen new in 03 in CT I found out that the sale of new TDIs in Mass was not permitted. I don't know if this policy is still in effect in Mass but no doubt it has a negative effect on dealership service departments experience levels when it comes to servicing TDIs. And we all know how great VW dealership service departments can be!!!
sgtpopeye43 in CT

That would kind of make the "50 State Diesel" thing kind of a moot point, don't ya think?

The no-new TDIs in Massachusetts happened in '03 or '04 when Mass and several other New England states adopted California's emissions regulations. new TDIs were no longer "clean enough" to pass and had to have 7500+ miles to be considered "used" and legal in Mass.

What p!ssed me off most about it was that Powerstrokes, Duramaxes, and Dodge CTDs were still perfectly legal, even with the tuning boxes that made them belch black smoke.

 

[sgtpopeye43]

Hi Alan,
I use an oil withdrawal system and I haven't removed the drain plug in years. The withdrawal system uses vacuum to suck out the oil thru a small tube that is inserted into the dipstick tube. I don't know what the oil filter configuration is on newer TDIs but on my 03 the filter is removable under the hood and I use the withdrawal system to evacuate the remaining oil in the filter housing. I buy oil and filters from IDParts dot com and they are located in Mass near Boston.
sgtpopeye43 in CT

 

[DieselOx]

Hi Alan,
I use an oil withdrawal system and I haven't removed the drain plug in years. The withdrawal system uses vacuum to suck out the oil thru a small tube that is inserted into the dipstick tube. I don't know what the oil filter configuration is on newer TDIs but on my 03 the filter is removable under the hood and I use the withdrawal system to evacuate the remaining oil in the filter housing. I buy oil and filters from IDParts dot com and they are located in Mass near Boston.
sgtpopeye43 in CT

x2. I've never touched the drain plug. I'd hate to have to jack it up just for an oil change. Got my extractor at west marine for about $65, use it for everything (oil, coolant, fuel).

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I'll let others comment on the Wix filters, but I do know that a number of people have had varying success in using extractors on '05.5 and later cars. It seems to be difficult to get all the oil out from the top. Not saying you can't do it, but some folks have had trouble.

And '03s were sold in MA. Then nothing until '09. And I can personally vouch for spotty dealer service on my '02. Poor dealer service on diesels was already in place before they stopped selling them here.

 

[goldgary]

I have 50k on my 09, and bought it at Atamian, where I had all the "free" service done. They always used the right oil, and did a good job. Cost for oil change at dealer is $75.

I just had done this week an oil change at KHM motors in Chelmsford. Very nice guy Keith is, took his time, removed a mouse nest, taped up some wires. Checked car over, took his time, did oil and filter change for $72.00. He used another brand of oil, but I made sure it was VW spec. 507.

Bottom line, if its "free" I would use Atamian, if you want to pay someone, I would use KHM. He is a true diesel guy who seems to know his stuff, and will take the time to talk to you, and let you watch if you want. I will go back to KHM for all my repairs.

Thanks, Gary

 

[Alan Drake]

I like to thank everyone for their feedback so far. Found a new local place to purchase stuff and got talked into doing it myself.

As for Atamian, just did not like the way the four post was used to raise car. I have made 4 blocks to set under jacking points to protect the surface that Atamian was not using.

Any feedback on the oil filter - a better one? Tourque spec on it?

 

[DieselJeff]

Pete, I wish I knew you had a lift a couple weeks ago. Last time I was at your place (years ago) I don't believe you had a lift at the time. Anyhow, you should have seen me under my car installing a trailer hitch and wiring. A lift would have made things MUCH easer!

 

[MayorDJQ]

I like to thank everyone for their feedback so far. Found a new local place to purchase stuff and got talked into doing it myself.

As for Atamian, just did not like the way the four post was used to raise car. I have made 4 blocks to set under jacking points to protect the surface that Atamian was not using.

Any feedback on the oil filter - a better one? Tourque spec on it?

I beleive the cap says 25N-m.

As for the 4-post...how else would they lift the car? Dealers make money--especially on minor services--by getting vehicles in & out as quickly as possible. They're not going to take any extra steps that don't generate income, like putting protective pads on the lift.

 

[Alan Drake]

Thanks for the torque spec, didn't you mean 18.5 ft-lbs (or lbs-ft), just kidding.
Been shopping around for oil/fuel filters and found one must be very careful with these on-line sites in getting the correct part.
For example my fuel filter ends in a "B" however many sites will sell you the "A" and its non returnable! FYI, Finding prices for the fuel filter at $26 - $35 range.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

There are three filters for the MKV and VI platforms. VW started with one that had no suffix, went to the "A", and then the "B", and has gone back to the "A". We could never tell the difference between the one with no suffix and the "A". I'm actually a bit surprised that yours is a "B", as many '09s and '10s have the "A". Fortunately the canisters look different so you can tell without opening it up.