I have an Octavia 08 reg. 1.9TDI DSG Hatch.

At the last service the garage switched it from variable service interval to fixed – not at my request. I have noticed that the service indicator display is showing that the next service is due in 18300 miles or 719 days. Surely this should start counting down from 365 days on a fixed service setting? I have asked the garage but have had no response yet.

Your opinions would be appreciated.

That looks like its still set to variable.

That is on variable.

Thanks for your replies. I will contact the garage again to get it changed

So you were upset that they changed it without telling you and now you know they haven't changed it after all - you want them to change it?

What do you want it to e on - fixed or variable?

So you were upset that they changed it without telling you and now you know they haven't changed it after all - you want them to change it?

What do you want it to e on - fixed or variable?

The point is that they have changed the car from variable service to fixed service by virtue of the fact they have used VW 505 01 oil - this needs changing every year - instead of long life oil. They just haven't changed the service indicator correctly.

Had I not noticed that they had done this I would have been driving round for up to 2 years on this oil and also topping up with the wrong oil ( I have VW 507 00 at home)

In view of this all I need to have done is to have the sevice indicator set to fixed service. Next year I will probably revert to variable - with the correct oil of course.

Were you charged for a fixed or variable service? What did you ask for when you booked it in? If you asked for a variable service then get them to change the oil to VW 507 00 as they've put the wrong grade in.

The point is that they have changed the car from variable service to fixed service by virtue of the fact they have used VW 505 01 oil - this needs changing every year - instead of long life oil. They just haven't changed the service indicator correctly.

Had I not noticed that they had done this I would have been driving round for up to 2 years on this oil and also topping up with the wrong oil ( I have VW 507 00 at home)

In view of this all I need to have done is to have the sevice indicator set to fixed service. Next year I will probably revert to variable - with the correct oil of course.

Ah makes perfect sense now

Mine is currently on variable but apparently you can't have that on the service pack (presumably due to oil costs although I thought it was the same oil for CRs regardless) so I'll be on fixed for the next two and then, if I still have the car, I will go back

Were you charged for a fixed or variable service? What did you ask for when you booked it in? If you asked for a variable service then get them to change the oil to VW 507 00 as they've put the wrong grade in.

As my car had only done 10,000 miles since the last major service 2 years ago the garage suggested it only needed a fixed price minor service. As I was paying to have the cam belt and water pump replaced at the same time I went with this. It now seems that long life oil is not included in this service. I did not check at the time as this is the first car I have had where you can choose between 2 service schedules.

As my car had only done 10,000 miles since the last major service 2 years ago the garage suggested it only needed a fixed price minor service.

I bet they did!

A fixed service is every 10,000 miles or one year, whichever is reached first.

They now know that you'll need the car servicing again this time next year instead of this time in two years.

Mine is currently on variable but apparently you can't have that on the service pack (presumably due to oil costs although I thought it was the same oil for CRs regardless) so I'll be on fixed for the next two and then, if I still have the car, I will go back

I'm amazed dealers still try and use this to pull a fast one.

I wonder how many people they have ripped-off by claiming that the oil used on a variable service is different (and therefore more expensive) than the oil used on a fixed service.

The CR diesel engine has a DPF, therefore it requires the low ash, long life, fully synthetic, 5W 30, VW 507.00 oil irrespective of which type of service it is on.

Check out the difference between a minor and variable service here and then look at what you are actually getting for the extra £120...

http://www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/owners/national-pricing/pages/servicing.aspx

That's an expensive air and fuel filter!

I had a mailshot from the dealership where I bought the car, saying mine needs its 1 year service next month. What determines whether the car starts on fixed or variable? The code in the inside front cover of the manual says variable (QG1), so can I take it I don't really need it serviced yet (the maxidot says 400 days or something similarly far off)?

I had a mailshot from the dealership where I bought the car, saying mine needs its 1 year service next month. What determines whether the car starts on fixed or variable? The code in the inside front cover of the manual says variable (QG1), so can I take it I don't really need it serviced yet (the maxidot says 400 days or something similarly far off)?

The cars leave the factory set to variable but some dealers (for their own purposes) change it to fixed in the PDI. Sounds like yours is still in variable. There is a real diference between the two and variable does not suit everyone.Here is Volkswagen's advice: http://www.volkswage...icing/regimes.

Edited 25 September, 201213 yr by FriendlyFire

Thanks for that - I'd be firmly in the variable camp according to the VW page as I mainly do 50+ miles a day with either only me or 1 other adult in the car. I guess dealers are trying to drum up a bit more business?