MSL Dublin Service

I went through a long SIMI complaints process with them. They are sheisters. I would never buy another VAG car after my experience with them. I later discovered the full extent of the problem when I went to fix something. Broken glass everywhere. :eek:

crosstownk wrote:

If they break or damage something they never accept responsibility.

Never mind tell you about it.;)

Bear in mind that these guys are also the distributors for Ireland. I would never buy another VAG car.

E92 wrote:

They wont be distributors of VAG cars for too much longer. Come next year(I think, not 100% sure when exactly, but I know it will happen in the not too distant future), Volkswagen, Audi, and Skoda are taking over the importing of their own cars in Ireland from the O'Flaharty's(MSL). VAG are doing it themselves as and from then.

It's MDL that is the importer/distributor of the cars. MSL is a subsiduary of MDL. MSL is the company that comprises Grange Motors, Ballsbridge Motors, Europa Cars, Park Motors, Turners Cross Motors and the MSL service centre on Pottery Road. I don't know whats going to happen to MSL when MDL no longer has the distrubition rights for VAG vehicles. I'd imagine that the MSL dealerships will continue to operate and still be operated by the O'Flaherty set up. But I do hope that VAG put a rocket up their ar$$es to try and improve the level of service - I won't hold my breath............

I also have a tale of woe with a VAG dealership: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054948396

Car has been sold in the meantime replaced with a non-VAG car - i couldn't stand the sight of it after this.

Last time i'll ever set foot in a VAG dealership.

R.O.R wrote:

It was by any chance the Ginger Hammer himself, Mr. Simon Barrett? Possibly the most helpful saleman I've ever had the fortune to deal with, some others push him close but he's probably the shining star of MSL when it comes to service.

No. Paul something. Older guy.

Are the Nordies any better? I assume it's cheaper over the border?

Are the Nordies any better? I assume it's cheaper over the border?

A different world.

Book your car in for a service.
Drive up to Isaac Agnew, right off the motorway as you arrive into Belfast.
Park car, spot the 16 gleaming spotless service bays.
Walk into the showroom, the hostess welcomes you, apologises for the short wait to speak to a service representative, guides you to a café area where a waitress offers you fresh ground expresso machine coffee and a choice of fresh cream pastries.
If you want you can post on boards as there are three free web terminals.
You are then directed to your service representive who check if you have any special requirements and hand him/her the keys.
A driver will then drop into Belfast for shopping in a full leather A/C Vito Traveliner.
A call on your mobile indicates that your car is ready, would sir like to be collected?
Settle up, enjoy a last coffee before driving back.
Walk out, note that your car has been washed and wheel blacked.
Drive home feeling like a customer and not a victim.

Top notch - recommend them to anyone. Top tip, book in for a Republic Bank Holiday which is a working day in the north.

By contrast in Dublin Merc dealerships I have been;
1. Refused any discount for a car bought for cash - even offering to buy the demonstrator. I got the price I was after from the North.

2. Refused warrenty work after being told to bring the car in at 8am, it was still sitting outside 2 hours later, when I made a fuss, someone drove it into the bay. One hour later then was told they didnt have the part. The horn had stopped working - I pointed out that they were asking me to drive a car in an illegal condition so therefore they needed to give me a replacement while they sorted it out under warrenty. No courtesy cars. I then complained to the manager, or tried...he told me to f**k off. Literally.

3. Was lied to as to the ability of the dealership (MSL) to reprogramme a key for me. I'd lost my spare and the immobiliser had locked, leaving the car stranded. The car had to be reprogrammed to accept a new key. I knew MSL didnt have the software to do it. I was first told that they didnt have a service appointment for six weeks. I explained the situation and had a comedy conversation with the service manager.
"I just got told six weeks before you can reprogramme the car, it's a ten minute job, and I'm stranded"
"Ah, well, bring it in anyway, we might have a look at it if we get a chance"
"I have to tow it, can you arrange it?"
"No, you'll have to do that"
"Do you have the software to reprogramme the car"
"Ah, we'll have a look"
"Do you have the software?"
"We don't know whats wrong with yet"
"I do, it needs reprogramming, the car key battery is dead, and the immobiliser has reset"
"hmm, well...."
"Do you have the software?"
"errr...I'm not getting into that.."
"What?"
"Our relationship with manufacturer"
"So what the hell do you do if a car need diagnostics done?"
"Ah...deep breath...we sent it to Belfast"
"You have to be joking" Click.

/me calls Belfast
No problem. All sorted.

MSL Pottery are a disgrace, I'm not quite sure who the blame for the place lies with though, the staff you deal with at the desks are generally ok it's once it goes into the workshop when the problems start.

They broke trim on the dash of a car I had.

They destroyed the rub strip on the drivers door on a brand new Golf GTI of mine during the PDI - Grange copped it and made them pay for it.

They "fixed" an airbag light in the passenger seat of an Audi I had and failed to bolt the seat back to the floor, I found out about it when the seat decided to jump forward one day when I had to brake hard.

There is no way in this world I would trust them with my S3 now. I will either try Brady's Castleknock (anyone used them?) or drive to Cork where I bought my car when it needs a service. I am actually DREADING the day the computer thing tells me the car needs a service.

Yep, CrosstownK (I think) recommended a really good garage to me recently for timing belt change on the Passat. You actually feel like they appreciate your business.

Wow - I nearly bought a car off MSL today! I had a price from another garage and decided to check Park Motors out because their list price started off lower.

But after waiting 10 minutes to get some attention (I wasn't just standing there, a free sales guy kept fobbing me off) - I left and went back to th original garage.

After reading this thread I'm glad I went with my instinct.

Darragh29 wrote:

For pig iron, lets price this job through a main dealer and through a random independent garage... As for an independent garage price, I did a timing belt & water pump on a 03 VW Passat, 1.6 Petrol. Timing belt kit was SKF (OEM quality item), water pump was supplied by VW. Customer was billed for just under 380 Euro, with a 12 month warranty on the job. I'll price this through the main dealer on Monday and see what it comes in at. Anyone got a main dealer price for this job before I start???

Same job same car (exept 02). Water pump, fan belt, timing belt. €600. Independent garage.

Problem is they probably wouldn't say anything - just threaten legal action and get the thread removed, etc, etc. Better if people are aware of other people's experiences and can make the own decisions.

I once bought a T4 Syncro on behalf of a company for which I worked. The rack failed at only 60k, so MDL agreed to supply a new rack FOC, but we had to pay for the install - hence MSL in Pottery Road.

Arriving to collect it at the appropriate time I was left hanging around as usual, so I gave the van the once-over. Oil and dirt on the upholstery, bonnet not shut, various clips left loose under the bonnet. Lots of yelling and ranting to the service manager and they dealt with the problems.

All seemed fine for a few weeks, until we discovered that they hadn't tightened up the rack bolts - it came adrift in use!

More ranting and threats of legal action - job redone.

Again all seemed well until we ran the van into some soft sand. When it came out the far side it had the most amazing case of toe-in I've ever seen. Turned out that MSL had used regular bolts to hold in the rack instead of the correct flanged ones. When the sand put the rack under pressure the bolt heads pulled clean through the bushes and the rack simply popped off!

We needed the van for the job and the company had other things to do, or there would undoubtedly have been a major lawsuit.

N.