I've had a trawl thro' the various threads on this & there are quite a few...and many different opinions...however I wonder if anyone can help with this query.

My 2007 MY Petrol Vrs is now 27 months old. I bought it when it was 9 months old with around 5k on the clock...I recall that the last time the 'spanner' appeared with the 'mileage to service' value...I thought, 2500 miles (or something like that) to go...oh, that'll be at least another 3 months until it needs a service...and then a few days later it was at 0 & due a service...net result, dealer can't take it for weeks etc etc.

So this morning when the 'spanner' appeared with 4800 next to it...I thought...oh no...how long do I have this time? I appreciate it depends on my driving style/routes etc etc....but it's pretty consistant as I now only use the Vrs to go to my work & back (about 15 miles a day!) as we have the MPV for transporting the twins !

So the question I guess is...how long do you think I've got before I have the joy of trying to book it in, debating whether they have a filthy courtesy car to lend me...whether I should pay for the pleasure of using it...and then having to ask why they haven't fixed any of the issues I currently have with it...these include -

• Skoda badge on bootlid peeling...creamy white in parts
  
• Still fogs up badly at times (although not as bad as the early days)
  
• Still a knocking from around the gearstick & a rumble/vibration/squeal on moving off (particularly a hill)
  
• Loud pop from the radio (I've noticed that should be an easy fix, as common)
  
• Flap on boot lock recess, sometimes 'lazy' in resetting
  
• Condensation in O/s rear light cluster
  
• & the brake service they did, charged me for, but never recorded in the book !
  

...before paying the hugely inflated bill...which bears no resemblence to the price given when I booked it in?

I know I could go 'indy' but for peace of mind, over potential warranty claims I'd rather not until next time around (if at all).

I can't recall what mileage it was done at (or indeed how long ago)...it does feel like it needs a service (only done 16k since new). I am also hoping it'll be due another before the 'warranty runs out' in order that I can get a service/MOT done...and anything major covered under the warranty.

Your advice on the timescales for the indicator would be much appreciated.

Edited 15 May, 200917 yr by harveys
Make title more accurate

Spoke with one of the VWnuts at the work & he reckons all the numbers are in km's even if the car records distance covered in miles...so that makes it 3200 miles to a service? Doesn't explain the figure dropping like a stone last time tho'...any thoughts?

You should be on fixed servicing if you do less than 25 miles per day. VAG's advice!

I know that now...but only after reading the leaflets/service book this morning! The car was already on variable when I got it...and although I am normally pretty good at reading all the bumf...I didn't read enough of it obviously!

I am guessing that now I am on variable, have already paid for the expensive oil last time around...etc etc...I'd maybe just as well see it thro'...it's just a year since the first service was done...I've not quite done 6k since then... so I should get another few months out of it yet? I guess I could switch it to fixed at this next one...does it save me anything? It just means it won't get a 3rd service before the warranty runs out, but I don't suppose it stops me putting it in to get the things I know are issues fixed before that runs out? If I MOT before the warranty expires too...anything major may be recoverable too?

I know that now...but only after reading the leaflets/service book this morning! The car was already on variable when I got it...and although I am normally pretty good at reading all the bumf...I didn't read enough of it obviously!

I am guessing that now I am on variable, have already paid for the expensive oil last time around...etc etc...I'd maybe just as well see it thro'...it's just a year since the first service was done...I've not quite done 6k since then... so I should get another few months out of it yet? I guess I could switch it to fixed at this next one...does it save me anything? It just means it won't get a 3rd service before the warranty runs out, but I don't suppose it stops me putting it in to get the things I know are issues fixed before that runs out? If I MOT before the warranty expires too...anything major may be recoverable too?

It's not entirely your fault, I think VAG do a poor job of educating buyers about variable/fixed servicing. I'm not sure there is anything about it in the user manual.

If it's been a year since your last service, if it were me I'd switch to fixed now and service it now, even if you have only done 6k. With fixed, you shouldn't go over 1 year even if you do a low mileage. Using longlife oil doesn't make a huge difference here IMO. You've not been driving correctly for variable servicing.

I am thinking that I should probably go to the limit with the variable...which won't be that long probably (& well I've paid for the oil & being Aberdonian !!) then changeover to fixed from then on.

I phoned the dealer & they agreed that would be the way to go...does that sound sensible to you guys.

Got in the car yesterday morning & spanner still read 4800...by the time I got in to go home...it went BONG ! yes & the spanner started to flash.

