In the last few days the car has displayed that I need a service in approx 600 miles or 55 days when I turn the ignition on. I've had the car a year and it has done just over 11k.

It is supposed to be on the extended 2 years or 20k servicing (not sure what this is termed?) so is it the case that the computer wasn't set correctly at production or could it really need servicing already? Also isn't the car supposed to know when it needs servicing based oil quality etc?

It wont be on extended (QG2) dont think thts offered in the UK.

It will either be on QG0 or QG1.

QG0 is fixed servicing. 10,000m or 1 year (but annual inspection is bi annual so 1 year is only a lube)

QG1 is Variable servicing or 2 years which has a minimum of 9300m and a maximum of 18600 miles. The dash computer will determine depending on oil quality when in those parameters the car needs a service.

So basically it needs servicing in 600 miles then... needs new tyres too, gonna be an expensive few months!

feck it buy a new one then!!!! :P

My car is off tomorrow for its first service Its done about 12.5k and says service now. Its also having a few other things looked at paint defects, climate control keeps ticking etc... I'm hoping the tyres will be ok for another 6 months or so or else its an expensive month for me!!

My vRS says 900 miles, and has a picture of a spanner next to it when i turn the ignition on. I presume that this means it needs a service within the next 900 miles. Is this right?

My vRS says 900 miles, and has a picture of a spanner next to it when i turn the ignition on. I presume that this means it needs a service within the next 900 miles. Is this right?

yup, if youre after a courtesy car whilst yours is in then make sure you book it soon as ive found theyre usually booked well in advance in some places. that depends on how quick youll go through 900 mile though

My Oct vrs service light came on about 6 mths ago with 10k on the clock, and 12 mths old. It's now 19 mths old and 15k on the clock.

Spoke to Benfields Harrogate (who sold it to me aged 1 year old Dec 06) who said no should be ok for 20k/2 yrs approx. Checked with a mate in the trade as I thought it could do with an oil change at least and he said go with the flow - modern oil etc etc.

2 months ago with family and about to go over Wrynose and Hardknott Passes in The Lakes the oil light came on and it needed 1.75l of oil.

Having read all the comments am now confused - should I wait til Nov 07 for service, or should I give it some fresh oil?

(tis an excellent car though!)

My Oct vrs service light came on about 6 mths ago with 10k on the clock, and 12 mths old. It's now 19 mths old and 15k on the clock.

Seems a reasonable timespan/mileage. If that is what the car said it needed, why do something different?

Spoke to Benfields Harrogate (who sold it to me aged 1 year old Dec 06) who said no should be ok for 20k/2 yrs approx.

Amazing; they did themselves out of some business. I would have expected the dealer to say; if the car says it needs servicing - then it does. What about warranty requirements? You generally need to keep a car serviced to requirement or it may go 'out of warranty'.

Checked with a mate in the trade as I thought it could do with an oil change at least and he said go with the flow - modern oil etc etc.

2 months ago with family and about to go over Wrynose and Hardknott Passes in The Lakes the oil light came on and it needed 1.75l of oil.

Don't you ever check your oil? Should be done once a week and before a long trip. You will then see the consumption and be able to top up with 0.5L or 1.0L max. Keeps the engine healthy.

Having read all the comments am now confused - should I wait til Nov 07 for service, or should I give it some fresh oil?

(tis an excellent car though!)

IMHO - get it serviced NOW

PS> Oops; sorry, just seen that this was your first post!! I don't mean to be harsh, just objective and fair. We are all a friendly bunch really. WELCOME

In the last few days the car has displayed that I need a service in approx 600 miles or 55 days when I turn the ignition on. I've had the car a year and it has done just over 11k.

It is supposed to be on the extended 2 years or 20k servicing (not sure what this is termed?) so is it the case that the computer wasn't set correctly at production or could it really need servicing already? Also isn't the car supposed to know when it needs servicing based oil quality etc?

Assuming you have the car set to 'Variable' not 'fixed' it could well be due for a service.

It all depends on your typical journey, mileage, speed, driving style, stop/start etc. I'm told that they can go as long as 25,000 miles if you regularly do long, gentle M'way mileage.

If you do stop/start, short journeys then 1yr /11,000 miles will be all thast it takes for the light to come on.

I took my vRS into the dealer on Tuesday to have my engine cover replaced and at the same time asked them to have a look at the service indicator as it was showing 4400 miles / 15 days to the next service and is on variable service.

They told me not to worry about the days and that the mileage was more important. They are suprised that it will need a service after 10,000 approx miles but when I told them the car was previously owned by the wife of the MD and only did 5000 miles in a year were not too suprised. I also only tend to do a 10 mile return trip to work during the week which no doubt is not helping. They said it is something they will look into during the service.

I am suprised that they told me not to worry about the number of days to the next service. However, I took the car on a 210 mile trip to Mid Wales yesterday and to my suprise this morning the days increased to 23 days from 14! It is certainly something I am going to keep an eye on and if it gets to 0 days and indicates service required will get straight onto the dealer for them to reconfirm that the car does not require servicing.

I am suprised that they told me not to worry about the number of days to the next service. However, I took the car on a 210 mile trip to Mid Wales yesterday and to my suprise this morning the days increased to 23 days from 14!

There you go; a good gentle run 'prolongs active life' or was the PAL?