I've stopped servicing my car at the authorized service center - here's why

[Luka]

Just wanted to share some experience I've had, this is not a post trying to convince people not to use an authorized VW service center. Also this was in Croatia, so could be different elsewhere (but I doubt it if VW specifies the oil used)

In the last few years I've been servicing my car, as mentioned before, at the VW authorized service center. Mainly so I don't have any issues with maintaining my warranty. I generally do my yearly service just under the suggested 15k Km interval. I would do it sooner, but I do a lot of miles on my car.
Main thing I've noticed is that the oil in my car is at the bottom end of the dipstick at around 14k Km. I've tried to figure out what oil they are using but the best I could get back is "VW specified Castrol" that come is barrels. If I made it a bit over 15k, the oil would be below the dipstick. I'm not a mechanic, but a fairly new car should not be using that much oil.
Last two services I've ordered Castrol Edge and took it to a man I trust to change my oil. Just under 15k the oil is at the half way mark of the dipstick.
Another issue I had was after I've changed the cabin air filter, I noticed that the OEM Bosch looks like inferior quality compared to the MANN filter I got. (In the pic, the bottom one is OEM Bosch)

20210825_115551.jpg (308.53 KiB) Viewed 1940 times

I've tried to ask the authorized service center to use Castrol Edge instead of the stuff they're using and they refuse. I figure it's because they get the stuff they use for A LOT cheaper then what Castrol Edge costs.

Question for the peeps here. Does anyone know the part number for the OEM air and oil filters. Would love to see what they're using. From now on I'll only be using MANN filters, VW can shove their warranty as far as I'm concerned.

[Dark_cze]

Completly understand you.

My oil services I did:
4000km
17000km
29500km (oil change + first inspection at VW, they scraped bottom of my car near jacking point )
30000km (after 500km because I have trust issues with VW, oil was new they said it was Helix Ultra Professional AV-L 0W-30, engine air filter(2Q0129668) super clean or new, cabin filter(2Q0819669) was not changed and it was dirty as hell )
43000km

+ warranty claim for squeaking stabilisator, front right main LED light(2G1941774A) and of course scrapped bottom of car (which they confirmed then denied then repaired ...)
+ I had faulty "Pendulum Support" (2Q0199851D) replaced it on my own because Iam not going back to VW

//I can take a look at part number for your air filter and oil filter but I don't know what engine you have

[Stuart_Rendall]

This isn't country specific, it is world wide. Here in the UK VW dealerships have a history of doing a terrible job and then over pricing for the little they actually do.

My previous Polo went into VW for an M.O.T and they told me about dirt ingress into the CV boots so I paid them to fix it, cost around £60 and of course the driveshafts have to be removed from the wheel hub and gearbox. 3 months later I keep getting a knocking and grinding noise, had it for a while but it got progressively worse. I went to the dealer for them to give it a once over. They charged me a fee of around £100 for diagnostics. Left the car with them for an entire day and then got a call back from their incompetent service desk receptionist who told me the repair will cost £3500 as the gearbox had a critical failure due to myself tampering with bolts in the driveshaft. After tooing and throwing with them for about a week I reminded them of the work that they carried out on the M.O.T and their workshop manager called me and told me that they had fixed the car under their complimentary warranty and that it wasn't a broken gearbox it was in fact a few missing bolts. I don't see how these things and the pricing of these items could be confused so much so naturally I went into the dealership outraged. Ironically as I was at the dealer, walking past the service garage I saw a technician slip the clutch of a different Polo, crash it into a wall, and take the door off with the lift. I couldn't believe what I saw. I mentioned it to the workshop manager and funnily enough, since that day they couldn't be any nicer to me with the work they do. Wherever possible I use a VAG/German specialist to work on my cars because of their incompetencies.

[Andy Beats]

With regard to oil consumption VAG don't give a damn.
We had a fleet of 2.0tdi engine cars at work, the best one used a litre per 4500 miles
The worst one used a litre every 1800 miles.
It got so bad we bought a 205L drum of miller oil to the right spec so the drivers could just top up from there using a wee hand pump.
VAG said all were 'within tolerances' and they wouldn't investigate unless it was under 1500 miles per litre.
my Audi A3 2.0Tdi was the only car I've had, ever, that i had to make sure I had a litre of oil in the boot at all times.

