Concentric slave cylinder

[skyrunner123]

Hello everyone.
I've just had a concentric slave cylinder diagnosed and fitted at a cost of £2200.00.
This involves a gear box out as it sits within the bell housing. I have a T6.1 22 plate with only 23k on the clock. Full manufacturers warranty.
I had in the first instance contacted VW to give me an estimate to do the repairs and they said they would get back to me which they didn't do..
Anyway.. whilst waiting for them to get back to me I contacted individual garages..7 in all. Most didn't want to do it or couldn't due to not having the two post ramps.
I eventually went with a commercial van centre and although I new the estimate was at the top end of the price I just wanted to get it done.
I contacted VW customer service to see if they were agreeable to a " gesture of good will payment" whereby it's discretionary and will usually only pay a contribution to the bill.
Now there are certain criteria to this..it has to be something that they few has failed prematurely and the durability of the part is in question, a full manufacturers warranty ( Wich I have ) and the repair to be diagnosed and repaired through a VW dealer ( which it wasn't)
The first email back was encouraging and they asked me ( what was I looking for to resolve this )
I told them that contribution towards my costs would be acceptable at 75% as this is a known fault with VW even though they probably won't admit it.
Then I had another email from someone else, really apologetic saying they were sorry this part has failed at short notice but there was nothing they could do as the diagnosis and repair should have been carried out by a dealer and the gesture of good will payment negotiated through them.
They have basically blanked me and not returning my emails.
My question is. What options do I have now as they have obviously washed there hands of it and I understand that any claims through the courts should be with the company that sold me the van but they wouldn't have a clue about this.
In my opinion the the VW group are the ones to be accountable as they know this parts durability is not fit for purpose.
Sorry about the long post but I just wanted to get the facts in.
Any advice would be welcome.

 

[skyrunner123]

Sorry..it has a " full service history" but is out of warranty that should read.

 

[Pauly]

You cant honestly think you are going to get an independent to repair it then go to VW after the fact to ask for a contribution !

If you wanted VWs help you should have gone to them at the outset and asked for goodwill before the repair was done, in my opinion their response is fair and to be expected.

 

[Sasquatch]

The moment you let someone else lay a spanner on it you eliminate any possibility of goodwill. That complicates things to the point of no return procedurally.

Did you have the brake fluid/clutch changed at 3 years old?

If you did then court is your only option (although that creates a new line of "what ifs?" Personally I wouldn't, but that is the one avenue available if you want to risk being stiffed for their legal fees if you lose.

If you didn't then you0vfe given them a free pass and you may as well suck it up.

 

[skyrunner123]

The moment you let someone else lay a spanner on it you eliminate any possibility of goodwill. That complicates things to the point of no return procedurally.

Did you have the brake fluid/clutch changed at 3 years old?

If you did then court is your only option (although that creates a new line of "what ifs?" Personally I wouldn't, but that is the one avenue available if you want to risk being stiffed for their legal fees if you lose.

If you didn't then you0vfe given them a free pass and you may as well suck it up.

Yes I had the brake clutch fluid changed last service ( 3 years ).

 

[Sasquatch]

Well, you need an engineers report confirming the cause of failure, and off to court you go.

However, you'd have to evidence why you didnt give a VW agent the opportunity to sort it.

Bedt of luck.

 

[skyrunner123]

I have a full engineer's report and I did contact a VW dealer for an estimate in the first instance..I suppose the real question is, why would this part fail after 23k miles with a full VW service history and after having the clutch fluid changed as per manufactures instructions..I did all I could to take care of my van.
For personally the accountability is firmly with VW. Will I be having to get the gear box out in 40k miles?

Well, you need an engineers report confirming the cause of failure, and off to court you go.

However, you'd have to evidence why you didnt give a VW agent the opportunity to sort it.

Bedt of luc

 

[Sasquatch]

I have a full engineer's report

Excellent

VW dealer for an estimate in the first instance

An estimate for a warranty job? In any case, the sticking point is liable to be why you didn't just book it in/have it recovered there.

Iwhy would this part fail after 23k miles with a full VW service

Onvious - Faulty materials or workmanship

For personally the accountability is firmly with VW. Will I be having to get the gear box out in 40k miles?

For warranty purposes, yes indeed. But its not the warranty youre chasing.

They will argue that your decision, for whatever reason, to have it repaired elsewhere absolved them of any further liability. Goodwill isnt something they pluck out of thin air to suit the circumstances, its a formal programme with a set matrix they follow. By taking it elsewhere you've deprived them of the opportunity to supply parts at cost or use the preferential in-house labour rates they would be able to pay.

Bottom line is that its not us you've got to convince, but the district judge. I know exactly the arguments theyll use and while morally youre bang on the money, liability wise you've muddied to waters due to your actions excluding them the opportunity to resolve it themselves. I think theres a greater than even chance you'd lose.

Let us know how you get on if thats the route you take. The only other option is to suck it up and buy another brand next time.

 

[skyrunner123]

Sasquatch.
Thank you for this.
You're right. In fact, all of you are who have responded.
I guess I should have chased the VW dealer up again for them to do the work and yes, I have considered the county court route but in reality I doubt I would get anywhere and have to pay there legal fees. I was just hoping for a better outcome through frustration.

 

[Sasquatch]

Take it from an old git with a heart attack ans a stoke behind him - frustration ain't worth it.

Hopefully your van is now sweet again, in which case concentrate on enjoying it, focus on that as a positive.