My 07 vRS was a year old about 2 weeks ago...computer is telling me to get a service but have only done 11.5k km as of today, all short trips (under 10km). Is it ok to leave it another month before I service it, or am I putting the car at risk. it's got long life oil in it. I know fuel consumption has recently gone to pot, and car has been heavy on oil requiring 3 topups during the year (0.5 to 0.75 litre each time). Has not been checked in a few months though :(

It's more about your warranty. There is a little leeway on services but your psuhing it already being 1500km over the 10k interval (Unless its on Variable in which case if it's beeping at you it's clear it needs to be done). Short trips are even worse for the condition of your oil so I would say get it done ASAP. Besides that it sounds like it needs it

I'd get it in to be honest mate.

Depends whether it's on variable or fixed servicing. Variable servicing means you can go upto 18-19k before first service.

My service light came on at about 11k but it hadn't been correctly set for variable servicing at PDI.

If you are on fixed servicing, then the first service is due at 16,000kms OR 12 months, whichever occurs first. If you fail to get the car serviced within 500 miles your warranty may well now be invalid.

Variable servicing means you can go upto 18-19k before first service.

But if the sump oil quality is poor then the car will tel you it needs to be serviced. Lots of short trips is the problem IMHO.

But if the sump oil quality is poor then the car will tel you it needs to be serviced. Lots of short trips is the problem IMHO.

Mine gets a mixture of relatively short trips and then long 150 - 200 mile trips every month or so.

I've put so much oil into mine I'd be suprised if any of the original stuff is left. Where does it all disappear to :confused:

But if the sump oil quality is poor then the car will tel you it needs to be serviced. Lots of short trips is the problem IMHO.

Does it still tell you if it is on fixed servicing? How do I find out how many miles till the service is required?

Mine should be on variable servicing (as per the code in the manual) however the dealer reset the service indicator to 20k apparently but I didn't understand why.

You can get an estimate of how long is left by holding down the odometer button on the dash with the ignition on.

If it's on fixed then I think it probably ignores the soot/oil quality data.

You can get an estimate of how long is left by holding down the odometer button on the dash with the ignition on.

If it's on fixed then I think it probably ignores the soot/oil quality data.

That's what I thought so it means the estimate of how long is left is meaningless as I think it is set for 20k and I can do the sums in my head.

I find that dealers have little or no knowledge on this sort of thing

That's what I thought so it means the estimate of how long is left is meaningless as I think it is set for 20k and I can do the sums in my head.

I find that dealers have little or no knowledge on this sort of thing

I don't understand what you mean Jonno.

Variable - The car measures various parameters to decide and constantly updates the mileage aspect or if 2 years elapse before.

Fixed - 10k miles or Annually.

Set for 20k doesn't feature in any of the official programmes that I am aware of however I do know it is possible to modify the numbers individually to artificially change the appearance of the service interval.

I don't understand what you mean Jonno.

Variable - The car measures various parameters to decide and constantly updates the mileage aspect or if 2 years elapse before.

Fixed - 10k miles or Annually.

Set for 20k doesn't feature in any of the official programmes that I am aware of however I do know it is possible to modify the numbers individually to artificially change the appearance of the service interval.

The car is supposed to be on variable as per the service booklet/manual that came with the car however the service light came on at circa 11k. I took it to the dealer who said that it was too early for it to be serviced and it was on variable servicing with longlife oil and that it was good for 20k before it had its first service so they somehow reset the service indicator. I just assumed it had been manually set to 20k but I could be wrong.

I think they are treading a wavy line.

Look at this image courtesy of Ross-Tech -

You can see what parameters are measured and what are available for adjustment. I think they have fudged your indicator.

I think they are treading a wavy line.

Look at this image courtesy of Ross-Tech -

You can see what parameters are measured and what are available for adjustment. I think they have fudged your indicator.

That would figure. Monkeys.

