I dropped my wife's 98 Golf Mk3 1.6 into a main dealer for an annual service and MOT. I have just received quite a nasty call.
I had said that the clutch was feeling a bit vague. £590!
Anything else, I ask. New front brakes £230
And? New ariel - £123
And? Noisy rear brakes. £68 to deglaze them and clear away the break dust.
And? Movement in the suspension arms (IIRC - too upset at this stage). About £200
Now the coat hangar is working fine and can stay in place as can the noisy brakes. Front brakes and the suspension I suppose had better be looked at by an independent, as had the clutch.
I know it is all how you drive but the clutch had only done 30k miles. I know the wife doesn't ride the clutch and in a 1.6 (75bhp) Golf, there is no point trying to beat the 0-60 times. Is it reasonable to expect a clutch to last longer?
What should I do?
Is there any way of checking the clutch myself - I am a bit of a techno-idiot? Can anyone let me know what I could be paying for a clutch and brakes (I presume that VAT and labour aren't on the VW price).
I could always cut my losses and sell the car (as I hate it!) with a 1 year MOT. Bearing in mind that I paid about 6k for it (PAS, electric windows + roof) is spending about 1k worth it (I realise that clutch and brakes are quite important!!)and buy something else (fancy either Mazda 323 or Nissan Almera).
I had thought today was going to be good until this happened. I then went to the bank where I nearly got clobbered by an exploding man hole cover (missed it by 30 secs!). Best not go out tonight!
Ta.
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Don't let the dealer do the extra work. Take it to an independent to get him to do what's necessary to get it through the MOT. Sell it. You've plainly got no emotional attachment to the thing so get rid! ;-)
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Dealer's not touching it and it has already got thru the MOT.
(I am not sure if the clutch is covered under the MOT or not. If it is then why have I passed if I need a new one?)
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Don't think the clutch is part of the MOT.
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Why not sell it with a full VW service history? A pile of eye-wateringly expensive invoices for such a new car will hardly clinch the deal.
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No way 30K and £560 to change the clutch.
Normal charge 230 +vat
Front brakes 112 + 26 Pads +2.5 hours at 32 +vat
Get them to put it in writting then to to an independant then report the VW Garage !!!!!.
Peter long time VW owner.
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The clutch is definitely not part of the MoT. Mine passed its MoT first time despite being in urgent need of a new clutch and unable to get above 40 mph. The test was booked for the day after the clutch failed. It also says that the MoT specifically doesn't include the clutch on the back of the certificate.
£590 is an absolute fortune for a clutch. I don't know how much labour is involved, but £100 + VAT would be a reasonable price for the clutch kit (a 50% mark up on Euro Car Parts as it is) and even four hours' labour (high-ish) at £60 would only take you to £400 including VAT.
£123 for an aerial is also something of a (swear word filter). An aerial is probably about £25 for the main dealer part, or much less from a breaker's - and there are enough Golfs in breakers' yards to source one fairly easily. Fitting that should be a straightforward DIY job.
Front pads and discs (if this is what is meant by new brakes)can be had for £57 + VAT from Euro, allowing 90 minutes' labour and a 50% mark up we get to £180 + VAT. I assume that the rear brake job is mainly labour.
As for 'movement in the suspension arms' - that sounds vague. Get someone else to look at it for a second opinion - and probably a lower quote. If it got through the MoT, it sounds like padding to me. Perhaps it's time for an independent specialist to get his hands on the car.
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If your Mk3 golf has a 020 or simular gearbox then the clutch will always feel a little vague. It is the one small disadvantage of having the benefit of an external clutch release bearing design.
To check for clutch lining wear, there is a clutch actuating lever stop lug cast on the outside of the gearbox casting below the actuating lever. With the clutch engaged there should be clearance between the lever and the stop lug. No clearance, no lining remaining. A new clutch lining will give a clearance of about one inch.
If required, get Mr.Clutch to give you a quote, their clutch has survived 4 years in my wife's golf!!
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Picked up the car and asked the service "agent" about the clutch. I asked him how long it would likely last for.
The reply was that because I found gear changes stiff then it would be best to change immediately. When I pointed out that I never had problems changing gear and that it was just getting very vague changing gear, I was told that it would probably last for years and didn't need changing straight away!!!
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