First service...

[Teutonic_Tamer]

What mileage have you guys been showing on your first service..? As I am now at 12k and still no service countdown lights etc (still on original front boots too  )..

That must mean you are on LongLife servicing.  A GTI really should NOT be on LongLife - unless you hardly ever go above 3,000 rpm!   

If, when looking at the index page for the Mk5, you cast your eyes to the top of the page, you just might see the very handy child section for maintenance.  If you loose your way, here's the link: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?board=59 

When you are there, look out for my detailed sticky thread on serving regimes - just for you - clicky: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=65779 

Oh, and as others have suggested, you need to press the loud pedal a little harder! 

What boots are you running?

I've heard 9k and also heard of someone having 18k.. So what have you guys found iy comes it at (obviously depends on how the car is driven town/motorway etc)..

Correct.  9k ish is about right for Time and Distance.  However, even on LongLife, 9k is fairly common - which really makes a mockery of LongLife servicing on high performance petrol turbo cars!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

My car was set up for 2 year/long-life,

Not good - see my previous reply.

but why is it telling me my service is due in 3600 miles (it is 11 months old now, and has done 9500miles).

Because the GTI is NOT suitable for the LongLife regime.

And because the actual "LongLife" regime has been "evolving" since it's introduction in around 2000/2001 - and the algorithms for the serving countdown "computer" have been progressively reduced over the years.  Indeed, the very latest LongLife algorithms, for both petrol and diesels, result in nigh-on identical time/mileages as for the conventional "Time and Distance" servicing regimes.

Surely the service is due around 22-24K and in October 2009

Huh !!!

No, no, NO.

On a petrol car, on LongLife servicing, the official advice is relatively clear.  In terms of "timescales", you can go up to a maximum  of 24 months (two years or 730 days) from the last service (or PDI), though most petrol engines rarely achieve this - with the majority seeming to be around the 11-14 month timescale.  Regarding the mileage, it is upto a maximum of 20k miles (actually around 19,600 miles, due to the fact that it is programmed in kilometers, at 30k km  ).  Again, petrol engines, particularly turbos have NEVER made it to anywhere near 20k miles.  Normally aspirated petrols can sometimes reach 15 or 16k miles, but turbo petrols range from 9k to about 12k miles!

Is it because of my 'maybe a little fast' driving style, so the car is basically needing a service earlier than someone who just poodles around in it?

Yup.  But if that someone who just "poodles around" in a GTI - well a GTI is really wasted on them!

[WhiteGTI]

Thanks T_T...everything is now clear. I also read your Service Regimes post in the Maintenance Section, understand it now.

Thanks 

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Thanks T_T...everything is now clear. I also read your Service Regimes post in the Maintenance Section, understand it now.

Thanks 

OK, cool.

So I would recommend you get it booked ASAP for a 10k miles/12 months "oil change" service, supplying your own LongLife oil (along with OEM filter and sump plug), and get them to recode it for T&D servicing.  This way, your 2year/20k miles service should work out fine in 12 months time - and will add to resale value amongst "knowledgeable" GTI owners/potential owners. 

[Vtec Abuser]

Did the check earlier and it says i've got 3700 miles or 466 days till next service. I am currently on just under 12k, so what service agenda is that???
I thought a certain model of car will have a set service interval, not two different types?
I'm confussed??? 

Just to add, my car is a lease car on a maintenance contract. Not sure if that makes a difference? But obviously they won't approve it for a service until it's due on the car..

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Did the check earlier and it says i've got 3700 miles or 466 days till next service. I am currently on just under 12k, so what service agenda is that???

I take it maths wasn't your best exam result! 

OK, so given that you are already nearly at 12k miles, and it is still offering an extra 3700 miles, this will clearly take you over the 10k miles limit for the T&D regime. 

Also, it states 466 days to the next service - now forgive me for taking the p!ss, but I thought a calender year (excluding leap years) consisted of just 365 dayz. 

So the above means you too are on LongLife.    Get it serviced now, and change it to T&D! 

