Service costs - they must be joking

[Sheps]

Having received an email reminding me that the 20,000 mile service is due, I rang to book in and requested a cost breakdown.

No such price breakdown, just the total of £307 and this list:

ID.3 Service breakdown

Vehicle interior

Interior lights: check function of headliner, luggage compartment and glove compartment
lights.
Horn: check function.
Charging cable: check that cable is present and check its condition.
High volt battery charge status: check, charge as necessary (only if customer
requires)

Vehicle exterior
Front lights - check function: Side lights, dipped beam, main beam, fog lights, turn signals,
hazard warning lights.
Taillight cluster - check function: Brake lights (including high-level brake light), taillights,
reversing lights, rear fog light, number plate light, turn signals, hazard warning lights.
Windscreen wash/wipe system: check function and spray jet settings and adjust if
necessary; check for damage.
Windscreen: Visual check for damage
Wiper blades: move blades to service position and check for damage; check park position.
Interior and exterior body: inspecting for corrosion with doors and flaps open.
High voltage charging socket in tank cap: inspect for soiling and damage.

Underside of vehicle

Brake system: Change brake fluid (then function test during test drive) Additional task
accounted separately.
Engine and components in engine compartment: inspect for leaks and damage (from
below).
Gearbox, final drive, and drive shaft boots: inspect for leaks and damage.
Swivel joints, axle mountings, coupling rod bearings and anti-roll bar rubber mounting:
visual check for damage.
Track rod ends: checking clearance, firm seating, and boots.
Brake system and shock absorbers: inspecting for leaks and damage.
Underbody: inspecting for damage to underbody sealant, underbody panels, routing of
lines, plugs.
Brake pads/linings: check thickness and condition of brake discs, at front.
Rear drum brake linings: Check thickness.
Front and rear coil springs and rubber buffers: inspect for damage.
Warning stickers: check that they are present.

Tyres
Summer tyres [1], winter tyres [2], all-season tyres [3]: enter type of tyre.

Tyre pressure of both front wheels:
Tyre pressure of both rear wheels:
Rear right wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Rear left wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Front left wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Front right wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Breakdown set: Check for damage and use; check and enter expiry date of tyre sealant:

Concluding work
Service interval display: reset inspection.
LED headlights with matrix beam check.
Tyre pressure monitor: Calibrate after correction of tyre pressure.
Carrying out road test


Most of this is stuff that needs doing on a rather more regular basis than 20,000 miles. Like weekly or monthly. Lights and tyres? Really?

How have others managed this? I do not propose to pay them to do routine vehicle tests that need doing as a safe and competent driver.

[TheJimster]

Yes, the service pricing is ridiculous. There are a good few threads on this.

Ask your dealer if they can do you the £199 service plan (one service, one MOT, one brake fluid change), which is rather more palatable.

It's not available online, and my dealer wasn't aware of it when I asked, but it was the only service plan listed on their system for the ID3 when they checked.

[vanb]

Can other places service an ID3? E.g -not VW dealerships. My first service will be due next year which is 2 years from purchasing and yet the car warranty is only 3 years. After 3 years I’m going to have to start paying if things go wrong anyway so what’s the advantage of taking it to VW if I can get a service cheaper elsewhere?

[sidehaas]

Can other places service an ID3? E.g -not VW dealerships. My first service will be due next year which is 2 years from purchasing and yet the car warranty is only 3 years. After 3 years I’m going to have to start paying if things go wrong anyway so what’s the advantage of taking it to VW if I can get a service cheaper elsewhere?

The answer should be yes, others can service them, but whether anywhere has the right knowledge of the car to do so, I don't know.

Remember the battery warranty is for up to 8 years. As for other stuff, well if it fails in the next 12 months you'll not want to have to argue with them about service history. I do wish there were a wider range 9f garages able to work on them though. Once ours is due it's second service at 4 years I'll definitely be seeking out an independent.

[vanb]

Thank you sidehaas for your reply and knowledge.

[MotMot]

I believe the Cleverley (mobile) EV folk will service an iD3. Seem to remember it being £170 or less - but that’s just a hazy memory.

[Sheps]

Anyone know what is required from a service to meet the terms of a Service for Warranty and Finance? It can't be necessary to look at the lights and tyres which I do regularly anyway. Much of this is so much BS to make it look as though they are doing something. I mean, I do keep the washer fluid topped up and the tyres at the correct pressure - most of us do, I'm sure. I don't need to pay someone to do that.

[beacon39]

"Having received an email reminding me that the 20,000 mile service is due, I rang to book in and requested a cost breakdown."

