Does your Volkswagen need a repair? We’re sorry to hear that and hope everyone is okay.
As we advance, you have a straightforward choice between two options: DIY or mechanic. Which approach should you take? DIY repairs look appealing to many, but they aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be. Likewise, heading to a garage brings peace of mind but usually costs significantly more.
To help you decide, we’ve put together a simple blog post explaining the pros and cons of DIY Volkswagen repairs. Browse through to get a feel for which avenue is best for you.
Pros of Volkswagen DIY repairs
First, let’s delve into the advantages of repairing your Volkswagen at home.
Potential for significant savings
The potential for significant savings is clear. When you take your car for repairs at a garage, the bulk of the cost is usually its labour rate. The more complex the job, the longer it takes. As a result, the price rises too. However, DIY repairs at home mean the only money you’ll fork out goes towards new parts. (Note that these are still more expensive, as mechanics source them at trade rates. Nevertheless, it’s almost always cheaper without the added labour.)
Satisfaction of learning new skills
Learning new skills is a brilliant way to spend your spare time, and if you have the technical mind for it, Volkswagen repairs often aren’t too fiddly. Of course, this depends on the nature of what’s gone wrong. The best places to learn are from experienced Volkswagen technicians or through local colleges and trade schools. Books like Haynes Manuals can also be vital. Learning online is also a possibility, although you should take many videos and forum posts with a big pinch of salt.
Ability to work on your own schedule
DIY Volkswagen repairs certainly don’t save you time – you’ll spend much longer working on your car than if you dropped it off at the garage and went for a coffee. However, they do free up your schedule. For example, allocate your evenings to working on your vehicle. Perhaps you’ll leave the car in your garage for a few weeks (with the battery disconnected) while saving up. With nobody else you need to work around, you’re as flexible as possible.
Access to a wealth of books and online support
These days, DIY repairs on Volkswagens come with a lot of support. Online forums are the best places to look and ask questions. You’ll find some dedicated VW gurus with multiple ideas for solving niche problems. Videos, such as those on YouTube, are also fantastic for diagnosing a fault and determining a possible approach to fixing it. That said, if you don’t know your way around a car, it’s best to take that clip to a mechanic and ask if it’s a feasible approach. (Half the time, it isn’t, and it might end up doing more harm than good).
Cons of DIY Volkswagen repairs
As with anything, there’s always a downside. In the second half of this article, we’ll examine the cons of working on your Volkswagen via DIY.
Potential for exacerbating or causing more damage
One of the most significant risks is doing more damage to your car during the attempted repair. Provided you know what you’re doing and understand what each component, wire and bolt does, you’ll be just fine. Even then, it’s easy to forget about connecting something up or putting a crack in something delicate.
Possibility of voiding warranty (or warranty aspects)
Manufacturers intentionally hold your warranty over you. DIY repairs don’t (necessarily) void your warranty. It’s perfectly legal to chase the cheapest way to get your Volkswagen safely back on the road.
The issues come when, say, your Volkswagen service technician recommends changing your brakes, and you do it yourself. Next week, you’re involved in a collision. A legal battle could ensue regarding whether the new brakes were installed correctly or effectively enough to bring your car to a halt. In other words, would it have still crashed otherwise?
With these sorts of cases in mind, most people find it better to be safe than sorry and head to a trusted nearby VW service centre.
Time investment to complete tasks and learn new skills
Once again, if you know your way around cars (and Volkswagens, specifically), you won’t need to spend much time learning new skills. But if all this is new to you, picking up a new skill base or speciality takes time.
Even experienced technicians, mechanics and hobbyists are always learning. Although most people can do an oil change or swap a tyre, the industry is full of unique skills. Welding, panel beating, ECU coding, glass repairs, MOT testing and stuck nut removal are just a few examples.
Cost of purchasing workspace and specialist tools
And then there’s the cost. DIY repairs aren’t quite as cheap as they might seem. Even though a garage’s labour rate may seem high, remember they’re recovering their investment on the tools, equipment and premises.
If you already have the necessary tools on hand, brilliant. However, if you’re due a trip to Halfords, prepare to spend hundreds – if not thousands – of pounds more than you might have hoped.
Consider Volkswagen repairs with Sunset VW
So, what can we conclude from the pros and cons of DIY VW repairs?
As an experienced DIYer or car mechanic, the do-it-yourself approach may well be worthwhile. You’ll likely save money, invest in your tool supply and develop new skills.
On the flip side, if cars aren’t something you’re necessarily interested in or technical work is something you struggle with, taking your VW to a professional is the safest approach. It’s a little more expensive but comes with the peace of mind associated with a protected warranty and a job well done.
At Sunset VW in Derby, we’ve served the surrounding community for four decades. Our team of dedicated Volkswagen specialists brings unique skills to the table, matching our heavy investment in the latest equipment. If your car’s developed a fault or otherwise needs repairing, we’d be thrilled to fix it for you.
Interested in learning more or having a (free) informal chat? Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our friendly staff are always delighted to hear from the community and offer advice and assistance as needed.