I will never service my car at Barons Bellville again or trust them to buy a car.

I'm copying my email to Barons Bellville and their response and then, lack of response. This was logged with VW South Africa and after speaking with them, they also just say they cannot comment or assist. So much for buying a VW in SA and Servicing it at a VW Dealership. There is no one looking out for the Consumer anymore in SA. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ME Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2023 at 13:41 Subject: Re: To: Barons Bellville

Hi,

Appreciate the quick response.

Your response: Brake fluid flush is due every 24month..Brake fluid will start to discolor closer to the 24 month period. Last done by Barons in 2021.due now

My response: As per the invoice, you replaced the brake fluid on 26 Nov '21. This image was taken on 24 Feb'23. This is 15 months later, still 9 months before 24 months is reached. This cannot be seen as due now, rather due in Nov'23.

Your response: Water system contamination happen when top up with normal tap water. At the fulling stations they use normal tap water and that’s not allowed. You need to top up with the OME coolant to prevent corrosion and discoloring of the cooling system.

My response: When the water system was flushed, twice as per your invoice on 26 Nov'21, after adding the required coolant, corrosion and discoloration should be minimum after 15 months. I've never filled up my water system at any other time or place, other than the service intervals done as per my Service Book. This has not been a requirement.

Kind regards, ME

On Mon, 27 Feb 2023 at 12:43, Barons Bellville wrote:

Good Day ME.

Thank You for your e-mail and rising concerns.

Brake fluid flush is due every 24month..Brake fluid will start to discolor closer to the 24 month period. Last done by Barons in 2021.due now

Water system contamination happen when top up with normal tap water. At the fulling stations they use normal tap water and that’s not allowed.

You need to top up with the OME coolant to prevent corrosion and discoloring of the cooling system.

Fortunately this fall under maintenance of your vehicle.

Barons Bellville cannot be held liable for any of the above. The above fall under vehicle maintenance as mention above.

Kind Regards, Barons Bellville Barons, a proud member of NMI Durban South Motors Proprietary Limited trading as NMI, a level 2 BBBEE Contributor | FSP number: 26390.

From: ME Sent: Monday, 27 February 2023 11:58 To: Barons Bellville

Hi All,

If this email did not reach the required parties to deal with my concerns, please forward it to the relevant parties and notify me of receipt.

I serviced my VW Polo (CL28929) at Bosch Car Service Centre at Cobble Walk on Friday, 24 February 2023.

This was my 130252km service. What concerns me is the feedback I received from them. As per my last service invoice at Barons Bellville on 26 November 2021 for 118680km, there were two areas of work completed as per Barons Bellville, but from what we saw with this service inspection, less than 15000km ago, it seems like some work was not completed at all.

Concerns of work that were supposedly completed by Barons Bellville on 26 November 2021 as per the invoice:

Coolant Flush (Labour) - x2 Tank RAD Flush Additive Coolant Distilled Water Brake Fluid Flush (Labour) Brake Fluid See photos taken by Bosch Car Service Centre on Friday, 24 February 2022 during the service inspection.

Images of Coolant Tank:

As per Bosch Car Service Centre, the Coolant Tank should not be this rusty. If it was Flushed twice (as per your invoice) at 118680km on 26 November 2021, it should not look like this and should not have been required to be flushed or replaced again.

image.png image.png

Images of Brake Fluid:

As per Bosch Car Service Centre, the Brake Fluid should not be green, rather a clear liquid. If it was flushed and replaced at 118680km on 26 November 2021, it should not look like this and should not have been required to be flushed and replaced again.

image.png image.png

I would like to bring my car to you for the Coolant and Brake Fluid to be flushed again and replacements done as required at no costs. This is unacceptable and I hope that this won't become a problem to be escalated to VW South Africa.