Luckily I was meeting my mate at the garage (as he was going to do a deal on the Vrs !), so I spoke to the service desk & explained that it was supposed to be on variable, I'd payed a premium for the oil last time around etc etc.

Confusion reigned...the lassie on the desk didn't know...whoever she phoned didn't even know that the 5w30 listed was 'long life' !!! & they don't know how to rectify the problem. Apparently someone will phone me to discuss !

Presumably if it's reset now, all the calcs will be wrong...but I paid for the LL stuff & I've only done 6k in a year...how long do you reckon I could safely go before I get it serviced...it's out of warranty in 9 months, so I'll need to do before then anyway.

I plan to put it on fixed at the next service anyway.

Presumably if it's reset now, all the calcs will be wrong...but I paid for the LL stuff & I've only done 6k in a year...how long do you reckon I could safely go before I get it serviced...it's out of warranty in 9 months, so I'll need to do before then anyway.

I plan to put it on fixed at the next service anyway.

My advice (for what that's worth) is bite the bullet and service it NOW!

Your car (which measures the oil quality with a sensor when using the variable scheme) is TELLING YOU that it's time to change the oil, but you're hoping someone here will say it's ok to ignore this because you've only driven 6k this last year and used LL oil.

As already said on this thread, you're car usage ain't right for variable servicing, hence why the oil has degraded so quickly, so service it now, switch to fixed servicing, and hopefully your car will live happily ever after

With all due respect...what it is telling me is that the garage didn't complete the service correctly last time & have switched it from variable to fixed (or however it works!) otherwise it's a heck of a coincidence it was exactly a year since it was done.

I am not as you suggest "hoping someone will say it's ok" but merely tryng to draw on the valuable opinions of the guys on here (but since you are the only one to reply riph72 - your opinion is the only one I have to go on!) If the only advice I do get is to get it done now, then so be it. I agree the easy option would be to just get it done.

It's a sorry state of affairs when the dealer can help you with the query tho'.

&...needless to say, they didn't phone me back today either.

I'll get it booked in asap serviced & changed to fixed, as you've now got me worried, which is not the best situation to be in!

With all due respect...what it is telling me is that the garage didn't complete the service correctly last time & have switched it from variable to fixed (or however it works!) otherwise it's a heck of a coincidence it was exactly a year since it was done.

I am not as you suggest "hoping someone will say it's ok" but merely tryng to draw on the valuable opinions of the guys on here (but since you are the only one to reply riph72 - your opinion is the only one I have to go on!) If the only advice I do get is to get it done now, then so be it. I agree the easy option would be to just get it done.

It's a sorry state of affairs when the dealer can help you with the query tho'.

&...needless to say, they didn't phone me back today either.

I'll get it booked in asap serviced & changed to fixed, as you've now got me worried, which is not the best situation to be in!

I've gone back and re-read your original post to try and make sense of this, because I originally only replied because it looked like your issue was driving on variable when you should have been on fixed. Since then I've probably moved in a slight tangent...

Sorry if my tone was a bit off on the last post, but it seemed that you were trying to avoid having a service because you had put LL oil in and expected more miles!

Anyway, I've re-read the initial post, it seems that something isn't right. I seem to recall from memory that you only get the spanner when there is 500 miles to go (can anyone confirm this, it's in the manual but mine's outside and it's raining!).

I'd never expect to see the spanner with 4800 miles next to it, can you post up a photo?

As for the miles <> Km thing, every number shown on a UK car should be in miles, the computer works in Km internally, but converts to miles before displaying anything for you to read.

As for light cluster condensation, it's ok, don't worry about it

The car monitors your driving style and the oil condition. 18k miles is the MAX you can get, and the min is the standard 8.5K miles. You say the cars only done 16k? You should not be on variable, and risk serious damage if you continue to use variable servicing.

The fact it's a year either means your oil condition is very poor, or you were changed to fixed by the dealer as a result of your low mileage or always have been on fixed. You mention another service, so that says the car must have always been on fixed which makes sense for a 2yr old car and needing it's second as per the dash indicator.

If the car says it needs servicing, you need to service it else you'll void your warranty which will cover your other issues!!

The car monitors your driving style and the oil condition. 18k miles is the MAX you can get, and the min is the standard 8.5K miles. You say the cars only done 16k? You should not be on variable, and risk serious damage if you continue to use variable servicing.

The fact it's a year either means your oil condition is very poor, or you were changed to fixed by the dealer as a result of your low mileage or always have been on fixed. You mention another service, so that says the car must have always been on fixed which makes sense for a 2yr old car and needing it's second as per the dash indicator.

