What REALLY is the proper Service schedule (to maintain the warranty). VW & BMW telling lies

FrankFalcon

Hi all

Myself and my son have (quite coincidently) recently been contacted by our dealers telling us that service/oil change is due to maintain the warranty.  I am now genuinely confused.  Firstly me...

I bought a brand new VW Tourag from a main VW dealer 7 months ago.  Yesterday I had a call from VW telling me I was due a service.  I said "Are you serious.  I've not even had the car 1 year yet".  The agent said "Yes, but how many miles has the car done".  I told her "five thousand".  She then went on to give me some sales talk about maintaining the warranty so I said "Look.  does my car need a service?".  She replied "Well, we recommend one".  I said "Ok.  Do I have to have this service to keep up with the warranty".  She said no.  So, I asked when I "NEED" to have a service to maintain the warranty and she told me again "Well, we recommend one now".  In the end, I disconnected the call.  Later that night my son told me that a few days earlier BMW had give him the same lines.  This just gets more and more confusing.  I am all for keeping the car regularly serviced, especially to maintain the warranty but I genuinely don't know who's telling the truth.  Even more confusing...There is now a message on the dash saying...Oil change in XXX miles.  What's going on?
I don't suppose anybody has the real answer to when my 7 month old Tourag needs a service?
Thanks all.

Car_54

What does the documentation (service booklet) say?

Probably it's when the car tells you, or 12 months, whichever is soonest.

Iceweasel

I doubt that VW and/or BMW are telling these lies.
You were surely contacted by dealerships who like all businesses are trying to boost profits.
The correct manufacturer service requirements are to be found in the handbook or in the car service requirement display.

born_again

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/owners-and-services/servicing-and-parts/service-plans/service-schedules.html


They are probably contacting you now so they can get it booked in intime. Many dealers have long waits to get a service booked.

You car does need to be serviced as per manufacture schedule or you risk a refusal of any warranty claim.

Servicing

Your vehicle should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Any damage to or defect in the vehicle caused by poor or insufficient servicing will not be remedied under the vehicle's warranty. Please ensure that you maintain sufficient records to enable our Authorised Network to confirm that the vehicle has been appropriately serviced. In any event, please ensure that the service schedule booklet in your vehicle is stamped by the business carrying out the service work, or detailed invoices supplied with date, mileage, plus specified parts and fluids used.

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/owners-and-services/my-car/important-information/warranties-and-insurance/new-car-terms.html

Best advice ask on a VW forum. Users there will know the correct procedure. Unlike some desk muppet at a dealer 🤦‍♀️

Hoenir

Getting service slots at main dealers can be a pain if left to the last minute. I always get a call for my Mazda service around 5 weeks in advance. 

Iceweasel

For your son's BMW all the service info is on the i-Drive and also on the 'myBMW' app.
Every time the car is started the distance to the next service is displayed in front of the driver.
The 'myBMW' app shows that information too.
When it gets to approx 1000 miles to go one can book a service directly from the i-Drive or the app at the dealership of one's choice.
BMW no longer provide service books to be stamped - it's all on the i-Drive.
One can always buy a blank service book and get it stamped - but like MOTs it's not what's on paper that is the official record - it's all on the i-Drive and on BMW's central computer in München.

Mildly_Miffed

Modern cars are in constant data contact with the manufacturer.

Oil quality is monitored by sensors within the engine.

So, yes, your engine has decided the oil quality is degrading - if your low mileage is short journeys and cold starts, no surprise there. It's contacted the manufacturer, who've passed the details to the dealer, who've then called you. It's also notified you via the dash.

The answer to when it needs a service? When it tells you it needs a service.

daveyjp

20 years ago my Audi had a service countdown.  I very much doubt it is no longer a thing on VW/Audi vehicles, so maybe read the manual to find out how to access the info.

I did have a Jaguar that calculated service intervals based on oil quality/engine starts/ dpf regens and when my annual mileage dropped significantly what had been a change every 10-12,000 miles was down to 5,000 miles.

Herzlos

Hoenir said:

Getting service slots at main dealers can be a pain if left to the last minute. I always get a call for my Mazda service around 5 weeks in advance. 

Especially if you want a courtesy car. 5 months seems a bit early but I'd definitely try booking one 2-3 months out if you can.

Iceweasel

I would be going by what it says on the dash of your Touareg / Tourag.
If it asks to be serviced then service it.

sheslookinhot

Check with your service manager.

From Volkswagen 

• 1st service (oil service) – at 9,300 miles or when your car is 12 months old.