Volkswagen "supplementary service"

[deanbox]

Hey guys, I got sent a letter recommending me for a supplementary service because I met a number of criteria ie. Frequent short trips, city driving. Includes engine oil change, check of fluids, upper body, steering, suspension and tyre wear as well as others. For $280 on a car 6 months old it sounds a bit shady. What do you guys think?

[JaneAusten]

It's a trap.

[team_v]

It's a trap.

Definitely!
My yearly service only cost $270.

[Transporter]

Hey guys, I got sent a letter recommending me for a supplementary service because I met a number of criteria ie. Frequent short trips, city driving. Includes engine oil change, check of fluids, upper body, steering, suspension and tyre wear as well as others. For $280 on a car 6 months old it sounds a bit shady. What do you guys think?

The cost has nothing to do with it. You want to have your car reliable and maintained as per manufacturer specifications.
Especially, if you plan on keeping your car for long time, it's a good idea. Just check your owner's manual and you will find out that the dealer is right about 6 months service, when you drive short trips, so really you should get your car serviced more often or you could even void your warranty in some situations.

[gavs]

^^^^^ Transporter is correct.

Still, it amazes me how many people pick up their new car and don't read the owner's manual....

[Transporter]

Not just the car owners but also dealers are guilty when they put on the service sticker the service due at 15,000km or 12 months from the date of the sale, rather than from the date when the car was made. The difference is sometimes more than 6 months.

[The_Hawk]

The manual looks like this for a diesel:




The extra dust isn't good for the air cleaner.
Short trips aren't great for the oil as it doesn't get up to temp, same issue for the DPF not being able to regen properly if it doesn't get heat into it (from memory it's 15 minutes + and 70+ for it to work properly).
The belt... well I don't know about that one, but I'm sure someone can chime in

If you're concerned, give the service dept a call (or drop in and see them).

[brad]

if you meet the severe conditions criteria then you should get it done. $270 sounds exxy though as it just a lube & filter. I recall maverick was getting his supplementary services done by VW for <$200.

504/507 oil will be ~$80; filter ~$25; sump plug/washer ~$2; enviro/w'shop mtls $13 1/2 hour labour ~$55 = $175 + GST = ~$193

[frozze]

Hhhmm When I was picking my car up a couple of weeks back, I was told by my dealer to drop in at around 6000-7500km for a quick check and oil top up for free.. Don't need to call it in. Just rock up with the car during business hours. Did I hear wrongly/misunderstood what he said?

[brad]

Hhhmm When I was picking my car up a couple of weeks back, I was told by my dealer to drop in at around 6000-7500km for a quick check and oil top up for free.. Don't need to call it in. Just rock up with the car during business hours. Did I hear wrongly/misunderstood what he said?

nope, you heard right. But that is a different thing to a supplementary service.

your dealer doesn't want you running out of oil..... but you'd be checking it a few times before 7500km won't you?