The ID.3 Service Regime is every two years with no mileage limitation.

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/owners- ... ctric.html

[marknorton1]

Has anyone found it easy obtaining this magical £199 service plan, as in if I was to call my local dealer once I’ve taken delivery should they be able to find the offer and take payment for it etc?

[smyth1492]

Has anyone found it easy obtaining this magical £199 service plan, as in if I was to call my local dealer once I’ve taken delivery should they be able to find the offer and take payment for it etc?

No in short. Ended up with a case with Customers Services UK and in the end I paid full price and VW UK sent me a cheque back for the difference.

[G43FAN]

I think the £199 was an appeasement deal for those who went through the 2.3 - 2.4 farce. Most people got offered it at that point, though many managed to ask for it and obtain it later. It seems to be another of those depends on your dealer, which way the wind is blowing and whether there's an r in the month things.

In general though anywhere can Service the car (as laid out in EU Law which we still adhere to) however they must use manufcturers original parts and need to be up to date with any developments/changes to the vehicles. The 2nd part being the issue as the manufacturers are constantly changing little things or software, it makes it very difficult for independants to ensure they have the latest code readers etc. The Independant will also need to ensure they cover exactly the same checks as the manufacturer.
Another aspect of this is independants won't have any of the service recall updates etc, so if there is a software update or a part swap to be done under (none safety) recall you won't get it. Given the development on EVs that could be a lot of updates.


As an example for contemplation if you can be bothered to read through,
I had my Tiguan serviced (1st Major I think it was) at my main dealer, cost me well £370 I think (Oil change and pollen filter). When they handed it back they also handed me a bit of paper to confirm they'd carried out a recall check on the sunroof. I thought nothing of this until about 18 months later when I was about to sell the car and buy the ID. Deal on the ID had been done and it was countdown to collection. One morning I jumped in the Tig and the dashboard light up with various warnings, 'Damn' or such was uttered. I asked my friendly local chap to have a quick scan and it came back as a rear ABS sensor, but as still under warranty I gave him a contribution to his tea and biscuit fund and said I'd take it in to VW. Next day I book it in but whilst waiting for the appointment, one morning I noticed a lot of condensation inside then I realised the drivers footwell was soaking wet. Cut to chase and VW tell me that the whole back of the dash is swimming and that water ingress is not covered under warranty. Car needs dash removing and possibly a lot of replacement connectors/modules maybe even carpets too!!!
I did a bit of googling and discovered this was a common issue and lo and behold there was a fix that VW should have completed as it was down to a badly seated drain tube on the sunroof. I suddenly remembered my insignificant recall paperwork which I had filed away, found it and later I wandered into the main dealers who were gleefully suggesting I should speak to VW if I wanted to but it was 'not in their opinion a warranty claim'. I stated I intended to discuss with VW CS and I was going to point out I had even had the recall work done to fix the issue.. immediate face change, asked if he could see the paperwork I was holding, read it, muttered, said just a minute. 10 mins later whole job was being done under warranty.

So in the long run £370 seemed cheap.

[TheJimster]

Can other places service an ID3? E.g -not VW dealerships. My first service will be due next year which is 2 years from purchasing and yet the car warranty is only 3 years. After 3 years I’m going to have to start paying if things go wrong anyway so what’s the advantage of taking it to VW if I can get a service cheaper elsewhere?

The answer should be yes, others can service them, but whether anywhere has the right knowledge of the car to do so, I don't know.

Remember the battery warranty is for up to 8 years. As for other stuff, well if it fails in the next 12 months you'll not want to have to argue with them about service history. I do wish there were a wider range 9f garages able to work on them though. Once ours is due it's second service at 4 years I'll definitely be seeking out an independent.

There has also been some discussion in another thread to the effect that it seems nigh on impossible for anyone other than a VW dealer to reset the service interval.

[TheJimster]

Has anyone found it easy obtaining this magical £199 service plan, as in if I was to call my local dealer once I’ve taken delivery should they be able to find the offer and take payment for it etc?

I wasn't sure what to expect, having read such mixed reports here, but I asked about service pricing when I was at the dealer picking the car up after some warranty work, was quoted a price, asked about service plans, and the £199 one was the only plan on their system for the ID3.

It's definitely not available online though, so you won't be able to order it direct from VWFS.

[Gannet15]

£199 service plan.

Bought my Family Pro in Sept 2021. In Sept 2022 I received an email offering me the £199 service plan. This was exactly one year after I purchased car and letter stated “ notice you have no service plan.” Wonder if there is a trigger in VW network which highlights such cars i.e. one year old with no plan and automatically sends out offer.

