[radox]

Because I drive a high number of miles annually, one of the things that attracted me to the new Golf was VW's claim that the diesel engines could go as long as 30,000 miles between services. Since the kind of driving I do is relatively easy on a diesel engine I was suprised when, after my car's first interval service at just over 18,000 miles, the Service Interval display again started predicting another service would be required in approximately another 18,000 miles.

Sure enough, on page 14 of VW's latest price list dated 1st Jan 2005 (http://www.vw.co.uk/assets/pdf/03_New_Golf.pdf), they have lowered the maximum service interval down from 30,000 miles to 18,000 miles!

It's a good job I like my new Golf because otherwise I'd be much more upset at finding out now that my car's servicing costs are going to be nearly twice as much as I had been led to believe.

That's quite a big "E&OE"

Stuart
http://www.stuartdalby.co.uk/vwgolfmk5

 

[cjp2k]

seems strange thats the same as what the petrol is.. well i think its max 18k on the petrol

so have the put the max petrol down as well??

 

[MikeP]

It was 18k on my Bora as well, never seen anything that says 30,000 miles... unless you've seen 30,000km?

 

[simfin]

Call me suspicious, but I always thought that VW's claim that there were these super sensors, which would analyse the oil quality, and vary service accordingly depending on engine temps and driving styles etc, was always a bit of a fantasy.

I reckon, by checking my miles to go indicator, the only real factor is the journey length. If I do a few short stop/start journeys then the miles to go reduce. Go for a 250 mile non-stop journey, they increase.

I guess if you could get in the car and drive it non-stop then the 30,000 miles may be a theoretical goal, but we all know that does not happen - So VW have made a BIG marketing error in my view. Surely this could be seen as mis-representing the car when it was sold.

However, on a personal note - I am even happier [^] that I went for the service package. That is a signed contract that they cannot (should not) get out of.

 

[radox]

They don't differentiate between the petrol and diesel servicing intervals. They just say the maximum applies only to the diesels.

It definately did say 30,000 miles and that was just what I assumed and, as I've said, influenced my purchase decision. When I got my car and it started predicting a service around 18,000 miles I did check again and did wonder if they meant 30,000 kms but no, they were still printing 30,000 miles.

I'm not quite as suspicious as simfin. I am willing to believe there are sensors monitoring the oil quality and I'm also not as angry as I could have been because in my mind, 30,000 miles would be a very long time to go between letting someone check out the car. That said, it's such a major error which will have a not-insignificant effect on owners' servicing costs and some people might not have bought the model if this was clear from the outset.

Stuart
http://www.stuartdalby.co.uk/vwgolfmk5

 

[weeloon]

As this is in the mkv section I presume you have a mkv, but mkivs services are...

time and distance : set to 15000km fixed

longlife for petrol : set to 30000km max

longlife for diesel : set to 50000km max

And wont change.

The sensor you mention is located in the bottom of the sump and measures the quantity of carbon in the oil periodically after 9000 miles and then adjusts the reading accordingly, it also acts as a level sensor and if it gets low will put on a 'yellow' oil can on the dash to warn you.

As for mkv settings I know they are similar but different service regimes, but I also knew that before they were on sale, so maybe you were misinformed not by vw but by the saleman that hadnt checked the new car info correctly.

I will try to post up the mk5 regimes for you next week if I can find them.

 

[MikeP]

50,000km for longlife diesel?! I never saw that in Borat [] it was every 18,000 miles without fail... and that was when I was mostly doing long journeys too...

 

[radox]

I'm just going on what was printed in the Mk 5 price list. Latest version at http://www.vw.co.uk/assets/pdf/03_New_Golf.pdf

Stuart
http://www.stuartdalby.co.uk/vwgolfmk5

 

[radox]

Well I have been in contact with Volkswagen Customer Services and apparently the maximum Long Life Variable Service intervals for Mk V Golfs has not changed from approximately 30,000 miles for diesels and 18,000 miles for petrol engined vehicles.

What has changed in the latest price list is how they describe the maximum Long Life Variable Service interval. Previously they quoted 30,000 miles with the proviso that this was only achievable by diesel engined vehicles. Now they quote 18,000 miles, without any proviso, which in fact only applies to petrol engined vehicles. They no longer state any figure for the supposedly higher maximum achievable by diesels.

So what this means for me is that approx 18,000 miles between services is what my car thinks is appropriate for my car useage & driving style. I would have thought that mainly doing 50+ mile motorway journeys at a cruise controlled 70mph would have got me nearer to the 30,000 mile interval but apparently not.

Stuart
http://www.stuartdalby.co.uk/vwgolfmk5

 

[Ricardo]

Quote: posted by MikeP on 05/02/2005 11:31:03

50,000km for longlife diesel?! I never saw that in Borat [] it was every 18,000 miles without fail... and that was when I was mostly doing long journeys too...

Nah mate it was 50K kms for ours. I checked it with the VAG-COM. Bear in mind that 18K miles is about 30K kms and this was a variable thing. I had 18K on mine before selling it and no service indicator. Could have been the chip on yours, also is something to do with number of bonnet openings cold starts etc.

Would be interesting to see what the Germans were getting from theirs as they have had it for about 2 years more than the UK.

 

[cjp2k]

Quote: posted by Ricardo on 24/02/2005 20:09:00

also is something to do with number of bonnet openings

Great the amount of screen wash i go through means loads of openings []

 

[kenl]

Quote: posted by cjp2k on 24/02/2005 20:40:33

Quote: posted by Ricardo on 24/02/2005 20:09:00

also is something to do with number of bonnet openings

Great the amount of screen wash i go through means loads of openings []

Don't believe this.

You are supposed to open the bonnet regularly to ckeck oil/coolant etc remember.

 

[Foxy]

My recollection was 30000 miles for the derv.

I picked up a dedicated VW long life service brochure when i had my mk4.

Whatever WeeLoon says - that's a fact, anyways......he's taught us everything we know, but not everything HE knows! LOL!

 

[kenl]

Quote: posted by weeloon on 05/02/2005 10:23:40

The sensor you mention is located in the bottom of the sump and measures the quantity of carbon in the oil periodically after 9000 miles and then adjusts the reading accordingly, it also acts as a level sensor and if it gets low will put on a 'yellow' oil can on the dash to warn you.

That's interesting.

From what you say the variable service indicator will not be able to actually predict when your service is due until after 9k miles.

Some people may therefore get a fright as at 8.5k miles they may think they are not due a service until 18k miles but after the sensor takes a reading at 9k they may be looking a service much sooner than expected [:O]

 

[radox]

Out of interest, has anyone here with a diesel engined Mk 5 had their service indicator show more than 18,600 miles (approx 30,000 kms) before the next service?

Stuart
http://www.stuartdalby.co.uk/vwgolfmk5

 

[simfin]

Checked mine last night when I got back.

2.0 GT TDi - Service estimate will be at 13,500 miles

Seems low, but I really do not hammer the car. In fact my average MPG since getting the car is around 46mpg. Have now covered 6,000 miles.

 

[Foxy]

How do you check, again?

Which buttons to press?

 

[simfin]

Ignition on - not engine

let the mfd settle down ( seatbelt warning etc) then press the trip meter reset button and keep it held in - it will give you miles to go and days.

 

[Booyaka Jon]

I have done 23300 miles so far, had it serviced @ 17000 miles & next one is due in 11200 miles (34000in total).

 

[Irish]

Had mine done at 14K and says it needs it no later than 30K but I doubt it'll go that far although stealer says it could go 20K before asking for one again.

Bloody expensive for these long life services too - ?400 I paid as opposed to the old fashioned oil and filter for ?180!