Dodgy Service Centre & custom service interval?!?

[Elkcloner]

I have a 2015 Golf R Wolfsburg wagon that I bought in Feb 2016 brand new (not demo).
It has always been serviced at a third party mechanic.
The service light came on for the first time in October '16 with 9000km on the clock. I figured that was because the car was initially at a VW dealership in NSW (Oct '15) before being sent to the QLD dealership where I bought it.
I had it serviced at the mechanic who touts himself as a VW specialist and charges around $350 each service. The car was serviced incl. oil change.
Inspection & Oil came on again July '17 with 19,000km on the clock - I remember thinking ?isn't it meant to be 15,000 or Oct but I knew I would be away in October so just had it done.
Now at 29,000km (and 9 months) the inspection & oil change indicator is on again! I checked my service book & rang VW, it definitely says 15,000/12mo.

Volkswagen told me that the mechanic must have changed the interval to 10,000 because they 'want to see me more often'

So I rang the mechanic who said 'we do that for cars that are out of warranty' I told him the car is in warranty still and I thought it was a bit cheeky to change the interval without asking the customer.

He then said they do it for all customers to 'look after they've.
He said I could drop by the car and they can change it to 15.

Problem is if they do, the indicator won't come on for another 12mo or 15,000km from now (rather than in 5,000km or July).

Does anyone know if that's right? If it is, I can just reset the indicator myself and set a reminder in my phone... Don't really want to go back to these dodgy guys.

[tigger73]

They should be able to reset it to the “correct “ interval.

But yes they probably should have discussed with you the reasons why they recommend 10k intervals.


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[Umai Naa!!]

Service reminder is meant to come on just before it hits 15K/12mths, Inspection reminder just before 30K/24mths.

I don't know what diagnostic software your mechanic uses, but my Autel unit can set the intervals to whatever you want, and to whenever you want it to go off next. You just need to alter the distance travelled and the time elapsed since last service, based on the intervals you've set it to.

They're rarely set right from the factory, so they often need to be corrected at the pre-delivery inspection.

[Transporter]

The same here, my Snap-On scanner can set any time and any distance.

With the service reminders, it's always time or distance whichever come first, you don't get to choose.

[Ozsko]

Mine was set to time from when it was manufactured so came up about three months early due to the gap between manufacture and delivery. I just ignored it until the correct time from delivery came up and they reset when it was serviced.

[Transporter]

Mine was set to time from when it was manufactured so came up about three months early due to the gap between manufacture and delivery. I just ignored it until the correct time from delivery came up and they reset when it was serviced.

It’s all water under the bridge now. But, the life of the oil starts when it’s poured into the engine and not when the car is sold.

[jeromeo]

I have an amarok v6 supposed to be serviced every 15000km the next service is scheduled for 10000km directly from vw. Nobody played with it yet.

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[Umai Naa!!]

Commercial vehicles leave the production plant with it set for 10K. It's meant to be changed to 15K. Easily done with the right gear.

[Ozsko]

It’s all water under the bridge now. But, the life of the oil starts when it’s poured into the engine and not when the car is sold.

When I was a fleet manager we did a lot of oil testing and the oil always had way more service life than the manufacturers recommended service intervals by quite a big margin. I doubt three months of little use would have had much of an impact.

[dinot81]

It’s all water under the bridge now. But, the life of the oil starts when it’s poured into the engine and not when the car is sold.

I have to disagree with this statement. When I picked up my Tiguan in 2015, had 365 days / 15000km to next service despite probably spending 7 to 8 weeks on the boat plus 3 weeks for delivery. When you pick up a brand new car, dealer needs (at least should) reset service interval.

2015 Tiguan 130TDI R-Line, Pepper Grey, Panoramic Sunroof