'08 VW Rabbit @ 8000km

[tpl]

Do all VWs use 5W30? I thought the turbos use 5W40. This is one aspect of German cars I don't like: special engine oil and radiator fluid. In Europe it may not be a problem where VWs are common, whereas here (NJ), only VW dealers carry the coolant and there are limited options for 5W40.

VWs use oil approved as VW 502 or VW 505  Diesels use VW 505.   There are several oils that meet these specs mostly 5w-40 and a couple of 0w-30 and 5w-30.   Mobil 1 0w-40  is available at Partsource for example. The famous "German Castrol" 0w-30 claims " to exceed VW specs"    VW do publish a list of approved oils...mostly it  is a list of Euro brands we don't see much of here tho'

The G12/G12 Plus  coolant is more difficult I agree.  Some of the euro coolant  mfrs do have it but I have never seen it in a regular auto parts place... that I have looked in.  Pentosin make it.

[airbalancer]

The famous "German Castrol" 0w-30 claims " to exceed VW specs"  I have seen it at Wally Mart

[Juke1]

Congrats on the purchase vdk, good looking car as are all VWs.

[tpl]

The famous "German Castrol" 0w-30 claims " to exceed VW specs"  I have seen it at Wally Mart

it iss at Cdn tire/partsource  as well.

[vdk]

Congrats on the purchase vdk, good looking car as are all VWs.

Thanks... she'll look even better soon 

I have to take a look on the invoice as I don't remember if they used 5W30 or 5W40. I'll let you guys know.

[Arctic_White]

simply put ESP is amazing when u need it the most...

Went in for an oil change (im afraid to say SERVICE when inside a dealership) today... Cost me almost $110  but at least they washed the car ...

That's not too bad.

Wait until you hit 32,000 kms.  It's at least $200.

The 64,000 kms service is over $600!

[quadzilla]

That's not too bad.

Wait until you hit 32,000 kms.  It's at least $200.

The 64,000 kms service is over $600!

What do they do at 64K to make that so expensive? I don't know if I paid $600 for all my maintenance up to 100K.

[vdk]

64k service is gianormous... I think they keep the car for a full day...
The 64k service takes IIRC more than a full page in the manual... whereas the 8k service has 2 lines..

It ain't cheap, but hey... it ain't THAT bad either.



HAPPY CANADA DAY! 

[PJungnitsch]

What do they do at 64K to make that so expensive? I don't know if I paid $600 for all my maintenance up to 100K.

Special technical expertise by German-trained VW technicians. There is even a warning in the owners manual:

Achtung! Alles non-technischen looken peepers! Das fahrwagon servisung ist nicht for gefengerpoken und mittengrabben by das dumbkopfen! Oderwise ist easy schnappen der springenverk, blowenfus, undpoppencorken mit spitzensparken. Keepen das cotton-picken hands in das pockets! Relaxen, und vatchen das blinkenlights.

[Serniter]

LOL!

[Serniter]

Isn't the ~64k service expensive on even the Japanese cars though?

[airbalancer]

What you have to is what they want to do for these inspections
and decide if they are worth it
Some of the stuff you can do yourself
My GMC is 4 1/2 years old and 153,000 Km , I do oil changes when the light comes on, can the air filter once a year, the only other thing that has been done is front rotors turned, rear rotors replaced and pads replace
will do a major servicing in December

[tpl]

Georgetown VW sheet for the 2.0 Turbo  up to 2008.  One would hope the 2.5l would be a little bit cheaper.
 8k km   $92
16k km  $165
32k km  $252
64k km  $389   includes DSG fluid change... but I don't believe that... I think that is another $100 JUST for the magic oil.

plus  brake fluid every 2 years  $90-100
Coolant every  3-4 years            $90-100
Timing belt at 164k km              $500-600

all of these include labour and, I presume, fluids but not tax or "shop supplies"


The proof of this will be in the actual credit card bill!

[quadzilla]

Isn't the ~64k service expensive on even the Japanese cars though?

No.

