[ajmat]

And so the service bill came to Rs 22000. Of which Rs 7000 went towards a new water pump. This is a lot cheaper than the RS which cost almost double. Other stuff pertained to cleaning the brakes and removing the bumper to refit the parking sensor.

The lower suspension arms bushes are showing signs of splitting. There is no noise so am not replacing it for now.

VW make a list of what is wrong or might go wrong. They informed me that the armrest catch is broken. The battery is three years old and might give up shortly, the tyres are approaching minimum wear. Rear brakes have hardly worn.

The service advisor - Jayaprakash took time to explain everything to the extent of putting the car on the ramp and going through all the paperwork.

Despite the premature water pump, I am extremely happy with the level of service.

I signed on for a roadside recovery package costing Rs3333 for two years.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by ajmat

I signed on for a roadside recovery package costing Rs3333 for two years.

Call up their number on a random day at a random time (preferably odd hours on a Sunday) to see if they pick up and answer the phone.

I don't have good experiences with these "roadside assistance" guys (from myTVS, to be specific) - nobody picked up the phone when I needed them to! Corporates like VW tie up with third parties for roadside assistance.

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by smartcat

Call up their number on a random day at a random time (preferably odd hours on a Sunday) to see if they pick up and answer the phone.

I don't have good experiences with these "roadside assistance" guys (from myTVS, to be specific) - nobody picked up the phone when I needed them to! Corporates like VW tie up with third parties for roadside assistance.

Don't know for VW but it worked like a charm with Ford. Have used them thrice, one being on Sunday and other being Friday late night. All times turn around time with the guy at my doorstep was less than an hour.

[ajmat]

After Pahwna, the car did a trip to Kerala. Again, it ate up the miles. From mid April, the car was lying unused as I was travelling abroad a lot. Since it was parked up in my mothers place, I never got time to retrieve it and used the Swift. To cut a long story short. I returned in May and decided to use my mothers 1!0 Grand as it had been idle for two months.

I retrieved the Jetta last week and the enforced rest took its toll. This morning, when I started it, the engine turn over was slow. Went to the gym, started the car and it would not turnover. then the ESP warning light came on.

Decided to walk. A quick check showed the ESP was not getting the desired voltage. A new battery was fitted, the car was back to normal but the EPS and ESP ligts stayed on. They extinguished after 5 minutes. Whew!

[Tanveer_2558]

Hello how long did your battery last? Or it went did just because you did not use the car for a long time? & also everytime the battery is disconnected and reconnected the EPS and ESP lights will come on which will go if you turn the steering to the right and left completely once, i guess you must have naturally done that in those 5 minutes

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by Tanveer_2558

Hello how long did your battery last? Or it went did just because you did not use the car for a long time? & also everytime the battery is disconnected and reconnected the EPS and ESP lights will come on which will go if you turn the steering to the right and left completely once, i guess you must have naturally done that in those 5 minutes

The battery lasted for 3 years.

Bangalore's roads have be deteriorating like mad. I will not go on about this. We have a full thread on this. Lately, I found the Jetta kept giving clunking sounds each time I braked. I felt the braking distances were getting a little longer. Over bumps, I was getting progressively increasing rattle from the suspension. Remembering the remarks about the control arms facing replacement, I made an appointment with VW.

Checked the car in on Weds. Very disciplined process. YOu re given a slip based on arrival. Within 10 min of appointment time, the service advisor will meet with you. Unfortunately, my previous service advisor has left but the process cranks efficiently on.

My advisor Pravin, listened to my feedback. He checked the history and parts availability and told me the front control arms will take 10 days to come. However, it might be just the bushes. The plan was that if the control arms needs replacement, he will return the car and recall when the parts arrive.

He later rang and told me the link rods were shot as also the bushes. The bushes needed to come in and VW were sending them by air. The link rods were in stock but he advised that it would wear prematurely unless the buses were replaced. I was told that the delivery would be on Monday.

Parts arrived on Friday night. I got a call on Saturday morning that work was completed and the car could be collected at 3PM as long as I did not need it to be washed. True to their word. I got a call at 2.50 asking if they should keep car ready. (I was 10 min away). I collected the car and was away in 20 min.

The bill was a reasonable Rs 7800. Rs 3000 for the link arms. Rs 2500 for the bushes. Rest were labour and machine shop charges. Oh and they fixed the dislodged front bumper sensor for free (never try pushing cows out of the way!)

