30,000KM Servicing Costs.

[nickows]

The dealer, as per VW's policy, supply you with a check sheet attached to your invoice, outlining what work was carried out. This is also the service schedule.

Right at the beginning of the service book. Unfortunately, VW Australian service centres choose not to follow the factory service schedule & follow a one-size-fits-all tick & flick service regime so that the techs don't have to think about which vehicle they are servicing.

The "Tick & Flick" schedule is specific to the Australian market, and published by Volkswagen Group Australia. There's 3 types; Passenger, Commercial, and Crafter/LT. Even on these, there's a few vehicle/engine/transmission/running gear-specific items as well.

If they followed what's in the book, DSG and automatic transmissions would never get serviced, and that's just the beginning.

Thanks for the replies guys

[ninja2]

If they followed what's in the book, DSG and automatic transmissions would never get serviced, and that's just the beginning.

This intrigues me. I've just been studying the service schedule booklet, here are some direct quotes from it that make me think VW Australia have simply brainwashed us all into thinking we have do things more often and thus pay good money for unwarranted servicing:

Page 7:
Brake Fluid Change: First change after 3 years, then every 2 years ...

Page 11:
The dust and pollen filter is replaced on vehicles with more than 60,000km in 2 years, except Polo and Up!

Now here's an issue on which I would appreciate an expert opinion. My 118TSI Vehicle Data sheet includes the "QG1" code. According to page 7 of the service schedule this means it is set up for Long Life Service "technology that ensures you only have to have an Interval Service when your vehicle requires it".

A little higher on same page it says Interval Service: According to flexible service interval display (after 2 years at the latest).

This seems to be telling me I did not need to fork out $400+ to VW for a service at 12 months after all ... because the car is actually designed with "technology" that means I could have driven for 2 years before first service.

I'm now at 30,000km / 2 years and for that service the best quote I have is $350 service + pollen filter $45 + brake fluid $100. Personally I tend to believe VW Germany over VW Australia so I think I'll just do the base service thanks. And this could not void any warranty nor be risky in any way ... it's per the book.

Convince me I'm not reading this right ...

[Umai Naa!!]

The service book is pretty much only useful for putting the service department's stamp in, and that's it. It's not specific to any particular market, and barely relevent to Australia.

All Volkswagen passenger cars since around 2000, have a 15,000klm/12 month service interval, where the engine oil and oil filter are replaced. Yes, most say QG1 on the data label, but it's more of a backside-covering excerise in the way that they've spec'd an oil that'll do 30,000klms no trouble, but you'd be making life difficult for yourself if you persued a warranty claim on an engine failure with those sorts of service intervals.

Brake fluid, VGA states is due every 24 months, regardless of distance travelled. This is reflective of the market right now, as just about every other manufacturer follows the same interval.

Most dealerships will throw a pollen filter in every 30,000kms/24 months, and I'm pretty sure the VGA-issued service schedule the dealerships have reflects this. You wouldn't want to leave a pollen filter in the car any longer than 2 years. They're a breeding ground for bacteria, if left too long. $45 is cheap, your health will thank you, and your air conditioning will be more efficient not having to draw air through a filter clogged with leaf litter.

Based on the Australian service schedule, the cars are definately not over-serviced in my opinion. Not sure why they don't suggest a manual transmission oil change at some point.

[Mountainman]

Where are these servicing schedules? I can't find anything in my service book or owner's handbook other than it needs servicing every 15,000km or 12 months. When should the timing belt be changed? or the spark plugs? or gearbox oil? or coolant? All I have read from the fixed price info is that brake fluid & pollen filter should be changed every 2 years.

The available information is so poor compared with how Subaru have laid out the servicing info for my Forester. My Golf just had its 45,000km service (at 13 months) and I didn't have a clue what would need to be done other than oil/filter change. As it was, that's all that was done other than a wheel alignment. Cost $316 altogether (that included $88 for the alignment). The 30,000km service was just oil/filter and air filter for total cost of $283. Yet VW's fixed prices say the 45,000km service should be $347 and the 30,000km should be $292. What else do VW specify should be been done at the 45,000km service for the extra $55 charge?

