by Chek Digital | Jan 25, 2019 | Car Maintenance, car service, Mercedes-Benz
Luxury car fans are in for a treat in 2019, with one of our favourite luxury brands –Mercedes-Benz – set to release a range of new models Downunder this year. From the A-Class sedan to the GLE SUV – Mercedes-Benz is breaking new ground in terms of luxury, performance and style. At Volks Affair our Mercedes service team pride themselves in keeping your luxury vehicles in optimal condition. The key to maintaining optimal performance is keeping a regular service schedule – If you’re a Mercedes-Benz driver looking for a reliable Mercedes Service in South Melbourne then look no further than our first-class mechanics at Volks Affair.
Top DIY Tips to Keep Your Mercedes-Benz in Optimal Condition
Whilst we can provide all your major and intermediate Mercedes service needs – here are some easy-care tips that will ensure your Mercedes-Benz stays in great condition for your driving pleasure (and for resale value)
1. Wash your car
To keep your paintwork in great condition, you should wash your car often. This keeps it free from road chemicals and dirt – this is especially necessary if you live in the ‘salty’ coastal areas.
2. Check your fluid levels
Check your coolant, oil and window washing fluids. To check oil, you should ensure your engine has been off for at least 5 minutes.
3. Report any new or unusual sounds to your mechanic
If your car feels or sounds different, let us know. It’s best to consult with a mechanic as soon as possible to prevent any potential further damage.
4. Inspect your tyres
Fill your tyres to the correct setting and keep an eye on the wear and tear. For optimal driving, your tyres should be rotated regularly to ensure even wear.
5. Park in a garage
Whenever possible choose covered parking to protect your car from the elements. Especially in Melbourne’s changeable climate – a sunny day may end in hail, rain and wind.
Proper care and maintenance of your Mercedes can keep it running for many rewarding years.
Volks Affair
We can provide a Mercedes car service and repair at affordable and competitive rates. Our Mercedes service mechanics are highly trained and able to offer in-depth insights into the condition of your Mercedes-Benz. We are a dealership alternative and offer personal service and invest time in seeing that you get the best care possible.
by Chek Digital | Jan 18, 2019 | Car Maintenance, car service, Skoda
Do you need a Skoda Service team?
Skoda is an award-winning car brand and to keep it in top performance condition you need a top-notch Skoda Service team. The Volks Affair mechanics specialise in luxury German car brands – BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW and Skoda. You may not think of Skoda as a luxury brand, but it certainly ticks all boxes for what you’d look for in a stylish and reliable car.
The Skoda Brand is on the Rise
Skoda, originally a Czech company, is now owned by VW and it is on a mission to steadily increase production. In 2014, Skoda produced 1 million cars in the calendar year for the first time – their growth strategy now means that 1 million is the minimum production target every year. In 2017 the 20 millionth vehicle rolled off the production line. It was a Skoda Karoq.
Skoda Downunder
Skoda arrived in Australia in 2007. As Skoda says – they brought European luxury without the European price tag. Skoda is gaining popularity with Aussie’s who like the simple but smart design of Skoda. With plenty of awards under its belt, Skoda is proving to be a reliable family brand that suits most budgets.
Skoda is Innovative and Award-winning
Skoda produced an electric concept car with level 3 autonomy in 2017. It was the Vision E car and is planned for sale in 2020. Skoda aims to have an entirely electric line up by 2030.
The Current Skoda Range
- Fabia – the Fabia 66 TSI was named Best Value Green Car by Money Magazine (2017)
- Octavia – was named the Best-Value Family Car by Money Magazine (2017)
- Rapid – competitively priced, this is a smart little car filled with modern tech features
- Superb – Drive named this the Best Family Car of the year (2016)
- Kodiaq – this 7-seater 4×4 is an affordable buy for adventurous families
- Karoq – safe, smart and luxurious, this SUV is gaining popularity quickly
Volks Affair
Volks Affair is an Independent Specialist Car Service Centre in Melbourne. We offer the best service and repair for Skoda owners who are looking for a dealership alternative. Our commitment to our customers means that we will offer you a transparent and professional service. Feel free to contact us with any questions or simply book your car in for a service and we will take care of you.
by Chek Digital | Nov 16, 2018 | Car Maintenance, car service
Once your car warranty runs out, do you need to continue your service with the dealership or are you better off going with an independent service centre?
This is a common question – of course, you can continue servicing with your dealership service but establishing a relationship with a trusted independent service centre can be a great economical move. Specialist Independent Service centres will have fully trained mechanics who are experts in the field – they will get to know your car and understand your concerns. The trick is to choose your independent car service centre wisely.
What to Look for in a Car Service Centre
Knowledgeable mechanics
Are the technicians up-to-date with the latest models and technology? Are you satisfied that they are going to answer your questions and share their expertise? Furthermore, is their equipment up to date?
Clear quotations and pricing information
Will the service centre seek your approval before doing any extras and are they upfront about the work that will be done and the cost of labour? Transparency is a good sign.
Customer Service
Friendly and professional service is expected. In fact, these days you shouldn’t expect anything less.
Reviews
These days most established businesses will have customer feedback in the form of testimonials and reviews. This will give you a good idea of the quality of service and the level of customer satisfaction.
Volks Affair
If you’re the owner of a German vehicle – BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Skoda, Audi or VW– we have a team of experts who can service your car. We are the real deal – bringing your car to us won’t affect your warranty as we are a genuine alternative to dealer servicing. If you’d like to discuss an issue or book a service, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
by Chek Digital | Nov 9, 2018 | Audi, Car Maintenance, car service
Audi Quality Assurance
Audi is a luxury German brand with a strong focus on quality. It is a brand that is always listening to customer feedback and making improvements to meet the modern-day driver’s needs. On the Audi blog, Werner Zimmerman – head of quality assurance recently said that Audi looks at the driver’s overall experience with the car. In other words, how the senses react – what do they see, hear, feel and smell. All of these factors make for a superior driving experience. However, these days staying connected while driving is a sought-after feature of a luxury car and that’s taken into account too. Our Audi Mechanics in Melbourne need to stay up-to-date with all the latest advances in car technology to be able to service and repair your Audi.
