Diagnostic fees for repairs?

[uumode]

Just wondering if it's normal for out of warranty cars to be charged a diagnostic fee by a main dealer.

VW dealer wants £85 inc VAT for looking at a problem with my car, any repair work needed on my MB has either been in warranty or discovered at MOT stage by the main dealer.

 

[imadoofus]

I've certainly experienced it before.

The argument goes that the dealer has to pay for his equipment, and needs to recoup that somehow.

PJ

 

[jeremytaylor]

Just wondering if it's normal for out of warranty cars to be charged a diagnostic fee by a main dealer.

VW dealer wants £85 inc VAT for looking at a problem with my car, any repair work needed on my MB has either been in warranty or discovered at MOT stage by the main dealer.

So that's (approximately) 1 hour's labour to plug in the car and read the print out (5 mins work, tops?).

Seem's a bit steep to me.

 

[uumode]

So that's (approximately) 1 hour's labour to plug in the car and read the print out (5 mins work, tops?).

Seem's a bit steep to me.

well actually to find out why the radiator cooling fan isn't cutting in, source why there's an intermittent Exhaust Emissions warning on my dash, and give me a costing to replacing a leaking oil sump gasket.

 

[glojo]

Just wondering if it's normal for out of warranty cars to be charged a diagnostic fee by a main dealer.

VW dealer wants £85 inc VAT for looking at a problem with my car, any repair work needed on my MB has either been in warranty or discovered at MOT stage by the main dealer.

I can understand your frustration, but you are onto a looser. Luckily we have a freedom of choice and you might decide to take you custom elsewhere.

Is this your regular dealership, or did you just go to the nearest one? I ask because it can make a big difference.

John

 

[uumode]

It's my prefered dealer near my workplace, as they are actually quite competent, like the MB dealer here (Tony Purslow Basingstoke).

unlike the VW and MB dealers in my home town who are not that good.

 

[jeremytaylor]

well actually to find out why the radiator cooling fan isn't cutting in, source why there's an intermittent Exhaust Emissions warning on my dash, and give me a costing to replacing a leaking oil sump gasket.

Sounds like you already have a relationship with the dealer, in which case the charge is unfair.

If you are using them for the first time, I would say it is fairer. Otherwise, they could spend time diagnosing the fault, for you to then go down the road to an indie.

 

[glojo]

I think Jeremy and I are looking at this from the same angle. If Mr X takes his car into any garage for simply an opinion on what is wrong with their vehicle, then that garage must surely be entitled to charge for their time, use of equipment and of course professional knowledge.

If it was Mr X who regularly used a garage for looking after his car and again it developed the same fault, and........ that garage knew the customer would eventually contract them to carry out any repair then I personally would expect that diagnosis to be free.

I have deliberately said garage because my remarks are general and would apply to reputable garages, specialists or main dealers.

John

 

[jgevers]

With modern(ish) cars it can be the diagnostic time that will be the biggest part of the final bill. Unfortunately, the idea of 'just plugging in' with the correct diagnostic tool, very often does not tell the whole story.

In my experience, about 50% of the time, the diagnostic computer does not provide the final answer. Especially in MB with can bus wiring problems and other time consuming faults, where the final bill consists mainly of diagnostic labour and a 10p bit of wiring.

Even simple programming jobs are quite justified in having a high cost. With quite a lot of ECUs you get only 1 programming chance. With Star being a bit recalcitrant, programming can sometimes take a lot of time or even require a second new ecu because of the first attempt being corrupted.

Cheers