What is the service interval for a diesel?

[wai]

G'day,

I have a Caddy Maxi Life TDI250 which has had no issues at all. It has done around 55,000 km, and has been serviced as required under VAG warranty at 15,000 km/12 months. Again no issues at all.

It is now past the VAG warranty and the dealer now wants it to be serviced every 10,000 km/6 months for their "dealer extended warranty". When you look through the information it is for all the cars they sell, and a lot of it does not apply to the VW. But, why now do they want it to be serviced every 6 months (that's what it becomes)? Also, when you look at it, all they do is change the engine oil. As far as greasing, there are no real greasing points, and there is no diff as such, it's part of the transmission. Also, it refers to "clutch" rather than "clutches". They also talk of Standard and Premium, however they will not say which I am supposed to have.

I've tried to find out what the service interval is from VAG, but as usual, they are playing "no talkies".

So, what is the service interval?

The only thing I can see from the documentation is that there is something about replacing the fuel filter. Again, why does this suddenly change?

The real hassle with the dealer is that they are in Penrith, and I'm in Blacktown. It is almost 80 km round trip. I have had a loan car under warranty, however even that is a major hassle as you have to do a full thorough inspection when you collect it and then they try and find fault when you return it. On one occasion I had an Amarok as a loan vehicle. The mats had mud on them when I was handed it, and they wanted to charge me for cleaning when I returned it. They also climbed into the tray and checked the hoop for stone chip damage!

I don't mind servicing it if necessary, but find it a little off when they try and just get you to service it twice as often.

Thanks.

[JB's Dub]

The extended warranty would be from an independent insurance company. The servicing requirements would be set by the warranty company. Most companies have a set service routine which if not followed will void the extended warranty.
I had a customer with a MK6 golf who had an extended warranty from a non VW dealer which had a water pump failure. The warranty company declined her claim as their policies stipulated 7,500 km/4 month servicing and she was servicing as per VW schedules.

[JustCruisn]

It's an insurance policy. The more conditions they put into it the more ways they have to exclude a claim.

[wai]

No, this is not an "insurance policy" type extended warranty. There was no cost associated with it. It was just something tagged on as a means of essentially locking you in to using them for not just 3 years, but 6 years.

And no, it was not built into the price. There was a full price breakdown, right from the rrp, and then the various discounts, and trade in. There was nothing about an extended warranty. In fact they tried to sell me one, to replace the one offered with ALL vehicles, but I declined. Also, for this "warranty" to be in effect, EVERY service has to be carried out by them; first the standard manufacturer's warranty, and then their extension. If even one service (scheduled or otherwise) is done by someone other than them, and they have not authorised it in writing, the extension is invalid. Believe it or not, it extends to breakdowns.

I know it is just a means of getting you to use them and then for them to decline any claim.

[Umai Naa!!]

Volkswagen's extended warranty does not change the service intervals.

What you have been offered is most likely a waste of money. The only extended warranty to have on a Volkswagen, is the one offered by Volkswagen themselves. Not the money-spinner that the dealerships offer, which will not be worth the paper it's printed on, should the dealership go belly-up.

[gldgti]

I thought everyone understood these things were really just service guarantees ( for the dealer). The Max warranty claim is usually about 1-2k worth of repairs in the fine print. Its really just a servicing contract.

[brad]

Find yourself somewhere closer to Blacktown to get your car serviced as the dealer is having a lend of you. It's a standard dealership ploy and VW AU would be totally unaware.

By getting you back 6 monthly you are paying for the "warranty" via extra service work.

How on earth does Blacktown to Penrith (even the western side) take 80km round trip? It's 30km each way - maybe 35km tops.

Isn't Alto or Trivett nearby? And there's a few good specialist independents nearby too

[Umai Naa!!]

BWA and Ramspeed are out at Seven Hills. Both European specialists.

With those increased service frequencies, all they're doing is a basic oil and filter change. I'd also suspect they'll slap you with a surcharge for full synthetic oil too.