I've got a VW Golf, bought unregistered from a supermarket in the UK,
which had been imported from the Netherlands.

The manual talks about the VW Longlife Mobility Guarantee. It appears
that this incorporates a roadside repair/recovery service and that it
is provides cover throughout Europe. Also that this continues so long
as the car is serviced by Volkswagen and to continue whoever owned the
vehicle. However,no phone number is provided nor any real details of
the level of cover offered - it's all a bit wooly.

I could find no reference to this on the UK Volkswagen website and the
only reference that Google brings up is in a PDF about customer
service initiatives which uses this as an example. UK customer care
wern't any more clued up.

Does anyone know any more about this - is it worth chasing, is there
any level of VW assisance that you qualify for with an imported
vehicle etc

thanks

In "VW assistance/"Longlife Mobility Guarantee"", (anthony
james) wrote:

I've got a VW Golf, bought unregistered from a supermarket in the UK,
which had been imported from the Netherlands.

The manual talks about the VW Longlife Mobility Guarantee. It appears
that this incorporates a roadside repair/recovery service and that it
is provides cover throughout Europe. Also that this continues so long
as the car is serviced by Volkswagen and to continue whoever owned the
vehicle. However,no phone number is provided nor any real details of
the level of cover offered - it's all a bit wooly.

I could find no reference to this on the UK Volkswagen website and the
only reference that Google brings up is in a PDF about customer
service initiatives which uses this as an example. UK customer care
wern't any more clued up.

Does anyone know any more about this - is it worth chasing, is there
any level of VW assisance that you qualify for with an imported
vehicle etc

Oh, yes, it's worth it. We spent some time trying to buy a VW in the Netherlands
and looked at things like this closely. If you bought your car there you're
entitled to this cover as much as anyone else, and it applies throughout Western
Europe including the UK. VW-UK offer a different scheme which (in typical
insular British fashion) only covers the UK, so they probably won't be
interested or qualified to explain the details of a scheme for which they're not
responsible. (Their website is pretty awful too, IMHO.) UK dealers should know
about this, though, because they would be responsible for providing it to anyone
covered who needs help here!

As the NL website page referenced below indicates, you should have a booklet in
Dutch called "Onderweg" that lists all the help numbers to call. It should be
there along with the service book, but your seller may possibly have left it out
because there probably isn't an english-language version. If you don't have that
booklet I would contact your seller and get it from them.


In case it's any help, some loosely-translated extracts from the (excellent)
Dutch website www.volkswagen.nl follow:

"Q&A"

What does Mobility Guarantie mean?

Each new Volkswagen possesses a free Mobility Guarantee. If your Volkswagen ever
refuses to function, we ensure that you get going again as quickly as possible.
The costs of providing help come from our account. Look for more information
under Mobility Guarantee on this site. [see below]


How can I show that I'm entitled to the Mobility Guarantee?

The stamps in the service book are your proof of entitlement. If the Volkswagen
dealer has carried out the suggested repair and maintenance work, two stamps are
placed in your Volkswagen's service book. These stamps provide the proof that
your Volkswagen has satisfied the conditions for the Mobility Guarantee.


When am I entitled to the Mobility Guarantee? And how long?

The Mobility Guarantee is valid for every new Volkswagen car, camper and
Caravelle that was delivered after August 1995. To retain the right to the
Mobility Guarantee, it must be given regular maintenance by an official
Volkswagen dealer.

If repair is not possible within a reasonable period, then we provide the best
solution for you: another method of transport, a night in a hotel for you and
your passemgers or a replacement car (maximum three days).


What costs are not covered by the Mobility Guarantee?

After expiry of the official warranty period of one year, the cost of eventual
repairs and the necessary spare parts go on your bill. Breakdown through your
own actions or through external causes aren't covered by the Mobility Guarantee.

Examples of this include: flat battery through own action, incorrectly-installed
accessories, key left behind in a locked vehicle, wrong fuel in the tank,
accident, flat tyre, no fuel in the tank.

