Are they set to fixed or variable from the factory?

I am looking at a Jetta tomorrow with 20k on the clock and the salesman at the non vw dealership where it is up for sale has said it is due a service but thinks they are on fixed??

I think i would probably want it putting on a fixed servicing schedule anyway, is there anything specific to setting it to fixed or should any large car dealership be able to do it vw or not?

Could do to know before i go in the morning if possible.

Cheers

Edited 4 February, 200917 yr by Guest

For the Octavia it's variable, but if you look in the boot at the spec sticker the variable is usually marked with a QG1 somewhere on it.

Important question is does it have a DPF. If it does you need to use VW507 oil regardless of wether it's on fixed or variable.

For the Octavia it's variable, but if you look in the boot at the spec sticker the variable is usually marked with a QG1 somewhere on it.

Important question is does it have a DPF. If it does you need to use VW507 oil regardless of wether it's on fixed or variable.

How would i know if it has a DPF, (whatever that is) lol. The car is a 57 plate. October 2007 to be precise. It is not the CR engine it is the PD i believe.

Also it seems as though it has gone just over the 20k ie 20700 miles and is now due a service according to the salesman, is this ok? Or once its over the 20k is the warranty void?

I really need to get all this info together before tomorrow so i can use it as ammo for haggling with and so i don't end up getting something rubbish.

Thanks

How would i know if it has a DPF, (whatever that is) lol. The car is a 57 plate. October 2007 to be precise. It is not the CR engine it is the PD i believe.

Also it seems as though it has gone just over the 20k ie 20700 miles and is now due a service according to the salesman, is this ok? Or once its over the 20k is the warranty void?

I really need to get all this info together before tomorrow so i can use it as ammo for haggling with and so i don't end up getting something rubbish.

Thanks

DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter.

If it's a PD140 it might have one and I don't know the code for it so you'd have to ask.

If it's a PD170 I'm fairly certain it will have one.

If it's at 20'700 then it's past being due it's first service on variable by a good margin.

IIRC the maximum period for variable servicing is 30'000km = 18641miles

This means that even if you were to allow a 1000 mile/30 day margin (19641) on it the car is still over 1000miles overdue and this could well affect your remaining manufacturers warranty.

If the car is on fixed I think it's somewhere between 10 and 12k per service so it would now be due it's second service.

If the car doesn't have a stamp for the first (fixed service) then regardless I wouldn't touch it. Personally I'd ask to see the service book before you say anything at all about this and if they don't have it I'd consider walking away unless VW confirm the warranty is not affected.

DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter.

If it's a PD140 it might have one and I don't know the code for it so you'd have to ask.

If it's a PD170 I'm fairly certain it will have one.

If it's at 20'700 then it's past being due it's first service on variable by a good margin.

IIRC the maximum period for variable servicing is 30'000km = 18641miles

This means that even if you were to allow a 1000 mile/30 day margin (19641) on it the car is still over 1000miles overdue and this could well affect your remaining manufacturers warranty.

If the car is on fixed I think it's somewhere between 10 and 12k per service so it would now be due it's second service.

If the car doesn't have a stamp for the first (fixed service) then regardless I wouldn't touch it. Personally I'd ask to see the service book before you say anything at all about this and if they don't have it I'd consider walking away unless VW confirm the warranty is not affected.

Going to call in the morning before i set off as it is a good 60 miles away. I will try and sort out exactly what the service book has got stamped if any. If it has got no stamps then i am wary of buying it because as you say, it is quite a bit past the variable service limit anyway. If it is on fixed it should already have one stamp surely??

May end up going to look at a Octy II 2.0 TDi elegance on a 57 plate for 10k instead at this rate, that is at a Skoda dealership so i feel i would have more comeback than getting the VW with dubious service record from a non vw dealer.

Going to call in the morning before i set off as it is a good 60 miles away. I will try and sort out exactly what the service book has got stamped if any. If it has got no stamps then i am wary of buying it because as you say, it is quite a bit past the variable service limit anyway. If it is on fixed it should already have one stamp surely??

May end up going to look at a Octy II 2.0 TDi elegance on a 57 plate for 10k instead at this rate, that is at a Skoda dealership so i feel i would have more comeback than getting the VW with dubious service record from a non vw dealer.

If it's on fixed it should have a stamp in there already.

If it's on variable it's overdue.

Just be a bit careful about telling them your thoughts as it's not hard for a dealer to "add" a stamp in a book. Not saying this lot would do it, but I've seen a book with a service done with the same stamp, and handwriting and pen with the first one spot on the required mileage.

My Passat has a sticker on the B pillar and one under the bonnet on the slam panel which state which service has been carried out.

I believe it will have been set to variable from the factory unless it was altered by the previous owner.

We looked at the Jetta before we got our Passat and liked it very much as we had a Bora at the time but the size of the Passat won us over in the end.

when sold from the dealer thay can change it to fixed servicing, just get the reg checked at a vw dealer, thay can tell off the vw computer (dialog) which svs its on, and i should know cos i used to work at a vw dealer!

when sold from the dealer thay can change it to fixed servicing, just get the reg checked at a vw dealer, thay can tell off the vw computer (dialog) which svs its on, and i should know cos i used to work at a vw dealer!

Cheers for that. Can i call any VW dealership? Do they all have access to one big database?

Certainly going to make some calls in the morning before i travel anywhere.

Better news this morning.

