Differential service

[ianmb]

My my 7.5 gti is 3 years old ,so 3rd service ,Mot etc ,
Have other members had the differential oil changed,at vw dealers ,if so did they just change the oil,or take the diff out and clean the filter housing.My car has only done 13000 miles.
When I asked the dealer about this they seemed a bit vague ,when I asked the dealer for cost he said £109.00 inc vat , yet the kit to do job from Awsome gti was £80 ish ,so I am not sure what they will do for the money.

[Adam T7]

I had mine done at 13k / 3 years (spooky😁) last month at local Independent - £95 with the filter clean👍

[ianmb]

Hi Adam did you speak to your dealer about doing the diff service or just thought independent would be better.Where about are you which indi did you use.

[Gulfstream11]

I had my Diff service at Midland VW. The car was in for other work anyway and they know their stuff so fine. I would have definately taking it to my Local indie in Doncaster anyway. Our receptionist has a 7.5 gti and she had her diff service at the dealers in Doncaster at a price of £109. All they did was drop the oil, (her words) but as the car is still in warranty she was happy to pay the £20 or so difference.

[clarky92]

I'm in the same situation - 7.5 GTI PP 3 years old and on 18k miles.

Going to be visiting my local VW specialist for the 3rd year service, MOT and getting the diff serviced (oil and filter clean)

Only used VW for the first two services as got the service plan with the car when new

[Adam T7]

Hi Adam did you speak to your dealer about doing the diff service or just thought independent would be better.Where about are you which indi did you use.

Hi, no I didn’t speak to local dealer, just went straight to local independent - VW World in Stockport.
I got the DSG serviced at the same time plus MOT and 36 month service (incl. Brake Fluid).
They have done a fair bit of work on my wife’s 10 year old Polo and that’s been absolutely spot on. They are all enthusiasts and have a good reputation, so I’m more than ok with using them.
Edit - they also have full access and ability to update the electronic service records, gave me a full print out of its history👍

[JMS]

I got mine cleaned and fluid changed at my Indy. There was little to no crud in there. (Unlike the Haldex in the R)

Because the PP diff is activated much less frequently than the R, you’ll be fine just getting the fluid changed. It’s what I’ll be doing next time.

The consensus is the same among most PP users. Dead keen to do it properly the first time, and then realise the filter really doesn’t need cleaning.

[Yusee]

I got mine cleaned and fluid changed at my Indy. There was little to no crud in there. (Unlike the Haldex in the R)

Because the PP diff is activated much less frequently than the R, you’ll be fine just getting the fluid changed. It’s what I’ll be doing next time.

The consensus is the same among most PP users. Dead keen to do it properly the first time, and then realise the filter really doesn’t need cleaning.

Or why change the oil at all? The oil will not degrade with time.

All that constant metal/metal movement in an engine- and we change that oil every 10k miles.

These diffs engage once in a blue moon- on the rare occasion that the road ahead is clear.

I think even 30k miles is too soon ( but i'll probably do mine at 30k!)

[CookieMonsterGTi]

Is the consensus to do this before service schedule dictates?

Curious that folks are specifically requesting this. Do I/should I be thing about getting this done or just take it as and when the car bongs for a service and VW will do the necessary.

I have TCR if that makes any difference.

[JMS]

CookieMonster there is a lot of ignorance at main dealers about VAQdiff service schedule.

My understanding (from the VW workshop technical docs I have seen) is that fluid should be changed every 3 years.

I have heard that many main dealers are oblivious to this, so don’t expect VW to do it as part of routine service.

Nobody is advocating doing it prematurely. Just trying to stick to VW schedule.