I have a Mk2 Octavia TDi, 105bhp, bought new in November last year. I'm running it on the 'variable' service regime. The first service request appeared at about 18000 miles. The car has now done about 34000 miles and the service indicator says 4500 miles to the next service, which would make it about 38500 miles in total, and about the same interval as the first service. I'm a little disappointed in this. I cover lots of miles with my work and would like to keep servicing costs to a minimum by having fewer services over the duration of my ownership.

My previous car was a Mk 1 Octavia TDi, 110bhp. Doing exactly the same journey types (few cold startups, long journeys, mostly motorway), this requested services at about 28000-mile intervals.

Why the difference? Any comments/observations/suggestions welcome!

Your Mk1 was a non PD engine, the max interval on the PD engine is about 19K miles so what you are seeing is correct.

i didnt think the mk1 one servicing intervals were any higher than the mk2?

and as above the max servicing period is 19k, so your doing pretty good

The MK I TDI 110 could go up to 30k miles between services and the MK II's can do up to 20k miles between services.

Please note the 30k and 20k are a little high and roundings from the KM conversions.

Hmm...30k on an oil change. WTB: Turbo by 60k and new engine by 80k.

How did the engines compare in terms of performance and torque?

The PD injectors don't do the oil any favours.

Hmm...30k on an oil change. WTB: Turbo by 60k and new engine by 80k.

er..................no!

I part-exchanged my Mk 1 for the Mk 2. The Mk 1 had 140,000 miles on the clock and was running like a Swiss watch on the day it left my ownership. My only reason for changing was my employers rule of 'nothing over 3 years old', under the conditions of the company car opt-out scheme. If I had the choice, I would have kept it. It was a fabulous car - the only money I spent in three years was on servicing, one cambelt change and tyres. Never changed a light bulb or a fuse or any other components. No breakdowns. Original brake pads were about half-worn at trade-in time.

If my Mk 2 is as good, I'll be very happy. My only concern is over the service intervals, but that has been answered. Thanks.

If my Mk 2 is as good, I'll be very happy. My only concern is over the service intervals, but that has been answered. Thanks.

It won't be.

Turbos seem a week point

Bloody hell, your 1st service done same time as mine & my second also due same time as yours, when first service done, they reset to 20/k miles 2 years, even though service book says 30K miles, car is 56 reg.

Dont worry about the turbo, I am on 60K miles and still on my first one. With the PD engine its vital to check the oil level regularly, most turbo problems are caused by oil starvation.

The service interval is a max of about 19K or 2 years, the service book is a generic one and not specific to your model.

The service intervals are programmed to come up at a max of 30,000 kilometers ie 18,800 miles, its just the uk dealers round this up to 20k miles.

^^^ In fact if I hadn't been reading here I would have been expecting my first service at 20K miles. The only number the dealer mentioned was 20K.

30,000km is 18,641.136 miles

The key word in all of this is 'variable' my dealer quoted the variable being between 12 - 20k depending on the type of journeys and driving style. I do a lot of motorway journeys, but I don't give the engine a hard time. Both my 20k variable services have been at around 18K.

Interesting, I do short trips (2x3 km = 2x2 miles to work and to home) in town, and computer always said before my 1st service that it will be at 30000 km or when 2 years achieved. At 21000 km I had to make the first service, because the first 2 years passed.

Now, I have 6 months till the age of 4 years and computer says service will be after 6 months or at 51000 km (21000+30000).

Maybe I'm not killing my car at all? :-)