VW Golf help needed

[Carjinx]

Hi,
Today coolant fluid started pouring into the passenger footwell in my 01 VW Golf.
Brought it to the garage (main dealer). They rang me a while ago to tell me the leak was coming from a radiator/coolant reservoir behind the dash and the repair would necessitate taking the dash off. This would mean a 2 day job and cost 1500-1800 euro.
Can anyone tell me is this way over the odds - would a non vw mechanic be able to do it cheaper? Has anyone come across this before. To be honest, we're fed up with problems with this car and are considering changing it.
thanks for any advice...

 

[mathepac]

... - would a non vw mechanic be able to do it cheaper? Has anyone come across this before. To be honest, we're fed up with problems with this car and are considering changing it.
thanks for any advice...

If you mean a mechanic working in a non-francised garage, Yes undoubtedly.

It sounds like the heater matrix is banjaxed - dash-out job on a Golf.

... Has anyone come across this before. ...

Yes and the VW dealer may tell you its because either :

a) The wrong coolant was used in the system (only VW spec G12 or G12+ is suitable) or
b) The coolant was never changed