[Luka]

(oil change + first inspection at VW, they scraped bottom of my car near jacking point )

I feel that. The cabin air filter on my car was changed only once before and it was at the same VW service center. When I changed it to the MANN filter, I've noticed that one of the passenger side cabin notches that holds it in place is half way broken.

20210825_115757.jpg (96.47 KiB) Viewed 1824 times

The cabin air filter is super easy to replace. There's no reason to give it to anyone else past your warranty, a child could do it.

[monkeyhanger]

With regard to oil consumption VAG don't give a damn.
We had a fleet of 2.0tdi engine cars at work, the best one used a litre per 4500 miles
The worst one used a litre every 1800 miles.
It got so bad we bought a 205L drum of miller oil to the right spec so the drivers could just top up from there using a wee hand pump.
VAG said all were 'within tolerances' and they wouldn't investigate unless it was under 1500 miles per litre.
my Audi A3 2.0Tdi was the only car I've had, ever, that i had to make sure I had a litre of oil in the boot at all times.

You must've been pretty unlucky or the fleet must have been subject to widespread abuse (like thrashing a cold engine). Most of my cars bought new have been VW TDIs, and only 1 required top ups between services (the diesels are below.

1999 Polo 1.4TDI 75ps
2001 Polo 1.9TDI 105ps
2005 Golf 2.0TDI 140ps - The one with the thirst
2007 Golf 2.0TDI 170ps
2009 Scirocco 2.0TDI 140ps
2011 Scirocco 2.0TDI 170ps
2013 Golf GTD 2.0TDI 184ps
2015 A1 1.6TDI 116ps
2019 A4 2.0TDI 190ps

The one with the thirst was run in on Motorway miles (never again) - it's first 800 miles were pretty much sat in 6th at 80mph. It used 2l of oil in its first 600 mikes and about 0.8l per 1000 miles thereafter.

VWs are usually pretty good for oil consumption. My Golf R and both Polo GTI+ neverneededa top up between services.

[Andy Beats]

With regard to oil consumption VAG don't give a damn.
We had a fleet of 2.0tdi engine cars at work, the best one used a litre per 4500 miles
The worst one used a litre every 1800 miles.
It got so bad we bought a 205L drum of miller oil to the right spec so the drivers could just top up from there using a wee hand pump.
VAG said all were 'within tolerances' and they wouldn't investigate unless it was under 1500 miles per litre.
my Audi A3 2.0Tdi was the only car I've had, ever, that i had to make sure I had a litre of oil in the boot at all times.

You must've been pretty unlucky or the fleet must have been subject to widespread abuse (like thrashing a cold engine). Most of my cars bought new have been VW TDIs, and only 1 required top ups between services (the diesels are below.

1999 Polo 1.4TDI 75ps
2001 Polo 1.9TDI 105ps
2005 Golf 2.0TDI 140ps - The one with the thirst
2007 Golf 2.0TDI 170ps
2009 Scirocco 2.0TDI 140ps
2011 Scirocco 2.0TDI 170ps
2013 Golf GTD 2.0TDI 184ps
2015 A1 1.6TDI 116ps
2019 A4 2.0TDI 190ps

The one with the thirst was run in on Motorway miles (never again) - it's first 800 miles were pretty much sat in 6th at 80mph. It used 2l of oil in its first 600 mikes and about 0.8l per 1000 miles thereafter.

VWs are usually pretty good for oil consumption. My Golf R and both Polo GTI+ neverneededa top up between services.

Nothing unlucky about it, the first 2.0tdi engines were well known for their oil problems (a quick google search will bring up loads of hits).
The 2.0Tsi is/was the same.
Whether VAG have fixed this issue or not, god knows.
I was just pointing out that, historically, they don't give a damn and your oil consumption has to be horrific before they will do anything.

[Andy Beats]

You must've been pretty unlucky or the fleet must have been subject to widespread abuse (like thrashing a cold engine). Most of my cars bought new have been VW TDIs, and only 1 required top ups between services (the diesels are below.

1999 Polo 1.4TDI 75ps
2001 Polo 1.9TDI 105ps
2005 Golf 2.0TDI 140ps - The one with the thirst
2007 Golf 2.0TDI 170ps
2009 Scirocco 2.0TDI 140ps
2011 Scirocco 2.0TDI 170ps
2013 Golf GTD 2.0TDI 184ps
2015 A1 1.6TDI 116ps
2019 A4 2.0TDI 190ps

The one with the thirst was run in on Motorway miles (never again) - it's first 800 miles were pretty much sat in 6th at 80mph. It used 2l of oil in its first 600 mikes and about 0.8l per 1000 miles thereafter.

