Golf R - First oil service ?

[BlackG7R]

My leased Golf R has about 13k on the clock, and the oil service warning has come up on the dash.

First dealer I rang (Watford) was happy to book it in, and said it would cost £251 which seemed a bit steep just for an oil change. (Apparently more expensive because its long life oil)

I accept you pay a premium for main dealer servicing, but I don't like being ripped off.

Anyway decided to ring another dealer (St. Albans) to see if I could get a better price. They quoted £202 but said as its a lease car it would be on a long interval service regime and doesn't need doing until 20k miles, or 2 years.

Although I like their price more, this doesn't sound right to me. 20k before the first oil change seems far too long.

I think that VW's servicing regimes are so complicated, that I don't trust that their own staff really understand it.

Any advice, as I don't want to incur any extra charges at the end of the lease.

[Sheepshanks]

BlackG7R said:

... but said as its a lease car it would be on a long interval service regime and doesn't need doing until 20k miles, or 2 years.

It's a lease car - take it to the dealer who says it doesn't need doing (ideally get that in an email) and get them to cancel the service indicator.


The car asks for an oil change when it thinks it needs it depending on your type of use, but the inspection doesn't need doing for 2yrs/20K miles.

The trouble is dealers pretend they don't recognise "oil service" as a stand-alone item and they want to do a standard variable service - ie do the oil service and the inspection at the same time. And because the Inspection is only supposed to be at 2yrs, the scope of it the same as done on a major service.

For comparison, I got the following prices from the SEAT dealer we bought daughter’s Ateca from:
First variable service: £239, 2nd £289.
First fixed service £184, 2nd £239.
There is logic in the pricing:
At the first variable service, and the second fixed, they're changing the pollen filter as the car could be 2yrs old.
At the second variable service the car could be 4yrs old so they'll be changing the plugs and air filter.


Yet the Golf she had before that was on a 3yr service plan. I took it for its first annual fixed interval service and watched as they changed oil and filter and beeped the horn. Was in the workshop 20 mins – the dealer accidentally gave the bill they send to VW – it £68.

[BlackG7R]

Thanks for the reply.

So basically the oil does need doing, as per the type of use / cleanliness of oil that the cars sensor is picking up.

But if I have just the oil done now it would need to go back again for an inspection at 20k anyway. So might as well do both at the same time I would have thought.

Am I understanding you correctly ?

[Sheepshanks]

Yes. If you get it done make sure the indicator is reset for both oil and inspection otherwise inspection will come up at 2yrs.

If you get it done now it might be a bit cheaper as in theory they shouldn't change the pollen filter as the car isn't two years old. But they may just say it's included anyway. Or they may charge you as the service is a standard price but not change the pollen filter as it isn't due. Best not to worry about it, or it'll annoy you!


If you lease again, and it's from VWFS, ask about including service in the lease monthly - it's usually a trivial amount extra and you can just get it done as called for.