Servicing Questions

[pixelcellar]

Hi all

After some advice, so I've got a mk 7.5 GTI on a lease which stipulates only in the docs I need to service the vehicle according to manufacturers recomendations. Thats fine aside from the fact I've had a call this morning from my friendly local VW dealership saying my vehicle's due for its service.

Now the vehicle was built in December 2019, I took delivery of it in mid June 2020 and have done 4200 miles since then, well under the 12,000 I have available via my lease (due to WFH Covid Fun).

Aside from the fact this seems somewhat unnecessary (unless I'm wrong) but the vehicle's not telling me it needs a service and logging on via WeConnect it actually seems to show my service being due at 15900 miles/564 days and oil change due 13500/525 days.

Seems to me they are trying their luck on getting the vehicle onto an annual service plan (£245 a go apparently) which whilst I'm not against servicing it, I don't want the piss being taken when I've done barely any miles!

Should I be servicing according to the vehicle or the yearly thing the dealers are trying to force me onto, bear i mind this dealer didn't supply the vehicle so didn't/doesn't know what the vehicle is saying.

Also, just as an aside, which would be bettter for the vehicle bearing in mind I won't be driving it a lot, I reckon on not being much over 12k miles next December for example.

[itavaltalainen]

Only one question....
Gonna keep it after the lease?

If no then tell them it doesn’t need servicing and book it in when the car tells you to.

[pixelcellar]

Only one question....
Gonna keep it after the lease?

If no then tell them it doesn’t need servicing and book it in when the car tells you to.

Interestingly I'd already planned to keep it hence why the low mileage is a massive plus, is the annual service a better option and why out of interest? I can do the oil change earlier elsewhere if necessary and then get it done around 500 days...

Does that 500 days start at build or delivery out of interest do you know?

[Guzzle]

When was the vehicle first registered? You need to ensure the car goes back to them with no warning lights showing. The car will tell you when it needs a service, you can see when it's due by going into car settings in the infotainment system.

In my experience, VW lease cars are set to longlife (variable) servicing by default although the dealer will change it to the time / distance regime if you ask.

Time / distance will be better for the car than longlife servicing, especially if you are driving mostly short joirneys, as they use the same oil no matter which regime you are on. Time / distance means the car will likely be serviced more often, which obviously means more oil changes, but it will cost more money.

[pixelcellar]

When was the vehicle first registered? You need to ensure the car goes back to them with no warning lights showing. The car will tell you when it needs a service, you can see when it's due by going into car settings in the infotainment system.

In my experience, VW lease cars are set to longlife (variable) servicing by default although the dealer will change it to the time / distance regime if you ask.

Time / distance will be better for the car than longlife servicing, especially if you are driving mostly short joirneys, as they use the same oil no matter which regime you are on. Time / distance means the car will likely be serviced more often, which obviously means more oil changes, but it will cost more money.

It was first registered in December 2019, there's no lights on though at all I guess due to the servicing on the vehicle being set to not annual servicing?

I do for the most part only do short journeys although I do get an 80 mile run out every week, would doing my own interval oil changes and sticking to the longer service intervals be ok for the vehicle? Seems daft to spend £490 in 2 years vs £245 at some point next year plus an oil change which I can get my mechanic son to do for nigh on free too?

Ultimately I want what's best for the vehicle but with an eye on cost too, I want to keep it, rate we're going I'll have a 2019 GTI with 25k miles on it in 2024!!

[fredgroves]

You'd need to update the service record for it to be in line with the terms of your agreement.

I'd check what the car says about time to next service.... if that isn't telling you its time for an oil change, don't do it.

In that way you meet your obligation...

[pixelcellar]

You'd need to update the service record for it to be in line with the terms of your agreement.

I'd check what the car says about time to next service.... if that isn't telling you its time for an oil change, don't do it.

In that way you meet your obligation...

Thats the thing, the agreement just states 'service in line with the manufacturers recomendations', there's nothing stating a specific time period for servicing.

[fredgroves]

On a golf, its set to a servicing regime on the vehicle, the car will tell you when it needs servicing.

That's it.

Of course the agreement doesn't spell it out in detail - how could it!

[Phil245]

Ultimately I want what's best for the vehicle
[/quote]

What will be best for the vehicle will always be an annual oil & filter change with oem grade oil & filter.....

Whether it is strictly necessary is a different matter, your choice really. My Gti had done 1,800 miles after a year ( the WFH curse !) but still went in for a service at 1 year old. Ours is a "keeper" and the price of an oil change is peanuts to what we paid for and think of the car.....

[Ceefeesh]

Ultimately I want what's best for the vehicle

What will be best for the vehicle will always be an annual oil & filter change with oem grade oil & filter.....

[/quote]

I have to agree with this. I have done less than 4,000 miles in the last twelve months but because  the car is on annual service schedule I am now getting notifications that its time for an oil change. I have it booked in for a minor service in two weeks. It certainly won't do it any harm but it does seem a bit excessive however it probably is better for it.