Driving Pleasure for the Senses
Sound
Audi has a strong focus on sound design – the sound they’re after is described as ‘sporty and high quality’. Every component of the car is considered from windscreen wipers, doors and handles to the engine sound. The Audi ‘click’ is the unique and pleasing Audi sound you’ll hear when fiddling with the controls.
Sight
Our perception of reality is driven by our sight. Audi has a special aesthetic look and a team of designers and engineers who consider every detail of the car. Everything is considered and contributes to the luxury, ‘feel-good ‘atmosphere. All components of the car must match and flow easily. Carbon, wood, paint and leather all work together to ensure the pigments and light refraction cause no disturbance in the look.
Smell
Audi has a team who run chemical analysis of the vehicle parts and their role is to development fragrant and pleasing smells to enhance the driving experience. There shouldn’t be any strong odours – no musty or sharp smells. The new car fragrance is chemically added to the materials of the car, but the chemicals are not harmful to human health. The aim is to create a neutral and subtle new car smell.
Feel
All of these factors blend into the creation of a luxury driving experience that is Audi
Volks Affair
Owning and maintaining a luxury vehicle such as an Audi requires skilled and knowledgeable mechanics. At Volks Affair we understand the concepts behind each of the luxury brands we service, and we are able to ensure your car is maintained and serviced to keep it in top condition. If you’d like to book a service, call us today or make an online enquiry.
by Chek Digital | Oct 15, 2018 | car service, Driving Tips, Volkswagen
Buying a used car can be challenging so our expert VW mechanics from Volks Affair in Melbourne have provided some good tips.
Step 1 – Research
Look into the year, make and model – all car manufacturers, including Volkswagen have less than stellar years. If you know the year, make and model then you can see if there have been any reported issues across the line. The issue may be easy to fix but being aware of any potential issues can help with price negotiation.
Look at the safety ratings for the car – these are based on real-life accidents. ANCAP Safety Ratings will give you an idea of the car safety rating when the car was new but check the Used Car ratings too.
If you are happy with the year, make and model – the next step is to check the vehicle’s history. Determine if it’s been in any accidents or had other issues that could lead to future problems.
Volks Affair suggests asking these questions when looking for a used VW:
- How many owners has the vehicle had?
- Is the vehicle currently registered?
- Is the car insured?
- What mileage does it get?
- Has it been involved in any crashes (major or minor)?
Step 2 – Pre-purchase Considerations
- Road Worthiness certificate and Record of Regular Servicing
Ask for the paperwork – legitimate sellers will have this all-in order before listing the car.
- Cleanliness of the interior
A cared for car will be clean and well looked after without any splits or tears in the upholstery
- Condition of the body and paint
Faded paint will show exposure to the elements and indicate that the car has been parked outside for long periods. Look out for obvious bumps and scrapes in the body that may be costly to repair. Check for signs of rust and DIY repairs that may not be up to industry standard.
Check that the tyres have worn evenly – if they haven’t it could be a sign that the alignment is out. Don’t forget to check the condition of the spare.
Volks Affair
We are an independent service centre specialising in German Vehicles. If you own a VW don’t hesitate to give us a call and book a service with our top-rated VW mechanics.
by Chek Digital | Sep 29, 2018 | Audi, BMW, Car Maintenance, car service, electric cars, Mercedes-Benz
Hybrid cars are here to stay and if you are the eco-conscious owner of a hybrid German vehicle then you’ll need a trusted electric and hybrid car service team.
Our favourite German brands – BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi – are all producing hybrid cars for the Australian market.
Hybrid Cars and the Australian Market
Australia hasn’t seen the incentives, such as tax rebates, offered by other countries to convert to more environmentally friendly low-emissions vehicles. But us Aussies have been embracing the green lifestyle anyway – opting for cleaner and more fuel-efficient technology. It would be wonderful to see the local and state governing bodies take a more proactive approach and introduce incentives for people to reduce their carbon footprint. It is estimated that road traffic in Australia in responsible for about 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. With the fluctuating and ever-increasing fuel price, green vehicles are a wise choice.
Snapshot of Popular Hybrid Cars in Australia
BMW have a number of hybrid vehicles on the Australian market already with plans to launch more electric models in the future. The iPerformance vehicles are described as a marrying of combustion engine engineering and modern battery technology. The aim is to reduce carbon emissions but still have the luxurious feel and drive that is distinctly BMW. You can use a public charging station to charge the battery or a household socket. The BMW i3 (2013) will get you 130 km on battery and 100km from petrol.
A popular model is the Audi A3 Sportback e-Tron (2014). This is a petrol-electric hybrid with great fuel efficiency and keeps its sporty shape.
Mercedes-Benz is keeping up with their competitors, but their 2015 C-class only offers 31km electric range.
Hybrid cars are something to keep our eye on. Although Australia has been slow in adopting them, it is certainly something that is only going to be enhanced by future technology.
Car Service Specialists
At Volks Affair our speciality is German car service and repair. Our mechanics are professionals and experts in the field. We keep up to date with all the latest in car technology and can offer standard servicing on hybrid vehicles. Volks Affair is an independent car service and repair centre. We pride ourselves on the personal service we give to our customers and the open and honest way in which we communicate. If you own a German vehicle, hybrid or not, and live in Melbourne then look no further than Volks Affair.