IMHO - VW ownership is not an issue with a good dealer. Experience was as good as my Maruti. Only caveat - take an appointment!

[ajmat]

Checked the car in for its 4 year service

New service advisor but process still remains consistant.

Nothing required beyond the service. Cost me around Rs 14000. No additives, no extras, nothing. Brakes pads will need changing in a few months time.

It is so unexciting after the fear of facing bills after my Skoda service each time!

[Mission_PGPX]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Checked the car in for its 4 year service

New service advisor but process still remains consistant.

Nothing required beyond the service. Cost me around Rs 14000. No additives, no extras, nothing. Brakes pads will need changing in a few months time.

It is so unexciting after the fear of facing bills after my Skoda service each time!

Looks like you no more need to worry about warranty issues and we can expect a long list of mods, may be a performance remap like chetan??

[tilt]

Ajmat, did you buy the 3rd and 4th year extended warranty?

Cheers

[MavericK46]

Originally Posted by ajmat

...
A/C was losing its effect. Booked into VW Rajajinagar to replace the filter, they merely said that they will clean it since the service is due in a couple of months. They completed in 20 min and refused to charge me for it.
...

Ajmat: Is VW Rajajinagar a better bet than the one on Hesarghatta main road?

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by tilt

Ajmat, did you buy the 3rd and 4th year extended warranty?

Cheers

Sorry, just saw this, no I did not buy it. Absolutely no need. The only failure has been a Rs 10k waterpump

Originally Posted by MavericK46

Ajmat: Is VW Rajajinagar a better bet than the one on Hesarghatta main road?

Both are run by the same dealer. H'ghatta has a bigger worksop for more complex jobs

[Tanveer_2558]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Sorry, just saw this, no I did not buy it. Absolutely no need. The only failure has been a Rs 10k waterpump

Should i too avoid it? Ive been quoted 35k for one extra year, And 65k for the next 2 years, If at all i may, Only the one extra year makes a little sense, Since i might mostly sell the car in the next six months, Should i save the 35k as well? Warranty is going to get over next month.

[tilt]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Sorry, just saw this, no I did not buy it. Absolutely no need. The only failure has been a Rs 10k waterpump

Heheheh, pity - I bought the extended warranty just before you responded.

Originally Posted by ajmat

Both are run by the same dealer. H'ghatta has a bigger worksop for more complex jobs

Which one do you yourself give your car to - Rajaji Nagar or Hesarghatta?

Cheers

[ajmat]

50000km and five years

Since my last post, the Jetta has been going through the routine drudgery of Bangalore traffic, the odd highway trip to Coimbatore or T-BHP drive. The car was used for a quick trip to Goa and back for the Mercedes E Class drive and it performed faultlessly. Only issue were the brakes were losing their feel. Oh and the drivers door lock played up occasionally forcing me to open the window and open the car.

50000km arrived so I booked the car for a service and maybe a big bill. This time - i decided to take a risk and book the car in VW Hesaraghatta. It takes an hour to get there. I was advised that it would take 20 min to be attended to as only senior supervisors are allocated for Jetta's upwards. Check in was brisk and I was on my way. It is a good 20 min walk to nearest Metro - Dasarahalli but you can Uber it to Peenya or Jalahalli Metro stop to make the cabbies trip worth the while. The only inconvenience is that the metro is limited to Mantri Square but that will be sorted in a month or two then I am a 10 min cab ride at either end. The service took two days, They spend time documenting what needs to be done.

And so beyond the service what was required?

1. New brake pads all around - they had around 5 mm left - Rs 10000
2. Brake fluid renewed
3. A new door latch - 8000

Thats it

Total bill was Rs 33400

Oh and the car got remapped, it is too soon to comment on how it feels. The initial low down torque seems to have increased slight but top end might be a bit lacking. I tried to avoid the remap but the service advisor told me that they have to remap and provide proof to the RTO. Delivery was the quickest that I have ever seen - I completed everything in 10 min . Car was ready and well presented. However, I left 30 min later as I renewed the Roadside Assistance for another 2 years for Rs 4555 so they needed to process the paperwork for this. I would recommend VW Hesaraghatta highly. Give a bit of time for travel and wait till May once the Metro is fully connected

Another point to ponder - I keep on prodding Vid about this - Why do you even need to consider a Corolla when this is handles so weell and cheap as chips to run!

[ethanhunt123]

Any reason you took VW roadside assistance and not through your insurance company ?