clevoir25

Volkswagen Golf 8 models come set to a flexible (Long Life) service regime by default straight from the factory, I would thought that Octavia / A3 / Leon would be the same?

My VAG specialist fobbed me off when they first serviced my car, I bought at 2.5 years old with 7000 miles on the clock. I thought VAG cars were set to variable from factory, but when I was able to download the service history I found it was on fixed servicing instead, I bet they reset it on purpose to make themselves more money. At the 2nd service I went armed with the VW service schedule for Golf 8, and spoke to the service manager. In the video of the service they showed it being set to variable using ODIS to prove that it had been set correctly! I fear that a main dealer will try and fob you off as they want to make the most profit!

This matches the part number in the photo https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/5e0803902-towing-equipment-ball-joint-europen-union-oe-producer-47508.html

If it's 2024 or newer it will have SFD2, and there are problems with VW releasing the coding for the trailer module. Pre 2024 cars will have SFD, there are no problems with coding. I had a tow bar fitted to a 2022 Golf 8 with no issue

I had the same problem with a 2022 Golf 8, eventually it will get looser, the plastic will split and the gear knob will start coming off in our hand. VW redesigned it, I had a replacement part fitted and have not had a problem since.

Me too, they were great. My Golf has SFD but I understand its the SFD2 cars that are the problem.

I looked at this for my Golf 8, it doesn't have GPS so footage isn't geolocated, which is not good if it is to be submitted as evidence to police / insurance company.

I've got a Viofo A229 Pro dashcam in a Golf 8 with a hardwire kit. The camera records in MP4 file format that can be viewed by VLC player. I can't get footage to play reliably using their phone app though, and have to take to SD card out of the camera to play on my computer instead.

I would have loved an full electric one but not at £1600, I paid around £800 for a detachable one. Yes you have got to bend down to insert it / remove it, but it's £800 cheaper. It's used for a bike rack, so I put in on in Spring and remove in Winter.

When I was looking for a tow bar I went to my local VAG specialist, who have a lot of ex main dealer staff. They said that a main dealer will just get a tow bar specialist in and put a markup on his costs. My local specialist weren't really interested either and they said that they would do the same, I ended up finding a VAG specialist near Poole

It was me that recommended them, they fitted a Westphalia, who are the OEM supplier to VW, detachable tow bar to my Golf Mk8 last Feb. I was happy with their service, I wanted to use a VAG specialist who are familiar with the cars / coding, rather than a general tow bar company who are fitting to a different make of car every day.

I don't have any affiliation with the company in Poole other than being a satisfied customer, here in Essex I found it hard to find a VAG specialist to carry out the works, rather than a general tow bar fitters who may be fitting to a different make of car every day and not have a detailed knowledge of any of them. So it was worth the drive for me, I guess it all depends on how close you are to a specialist you can trust.

It's essential that a vehicle specific wiring kit is used that can integrate with the car's Canbus network, and that its coded. Some of the cheaper options use generic wiring kits instead where the car is not aware that a caravan / trailer has been connected. This leads to issues where the parking and blind spot detectors are not switched off.

I had a Westfalia towbar, who are the OEM supplier to the VAG group, installed to a Golf Mk8 last year, including coding, by this company in Poole. Advanced In CarAdvanced In-Car Tech | Audi & Volkswagen Retrofit Special...Advanced In-Car Technologies are the leading Retrofit Company In The UK. Specialising in Audi & Volkswagen Retrofits & Bespoke Aftermarket ElectronicsRear reversing sensors and blind spot sensors are turned off when a caravan / trailer is connected

They have set the car to fixed servicing, it should be showing 18600 miles (30,000km) and 2 years for oil service and inspection I had the same thing with my Golf Mk8, and ended up having to print the official VW service intervals to give to my VAG specialist so that they would set it to variable service A main dealer will try to steer you to fixed servicing as it makes them more money!

Thanks all, I have just had my Golf 8 serviced and the specialist has correctly set the vehicle to flexible servicing. Managed to find that it left the factory on flexible servicing, but it was changed to fixed servicing on PDI by the supplying dealer (I am the second owner). No doubt that they do that to all cars that they supply to make more money for the service department.

Thank you, that confirms my suspicions that the car was set to fixed servicing, and that the oil change and inspection should show in same interval

I hope you can help me, I've got a Golf Mk8 with a 1.5TSI 150bhp engine, so the same as an Octavia Mk4 I bought the car in Oct 2024 with 7,000 miles, and in April at 13,333 miles it asked for an oil inspection. I didn't know what service regime it had been set to, as it had a digital handbook, but I asked for the car to be set to long life servicing, When I got the car back, it was serviced at a VAG independent, it was showing a oil service in 9,400 miles and an inspection in 20,000 miles I thought this was wrong, I have driven 3 TDI cars in the past on long life servicing, and on the last one (Seat Mk3), the oil service and inspection were the same interval. I took the car back and they were certain that the car was on long life servicing, and that as the car only had 7,000 miles in 2.5 years, the service interval was 9,400mile, but this should increase as I drive the car more. However 8,400 miles later the car is asking for a oil inspection in 1,000 miles, I have checked with the independent and they say according to my digital record, the car is due another oil service? It seems to me that they set the servicing to fixed interval instead of long life, they said that TSI engines don't cope will on long life servicing. However I drive circa 15,000 miles a year. On cars with long life servicing, does car display the same interval for oil and inspections? I appreciate that I can reset oil and inspections in the car, but they doesn't seem to be any way of checking what serving regime the car is on. I know some dealers change cars to fixed interval as it provides them more work. I've got VCDS, so hopefully I can have a look to see if I can find what regime it is on.

Try https://www.wingmirrorman.co.uk/

Ignore my comment I( was getting confused with dash cam cameras

Yes I've seen those when I researched tow bar suppliers, and it scared me! That's why I decided to use Westfalia, as they appear to be the OEM supplier to VAG

After having my towbar fitted and programmed at a Westfalia dealer, and having no problems I was intrigued with East Yorkshire Retrofit's comments. It appears to me that the Westfalia control unit is a simply a rebadged VW part. Of if Westfalia are the OEM supplier, it's probably the other way around?

I had a Westfalia towbar, who are the VW OEM supplier, retrofitted to a 2022 Golf Mk8 1.5TSI and it works fine with no problems. I looked for VW OEM towbars on the internet, they are all rebadged Westfalia ones + the VW towbar control unit you will see rebadged as Westfalia.

My VW specialist checked my Golf 8 over and said that I'd need a new pedal box to cure it. That's going to be crazy money, so I guess I'll have to live with it!

I have the same issue with a Golf 8, 3 years old @ 14k miles. Bought it 7 months ago and it wasn't happening then. I've got it booked into my VW specialist next month for investigation.