Looking for a bit of advice and guidance.

I'm looking to get the DQ381 box in my vRS serviced. I've got three quotes - £420 and £340 from two VAG specalists, and £385 from Skoda. This is for the oil, and the filter (I have double checked with Skoda regarding the filter).

I'm keen to go with Skoda, as the cheaper Indie I'm not overly keen on anymore, and the more expensive place is unknown to me.

Is there anything that I need to check/watch out for? I've seen lots of posts on forums (Briskoda, SEATCUPRA, VWVortex, etc) about the job not being done properly. Aside from the filter not being replaced, what does this mean? I've seen on one post that the dealer only drained the oil from the main sump, rather than the mechatronic too, however I'm a bit unsure as to how I'm supposed to even check this!

I would normally go with an Indie, but as Skoda are in the middle price wise, going to the dealer would be nice. I need to get the diff done, as well as some other service bits, and weirdly Skoda are actually coming in £50 below the Indie.

I know dealers often don't do a "proper" job, but as long as the diff oil is changed, gauze blown out, and the gearbox is fully drained and redone, with a fresh filter, what else is there? I have asked them if they're willing to provide proof that the filter/gauze/full drain is done.

I thought I'd get a better answer on here than on the FB groups!

This is a difficult process and needs somebody who knows exactly what they are doing.

Key steps are:

Making sure all the old filter comes out, this is messy and very messy if you need to fish out the plastic end. The filters are known to fall apart.

Draining the oil from both of the drain plugs.

Removing the internal oil level setting pipe which is inside the bigger of the 2 drain plugs.

Refilling the box using a gravity feed with the bottle of filling oil above the level of the gearbox.

Warming the gearbox up to about 37C to 40C and gently exercising it using the gear shift.

Getting the excess oil back out to get the oil level right.

Give it to the outfit you trust the most or ask whoever is going to do it what the steps are.

These sort of jobs are not so much difficult as perhaps difficult to get someone that has, or allowed, the time and inclination, in them or not knocked out of them, to do the job properly and thoroughly, if you have the necessary equipment you would possibly do a better job than many professionals as you would (hopefully) allow sufficient time and care about doing the job properly and thoroughly.

If any filters need changing as part of the service or just needed then they should be changed. The correct oil(s) need to be used (possibly to allow for VW past mistakes and/or compromises) they doesn't necessarily mean the bottles have to have VW labels.

TVS Engineering DQ380 / DQ381 DSG (0DE / 0GC) general info - https://tvsengineering.com/en/dsg-gearbox/dq380-dq381/

@Ootohere may know more about DQ381 VWŠkoda serving.

Edited 5 March5 Mar by nta16
typo

****

If you have a VAQ (Front diff) Servicing on Mk3,s is @ 3 years / 30,000 miles. Some say 20,000 if car tracked etc....

Mk4,s Main Dealers if they bother telling you might now say they are @ 20,000 miles / 2 YEARS.

They need doing...Properly.

...................

Always Call a Friend, Ask The Audience and take things with a pinch of Salt. Not everything published is correct.

Edited 5 March5 Mar by Ootohere

13 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

****

If you have a VAQ (Front diff) Servicing on Mk3,s is @ 3 years / 30,000 miles. Some say 20,000 if car tracked etc....

Mk4,s Main Dealers if they bother telling you might now say they are @ 20,000 miles / 2 YEARS.

They need doing...Properly.

Yes, the diff will also get done. It was apparently done by the dealer at POS, but I don't trust them as far as I can throw them. Even if it was done, I doubt they blew out the gauze properly, etc.

I drive the car quite hard (but never on a track, Skoda UK Warranty Team!).

My usual VAG Indie are being a bit difficult about this, so I'm looking to go elsewhere. I was almost sold on my local main dealer (who have been really good) but then I remembered how many times I've been scr**ed over by a main dealer, and decided against it.

The car is at 39k and the annual service isn't due until the summer, so I've got a month or two to do my research and find a good place.

First job is to fix what the gritter did to the front end this morning!

Is it getting new spark plugs?

38 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Is it getting new spark plugs?

I'll see if he needs them.

The dealer also did the plugs at POS. I can't check if the diff was really done, but the part numbers on the plugs should confirm.

The annual service is due, so will get all that done, along with air filter. I want the coolant changed too, but Skoda would only quote me for a full flush. I'll get whatever Indie I choose to do it.

Reminds me, I need to order my special charcoal cabin filter again - not sure if it was placebo or not, but it definitely didn't smell as diesel fume-y as normal!

Otherwise we're all good, I think - tyres, brakes and battery were fresh in September. CarPlay still fu**s up constantly, but after seeing Skoda twice, I've just accepted it.

One question - the place I've found to do the job suggested using Millers Oil (about £100 for the service kit) rather than OE VW (about £280).

They'll use VW very happily however.

The car runs out of warranty in May, so that's not a concern either.

Thoughts?

Handy if you are not running 2 threads on the same subject.

I replied in the Octavia section.

1 minute ago, Ootohere said:

Handy if you are not running 2 threads on the same subject.

I replied in the Octavia section.

Indeed - I almost put 'apologies for the double post'

I wasn't sure if people without an Octavia would look there!

11 minutes ago, Occy245 said:

One question - the place I've found to do the job suggested using Millers Oil (about £100 for the service kit) rather than OE VW (about £280).

I'm a fan of Millers Oils as they in England and do good blends and often recommend them, I noticed in the vid they had a can of Millers but didn't show using it. Which Millers oil are they proposing to use? If you are unsure about it you can phone Millers and speak to them. There's usually a premium to pay to have the VW label on the bottle and AFAIK they must buy the oil in and they would change contracts with suppliers over time anyway.

ETA: I used Millers engine oil and Millers gearbox oil in my wife's 2015 Mk3 Fabia both I believe are better than the VWŠkoda recommended ones, the gearbox oil made a noticeable difference but this is on a 5-sped manual box.

Edited 7 March7 Mar by nta16
ETA: