Brake fluid change is only £45 in Kwik-fit and that is higher than what I paid last year (I think it was £35 for my Passat). Mind you, they spent more time examining the entire braking system than they took doing the actual fluid change. Probably hoping to find any additional work......

 

Interesting - Thank you. Have Kwik Fit upped their game recently? Have always generally avoided them over the years.

 

I am surprised the car has already had a major service? Assuming it was on annual servicing, the first three services are minor services - that is largely an oil change and inspection (plus some other minor bits and bobs). The first major service is year 4. Anyway, better to have a major service earlier rather than later and so no problem.

Normally VW dealers do brake fluid change at 3yrs so worth checking to see if that has already been done. I understood VW say that DSG oil should be changed at 40k miles, not sure if that advice has now changed? If you have a 4Motion car, the Haldex needs an oil change at 3 years (don't forget to get the mesh filter cleaned - you have to ask for this to be done).

Pano-roof service is normally offered at 3years as well so again worth checking if already done. If it does need to be done, consider asking the dealer to check the drain pipes are all running clean as this isn't part of the pano-roof service which is crazy. My dealer did this for me and didn't charge any extra for doing it but I had to ask for this to be done as otherwise, it is little more than a lubrication service.

Also, VW think the car needs an air con service every two years. While I think most on here disagree with this, you may need to do it as a requirement of your warranty. Worth being aware. Sorry, don't know anything about the timing belt on your car but there is at least one thread on here about them and which cars have belts (which I think are the diesels and 1.5 petrol) and which are chains (which I think is just 2.0 petrol) - happy to be corrected on that. I also know that typically, due to its location, the water pump is replaced at the same time but on one of the engines, this isn't necessary as the water pump is located away from the timing belt. Again worth checking if you do need a belt change.

Good luck

 

I am surprised the car has already had a major service? Assuming it was on annual servicing, the first three services are minor services - that is largely an oil change and inspection (plus some other minor bits and bobs). The first major service is year 4. Anyway, better to have a major service earlier rather than later and so no problem.

Well, the dealer might have called it a major service, but what does that mean? Possibly simply that they charged someone for a major service.

In practice there's not an awful lot of difference in any of the services - oil and filter change and some checks. Even on the minor / major regime they'll still only change diesel's fuel filter or the petrol's spark plugs every 4yrs and the air filter every 6yrs.

 

I see on VW's website that they no longer offer a major service. It is now called "Oil Service and Inspection with Supplementary Scope" which is basically the Oil Service (which was called the minor service before) with an extended inspection. The VW price of this new service is £255 which is about £130 cheaper than the old major service but it doesn't include any parts (that I can see) or their fitting? More worrying is that the All-In warranty now only provides for the new service and not the old major service. My car is due its major service in April and I have the All-In warranty.

Since VW haven't notified me of any changes to my All-In warranty (and after all, it is a contract), I am hoping they will honour a major service but if not, I am now going to be left to pay at least for all the parts that are needed and their fitting e.g. spark plugs etc. I assume those with service plans than include major services will be similarly affected.

Another example of VW penny pinching and you'd think they would at least tell those affected? I think I am going to have an interesting conversation with my dealer when my car goes in next month.

 

Since VW haven't notified me of any changes to my All-In warranty (and after all, it is a contract), I am hoping they will honour a major service but if not,....

I guess they've reduced the service scope as they've reduced the price of All In - not got the details in front of me but it was discused the other day, and mine is around £34/mth and it's currently £29 (I think). Other people have reported paying even less - it's been on offer at 20% off from time to time.

The snag is the dealer front desk staff tend to tell you what you want to hear. You've really no idea what's going on in the workshop. I'll eat my hat is the fuel filter was changed on ours at 4yrs, the cover was unmarked and one of the bolts had a mark on it that was in the same place and position. Service advisor told me they always change it on a major service as they don't know whether or not it's been done before (although that doesn't make sense if the car is at the same garage and it should all be in car's history anyway). At 6yrs the cover had clearly been disturbed - but maybe they wiped it and moved the bolts around!

 

1.5 has the DQ380 DSG box which VW say now requires an oil change at 80k. If I keep mine it will be being changed at 40k no matter what VW say.

 

That‘s my thinking As well. Other than extra cost, I can’t think of any reason not too. Interestingly, dealer told me it was 40k when I visited, despite saying 80k on a scoping email - and they have the vehicle specification as their fingertips!

 

Just to update my earlier post in this thread, my car has just had its 4th service and the first one under the All-In policy. This would have been a major service but VW now call it "Oil Service and Inspection with Supplementary Scope". This new service is about £130 cheaper than the old major service but the key difference is that the new service doesn't appear to include parts and related labour in the published cost of £255 - that is extra. Anyway, the new service consisted of the same oil change service and inspection as applicable to the first three services and in addition, a change of spark plugs & pollen filter - that's it. Total cost £378.85 payable by VWFS under the All-in policy so at least those with the All-In policy are seeing the parts covered.

I can't remember if the old major service covered anything else but if not, it seems the prices work out the same if you don't have a warranty.

I should say that as usual I was asked, but not pressed, if I wanted additional work specifically air con service, new wiper blades and battery for the key fob. I declined them all. Bosch wipers are much better than VW's and their replacement, as with the key fob battery, is an easy job. I had the air con serviced at 2 years as it was part of a maintenance plan I had at the time but it was unnecessary then and doesn't need to be repeated now.

 

Hello

interesting reading above - thank you.

Here’s an update on how I got on.