I thought a certain model of car will have a set service interval, not two different types?
I'm confussed??? 

Nope.  Read my sticky again! 

To briefly state the salient points - ALL engines are factory filled with the latest spec LongLife oils (now it is LongLife 3 standard) - irrespective of servicing regimes.

The DEALER then sets the actual initial servicing regime when they carry out the PDI.  For the UK, and most of Europe, this will be set by default to the LongLife regime (apart from certain high performance models, such as the RS6), UNLESS the purchasing customer specifically requests Time and Distance servicing regime.

Certain geographical areas, such as the entire Americas continent (Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, etc) are not (yet) allowed to use LongLife servicing regimes, due to their poor quality fuels.  The cars are still factory filled with LongLife oils, and still have all the "longlife" sensors and associated gubbins.

Just to add, my car is a lease car on a maintenance contract. Not sure if that makes a difference? But obviously they won't approve it for a service until it's due on the car..

OK, do you have VAG-COM?  Or a mate nearby with it?  If yes, then get them to <cough> tweak <cough> the days due in the service countdown to zero days - or how many days are left until 12 months are up.  If they are able to work out the mileage algorithm settings, get them to tweak that to show, say 500 miles to next service.

Then when you get the service carried out, ask the stealer to recode it for T&D servicing, or if they refuse, when you collect the car after servicing, "manually" reset it yourself, using the buttons on the dash - as this will change it to 10k and 12 months T&D regime.

[Vtec Abuser]

I got a B in maths, so no that thick..  Just didn't know whether mine was a late 10k or an early 20k service, as sits in the middle..
You are a walking encyclopedia though Mr TT  But sorry what does T&D mean again?
My car is a 08 plate and was registered on 17th April, so it'll be doing it's mileage before the time limits comes up, that's for sure.. 
I'm certainly not weighing out for a service myself when I can get it free on the contract. Just a bit annoying that some GTI's have the T&D and mine doesn't (or have I read something wrong and they are all the same as mine?). I have put a litre of longlife oil in it as it has used some in it's first 12k, so will just wait a month or two till it's doen the 3700 miles and get your advice again on how to change it to T&D when it's done I think.. 

[WhiteGTI]

Thanks T_T...everything is now clear. I also read your Service Regimes post in the Maintenance Section, understand it now.

Thanks 

OK, cool.

So I would recommend you get it booked ASAP for a 10k miles/12 months "oil change" service, supplying your own LongLife oil (along with OEM filter and sump plug), and get them to recode it for T&D servicing.  This way, your 2year/20k miles service should work out fine in 12 months time - and will add to resale value amongst "knowledgeable" GTI owners/potential owners. 

Does it work out much cheaper if I supply my own oil, OEM filter and sump plug? I take it I just order those from a dealer anyways??

[Top Cat]

I popped into the stealer's the other day for top up oil £16 for a wee drop.
You can get 5 litres of the same stuff for less at costco. 

[SteveP]

I got a B in maths, so no that thick..  Just didn't know whether mine was a late 10k or an early 20k service, as sits in the middle..
You are a walking encyclopedia though Mr TT  But sorry what does T&D mean again?
My car is a 08 plate and was registered on 17th April, so it'll be doing it's mileage before the time limits comes up, that's for sure.. 
I'm certainly not weighing out for a service myself when I can get it free on the contract. Just a bit annoying that some GTI's have the T&D and mine doesn't (or have I read something wrong and they are all the same as mine?). I have put a litre of longlife oil in it as it has used some in it's first 12k, so will just wait a month or two till it's doen the 3700 miles and get your advice again on how to change it to T&D when it's done I think.. 

T&D = Time and Distance (1 year or 10K miles).

My dealer asked which service regime I wanted when booking the collection/handover date for mine, I chose the T&D, never liked the idea of running the car for more than 10K on the same oil.

In the past on a Passat B6 company car the dealer wouldn't change to the T&D from the original long life without the lease companies authorisation.