Can I ask for Mobility via the yellow "phone poles"?

On the motorway you can make use of the familiar yellow "phone poles". Don't
forget to mention that you have a Mobility Guarantee, so that you can be helped
at no cost.


There's a page devoted especially to the Mobility Guarantee at

http://www.volkswagen.nl/index/home/..._D0Lnl,00.html

that includes the following:


For who

The Mobility Gararantee applies to every Volkswagen car, camper and Caravelle
that was delivered after August 1995, that also satisfied the following
condition: your Volkswagen has received the factory-specified services from a
Volkswagen dealer and the recommended repairs carried-out by a Volkswagen
dealer. If this is the case every time, the Mobility Garantie is valid a
Volkswagen-life long.


Help in Nederland

In a breakdown call 0800-VW SERVICE. You can find the letters under the keys of
your telephone. 0800-VW SERVICE is therefore the number 0800 89 73 78 423. This
toll-free number is available 24 hours a day.

In Nederland you can make use of the ANWB "phone poles" on the motorways. Via
the ANWB emergency centre the nearest Volkswagen dealer or professional recovery
service is brought-in. In this way you are always ensured of fast and expert
help.


Help abroad

You can also count on Volkswagen abroad. In the booklet "Onderweg" ["Under way"]
you [can] find the telefone number of the help service in all countries of
Western Europe. You can find the booklet in the service folder of your car.

In the event of language difficulties call directly 0031 33 49 49 101. Here you
will be helped in Dutch. This number is not toll-free.

Sometimes you must make use of the help services on the spot. Afterwards you can
present the bill to your dealer. The costs incurred are then reimbursed to you
as necessary [?].

"R. J. Sutherland" wrote in message
...
In "VW assistance/"Longlife Mobility Guarantee"",

Oh, yes, it's worth it. We spent some time trying to buy a VW in the
Netherlands
and looked at things like this closely. If you bought your car there
you're
entitled to this cover as much as anyone else, and it applies throughout
Western
Europe including the UK VW-UK offer a different scheme which (in typical
insular British fashion) only covers the UK, so they probably won't be
interested or qualified to explain the details of a scheme for which
they're not
responsible.

Actually, VW's Customer Care line were fully briefed that the scheme both
existed and that it was valid for a car imported to the UK. They also
explained the limitations of the scheme (mainly that you're not covered for
flat tyres and running out of petrol) and tried to upsell me to VW
assistance for £75p.a. which is actually very good value compared to the
RAC.
However, their line was that 'mobility' was provided by VW Asssistance in
the UK and I have spent some days getting no joy at all from them. I've
repeatedly been put through to the 'Policies' who couldnt find the car on
their system and put me on hold for interminable periods, didnt get back to
me when they said they would and so on. Finally got an answer from them
today. It seems that there's no need to register or be put on their
database - you just make it clear when you call the 0800 number that you're
a 'mobility' case and they put you through to a 'special' department. The
UK operation bill the netherlands with any costs.

They interpret the 'must be kept seriviced' as being 10k miles or 1year
(whichever sooner) and DO NOT recognise the 'variable service' regime that
the cars are using. Our car was delivered by the dutch garage to the UK
vendor in June so it looks as if we've already exceeded this.

Given your dutch manual extracts "your Volkswagen has received the
factory-specified services" I think legally they're probably on dodgy ground
here - they cant claim on one hand that variable servicing is fine but on
the other they're no longer covering you for breakdowns. Either it's ok or
it isnt!

(Their website is pretty awful too, IMHO.)
indeed. all that flash is horrible and there's very little info beyond an
online brochure.

UK dealers should know
about this, though, because they would be responsible for providing it to
anyone
covered who needs help here!
seemingly via VW assistance

Thanks for all the other info.

