Anyone have Alldata (look up labor time)?

2009
Volkswagen
Jetta Sedan
2.0L Diesel
TDI
DSG Auto Transmission

We're about 400 miles from being due for the 80K mile service, I'm doing everything myself, except for servicing the DSG transmission. When I had it done at 40K miles at the dealer in Ohio, I provided all of the fluids/parts and was charged 1.5 hours labor, that seems right, I'm okay with that.

Every dealer I've talked to in Arkansas says it's 2-2.5 hours labor, they all also claim to be using Alldata.

I don't have Alldata, but Mitchell (On Demand) supports the 1.5 hours labor that I believe to be correct.

Times like this, I hate being on this side of the service department, but I don't think you could pay me enough to go back to the other side.

Thanks in advance!

• Lee

R&R fluid is .5 and R&R filter is .4 on ALLDATA (assuming CBEA engine code)

5.0 with DSG, 3.2 with manual.

90k is 2.3.

I can't find a listing on All Data. But this is what I suspect you are getting:
Oil filter (with synthetic oil meeting Vw 505.01 standards) Air Filter Pollen Filter (Every 20k miles) Fuel Filter (every 20k miles) Tire rotation DSG flush (must be done every 40k miles) and most dealerships will include a brake fluid flush and a basic system reset.
???

In reply to Cone_Junkie:

Yes CBEA

In reply to Knurled:

Those look like complete 80K service hours, I just need the trans (DSG) service hours.

Thanks!

• Lee

In reply to DrBoost:

I "think" I got it through their heads, well 1 of the advisors I spoke with might not have got it. All I want the dealer for is their tools/time to service the transmission with the parts I supply. The rest of the 80K is crap I can and have done in my driveway/garage 3 to 7 times already.

I re-read the original post, and edited it to make it better convey what I was trying to say.

• Lee

Ah, okay, I misinterpreted what you said as meaning that you were going to have everything done but the DSG service.

5.0 - 3.2?

If I don't hear back from dealer #4 soon, I think I'm going to call the first place back and tell them I'll let them do it at 1.5 hours (originally told me 2 hours) and see what they say. If they try to make money back on "shop fees" I'll burn it down.

That's what I paid for last time. The only real difference, between the 60K & 80K service, other than some inspections, is the transmission service. On Demand has labor for 60K at 2.5 hours and 80K is 4 hours. Those other inspections are something any competent tech should be doing if they want to find up-sells in the first place, but I'd be happy to tell them to do nothing but the DSG trans service.

• Lee

Thanks for the Alldata knowledge folks!

Have appointment next week for DSG service at 1.5 hours. It seems everyone just sells the DSG and/or 40/80/120K packages that include the DSG service, so they don't have a clue what the labor/parts break down is, or why their math doesn't "add up" with their labor rate.

I called #4 back, and SA was a greenhorn, put me on hold got a tech on the line, of course the tech won't budge on hours. Why would he? No thanks.

Called dealer #1 back, had the cheapest quote at 2 hours. I was polite/chatty, took control of the conversation and explained to the SA what it should cost and why. You know how ya keep talking so the other person can't get a word in edgewise... I've got an appointment next week and a free shuttle ride to work for DSG Trans service labor only at 1.5 hours. I'm very much just like some of the customers that always gave me heart burn.

• Lee

Between the research, shopping 4 separate dealers, asking for help here, and re-shopping 4 separate dealers, how much time have you burned on this little venture?

To save 0.5 hrs? My shop's rate is $79 per hour. Was it really worth $40 for all that?

In reply to SVreX:

20-30 Min, non-consecutive, and yes. $55 but more on principal than monetary.

Saved $116.50 vs. the most expensive, randomly made up quote, and $70 vs. another based on actual hours.

• Lee

I save that much on virtually every purchase, because my mechanic knows I am loyal.

He gives me fleet rates on every labor hour, and no mark up on parts.

Plus, he gives me virtually concierge service, moves my jobs to the front of the line, and even works on weekends if I need him to keep a car rolling.

He likes me because he doesn't get a sense I am trying to take advantage of him. I pay my bills promptly.

It works well for me. Just a thought...

In reply to SVreX:

I thought of several snarky/sarcastic comments to respond, but I can't tell if your intentionally trying to sound arrogant and condescending? Body language/tone doesn't convey well in text. If you are, I don't really care to have any further conversation on the matter. If you're not, my apologies.

I am my own mechanic except for rare occasions I need dealer level tools/knowledge/skills, like for the DSG service. I was pretty sure of what the labor rate should be, still have the invoice from the last time it was done (1.5 hours), and I'm very much willing to pay for the technicians time and knowledge, I however will not be taken advantage of. I started this thread to corroborate my thoughts, because I felt I was being taken advantage of at the labor times I was being quoted (guessed at by the advisors). I accomplished what I sat out to do, and was admittedly a little boastful about said accomplishment, I was happy.

I said it once, but will say again I'm very grateful of those who took the time and checked Alldata for me, one of the many things I love about this forum is everyone's willingness to help each other out.

SVreX, my tone above should sound a little, guarded, matter-of-fact, looking over the top of my glasses, not trying to sound like a complete shiny happy person, maybe just 1/3 shiny happy person. I hope that came across okay.

• Lee

When people phone my shop wishing to bring their own parts and grind me on the price, we generally mark the job up till they go away. Doesn't bother me in the least.

