VW routine servicing regime

VW routine servicing regime

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Discussion

Sheepshanks

Original Poster:

32,769 posts

119 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Got a basic 1.4 petrol (not TSi) mk6 Golf in the family just coming up to 6yrs old.

From new, on the VW service plan, they do minor, intermediate (as best I can gather this is a minor plus pollen filter), minor, services over 3yrs. At 4yrs it needs a major service.

Is there any logic in why, after 4 yrs the intermediate service gets dropped and it alternates minor / major? Do they use lower quality plugs and filters at the dealer which don't last as long as the originals?

Adrian E

3,248 posts

176 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Most of the time nothing changes on what actually gets done, apart from what the service department describes it as!

In theory, depending on miles covered each year, some of the time or major distance related service items may require a different service to be completed than just an alternate oil change/major service.

I now just ensure, whatever they are describing the service as, that I think they're doing any major service items that might fall due at the right times (or early, in the case of plugs)

Pollen filters I've always changed myself as they cost buttons bought outside the dealer network and they often charge silly amounts for fitting them.

Sheepshanks

Original Poster:

32,769 posts

119 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
quotequote all
The car is on the fixed interval schedule, which is 10K miles/12mths.

It basically just feels like a scam by VW and its dealers - the car is apparently capable of running to 4yrs with oil and filter changes and some checks, and a major service at 4yrs.

Then suddenly it needs a major service (at more than 2x the cost) every 2yrs.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

212 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Sheepshanks said:
The car is on the fixed interval schedule, which is 10K miles/12mths.

It basically just feels like a scam by VW and its dealers - the car is apparently capable of running to 4yrs with oil and filter changes and some checks, and a major service at 4yrs.

Then suddenly it needs a major service (at more than 2x the cost) every 2yrs.
UIt's because at 4 years or 40K you probably need plugs and possibly an air filter. There's more parts to fit and obviously after a time there will beother parts that need replacing at higher mileages.


Plugs supplied to dealers by VW are either Bosch or NGK and the same as fitted by the factory.

SteBrown91

2,385 posts

129 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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On my golf tdi minor is basically oil and filter, and a major is oil, filter, pollen filter, air filter, and something else

Who me ?

7,455 posts

212 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Brake fluid replacement at 4 years ,from memory,plus possibly a few other items that need changing at 4 + years. Be thankful it's not a TDI, where the cambelt will quadruple the price ,and there's fuel and other filters. .

bearman68

4,652 posts

132 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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God I want to be VW - I would suggest oil and 4 filters annually. Plugs are the platinum ones in those I think, so every 60k, if not, just change them every service.
Worth checking the gearbox oil every other year (or if you can see it leaking), as VW never fill it to the fill point.
Take it to a decent local indy, and this will be about £150 -200 quid a year.

Mind you, 40k miles and the timing chain is about to fall off anyway. frown

All IMO just in case VW layers are looking.

Sheepshanks

Original Poster:

32,769 posts

119 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
quotequote all
SteBrown91 said:
On my golf tdi minor is basically oil and filter, and a major is oil, filter, pollen filter, air filter, and something else
The missing thing is the fuel filter (for a diesel). On a petrol it's spark plugs instead.

It just feels like a bit of a rip-off if VW is saying the car can have minor services for the first 3 years (typically while on their service plan) with a major at 4yrs. Then after that they absolutely insist it must have a major service every 2yrs.

My Merc is on a similar 4yr schedule, but after the first cycle it repeats for another 4 year cycle.