Apologies of this is the wrong place to ask... please feel free to send me in the direction of anywhere more appropriate..

My '72 plate Mk IV is just coming up to 80k miles. I can't find a service schedule for the car, but hear rumours of a 40k DSG oil change... Can anyone point me in the direction of service schedules, please?

And, as a follow up, my local dealer doesn't seem to have a briliant reputation, and to be honest I'm half inclined to look for an independent anyway; where's the best place to seek recommendations for an independent who actually knows what they're doing (as opposed to one who's an indpendent everything expert by stuffing Google keywords)? Or indeed a recommendation for a good dealer?

Many thanks

Dave

Is it the 2.0 ll TDI 115ps? Has that a DQ200 7 speed Twin Dry Clutch DSG with no Service Regime / Schedule. 2 oils, in the box and in the MCU. Only a small oil filter in the MCU that is only changed if stripped? Or is it something else?

Edited 30 June30 Jun by Evolution13

dealer will not change the filter but an independant will if you ask them. Dealer is forced to use OEM fluid which is expensive. Alternative fluids are cheaper.

@KinderBean Is an independent taking off the MCU to change the filter? Many UK Dealerships refuse to service a DQ200. Others have Service Desk staff that says required, but have no idea what the DSG is they are talking about.

Edited 30 June30 Jun by Evolution13

perhaps I'm wrong but I thought the car would have the DQ381, as I think the DQ200 is limited to 250Nm of torque

If it has a DQ381 then 80,000 miles is the service time, Oil & Filter, nit the filter waiting to the 2nd service as some Dealership Staff say. But, VW Group / Skoda as far as i understand limited those 2.0 TDI 115 / 116 PS cars with a DSG to 250 Nm. Manuals have 300 Nm. Same as happened with Polo GTI 1.8TSI 192 PS cars. Manual 320Nm, DSG 250 Nm. Funnily or as you get with VW Group the lower torque and heavier DQ200 DSG car was / is quicker.

7 hours ago, Evolution13 said:

. Others have Service Desk staff that says required, but have no idea what the DSG is they are talking about.

The Service Desk staff wanted me to have the automatic transmission fluid changed on my manual mk2 . . .

18 hours ago, Evolution13 said:

Is it the 2.0 ll TDI 115ps? Has that a DQ200 7 speed Twin Dry Clutch DSG with no Service Regime / Schedule. 2 oils, in the box and in the MCU. Only a small oil filter in the MCU that is only changed if stripped? Or is it something else?

It is indeed exactly that, with a 7 speed DSG,but whether it's a 200 or 381 I don't know. How can I tell other than by asking a dealer to check against the VIN code? Thanks.

Edited 1 July1 Jul by Deadwood

you can remove the undertray and you will see a code on the gearbox starting with 0GC if it is the DQ381, or if you look on you tube for "dq381 filter change" you will see where the screw-on oil filter is located on top of this gearbox. If you open the bonnet and shine a torch at night, you should find it

(you'll need T25 & T40 torx and a 24mm socket to remove the undertray)

For a couple euros you can get a vin readout online (ebay for example), that lists all specs/options of the vin, including engine and gearbox.

On 02/07/2026 at 22:27, TimoB said:

For a couple euros you can get a vin readout online (ebay for example), that lists all specs/options of the vin, including engine and gearbox.

That would be interesting. I have the Skoda certificate which is long on telling me about trim features (that aren't actually fitted, e.g. electric boot release), but not so much on gearboxes!