Tiguan went in for minor service - service plan transferred from previous owner. And brake fluid change and sunroof service. £159 all in - but interestingly as a result of sunroof service they identified an issue where water was seeping into nearside front footwell. I can honestly say I never noticed any water / dampness in footwell. They reckon it was blocked drain pipes - and have cleared them. Offered me further investigation for £99 diagnostics fee. I politely declined and will monitor this. They suggested I get it done as there are “expensive electronics that could be damaged by water”. Need to read up more on this but surely this would be a design fault if it is true…?

Told me front pads and discs (£459.73) and back pads and discs need (£436.44) need done.

Also told me air con service was due (£149.99) which led me onto an interesting discovery… as I know this was done before I collected car last year.

Asked for copy of VW digital service history to put in my file - and the major service / aircon service done in March 2022 are not showing on it - which would explain why they said air con service was overdue. However i do have a copy of another VW system printout from when I purchased the car showing it was done before I collected the car. I have raised this with the dealer - as currently the VW Service History would suggest no servicing between 2021 and 2023. The 2021 service however shows on my original printout and the VW Service History…. (Done by previous owner at a different dealer)… So, see what that brings… expecting a call on Monday.

Re: brake pads and discs - am I correct in thinking these are classed as consumables and I don’t need to get these done at VW dealership? In other wards if I got them done elsewhere it’s not going to void my warranty?

Speaking of warranty I have a question about that but will raise that in a separate thread as there’s a lot here already.

so next works:
Brake Pads / Discs soon
Maybe a set of new tyres before winter.
Major service 2024
DSG oil change at 40k
timing belt / water pump at 5years.

But now pondering… as I’m planning to keep the Tiguan for a long time, is it worthwhile doing all this through a dealer, or find myself a decent independent to look after it once the used car warranty expires in November 2023? As long as I keep my receipts, and that ties up with my maintenance spreadsheet I keep, I assume that would provide reassurance to any future buyer? Would also ease pressure slightly on my wallet in this day and age!

For the record the Tiguan is sitting today on 31,313 miles and will be 4 years old in November 2024.

Thanks for reading

 

Hello

interesting reading above - thank you.

Here’s an update on how I got on.

Tiguan went in for minor service - service plan transferred from previous owner. And brake fluid change and sunroof service. £159 all in - but interestingly as a result of sunroof service they identified an issue where water was seeping into nearside front footwell. I can honestly say I never noticed any water / dampness in footwell. They reckon it was blocked drain pipes - and have cleared them. Offered me further investigation for £99 diagnostics fee. I politely declined and will monitor this. They suggested I get it done as there are “expensive electronics that could be damaged by water”. Need to read up more on this but surely this would be a design fault if it is true…?

Blocked drain pipes from the pano-roof is unfortunately all too common. There are a number of threads on here and videos on Youtube about it. While a number of car manufacturers seem to suffer from the same problem, many of the examples seem to be VW group cars - read into that what you will. Your dealer is right in that if you have water ingress in the front footwells, there are electrics under the carpet underlay that could be damaged. I think it all depends how much water got in. In my previous Mk2 Tig, they had to remove and clean the carpet and replace the underlay which involved stripping out a lot of the car's interior. Cost was £1800 (leaks were in both footwells). Mine was fixed under warranty as the drains had been incorrectly installed during manufacture.

I am not sure if the further diagnosis is worth it at this stage. I suspect all they will do is plug in a computer and check whether the electrics under the carpet are still working. That is probably obvious as no doubt you will have warning lights on the dash if they aren't. However, if water is trapped in or under the carpet underlay, the electrics may develop a problem in the future. The fact that the surface of the carpet may have dried out doesn't mean the underlay has. Perhaps you can remove sufficient trim to peel back the carpet and feel the underlay. If its dry, I'd do no more than monitor the situation as you suggest. If it is damp or wet, then if it were my car, I would be taking steps to remove/expose the underlay and dry it out (or even replace it if necessary). Others on here may be able to help with advice on how to do this (i.e. what to remove) as a dealer will no doubt be pricey.

There are things that can be done to prevent this happening like regularly cleaning out the drains yourself and removing the spider traps at the end of the drains which trap debris leading to blockage. Ironically, the pano-roof service is largely a lubrication service and does not extend to cleaning the drain pipes. I suspect your dealer spotted the blockage as water was backed-up into the sunroof drain channel. At least they were good enough to clear the blockage and not charge you (i assume).

Hopefully this is a small leak, discovered early and already rectified. If so, sensible regular maintenance will prevent it from re-occurring.

Good luck.

 

I should hardly think a complete set of brake discs and pads are required on a 30,000 mile car less than three years old - especially at nearly £1,000!! Yes, they are consumable items and unless faulty you would have to pay for them to be replaced unless you can do it yourself but make sure you fit genuine VW parts to avoid invalidating your warranty. I've done over 100,000 miles on my 2010 Passat and the discs are still original and I've only had to replace the front pads about 15,000 miles ago. If my Tiguan can achieve anything like that I'll be well pleased...........

 

I should hardly think a complete set of brake discs and pads are required on a 30,000 mile car less than three years old - especially at nearly £1,000!! Y

If you do a search on this forum you will find plenty of cars that needed the discs changing at very low mileages, it seems the less use the car gets the discs corrode and/or warp requiring replacement, and they won't replace the discs without replacing the pads. The Tiguan also wears out the rear discs before the front ones which is unusual Rear disk wear

 

Just had my 4th year service at 14k miles. Brake pads estimated at 20-25% worn so on that basis, I expect they will last 40-50k miles. Of course, as CNC says, that doesn't mean the discs will but mine are fine at the moment.

 

Agreed, 30k in 3 yrs is normal mileage, but it is low mileage for disc and pad replacement.