I've recently serviced my TDI Octavia, and thought I'd fill an entry for it in the car's service record.

The car's done 36,000 miles, and I used 505.01 oil, so it'll need another oil change at 46,000 or Nov '07, and another inspection service at 56,000 or Nov '08.

The service book has an entry for "Next Inspection Service" below where the dealer's stamp would go.

Would a dealer put the inspection service in there (56,000 Nov'08) as it says "inspection", or the next service (46,000 Nov '07) which seems more useful? Mine's been on variable until now, so the dealer's just put "Variable".

And if they'd put the inspection, what would they do after the oil change service in a year's time if it had done, say, 8000 miles by then. Then next inspection would still technically be due at 56,000 Nov '08, but it would need another oil change at 54,000 Nov '08. In practice it would just get an inspection at 54,000, but what would a dealer put in the service book?

And I know it REALLY doesn't matter AT ALL one way or the other - I can just be a bit pedantic at times, and I'd like to get it right!!!!

Thanks,

Alan

Not sure I understand the question. If it helps at all, if I was looking at buying your motor, I'd regard the 36_000 mile service as missing, cos of it not having a dealer stamp.

Sorry - I probably waffled too much. When the dealer fills in the service book, as well as saying what they did and when they did it, there's a box at the bottom for them to write in when the next service is due.

Up till now mine's been on variable, and they've just written in "Variable". Now that I've done it myself on fixed, I don't know whether that box is meant to have the next service date/mileage (ie oil change in a year's time), or the next "Inspection Service" date/mileage (ie 2 years' time). The first makes more sense to me, but the box title says inspection service.

Hope that makes a bit more sense...

I know it won't count as a proper dealer service to a buyer - but I'm planning to keep the car for ages anway, so I don't expect it'll be worth much when I come to sell it with or without the stamps. The dealer wanted £430 for a 40,000 mile service and brake fluid change, and I'm sure the stamp won't add that much to the price by then. I'm writing it in more so that I've got a record of what I've done and when, and also just so that I've got the satisfaction of knowing it's "right". I'm sad like that!!!

I think that if I was buying a car, I'd prefer to see it written in and not stamped than to see a completely empty book - although it doesn't prove anything, at least it shows that the owner knows what should have been done and when! And if they are telling the truth, then it shows exactly what's been done and when.

My 2002 4X4's Service Schedule says Next Service rather than Next Inspection Service just below the space for the dealer's stamp. I suggest you enter the details for the oil change service since that is the next service due.

£430 is a pretty significant amount of ££ What else should have been done and have you carried out all of the required steps? I know dealer prices can seem expensive, and some truly are, but there must have been a bit more than an oil change.

Would you not have saved money by keeping it on Variable?

My 2002 4X4's Service Schedule says Next Service rather than Next Inspection Service just below the space for the dealer's stamp.

Interesting. Maybe they changed it at some point in 2002 - although mine is Oct 2002... "Next Service" definitely makes more sense to me though. I think I'll do that...

Yes I'd have saved a little, but I'd have had to buy VAG COM to reset the service display - by going fixed I can do it for free with the dashboard buttons. And I think I'm slightly happier with the idea of more frequent oil changes anyway if I'm doing it myself, so it's not costing too much.

I notice you are south UK, if you are near me I would have done it for you FOC - as long as you sign up o be a freedom member and pay your

£430!!! Jeepers; just paid £180 for an annual fixed (on 66_000m, last service was ~1 year back on late 50s kmiles, included cam belt), with 4 years (from new; more like 7 months from I bought car)change of brake fluid and coolant.