Variable versus fixed mileage servicing ?

[red16v]

Apologies if this thread has been discussed before. I've just purchased an 8month old TDI 150. I'm extremely pleased with it. I'm the sort of guy who gets his cars maintained by VW so this thread is not about the merits of whether to go to VW to get it serviced or DIY or garage round the corner etc. My question is : I know my car is capable of being 'run' on the fixed mileage service routine of getting a service every 10,000 miles or variable mileage servicing whereby the car will 'tell me' when a service is due. At present it has been set for fixed servicing. What are the merits of going down the 'variable' route" ? I assume with the variable route I might need to use higher quality oils when the car is serviced ? Why do VW offer a choice of service types/intervals? is one 'better' than the other? Any advice or opinions welcomed as usual. Regards, yt.

[golfvr6]

The variable means you could go up to 2 years without a service. I did read up on this before but i'll have to check. I would be in favour of fixed servicing at 10k or 12 months, if its done to early then so what.
The whole variable service thing was created to be more attractive especially for the fleet customer.

[S11EPS]

I guess it would come down to how you drive and the sorts of mileage you cover.

My understanding of the variable servicing routine was that the car determined when a service was due, based on the use of the engine since its last service.

Having had hot hatches and stuff before, (especially turbo'd ones), I always thought that 10k was too long between services, even using quality oil. I used to perform my services every 6K

My Golf is set to the variable service system, and lo and behold it proves that point - I have notched up 46k since July last year, and the car is already telling me I have only 1000 miles to the next service (that will be service number 5).

Average that out, and I have required a service every 9,400 miles (which is obviously less than the 10K fixed system). This is based on a fair chunk of motorway miles, a lot of driving through London, most of it all on-boost!

If its your own car, and you wanna keep in tip top condition I would stick with the variable one. That way, its always serviced when it needs it, but you aren't paying for services if you don't!  

[kniterider]

the 'long life oil' that vw uses on its services on the mk4 range is spose to be good for 10k anyway dont know about pushing it any further though!! i drop me oil and change me filter every 3k on mine!!!! (mobile 1 fully synthetic!!) and its always golden!! evn when i change it!!, id go for the fixed at 10k or what ever it is leaving it any longer in my opinion is askin for trouble as they may also pick up on anything that may be starting to fail etc also!!

[golfvr6]

Yep, if i remember right the car remembers how many cold starts it has had , and this what partly determines when the oil change is due. So in theory the car could go longer than 12 months without a service, which i don't think is good. Maybe i just need more convincing!

[S11EPS]

if i remember right the car remembers how many cold starts it has had , and this what partly determines when the oil change is due.

That might explain why I have caned through my service intervals in under 10K each then, as I get up and leave for work at stupid-o'clock, when it is, to be frank, sodding freezing.

I like the idea of the car telling me it needs a service before I think it does - I think the best solution has got to be rely on the variable thing to tell you if it needs one sooner (like in my case) but get it serviced on the button (10K) if it doesn't.

[golfvr6]

Yep, that does sound sensible to me.

[Terminator]

It is vital to use VW506.01 oil (Castrol SLX Longlife 11) for the variable service regime and not VW505.01 which is used for the fixed service regime, as this is the only oil that will work with the variable service sensors. Castrol SLX Longlife 11 is currently the only brand of oil which meets VW506.01 (the .01 is crucial) and VW's own brand is made by Castrol. Some of the VW staff are ignorant about this difference so it pays to check as I was given the wrong grade of top up oil. S11EPS, are you sure that your car is set for the variable service service as my first one didn't come up until 17,000 miles and I cane mine like you and use it for short trips?

[golfvr6]

That what i'm not keen on , a car going 17k before next service. I think this schedule is designed to be attractive to companies with fleet cars.

[kniterider]

ill stcik to doin it meself every 3k!!!!!!!!