Spoke to VW customer services, they were really helpful.

The car has had a longlife service at 16k by a VW dealer. I have also spoke to the VW dealer themselves and it has had some minor warranty work done. One of the rear doors was adjusted, but that is about it. No accident repairs showing. They also said that is the service book was missing or not stamped they could sort it out for a tenner and issue me a duplicate. Which is exactly what happened whith my Octy when i got that.

i am going to try and get to see it today. I f i did get it i may get them to service it anyway and put it on fixed servicing.

I did forget to ask if it had a DPF though. DOH!

Just called tham back, no DPF.

Edited 5 February, 200917 yr by Guest

No DPF is nice. One less expensive item to worry about

Been and looked at it, drove it, bought it. lol

Can't get it til next weekend as i am off away to london on monday. :(

Got it for 9.5k with full years road tax and a full tank of diesel.

I am quite happy with that.

Will put some pics up when i get it.

Apologies for dragging this up again.

Now that i have the car i am a bit confused over what to do about servicing.

AFAIK the car was originally on variable servicing and had a service at a VW dealership at 16k.

The place i bought it claim to have done an oil/filter service prior to me collecting it and have stamped the book, they also claim to have used longlife oil. The car now has 21k miles.

However when checking the dash for the next service, it says it is due in 4200 miles time which would take the car to roughly 26k miles ie 10k after the VW service. There is also a sticker inside the door shut that is from the vw garage saying next service at 26k miles and indicates that the car is now on a fixed servicing routine.

Now to me it seems i have possibly two options.

1, wait til 30k and get it serviced, relying on the independent dealer i bought it from and their service therefore reseting the service indicator myself in 4200 miles and waiting til the 30k comes up.

2, in 4200 miles take the car for a service. I would want it on fixed 10k.

I would prefer to go for option two for piece of mind, but the car will be on 26k miles and 19 months old so what sort of service will it be and how much would i be looking at.

Cheers again.

Just go to a VW dealer and take it in for another variable service at the mileage the VW place said it was due at.

I'd almost have to ask has the supplying dealer done anything other than stamp the book from what you're saying.

For warranty and piece of mind I'd say it's defiantly worth getting it serviced at a main dealer.

Question is what on earth was the stamp in your book for. As long as they are VAT registered it shouldn't be a problem, just all a bit odd.

Just go to a VW dealer and take it in for another variable service at the mileage the VW place said it was due at.

I'd almost have to ask has the supplying dealer done anything other than stamp the book from what you're saying.

For warranty and piece of mind I'd say it's defiantly worth getting it serviced at a main dealer.

Question is what on earth was the stamp in your book for. As long as they are VAT registered it shouldn't be a problem, just all a bit odd.

Thanks for the reply.

It would seem that the car was on variable service until it was done at Pulman VW at 16k. At that time it was set to fixed, so technically it is due at 26k. What sort of fixed service would it be at 26k? ie minor or major?

I must admit i am sceptical myself of the supplying dealers "service"

I was going to wait til 26k then get another fixed service but wont this cause a problem as it will be between the regular fixed services of 20k and 30k.

Phone the dealer and ask for a price, but I'd guess the service would just be an oil change + a few bits one at 26k miles as the variable to fixed service should have been a full service at 16k.

Personally if it was me I'd get it changed back to variable and ask the dealer to do the variable service every 18.5k. I'd then ask for extra oil only changes at 9k-10k miles either at the dealer, DIY or at a VAT reg'd garage with you supplying the VW507 oil.

Means you keep a full service history, but you also get the extra changes without having to pay the main dealer for extras. Most dealers are fine, but I've seen a few quote for a major service every 10k which is quite cheeky.

Phone the dealer and ask for a price, but I'd guess the service would just be an oil change + a few bits one at 26k miles as the variable to fixed service should have been a full service at 16k.

Personally if it was me I'd get it changed back to variable and ask the dealer to do the variable service every 18.5k. I'd then ask for extra oil only changes at 9k-10k miles either at the dealer, DIY or at a VAT reg'd garage with you supplying the VW507 oil.

Means you keep a full service history, but you also get the extra changes without having to pay the main dealer for extras. Most dealers are fine, but I've seen a few quote for a major service every 10k which is quite cheeky.

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking that variable servicing may not be so good for the car as i only do around 10k a year and mainly half hour trips to work and back. Some longer trips on the weekend i guess.

When i had my octy i had that put on fixed servicing and just got it done every 10k either main dealer or independent never had any issues with getting warranty work done.

I don't see how paying for the variable service, which is obviously going to be more expensive then doing another oil change half way through is really that much benefit.

The way i see it at 26k or sometime in May whichever comes first, i can either get it put back onto variable servicing or just get it serviced on fixed and then every 10k/yearly going forwards.

The only thing is that if i went for a variable service next time the car would have 18 months left of warranty and may well be out of warranty before the next service after that would be due. Whereas on the fixed it would have a service this year and one more next year prior to the warranty expiring. I would probably go the DIY route after the warranty had expired as i did with my Octy.

The price difference I've been quoted between fixed and variable was about £10, so i take a variable service and then do an oil and filter change every 9-10k miles in addition to this DIY now it's out of warranty.

If you're just happier on fixed, then by all means go that way, just make sure that if a major one hasn't been done it is this time.

I'd almost be tempted to get the oil changed now, just because I'd not even be sure the other garage did anything, but if they did, did they use the correct oil?