If the car says it needs servicing, you need to service it else you'll void your warranty which will cover your other issues!!

I agree with every word of that, but I am a little perplexed by what the OP says about his service indicator showing "4800 miles to service", that can't be right can it? Also, he talks of it suddenly nose-diving to "0 miles to service"?!

Could there be an actual fault here? Something doesn't smell right :eek:

Guys, I hear what you are saying & will get it serviced (as I have always done with all my other cars, to ensure they remain in tip top condition & the warranty valid).

riph72 apology accepted....I do value the opinion & assistance all you guys on here have given me. I love my cars but have never been the most mechanically minded! so the assistance/opinions are valuable to me.

You are not the only ones that are perplexed :confused: by this "4800 & spanner" displaying just over two weeks ago...but that is what happened & I watched it flash up every time I got in the car for the last two weeks until Thurs, when it went to the flashing spanner. As it no longer shows the 4800 figure, I can't take the pic you'd like.

The other facts (just to clarify) are - the car was registered in Feb 2007 by Skoda & was bought used by me with about 5.5k on the clock in Nov 2007 (I understand they released a batch of Vrs's around then). In early May 2008 - so six months after I got it (& 15 months from registration- so couldn't have been on fixed?!?) - it showed two thousand & something to the service - then went straight to "flashing spanner, so it went in for it's first service (at only 10k - so indicating in a year I'd do circa 9k) and I had the conversation about what regime it was on & what should it be on. They advised it was on variable & should stay on that - advice I accepted - because I was daft enough to think they knew best! I bite the bullet & paid a pretty price for what was effectively an oil & filter change ! (around £80 for the LL oil from memory?)

I accept my usage has changed - I have only done just under 6k in a year (the Vrs has effectively become our 2nd car) - but I still expected to get more time before the next service was due...or am I missing something here? Something doesn't add up.

Anyway - I'll get it booked in - changed to fixed & hopefully we'll all live happily ever after ! - thanks again guys.

You are not the only ones that are perplexed :confused: by this "4800 & spanner" displaying just over two weeks ago...but that is what happened & I watched it flash up every time I got in the car for the last two weeks until Thurs, when it went to the flashing spanner. As it no longer shows the 4800 figure, I can't take the pic you'd like.

The other facts (just to clarify) are - the car was registered in Feb 2007 by Skoda & was bought used by me with about 5.5k on the clock in Nov 2007 (I understand they released a batch of Vrs's around then). In early May 2008 - so six months after I got it (& 15 months from registration- so couldn't have been on fixed?!?) - it showed two thousand & something to the service - then went straight to "flashing spanner, so it went in for it's first service (at only 10k - so indicating in a year I'd do circa 9k) and I had the conversation about what regime it was on & what should it be on. They advised it was on variable & should stay on that - advice I accepted - because I was daft enough to think they knew best! I bite the bullet & paid a pretty price for what was effectively an oil & filter change ! (around £80 for the LL oil from memory?)

I accept my usage has changed - I have only done just under 6k in a year (the Vrs has effectively become our 2nd car) - but I still expected to get more time before the next service was due...or am I missing something here? Something doesn't add up.

Anyway - I'll get it booked in - changed to fixed & hopefully we'll all live happily ever after ! - thanks again guys.

Variable is the default (I think that's true for most if not all Octys, was with mine anyway), it definately sounds like you were going in for your first variable service in May 2008.

It may have been only 10k from new, but it was also 15 months since the original oil was put in, remember time matters as well as miles, and so does how it's driven!

I don't know why the dealer advised you to stick with variable, at your mileage you're probably better off with fixed. At 9000 miles you're in fixed territory.

Here's what VAG say:

Servicing Plans : Owners : Volkswagen UK

I understand that they often use the longlife oil even on fixed, others may confirm/deny this though... so it may have not cost as much more as you think.

Remember that lots of engine wear occurs at cold start (far less so with a good ester-synthetic), so an engine that does lots of short trips suffers greater wear than an engine started once but doing the same mileage, driving style being equal. This *might* explain why the spanner is coming up quicker than you expect?

I'm still perplexed by why you are getting a spanner with "4800" though; my understanding is that you don't get any spanner warnings until you have 500-1000 miles left, that region anyway.

I would say *perhaps* there is an issue with the oil quality sensor (still wouldn't expect "4800" on the IPC though), but it's unlikely and if you switth to fixed, the sensor isn't used anyway!

Peculiar as the warning is, given all the facts, your servicing schedule doesn't seem freakishly hard to believe, given the time, more so than the mileage, between services!