Lee:

I am not intentionally trying to sound arrogant or condescending.

I am intentionally trying to tell you you are sounding like a cheap ass who is trying to get one over on people.

It doesn't always work, as Streetwiseguy has pointed out.

I am also my own mechanic. But when I am ready to pay someone, I never try to squeeze them. It's not a win.

I'm glad for you that you feel you have accomplished what you wanted to.

Apply similar matter-of-fact tone, with a more direct and less guarded approach.

BTW, I just did a job with my mechanic where I brought my own parts.

He told me he doesn't usually encourage people to bring their own bacon and eggs when they go to a restaurant, but in my case he'd do about anything for me.

I laughed. He installed my parts.

I was a service advisor for a couple years, I have a general idea of what a lot of labor times should be, not all by any means but a lot. Like I said earlier I've had the DSG service done before, I provided the parts then, and paid labor only at a VW dealer (not the dealer I worked at, and they weren't cutting me a "deal"). I was charged 1.5 hours then. Based on my research I found that labor should be 1.5-ish hours. Why would I pay 2 or 2.5 hours? How am I the one trying to pull something over on someone? I did my research, presented my case, got what I wanted, and apparently ruffled the feathers of some of my imaginary internet friends in the process. I'm an informed consumer, that has no intention to pay dealer markup on parts, I'm providing the dealer with OE parts sourced elsewhere for a reasonable price, not junk.

My old service manager always told us, "Don't give the farm away, but make the deal," I gave every VW dealer in this state the same opportunity. I sold quite a few jobs where customers brought their own parts in, I let them know that I couldn't warranty the parts, but was happy to have their business. The parts department didn't always agree, but a happy service manager, and more importantly a happy customer was what mattered.

I don't think I'm being obtuse here, I've been known to be stubborn, I'll admit it. I honestly don't see how me making my point to the service advisor in a polite but adamant manner is making me the bad guy? He obviously agreed, or at least wanted my business.

• Lee

Wait, a dealer let you supply your own parts? How did you work that out?

My logic is if I'm taking the car to a shop, I don't have the time/skills/tools to fix what the issue is. As a result, I have no problem paying the dealership whatever their posted labor rate for a competent tech. I'd even be fine paying a 10-15% markup on parts (over online pricing). However, I struggle with paying the typically large markup on parts.

A good example was brakes on our RAV4. Dealer quote was $1k for new rotors and pads (both front and rear). Centric Premium rotors and Akebono ceramic pads came to about $300 shipped. I'd be happy to pay 2-3 hours of labor at $100 per on top of that. However, that still leaves a $400 gap. For the $700 difference, I'm happy to spend a few hours of my time to source the parts and do the work myself. I realize that the parts I'm using aren't OEM, but in my experience the quality is very comparable. Most shops I've gotten quotes from that don't use OEM parts charge the same amount as the dealer.

SVreX wrote: BTW, I just did a job with my mechanic where I brought my own parts. He told me he doesn't usually encourage people to bring their own bacon and eggs when they go to a restaurant, but in my case he'd do about anything for me. I laughed. He installed my parts.

We will install customer supplied parts with two caveats - the labor rate goes up a certain percentage, and if the parts are faulty/incorrect, the labor rate continues for every hour the bay is dead.

That last one, as most policies, has a story behind it. We were doing someone a favor and installing their rack and pinion, and the one they supplied was faulty. Three days later, he got around to getting us a non-borked rack... three days that bay was tied up and costing money instead of making it.

Usually, though, if someone argues over how much labor something should be, because the Internet said something should only take X hours, we kindly tell them to have the Internet do it.

Knurled wrote: We will install customer supplied parts with two caveats - the labor rate goes up a certain percentage, and if the parts are faulty/incorrect, the labor rate continues for every hour the bay is dead.

That policy seems pretty reasonable.

I have given all 4 of my dealers in town a chance for parts sales. However, each one has been a letdown; high prices, poor communication, or not keeping track of my orders. I will continue to use an out of state dealer, which provides an average of 40% discount over the local places. Dealers carry so little inventory on hand, and have hours so uncooperative with a full-time work schedule, that I have found no incentive to shop locally.

Knurled wrote:

SVreX wrote: BTW, I just did a job with my mechanic where I brought my own parts. He told me he doesn't usually encourage people to bring their own bacon and eggs when they go to a restaurant, but in my case he'd do about anything for me. I laughed. He installed my parts.

We will install customer supplied parts with two caveats - the labor rate goes up a certain percentage, and if the parts are faulty/incorrect, the labor rate continues for every hour the bay is dead. That last one, as most policies, has a story behind it. We were doing someone a favor and installing their rack and pinion, and the one they supplied was faulty. Three days later, he got around to getting us a non-borked rack... three days that bay was tied up and costing money instead of making it. Usually, though, if someone argues over how much labor something should be, because the Internet said something should only take X hours, we kindly tell them to have the Internet do it.

BTDT. I am very up front with my customers who want to do this: if the part they supply barfs, it doesn't matter if it does it in the first 30 seconds of operation in our shop, they are fully responsible for R&R again and also swapping out the part, i.e. I ain't sending my parts driver to East Bumfuq to save them $10 in gas. (Of course, it's said a little sweeter. ) Typically it's quiet for a few seconds then they okay using my parts.