Garage is Specialist Cars Kirkcaldy/Dunfermline and they approached me, I was unaware of any service plan until they contacted me.

[EdinburghID3]

Having received an email reminding me that the 20,000 mile service is due, I rang to book in and requested a cost breakdown.

No such price breakdown, just the total of £307 and this list:

ID.3 Service breakdown

Vehicle interior

Interior lights: check function of headliner, luggage compartment and glove compartment
lights.
Horn: check function.
Charging cable: check that cable is present and check its condition.
High volt battery charge status: check, charge as necessary (only if customer
requires)

Vehicle exterior
Front lights - check function: Side lights, dipped beam, main beam, fog lights, turn signals,
hazard warning lights.
Taillight cluster - check function: Brake lights (including high-level brake light), taillights,
reversing lights, rear fog light, number plate light, turn signals, hazard warning lights.
Windscreen wash/wipe system: check function and spray jet settings and adjust if
necessary; check for damage.
Windscreen: Visual check for damage
Wiper blades: move blades to service position and check for damage; check park position.
Interior and exterior body: inspecting for corrosion with doors and flaps open.
High voltage charging socket in tank cap: inspect for soiling and damage.

Underside of vehicle

Brake system: Change brake fluid (then function test during test drive) Additional task
accounted separately.
Engine and components in engine compartment: inspect for leaks and damage (from
below).
Gearbox, final drive, and drive shaft boots: inspect for leaks and damage.
Swivel joints, axle mountings, coupling rod bearings and anti-roll bar rubber mounting:
visual check for damage.
Track rod ends: checking clearance, firm seating, and boots.
Brake system and shock absorbers: inspecting for leaks and damage.
Underbody: inspecting for damage to underbody sealant, underbody panels, routing of
lines, plugs.
Brake pads/linings: check thickness and condition of brake discs, at front.
Rear drum brake linings: Check thickness.
Front and rear coil springs and rubber buffers: inspect for damage.
Warning stickers: check that they are present.

Tyres
Summer tyres [1], winter tyres [2], all-season tyres [3]: enter type of tyre.

Tyre pressure of both front wheels:
Tyre pressure of both rear wheels:
Rear right wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Rear left wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Front left wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Front right wheel: Check condition and wear pattern of tyre; enter tread depth.
Breakdown set: Check for damage and use; check and enter expiry date of tyre sealant:

Concluding work
Service interval display: reset inspection.
LED headlights with matrix beam check.
Tyre pressure monitor: Calibrate after correction of tyre pressure.
Carrying out road test


Most of this is stuff that needs doing on a rather more regular basis than 20,000 miles. Like weekly or monthly. Lights and tyres? Really?

How have others managed this? I do not propose to pay them to do routine vehicle tests that need doing as a safe and competent driver.

There should be laws against this. What an absolute racket.

[Big277wave]

Frankly most of this is covered by a MOT test that costs around £50. There's a brake fluid change but even with that you'd be hard to justify that price. Why do you need to measure the brake discs and pads at 20,000 miles on an EV? There will barely be a mark on them.

[TheJimster]

Frankly most of this is covered by a MOT test that costs around £50. There's a brake fluid change but even with that you'd be hard to justify that price. Why do you need to measure the brake discs and pads at 20,000 miles on an EV? There will barely be a mark on them.

Absolutely agree. I've said as much in another thread - MOT plus free healthcheck really should just about cover it. At £199 you're only paying £85 or so for the service, which I don't object to, but £300 odd for just the service is ridiculous.

The brakes are another issue! I think there are threads here describing very high brake pad and disc wear. I wonder if VW have effectively down-spec'd the braking system to reflect that regenerative braking will be used most of the time, with the result that pad and disc life aren't actually anywhere near what you might expect.

[G43FAN]

Frankly most of this is covered by a MOT test that costs around £50. There's a brake fluid change but even with that you'd be hard to justify that price. Why do you need to measure the brake discs and pads at 20,000 miles on an EV? There will barely be a mark on them.

Absolutely agree. I've said as much in another thread - MOT plus free healthcheck really should just about cover it. At £199 you're only paying £85 or so for the service, which I don't object to, but £300 odd for just the service is ridiculous.

The brakes are another issue! I think there are threads here describing very high brake pad and disc wear. I wonder if VW have effectively down-spec'd the braking system to reflect that regenerative braking will be used most of the time, with the result that pad and disc life aren't actually anywhere near what you might expect.

Brake issues? Really, one thread with a corrosion issue and now the brakes are a problem?