You should have been given a booklet in the owners pack. The VW version is here -

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/content/owners/Longlife_servicing.pdf

LongLife Service regimes

The LongLife Service regime is so called because there are no set service intervals and, depending on how you drive your vehicle, and the conditions of use, a service will be required anywhere between 9,000 miles or 12 months (whichever occurs first), up to a maximum of 20,000* miles or 24 months (whichever occurs first).[/QUOTE]

If you've been doing all short trips I'd change the oil anyway (ASAP), and get the service interval set while you are at it.

If you've been doing all short trips I'd change the oil anyway (ASAP), and get the service interval set while you are at it.

Booked in (with a different dealer) in a week or so.

You should have been given a booklet in the owners pack. The VW version is here -

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/content/owners/Longlife_servicing.pdf

LongLife Service regimes

The LongLife Service regime is so called because there are no set service intervals and, depending on how you drive your vehicle, and the conditions of use, a service will be required anywhere between 9,000 miles or 12 months (whichever occurs first), up to a maximum of 20,000* miles or 24 months (whichever occurs first).[/QUOTE]

Cheers Stu that info is useful. Don't recall seeing that booklet though before.

then again theres the information from oil industry labs regarding engines tested for wear etc. with fully synthetic oils to all sorts of limits. Information the general public doesnt get. Information that would change your world view. lol

Decron - It was on fixed when I got it, but got garage to change it back to variable the day I collected. So yeah, "service now" is coming up on the dash.

Jonno VRS - Variable service intervals according to the garage and according to the readout that was coming up on the dash (assuming the garage is correct and they reset my car to variable) is after 1 year or 15k KM (not miles), whichever comes first. For the last number of weeks my dash was saying "Service in 3 weeks or 4k KM". And this has been counting down day by day. When the 3 weeks was up, it just changed to service. I have only gone over it by 3 weeks or so, and only have 11.5k KM up. I don't see what the problem is considering there is long life oil in the thing to begin with.

Mannyo - Rang garage today to book car in. 3 week wait. As regards warranty being affected by leaving it a few weeks or going over it more then 500km, they said nonsense.

then again theres the information from oil industry labs regarding engines tested for wear etc. with fully synthetic oils to all sorts of limits. Information the general public doesnt get. Information that would change your world view. lol

Care to give a summary of this then?

Decron - It was on fixed when I got it, but got garage to change it back to variable the day I collected. So yeah, "service now" is coming up on the dash.

Jonno VRS - Variable service intervals according to the garage and according to the readout that was coming up on the dash (assuming the garage is correct and they reset my car to variable) is after 1 year or 15k KM (not miles), whichever comes first. For the last number of weeks my dash was saying "Service in 3 weeks or 4k KM". And this has been counting down day by day. When the 3 weeks was up, it just changed to service. I have only gone over it by 3 weeks or so, and only have 11.5k KM up. I don't see what the problem is considering there is long life oil in the thing to begin with.

Mannyo - Rang garage today to book car in. 3 week wait. As regards warranty being affected by leaving it a few weeks or going over it more then 500km, they said nonsense.

You quote KM's but is that because your dash is a KM one,Ireland perhaps??

You quote KM's but is that because your dash is a KM one,Ireland perhaps??

Yep

Mannyo - Rang garage today to book car in. 3 week wait. As regards warranty being affected by leaving it a few weeks or going over it more then 500km, they said nonsense.

Interesting

I'd like to get that in writing from the dealer.... What would they say to those that do high mileages and cover 2500km in that time....

I take it they busy doing the full pdi checks on the new cars at the moment

The thing is, you can only change service regime at a service, if not then you risk running too long between services.

Also, the thing that concerns me with variable is that there is know knowing whether the car was actually serviced when it said it wanted it. I.e. it may say it wants a service at 12k, but if the owner doesn't take it in until 18k how can you tell??

Also, as per the service book maximum interval on variable for petrol cars is 20k miles or 2 years. To actually reach that mileage limit would be impressive! :eek: