Hi everyone, I have just brought a 2020 VRS 2.TSI Challenge edition DSG and the paperwork says it had a FInal Drive service at 47k and Gearbox service at 99k. I'm trying to work out if they are one and the same or if it's a different service with different fluid. Chat GPT thinks it's the same but another search says it's different. Any advice would be greatly received. Thanks

I’m on my phone so I will be brief.

They are NOT the same thing. In VAG documentation, the VAQ LSD service is referred to as “final drive oil”. The recommended service interval is every 30,000 miles or 3 years, with some sources saying that the MQB Evo cars (2020 ono) want this done every 20,000 miles or 2 years. At this service, you need to replace the oil, and clean the pump screen/gauze. It’s the same principle as the Haldex AWD system (most VAQs are made of Haldex bits, although newer ones are… Borg Warner… @Cairus?)

Perhaps @Evolution13 can find the thread from a few months ago where there was a big fight about updated intervals on the Mk4.

The DQ381 service is advised to be done every 80,000 miles. This involves new fluid and a replacement filter. That said, every DSG box has an interval at 40k, aside from the 381 (80k) and 200 (sealed…).

Most don’t trust this and, myself included, choose to get it done sooner. I have recently done mine at 40k, and will be doing it again when it hits 80k.

Hi, thanks for the reply and very helpful. I'll get the final drive done asap then and keep on top of it now I'm the owner. Appreciate your help 👍🏻

Do make sure the above service items are adhered to - no dealer acknowledges that the DSG has a replaceable filter, for example.

It would be interesting to see/hear about the condition of the fluid in the diff. While 50k without a service isn’t good, I wouldn’t be overly concerned just yet. You don’t know what sort of use the car has had, so it may be absolutely fine.

I would go to a decent indie however, rather than a dealer. Whereabouts are you based?

I'll keep you updated. The car is mint and done 102k miles there is zero wear on the drivers seat so I'm guessing it's been mainly motorway miles. I live in Farnborough so if you know any good garages that can do the work please let me know. I've done a quick Google and SJB Autotech have some good reviews. Thanks again.

6 hours ago, CC300ZX said:

I'll keep you updated. The car is mint and done 102k miles there is zero wear on the drivers seat so I'm guessing it's been mainly motorway miles. I live in Farnborough so if you know any good garages that can do the work please let me know. I've done a quick Google and SJB Autotech have some good reviews. Thanks again.

Are you able to make the drive to The Phirm, in Camberley? I would recommend them instantly - @travs can confirm.

Their lead times are quite long but, to be honest, the same is true for all decent VAG indies. I like to keep myself as incognito on the internet as possible, so I won’t give my first name, but if you tell Paul at The Phirm that someone with a blue Octavia vRS full of cake sent you their way, he’ll take care of you.

Failing that, VAS Motion in Guildford are also very good.

Thanks for the recommendation, Camberley is 10 minutes away and I work in Guildford so either are perfect. Thanks again, blue was my preferred colour and this green was a close second 👍🏻

Just to clarify, Haldex is a Borg Warner product, VAQ is a "clutch for a shaft" using Haldex bits. The VAG branded fluid seems to vary from VW Group to marque, though some of the aftermarket brands use a common fluid - but there again, VW Group don't "make" these fluids.

I deferred to using what, in my case, SEAT quoted in their parts listing.

It could be that these VAQ parts manufacture has been licensed out to 2 different suppliers covering different VW Group brands, and they use acceptable but different materials or processes - and so VW Group quotes 2 different fluids for different marques.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by rum4mo
added in "processes"

3 hours ago, CC300ZX said:

Thanks for the recommendation, Camberley is 10 minutes away and I work in Guildford so either are perfect. Thanks again, blue was my preferred colour and this green was a close second 👍🏻

Definitely try The Phirm - they're by Blackwater station.

I spoke with them and VAS Motion when deciding where to go for my big service a year or two ago. The Phirm are a TVS dealer, but I can't actually remember why I went with them in the end - I think I just liked their answers better.

Either way, I've spent a fair bit of money with them, doing stuff like my DSG, VAQ and major service, as well as LCAs, CV boots, new battery, minor service and other stuff. I plan to see them for some new brakes soon, too. @travs had his intercooler and suspension done there, and had similarly good experiences.

7 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

Just to clarify, Haldex is a Borg Warner product, VAQ is a "clutch for a shaft" using Haldex bits. The VAG branded fluid seems to vary from VW Group to marque, though some of the aftermarket brands use a common fluid - but there again, VW Group don't "make" these fluids.

I deferred to using what, in my case, SEAT quoted in their parts listing.

It could be that these VAQ parts manufacture has been licensed out to 2 different suppliers covering different VW Group brands, and they use acceptable but different materials - and so VW Group quotes 2 different fluids for different marques.

Do you know what these are? I've only ever seen the standard VAG Haldex service kit from Febi (silver bottle with white and red labelling) or the VW one in the silver bottle.

Cheers, I'll give the Phirm a call then and that's 5 minutes from me pretty much. Not sure about the fluid you listed after I that 'm afraid.

The two Haldex fluids that I have ended up with, are VW Group G 060 175 A2 and VW Group G 65 175 A2.

I was buying fluid online for a 2019 SEAT Leon Cupra VAQ, SEAT listed G 60 175 A2 - but my seller sent out G 65 175 A2, now I think that he assumed that the "G 65" version superceeded the earlier "G 60" version as it turned out that VW quote the "G 65" version for similar aged VW Golf when it has a VAQ. In the end I got a refund and bought the "correct for that car" version.

Checking on many sites I found nothing to confirm that, but, I discovered that the Febi offering does claim to meet with both these VW Group Haldex fluids - so how important that is I can't say, for my money, I'd prefer to buy the version that is listed for "that" model of car.

I've checked the Skoda parts listing that I use/trust and, for a 2020MY Octavia, if the car is 5E - L - 000 001 > then VAQ fluid is specified as being G 060 175 A2

If the car is NX - L - 000 001 > then VAQ fluid is specified as being G 065 175 A2.

I'm not a Skoda Octavia owner is the model designation doesn't mean much to me - but it will do to you.

I guess I'll let the experts work it out when I take it to them thanks for all the advice.