There are many factors and conditions which extend or reduce a vehicle's service interval. Some we have common with Europe, some not. I will try to address them as they have appeared.

I have split my reply up, as there appears to be a 10 000 character limit per post.

Quote Originally Posted by ninja2 View Post
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 ...
The LongLife service regime (QG1) varies the service interval depending on what needs servicing on the vehicle and how the vehicle is driven, using a variety of sensors and calculations.

This regime allows for wide variations in service intervals - the minimum service interval is set at 15 000 km / 12 months. The maximum service interval is set at 30 000 km / 24 months.

A vehicle that is driven economically, in a mild climate and an atmosphere with a low particulate count, with the majority of the engine's running time at nominal operating temperature, uses sulfur-free fuel and approved "LongLife" (VW 504.00/507.00) engine lubricants, covers most of its distance on a highway and is rarely driven in urban areas, could conceivably stretch its service intervals towards the regime's upper limit (say, between 25 000 and 30 000 km).

For every variable listed above which does not apply (or only partially applies) to a vehicle will see its service interval reduced further and further by its onboard computer. If the LongLife service regime were to be enabled here, I believe it would display a service interval towards the regime's lower limit (say, between 15 000 and 20 000 km) for the majority of Volkswagen vehicles sold here, given the expected operating conditions for our market.

Exceptions will always exist, of course. A compromise by nature cannot be perfect, so it is conceivable that a few owners would be disadvantaged by fixed 15 000 km / 12 month service intervals, but such is life.

In markets where the LongLife service regime is practiced (some, but not all, European countries), owners have the option to select the Time & Distance service regime instead, which has fixed 15 000 km / 12 month service intervals (i.e. our service regime). This is recommended (but not compulsory) by Volkswagen if the vehicle is expected to operate under less than ideal conditions. These may include driving in urban areas, frequent cold starts, short journeys, extended periods of idling, uneconomical style of driving, carrying heavy loads, towing, fuel not conforming to EU standards (land border crossings), frequently operating in very cold or very hot temperatures and so forth.