[brad]

This intrigues me. I've just been studying the service schedule booklet, here are some direct quotes from it that make me think VW Australia have simply brainwashed us all into thinking we have do things more often and thus pay good money for unwarranted servicing:

Page 7:
Brake Fluid Change: First change after 3 years, then every 2 years ...

When you go in for the 2 year service the brake fluid will be 2 years plus however long it sat in the dealers + the holding yard plus travel from the factory.
Just do it

Page 11:
The dust and pollen filter is replaced on vehicles with more than 60,000km in 2 years, except Polo and Up!

Do it every 12 months - Australia has a much higher dust & pollen loading than Europe. If you've pulled a pollen filter aftyer 2 years you'll understand what I'm talking about

Now here's an issue on which I would appreciate an expert opinion. My 118TSI Vehicle Data sheet includes the "QG1" code. According to page 7 of the service schedule this means it is set up for Long Life Service "technology that ensures you only have to have an Interval Service when your vehicle requires it".

We don't do Variable Service Intervals in Australia as we are considered a harsh environment. It's mainly aimed at fleet buyers that turn over their vehicles every 2-4 years.

A little higher on same page it says Interval Service: According to flexible service interval display (after 2 years at the latest).

This seems to be telling me I did not need to fork out $400+ to VW for a service at 12 months after all ... because the car is actually designed with "technology" that means I could have driven for 2 years before first service.

Do you wish to keep the vehicle for a short time or a long time?

I'm now at 30,000km / 2 years and for that service the best quote I have is $350 service + pollen filter $45 + brake fluid $100. Personally I tend to believe VW Germany over VW Australia so I think I'll just do the base service thanks. And this could not void any warranty nor be risky in any way ... it's per the book.

VWA provide the warranty on your vehicle. Unless you are willing to send the vehicle back to Germany whenever you want warranty work done then go against the service recomendations at your own peril.

If you really wish to save money then either get a specialist independant to do the work or do the minor stuff like pollen filters yoursef.

The amount of servicing your vehicle requires is pretty minimal compared to 10-20 years back so I'm not sure what your issue is.

[brad]

Where are these servicing schedules? I can't find anything in my service book or owner's handbook other than it needs servicing every 15,000km or 12 months. When should the timing belt be changed? or the spark plugs? or gearbox oil? or coolant? All I have read from the fixed price info is that brake fluid & pollen filter should be changed every 2 years.

The available information is so poor compared with how Subaru have laid out the servicing info for my Forester. My Golf just had its 45,000km service (at 13 months) and I didn't have a clue what would need to be done other than oil/filter change. As it was, that's all that was done other than a wheel alignment. Cost $316 altogether (that included $88 for the alignment). The 30,000km service was just oil/filter and air filter for total cost of $283. Yet VW's fixed prices say the 45,000km service should be $347 and the 30,000km should be $292. What else do VW specify should be been done at the 45,000km service for the extra $55 charge?

you mustn't be reading the right book. It's all at the front of the book that gets the stamps

[Mountainman]

you mustn't be reading the right book. It's all at the front of the book that gets the stamps

Not for my Mk7 it isn't. Inside cover - Service information - (details & contacts that I signed on day of purchase)
p1 - the importance of this service schedule (usual warnings)
p2 - fixed service or flexible service (explains what they are - appears we get a Q14 - 15k or 1 year)
p3 - service intervals (would you believe there is not one word of 15,000km or 12 months?)
p4 - scope of service ( usual verbal crap)
p5 - proof of service (more verbal crap)
p6 - proof of service 1 (this is where the stamping starts)
It is then followed by 18 more pages the same.

Do all other mk7 owners have the same book as mine?

[brad]

Is there a pdf I can look at (like Skoda do).

The Skoda Service Handbook is a pain to read but once you decipher the "house style" you can get the info you need.

I agree that Subaru etc do it much better with a service matrix.

[Umai Naa!!]

Pop into your local dealership and ask for the service checksheet.

They have to provide you with a copy of it filled out anyway when you get the car serviced there.

[Mountainman]

Thanks - good idea. I've just relied on my independant servicer to know what is needed but I do like to know what is coming up. It's running up the km's so quickly. It's a bit hard to understand why there isn't a schedule provided. The first time in all the dozen or so cars I've owned.