VWs are usually pretty good for oil consumption. My Golf R and both Polo GTI+ neverneededa top up between services.

Nothing unlucky about it, the first 2.0tdi engines were well known for their oil problems (a quick google search will bring up loads of hits).
The 2.0Tsi is/was the same.
Whether VAG have fixed this issue or not, god knows.
I was just pointing out that, historically, they don't give a damn and your oil consumption has to be horrific before they will do anything.

[Dark_cze]

The 2.0Tsi is/was the same.
Whether VAG have fixed this issue or not, god knows.
I was just pointing out that, historically, they don't give a damn and your oil consumption has to be horrific before they will do anything.

Some 1.8 and 2.0 TSI was later fixed under warranty. VW replaced conrods + pistons (either with same as in car or later with updated parts). From end of 2012 EA888 engines got updated and issue disappeared. Problem was in piston rings and excesive carbon buildup in groves for piston rings. In the end rings got seized in compresed or partialy compresed state. Oil wasn't getting wiped back down to oil pan so ended getting above piston and got burned.

Mine EA888 in Polo GTI takes no oil even with 0w20 oil so that is great success by my opinion.

[monkeyhanger]

[
Whether VAG have fixed this issue or not, god knows.
I was just pointing out that, historically, they don't give a damn and your oil consumption has to be horrific before they will do anything.

The other manufacturers take the same stance. My mate has a 2019 Civic R-Type. It uses almost a litre of oil every 1000 miles. Honda won't do a thing unless it uses 1.5l every 1000 miles. I'd consider use of 1l of oil between services to be abnormal.

[Luka]

The other manufacturers take the same stance. My mate has a 2019 Civic R-Type. It uses almost a litre of oil every 1000 miles. Honda won't do a thing unless it uses 1.5l every 1000 miles. I'd consider use of 1l of oil between services to be abnormal.

Are we taking into consideration the type of oil used. I saw a considerable difference in oil consumption after switching from the VW service center Castrol (probably a lower quality Castrol) to Castrol Edge.
It's impossible to say this objectively, but my driving habit and routes within the service intervals is more or less the same/similar.

[monkeyhanger]

The other manufacturers take the same stance. My mate has a 2019 Civic R-Type. It uses almost a litre of oil every 1000 miles. Honda won't do a thing unless it uses 1.5l every 1000 miles. I'd consider use of 1l of oil between services to be abnormal.

Are we taking into consideration the type of oil used. I saw a considerable difference in oil consumption after switching from the VW service center Castrol (probably a lower quality Castrol) to Castrol Edge.
It's impossible to say this objectively, but my driving habit and routes within the service intervals is more or less the same/similar.

To my knowledge, my VWs have been using Castrol Edge for at least the last 10 years and come with it direct from the factory. Castrol Edge has been specified on the service documentation for all my recent services.

[Andy Beats]

The other manufacturers take the same stance. My mate has a 2019 Civic R-Type. It uses almost a litre of oil every 1000 miles. Honda won't do a thing unless it uses 1.5l every 1000 miles. I'd consider use of 1l of oil between services to be abnormal.

That's shocking, it practically makes the car a two-stroke

[monkeyhanger]

The other manufacturers take the same stance. My mate has a 2019 Civic R-Type. It uses almost a litre of oil every 1000 miles. Honda won't do a thing unless it uses 1.5l every 1000 miles. I'd consider use of 1l of oil between services to be abnormal.

That's shocking, it practically makes the car a two-stroke

It is shocking. Some people think Honda is the pinnacle of reliability and customer service, but it seems that all the marques are like this now. Costs cone way above reliability and customer satisfaction these days.

I do wonder if a degree of unreliability is there by design, to get those buying new cars fearing having a car out of warranty, and making sure they buy another new one.

Car reliability isn't hugely different from marque to marque these days, as a result of global parts purchasing to the lowest bidder and so little of the car made in-house.

[Cro_vw]

Cabin filter dual zone ac original number - 2Q0 819 669 ,
air filter 1.0 85kw - 04C 129 620 A
oil filter 1.0 85kw - 04E 115 561 H

and my car came with mahle cabin filter, and oem oil filter. Not sure about air filter, didn't change it yet. Oil they use is Castrol edge 5w30 LL. My car is burning oil as well, I add about 200-300 ml in couple of thousands km's.
cheers