60,000 km Servicing Costs

[Alok]

I doubt many mk6 owners would have hit the 60,000km mark yet. But I have so I thought I'd share my experience.

I have always known the 60,000km/4year service is a major one. I was also under the impression that this would included the dreaded "DSG Service". So I've always prepared myself for a $1000+ service cost.

I started off by calling around a few dealers. Called 2 dealers, which both said the this is major service including DSG and that it will cost $1500. Then I called VW Village in Kensington who quotes me $1050. Considering this was a massive saving of $500 I thought I'd just get it done there. When I went to pick up my car today, I was told it only cost $580 and that this model golf (90TSI DSG) does not need a DSG service like the mk5's did. Needless to say I was quite confused, considering all the dealers had indicated that a DSG Service was required.

When I got home I checked through the service log book. I was unable to find anything relating to a DSG Service. Would anyone here be able to shed any light on this issue, I find it very perplexing that dealers would require me to do this service when it's not in the log book. Or maybe it is and I'm missing it?

[Ryan_R]

Wet clutch 6 speed DSG boxes (i.e. 103TDI, GTD, GTI, R) have oil (hence the "wet") that needs changing at 60,000k.

7 speed DSG (i.e. 90TSI, 118TSI) is a "dry" setup and doesn't need this done.

So what are you doing with all that extra money you saved?

[Umai Naa!!]

The book is useless. It's sole purpose in our market is for the dealer to provide a record of the work carried out, and that's it.

As for the DSG servicing, it used to be straight-forward with the Golf 5, but now with some new transmissions on board, they're preparing you for the worst. If it's servicable, great. If not, even better.

[Alok]

Wet clutch 6 speed DSG boxes (i.e. 103TDI, GTD, GTI, R) have oil (hence the "wet") that needs changing at 60,000k.

7 speed DSG (i.e. 90TSI, 118TSI) is a "dry" setup and doesn't need this done.

So what are you doing with all that extra money you saved?

Hahaha using the extra money to be less in debt

[whiteVR6]

AFAIK all DSG's are serviceable. Some dont come with filters but still require the oil to be changed. Its the same for the rear Haldex. The latest generation does not have a filter but requires the oil to be changed every 60k km.

[Alok]

AFAIK all DSG's are serviceable. Some dont come with filters but still require the oil to be changed. Its the same for the rear Haldex. The latest generation does not have a filter but requires the oil to be changed every 60k km.

Can you please point out where in the service schedule it states that? I cannot find it.

[Umai Naa!!]

Which service schedule are you referring to?

If you're referring to the vague one in the service book, don't.

[whiteVR6]

Can you please point out where in the service schedule it states that? I cannot find it.

It was a dealership service bulletin that I was informed about.

[Diesel_vert]

The 7-speed DSG (gearbox code 0AM) has a drain plug, so you can replace the oil if you want.

But VW doesn't specify a drain interval because it is filled for life.

Has this changed?

[Umai Naa!!]

There's a postion of the gearbox where you can replace the oil, but it's just typical gear oil (for the diff, I presume). There's only a litre or so in there.

The portion with the Mechatronics in it, does not appear to have a drain.

I believe the 1.6TDI CR motors have this transmission as well.

[Alok]

Which service schedule are you referring to?

If you're referring to the vague one in the service book, don't.

Yes I was referring to the one in the service book. Why do you say not to refer to that? It's the only service schedule I'm aware of...

If it's just a matter of changing the gear oil. I wonder why VW dealerships charge an additional $500+ (on top of the normal service) to do this.

[Diesel_vert]

There's a postion of the gearbox where you can replace the oil, but it's just typical gear oil (for the diff, I presume). There's only a litre or so in there.

The portion with the Mechatronics in it, does not appear to have a drain.

I believe the 1.6TDI CR motors have this transmission as well.

Yes, only the gearbox oil can be drained. Capacity is 1.7 litres.

The hydraulic fluid for the mechatronics unit cannot be replaced (or at least one is not supposed to). Capacity is 1 litre.

If it's just a matter of changing the gear oil. I wonder why VW dealerships charge an additional $500+ (on top of the normal service) to do this.

The 6-speed DSG (gearbox code 02E) has a drain interval of 60 000 km. You need about 5 litres of special DSG oil @ $40-$50 per litre + labour + GST, not including the filter.

As previously stated, the 7-speed DSG doesn't have a drain interval (unless this has changed).

[Umai Naa!!]

Yes I was referring to the one in the service book. Why do you say not to refer to that? It's the only service schedule I'm aware of...

If it's just a matter of changing the gear oil. I wonder why VW dealerships charge an additional $500+ (on top of the normal service) to do this.

The service schedule in the book is not specific to our market, nor is it specific to any particular model.

See above for why it costs $500+ to service a typical DSG transmission.

[Alok]

Thanks for the information guys. I understand now why the 7 speed DSG does not need a service every 60,000km.

I would have expected this information to be available from the VW Service centre. Instead they tell me that the my car does need a DSG service. This is the second time they have lied to me, although it could be just down to the fact that they don't know any better. Which is quite poor performance if you think about it, quoting services and booking them in is one of their primary roles, you'd think they could get that much right.

[Umai Naa!!]

The thing is, the only people that actually have all the answers are the technicians.

However, it's not that difficult for the service advisor to open up the workshop manual, input your VIN, and go seek out whether the DSG needs servicing or not.