Anthony James wrote:

: They interpret the 'must be kept seriviced' as being 10k miles or 1year
: (whichever sooner) and DO NOT recognise the 'variable service' regime that
: the cars are using. Our car was delivered by the dutch garage to the UK
: vendor in June so it looks as if we've already exceeded this.

I bought a Golf from a Danish dealer and, as soon as I took it for service,
it became immediately apparent that UK Dealers (and presumably VW UK)
don't use (or know much about) the "long life" servicing option.

"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
Anthony James wrote:

: They interpret the 'must be kept seriviced' as being 10k miles or 1year
: (whichever sooner) and DO NOT recognise the 'variable service' regime
that
: the cars are using. Our car was delivered by the dutch garage to the UK
: vendor in June so it looks as if we've already exceeded this.

I bought a Golf from a Danish dealer and, as soon as I took it for
service,
it became immediately apparent that UK Dealers (and presumably VW UK)
don't use (or know much about) the "long life" servicing option.

Hi there,

I work for a company that exports VW's around Europe from Holland and have a
Golf myself which was imported from Holland to the UK in September last
year. It had it's first "variable" service done at around 15000 miles and
despite the stupid UK dealer performing the wrong service 3 times I have
finally managed to get it all done correctly.

I'm currently living in Belgium and I can assure you the mobility guarantee
is valid. In Holland they have ONLY used variable servicing for the past few
years and it is a major selling point for their cars. As long as the service
has been done by a VW dealer in Europe and the book has been stamped VW have
to honour this warranty. If VW UK try to tell you otherwise then they are
either mistaken or it's sour grapes that their cars are more expensive and
have an inferior warranty. If you ever have trouble claiming in the UK then
all you need to do is call VW in Holland who will sort it out for you,
afterall you are a customer of theirs.

Hope this helps.

Greetings,
Michael

In message , Michael
Johnston writes
"Brian McIlwrath" wrote in message
...
Anthony James wrote:

: They interpret the 'must be kept seriviced' as being 10k miles or 1year
: (whichever sooner) and DO NOT recognise the 'variable service' regime
that
: the cars are using. Our car was delivered by the dutch garage to the UK
: vendor in June so it looks as if we've already exceeded this.

I bought a Golf from a Danish dealer and, as soon as I took it for
service,
it became immediately apparent that UK Dealers (and presumably VW UK)
don't use (or know much about) the "long life" servicing option.

Hi there,

I work for a company that exports VW's around Europe from Holland and have a
Golf myself which was imported from Holland to the UK in September last
year. It had it's first "variable" service done at around 15000 miles and
despite the stupid UK dealer performing the wrong service 3 times I have
finally managed to get it all done correctly.

I'm currently living in Belgium and I can assure you the mobility guarantee
is valid. In Holland they have ONLY used variable servicing for the past few
years and it is a major selling point for their cars. As long as the service
has been done by a VW dealer in Europe and the book has been stamped VW have
to honour this warranty. If VW UK try to tell you otherwise then they are
either mistaken or it's sour grapes that their cars are more expensive and
have an inferior warranty. If you ever have trouble claiming in the UK then
all you need to do is call VW in Holland who will sort it out for you,
afterall you are a customer of theirs.

Hope this helps.

Greetings,
Michael


I seem to have joined this group just at the right time. I'm about to
buy a new Polo Se auto - or rather my wife is. Any recommendations on
where to look for an import?

Current car is a 1997 Polo 1.4 CL auto with air con - 33k miles FSH if
anyone is interested.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid

hugh ] wrote in message

I seem to have joined this group just at the right time. I'm about to
buy a new Polo Se auto - or rather my wife is. Any recommendations on
where to look for an import?

I did a trawl of the online import sites (virgin, jamjar and others)
and the prices are OK but the delivery times are long (16 weeks in
many cases). I then started looking at the UK supermarkets (through
http://www.car-supermarkets.com/) and found a few dealers who had what
i wanted in the UK at a better price than the importers.

If you've the time and energy you can probably save even more doing it
all yourself.