My wife has a vw Golf 1.9 GTTDi. She prefers to keep it serviced at a main dealer, something with which I don't agree. (She keeps it serviced by vw as it is a work car for which she receives a salary supplement, previously had a "real" company car and got used to main dealers, but never saw a bill!) Anyway today was 1st service out of warranty and I was therefore worried. Service was as usual expensive but the recommended repairs were astonishing (at least to me who runs a very old and cheap to look after mondeo)
"Wishbone bushes starting to seperate" £319.60
"Rear axle bushes parted" £301.97
"Slight play in anti roll bar bushes" £116.32
Now for a car which runs and drives as well as the day we got it I'm not sure I believe there's any significant problem. I also can't believe how high the costs are for a few bushes.
I told vw not to bother, I suppose my question is whether anyone knows whether theses bushes truly are costly to replace for some reason and whether if they were gone I should notice this in how the car drives.
Thanks in advance for the help.
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You have given no idea of the mileage so it is possible that the wear is understandable but my question is why did you not put the car in to be looked at 1 week b4 the warranty ran out??
Try the garage with the story that you feel these repairs are not expected in a 3 yr old car and ask them to pursue VW for "Goodwill repairs" due to very early deterioration of rubber components - not just one set but 3 sets!!
On a slightly different tact - my daughter in law's mini is on the £150 5 yr service - so no charge for the servicing. It had, however, a slight dent and out of line bumper - BMW garage quoted about 1/2 page of work and £550 cost to fix over 2/3 days (no foc car hire).
The local Dent remover man quoted £85 + VAT - £100 in real money and about 45 - 60 mins to fix.
It makes you think that main dealers are trying things on (maybe!!)
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Thanks. Mileage relatively high for a car of this age, 52000. Not sure bushes would be a warranty item anyway (few things actually are!)
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sounds to me that VW are trying to pull a fast one (won't be the first time) 52k miles is too soon to replace these bushes even if you had done 100k. the wish bone bushes always split slightly but last for years before they need replacing, if you lokk on a car thats done 5k miles they will be slightly split. as for slight play in rear bushes, they are rubber bushes they are meant to have slight play if they didn't have any play they wouldn't fit rubber bushes! I used to work at VW until i got pee'd off with there excessive prices and reporting work that didn't need doing. i would suggest taking it to a well know non VW garage and asking them to check it, but if it were my car i wouldn't change any of the bushes, it all sounds like standard wear and tear to me!!
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Difficult to comment without inspecting it. The prices quoted are very high - probably reflecting the dealer's labour rate.
To be on the safe side I would get a local independent (doesn't have to be a VW specialist) to take a look. Wouldn't take long at all so should cost very little.
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I took my 51 2001 Golf TDi 110 over at 25k miles and my VW agent serviced it since then. It went back to the leasing company this May at 3.5 years/99,300 miles; no bushes had been changed on it. As Aprilia suggests, get an independant to give second opinion.
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If it isn't causing a significant problem and it isn't failing the MOT then why bother changing these things. 50K miles is not a lot, my 1995 Golf TDI has done 160K and is still going strong! I should leave it alone.
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Thanks for your replies. Took. the car to the local garage, vw also said we also needed rear discs and pads so got those done today (£120 compared to £190 at vw). He reckoned not to worry about bushes and wouldn't even have commented on them if he'd serviced the car. Guess he'll be servicing the car in future - my mind on main dealer servicing is now made up.
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My GTTDi Golf racked up over 100,000 miles by the time it was 4 years old and never needed any bushes replacing.
Plenty of other repairs, but no bushes :-)
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