Hi all,

I’ve been searching for.a topic already out there on this but can’t seem to find one.

I picked up my 2023 kodiaq a couple of months back and the dealer wanted to change it from flexible to fixed service, I assumed to make sure I went back more frequently. I always liked the flexible on my superb as it seemed to get the most value from a service so kept it on that. Some mechanics I’ve met in the past have said it’s a gimmick and you should always service every year or 10k miles.

Is there a topic on this already that gives pros and cons?

Any thoughts?

I think that generally the consensus is to run with fixed servicing periods, yes you'll probably get more miles/£ (of your service costs) by running with flexible - but other wear and tear items might need extra cash in an unpredictable way.

Flexible servicing usually only works for new cars that get high usage - then moved on after a couple of years.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by rum4mo
added in (of your service costs)

Okay thanks for that.

When my superb was scrapped after write-off the salvage advert described the engine as “noisy” and “rattly”. It only had 138k (I had it from new) so maybe a whole life of variable servicing took its toll.

Fixed Servicing or Fixed Oil & Filter Servicing / Oil Changes if you do less than 10,000 miles a year seems 'Simply Clever'. Maybe not for those doing 18,000 miles or more annually. But then that would still mean the oil & filter being changed sooner than every 12 months. There is more to Car Servicing and Maintenance though. So do you want the car going 2 years between visual inspections / checks? Some like the Pollen Filter might be @ 2 years, Brake Fluid replacement now as well not @ 3 years then each 2. But the Haldex is @ 3 Years / 30,000 miles. So Servicing each 2 years does not work out suiting that.

Makes sense, thanks.

I’ve still to decide if after my 1 year used car warranty I take out the additional 2 year service plan/warranty, when I believe they’d set it to fixed anyway. Sounds expensive but takes any worry away.

In the past I’ve always serviced at a local mechanic as soon as the initial warranty runs out but I worry these newer cars are less easily fixed outside the dealer network with all the fancy features.

A 2023 Kodiaq. What has been done up to now. Did it get Brake Fluid changed at 2025 or 26? Was the Pollen filter done 2025 and due again 2027? If Haldex was it serviced this year. If a TSI the spark plugs are due next year maybe. So what the 2 year Service Plan gives matters. Has the Air Filter even been looked at or will they say replace at 6 years / 60,000 miles so not in the Service plan. Warranty requires 'Servicing to manufacturers Guidelines, Recommendations or Advice, not even Schedule'. Yet many Full Main Dealer Service History Approved Used Cars were not Serviced to Manufacturers Guidelines. Good VW Independent Specialists might well service correctly and as per vehicles useage and location. Service Brakes etc.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Evolution13

It’s an ex-mobility on 20k miles so fully serviced. In fact it was serviced twice in the two months before I got it as the dealer wanted to make sure they weren’t relying on someone else’s previous service. I was given a printout of the previous services when I got it, but they seemed a brief overview, I shall request a detailed report of what was done.

But clearly lots to think about.

Be sure the Brake Fluid was done, or shows as. & the Air Filter might never have been looked at. Having had 14 cars from Motability that used to get Annual Servicing they changed to counting on the Manufacturers Warranty and the vehicles being left on Variable / Flexible Servicing. My 2016 Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI had Oil like Black clotted cream by the time it got an oil change at about 21,000 miles since the Dealer could not get it in. The Adblue is part of Servicing with a Motability car and no cost to the Customer but getting the Dealers Service desk to book a time is a joke.

Just found the service record. Brake fluid was marked as done as “additional work carried out” at its service a year ago just before 15k. 👍🏻

Local garage changed my folks Fabia 1.9tdi from variable to fixed as they were only doing 4-5k a year. Mechanic used to service just before MOT and while he was at it checked car over for MOT. He reckoned that high mileage per year go variable but low mileage per year go fixed plus its getting an annual check over as well as a service.

Alasdair