Something else to chew on; I've often wondered why it is that if a car on variable can monitor oil quality, why bother having a fixed scheme at all? I.e. even if you do 7500 miles and then a service is required according to the sensor, it needs a service, right?!

Of course, it's probably just down to economics. If you are running variable service when you do 8000 (e.g.) miles a year, mayeb you won't harm the car because the oil is monitored, but it will almost certainly not be cost-effective because of the extra oil-cost and different schedules used!

This is damn hard work this is. You need a university degree in summat to get your head round the servicing business.

I've got a 105 hp 1.9 TDI on variable and do about 7500 miles per year.

I'm in Spain and the dealer's advice is just run the damn thing until I get a warning with a ding or TWO years whichever comes first. Oil at last service was € 91 :eek: and they also said forget the brake fluid change cos you live in a semi desert for god sake. Sounds good to me. As for Cam belt change the line is 120000 kms--75000 miles and don't worry about the years. This seems to keep it very simple. But never having a cold start must help. (Wrong -it had a cold start in Northern France once so cold our breath froze inside the windows in about 2 seconds and my wifes glove froze to the door frame !! I kid you not)

I'm sure the climate in the UK kills cars.

The only 2 answers for the 4800mile warning vanishing is

1) car sees the engine oil quality go bad,

or

2)the service time has been reached (12 months fixed, 24 variable) before the miles to go reached zero.

This is damn hard work this is. You need a university degree in summat to get your head round the servicing business.

Personally, I think if you just follow VAG's advice and make sure you are on the appropriate scheme (i.e. fixed or variable) for your driving style, you hopefully can't go far wrong... (crosses fingers)

How many days were showing on the indicator?

My service indicator tells me how many kilometres & how many days. If the time period has run out then the number of kilometres remaining means nothing.

I didn't see a countdown on the number of days...just the 4800 km (or miles!)...

I am sure you are right if the car is on fixed - it'll be whichever comes first (miles/km's - if close to the max or days - if coming up for a year respectively) However if it's on variable...surely it has to be miles/km's only - days are irrelevant?

Following several further calls to the dealer today (but still not being able to speak to the group 'service manager' - but now I have his direct line - so maybe tomorrow!) it is clear that they have no idea what service regime it is on/was serviced to last time.

At one point today the service receptionist insisted she had been told that they could change over the indicator now & that it would still accurately countdown on variable...I don't buy that & plan to discuss the matter further with the service manager before I book it in.:confused: This just sums up the poor customer service I had last May - when all the items I asked them to look at were simply marked NFF (No Fault Found) - most of which were subsequently fixed after speaking to the group 'service manager'.

No Variable has a maximum time limit too, which IIRC is 2 years.

On variable you will see x miles then x days. Fixed you will only see mileage, as you know the max is 12 months.

Harveys, you keep on about Variable when we'd told you you should be on fixed based on your usage. Not sure why you asked the dealership to change to it? Yes you'd get upto 2 years, BUT even VAG say you shouldnt be on it and risk serious damage if you do.

:confused:

My car was on variable when I got it but they don't "recognise" variable service in AUS (even 15,000km/12months is considered OTT - too many years of 5,000km/3months service regimes) so I changed it to fixed.

In both cases it shows km & days remaining. this is on the big format display between the dials.

This makes sense because even if the max is 12 months, I couldn't honestly remember if i had it done in Jan or Mar without going back to the Service Book.

Took our Octy II in recently for its annual service - was told not needed as was set for variable, but should have one done next year whatever.

Thing is, the car only does 9,000 miles a year, but mostly long runs - we use the Smart around town. So where does this leave me? Does the oil go off if the car is just sitting around? Fixed or variable?

Took our Octy II in recently for its annual service - was told not needed as was set for variable, but should have one done next year whatever.

Thing is, the car only does 9,000 miles a year, but mostly long runs - we use the Smart around town. So where does this leave me? Does the oil go off if the car is just sitting around? Fixed or variable?

Given your usage (only 9000 miles, but long runs), I'd not worry about it and see out the remainder of your variable period, i.e. take it in when the car tells you it needs servicing.

The oil will degrade over time, but it's monitored by the engine management so it will tell you when the oil is below the required standard, so don't worry about it.

When you do get your next service, it might be worth considering switching to fixed, by VAG's recommendations you probably should be on it, if only because it might be cost effective if you drive enthusiastically and/or drive up lots of hills and/or carry heavy loads etc etc. If you don't do any of these, you probably won't find a massive difference between fixed and variable, but taking VAG advice to the letter, fixed is probably the one for you...