My most expensive service to date was $160 @ 72K. My next big one will be 100K which I don't expect to be terrible either.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

What you have to is what they want to do for these inspections
and decide if they are worth it
Some of the stuff you can do yourself

Agreed. I usually tell them what I want done which is usually oil change and tire rotation, then perhaps an additional thing or two if it's logical to do so, and ask them if there's anything that should be done - they usually say no but occassionally recommended something and I'd do it. Most of my maintenance except for the timing belt was $90-150.

[safristi]

  JP .. OWWW!!! much jest fer a gerfingerpoken.............

[mmret]

Isn't the ~64k service expensive on even the Japanese cars though?

No.

My most expensive service to date was $160 @ 72K. My next big one will be 100K which I don't expect to be terrible either.

You haven't seen Acura shop rates.

[vdk]

Isn't the ~64k service expensive on even the Japanese cars though?

No.

My most expensive service to date was $160 @ 72K. My next big one will be 100K which I don't expect to be terrible either.

You haven't seen Acura shop rates.

Yeah I heard Acuras are pretty expensive to maintain also... 

Oddly enough... I believe Volvos are the least expensive to maintain Euros...

[vdk]

Thought I'd write an update.

14.5k

Hmm... where should I start... while I was on vacation in NS my lil' dub decided it's a Volkswagen. And it experienced an ECU glitch. Instrument panel was all lit up even the little LCD display was bugged (everything seemed to work though ie signals, lights), the a/c and recirculation weren't working but the fan was. The windows were working too.

I thought I'll just disconnect the battery wait a few minutes and then reconnect it. But then I thought, hell, I got an appointment for the 16k service tomorrow, I'll just visit the dealer today so they can take care of everything now. So I cancel all my plans for the day and drive to Sydney, 100km away.

45 minutes later, I'm there. All good, the guys there are pretty nice and everything, and after talking with VW Canada they give me a loaner. Much appreciate it as I was staying over a friend's house about 150 clicks away. After I picked up the loaner, I realized that I forgot my iPod in the car... so I had to drive back there and get it. I talk with the same guy again, and he tells me that the car's fine.  There's nothing lit up on the dash, all's cool, although he'll keep it so someone can take a look at it in the morning. Nice.

Next day, I drive back to the dealership to pick up the car, all happy to drive my dub once again, the loaner was terrible.
But wait, there's cat hair in the car and lots of it too.    Oily fingerprints on the dash and on the steering wheel and a large oil drop on the door.    Grab those cleaning wipes! Done. Hold on, they didn't wash the car, but they drove it ~60km through MUD  Ahh... car wash! Good. After that, I checked the oil, coolant, brake fluid levels. All good. Coolant was low and they've added some.

16k Service:

Engine Oil - change (MAYBE - I'm 90% sure it was done)

Windshield Washer Fluid - check level (NOT ADDED)

Automatic Shift Lock - check operation (?)

Brake System - check damage/leaks, pad thickness, fluid level (DOUBT IT)

Wheels - rotate from front to rear (NOPE)

Brake Fluid (CHECK)


So I get back to Toronto and bother to check the tire thread on my front and rear wheels. What do you know, they didn't rotate my tires.   

I call VW Canada and the guy's like we'll look into it and contact you tomorrow. Okay great, I don't think the guys there will admit anything but sure, give it a try. 3 days later VW calls back and tells me that, well, the service manager told them the fronts had more tire tread depth than the rears  Are you shitting me? So I go on an tell him WHY that's not possible (FWD car, fronts used for steering, they've never been changed before etc.) but he won't listen. It's not VW Canada's fault, I should talk directly with the Service Manager he says, I call .  Anyways, we don't get anywhere so I'm left with a 16k service that wasn't actually done. $160 for an iffy oil change? that. And they didn't even set the service reminder to 16k instead of 8k.

I'll go to my dealer next week and see if they can talk directly with VW Canada or the other dealership in NS after they take a look at the car. I want them to reset the service reminder anyways, if they can't do anything, I'll just get some beers and 2 friends to get this stupid rotation done.



Thanks for reading.

[Cortina]

Ummmm. yer.......wow....er, yer that sucks. Good read tho.