Service set-up, fixed or variable?

[kamza]

Quick question guys on how your cars have been set-up with regards to its servicing. I picked up my new C7 S-Line yesterday having had 3 happy years in my previous C6 Le Mans and despite my request of wanting it set-up with variable servicing, I see it's been set to fixed.

I'd done 32,500 miles in my C6 and in that time as it had been set-up with variable servicing, it had only been given 1 service and that was at just under 19,000 miles with the next service was due at 37,000 miles.

With the fixed service plan on my C7, I see that it's been set for an oil service at 9,000 miles/1yr with it's service due at 19,000 miles/2yrs. Not sure if I'm happy with that as it looks as though it'll be at the dealers twice as often. Curious to see how your cars been set-up?

Other than that, happy with the car although I'm already missing the DAB that was in the old car along with a couple of other things.

[Guest 2]

Yes your inspection is set at longlife ie 19k but the oil change is set to fixed which Imo is better for the engine.

[EssexGonzo]

Personal view.....I would go for fixed.

My C6 has been on 12,500 miles fixed from new. I'm very happy that it has been. The lease company picked up the tab for the first 4 years, me for the last 2 which suits my lower mileage better now. Now on 102k all with me, the engine is as smooth as it was new (which is not very as its a lumpy old PD).

It probably also depends on your driving habits. If 90% is on the motorway, you're probably ok on variable.

I never saw the rationale of having a £30k or £40k car and skimping on the servicing. Unless you're a fleet manager. Which is who variable was designed for.......

[JimC64]

My A6 was on variable servicing for the first 2 and a half years of its life, but I was doing mostly easy motorway cruising miles.

I got up to around 60k miles + and then changed to much lower mileage and all stop / start around town. At that time I changed to fixed servicing but still using the longlife oil.

In fact now I use the fixed service interval, I have also changed my oil in between services to keep things as fresh as fresh as can be.....probably OTT but little things like that, remembering your brake fluid and coolant flushes etc etc all go a long way to extending the life of your engine IMO.

I'm now at 102k miles, having recently changed my fuel filter at 21k miles instead of the recomended 40k miles ( so glad I did ) as well as changing the glow plugs.

Go fixed for me I'd say if you're doing low miles or a lot of stop / start stuff.

[kamza]

Thanks for the replies guys...was in seeing the dealer today and sticking with fixed service plan due to my mileage and mainly town driving.

[shabazmo]

If you change your car every 3 years, then I would go variable. I will be keeping mine for 10 years so fixed for me.

[jbanfie]

Hi Kamza, my car had the same as yours 19,000 for service 9,000 for oil change. Got the car 1st September 2012. Initially, with use, the oil change quickly went out to 11,000 which made me happy, then the winter came and I think the cold starts upset it and basically the oil change is now at about 9200. The service is still out at about 19,100 and holding steady. I'm hoping that with the warmer weather the oil change will move out to at least 12,000 as I do about 6000 a year. An oil change is £174 and a service £380, so like you I don't want to do 2. Now my wife's mini countryman is 19,000 (2 years) for both and my new Fiat Panda is 18,000 (2 years) for both, making no distinction between oil change and service. Further the mini has 5 years of servicing for £295 (which we got free at purchase). Basically this is one of the Audi features I'm not that impressed with and I might be convinced that revenue generation is part of the master plan? Deliberately and on purpose I really avoid doing short journeys with my DPF based car so it always gets warmed through when it goes out. I'd be very interested to hear how your oil change interval varies over the course of the next few months. What are other peoples experience of this?