Service books ?

[Sootchucker]

As I understand it (please correct me if I am wrong), I understand that VW no longer supply a service record book in the car manual pack for new cars ? Apparently it's now all recorded electronically. Call me cynical, but I don't actually trust them to keep accurate records. For one, even though my current car is a GTD, they still keep telling me it's a GTI whenever I book it in (for the last 2 years that's what it says on their system), and on the Wife's Polo Blue GT, they contacted me recently to tell me it was overdue it's annual service even though they had completed it just two weeks prior !

There's also the question that when the car is outside it's 2 years free servicing package, I might be looking at getting a good independent VW specialist to look after the car (rather than the rip off main dealers), but obviously if there's no service book, apart from a receipt to say the works been done, there is no other record to show future potential owners.   

I was wondering therefore if it was possible to purchase a blank service book and force VW to stamp it at every service (even if they do want to still maintain electronically). Has anyone done this and has a part number for a blank service book please ?

[SRGTD]

One here on eBay;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-VOLKSWAGEN-TOURAN-BLANK-SERVICE-SCHEDULE-HISTORY-LOG-BOOK-R-LINE-TDI-GTI/162745272629?hash=item25e45fc935:g:CCAAAOSwFyhaAxeD

Says it’s for the Touran in the ad. details, but in the seller’s photos, the first page lists the vehicles covered and the Golf GTI is one of the vehicles listed.

You may need to contact the seller for the edition/print date off the back cover if you want to confirm it’s a current service book, but as the Golf and Passat GTE models are listed, its going to be relatively new.

[mezzer123]

My father in law had this problem 2 years ago when he bought his 1.4 tsi, he got no service book with the car, he did eventually get one from the dealer but it was a generic one and not specific to the car, and again that took around 12 months to get from them as they kept saying it wasn’t needed as it’s all kept online, but I’m like you in that respect, a service book with stamps saves all the trouble of online records not being kept up to date, so my answer really is if you don’t get one then keep pestering as the stealer will get you on eventually.

[fredgroves]

I didn't trust the computer system either.

What if I wanted to sell my car to a non-VW garage? How are they going to check the service history?

I demanded a proper service book and my dealer gave me one.

[Talk-torque]

Receipts for the work done are surely at least as good as a service book? I’ve found that the techs don’t always tick all the correct boxes, so it’s just a record that a service has been done. Receipts, on the other hand, are usually a pretty accurate record of what was (supposedly) done.

[dubber36]

I have always kept a folder for the receipts for everything that I have spent on my cars, right down to bulbs and wiper blades. Mostly to do with business expenditure records, but having a paper file of documented history looks much better to a potential buyer than a service book with nothing more than stamps in it.

Many years ago, a girlfriends brother bought an Astra from his dad. The car had done 186,000 miles. He's had it from new, but had only ever had one dealer service and stamp in the book. The rest done by a mechanic in the village. I have a mate that worked in a Vauxhall dealers, so he put another 7 or 8 stamps in the book. We then filled the dates in and ticked the boxes using different pens and handwriting, then traded it in px as an 86,000 mile car with a full history. I was not to be trusted then, so I dare say there are a few used car sellers that might not be now.

[mcmaddy]

Somene garages don't give you paperwork for work carried out within warranty period. I've always had service books and got one in December 2016 with my gti.

[Gaz W]

As I understand it (please correct me if I am wrong), I understand that VW no longer supply a service record book in the car manual pack for new cars ? Apparently it's now all recorded electronically. Call me cynical, but I don't actually trust them to keep accurate records. For one, even though my current car is a GTD, they still keep telling me it's a GTI whenever I book it in (for the last 2 years that's what it says on their system), and on the Wife's Polo Blue GT, they contacted me recently to tell me it was overdue it's annual service even though they had completed it just two weeks prior !

There's also the question that when the car is outside it's 2 years free servicing package, I might be looking at getting a good independent VW specialist to look after the car (rather than the rip off main dealers), but obviously if there's no service book, apart from a receipt to say the works been done, there is no other record to show future potential owners.   

I was wondering therefore if it was possible to purchase a blank service book and force VW to stamp it at every service (even if they do want to still maintain electronically). Has anyone done this and has a part number for a blank service book please ?

Yes service book was discontinued from MY16 roughly onwards and replaced with Digital Service Schedule, for a time (until book supplies ran out) a lot of cars still came with a book so there are some that have Digital Service Schedule and will also have a physical service book.

DSS should be very accurate as it integrates with VWG group factory system ElsaPro so it cannot get your car details wrong etc, and each service will be recorded on your visit without fail. Ask for a new print out after each service and it will include all previously entered work including recall campaigns, routine service and maintenance (e.g. brake fluid, cam belt etc can all be added).

Unfortunately being contacted for service incorrectly, and vehicle description being wrong is human error at your individual dealership and will very much depend on the DMS system they used to manage vehicle and customer data, some integrate with VWG factory system however some do not so its only as good as the person using it!

Overall DSS means that vehicles in the future will have an accurate service record that can easily be accessed and printed off throughout the Volkswagen network. The only complication to this is non approved repairers e.g. independents who can pay a fee to access and record work on Digital Service Schedule however many won't offer this.

You can purchase a blank service schedule through Parts at your local dealership, they will be approximately £10 or so and are similar to the service schedule previously included in the book pack.

[Bullfinch]

In response to the OP the answer is "yes".  When I bought my GTi 2nd hand at 14 months old there was no service book but it had receipts from first annual inspection service.  Bought a blank VW service schedule book through Parts dept from my local dealer and have used that for year 2 and 3 services as well as stapling in details from year 1.  Will likely use a VW specialist next time round.  My concern is this Digital Service logbook will tie you into VW for ever - does anyone know if its "open source" - ie: diagnostics/updating can be done by non VW dealers?

[TurboTrev]

I think that personal registrations may also cause problems with service records?  I've had mine on many VWs and when I go into the dealership they never seem to have the current car attached to it, even when I've previously been in to get their records updated.  I think it all records need to be maintained via the chassis number, or maybe they are?