S3 Service Intervals - Advice Needed

[jq_quint]

In my current quest to source a good car I am getting mixed messages about the required service periods..

I am being quoted by many that this car has had 'long life' services? and hence the 15k to 20k intervals.

One garage suggested a car had 'full' history only for me to find out that one interval had gone over 38k?

What is the required/recommended intervals guys?

And whats this 'long life' service business?

Thanks
J.

 

[The Doctor]

As I understand, you can run to Audi 's 20k mile "longlife" service intervals with the S3, but to do so you need to ensure that the correct oil is used for the service. The correct spec oil to use with the extended longlife service intervals is VW 503 01. Other oils (VW 500 00, VW 502 00, VW 501 01) can be used with fixed 10k mile service intervals but must not be used with the longlife intervals. These oils must not be mixed.

My July 2003 S3 (68k miles) has been serviced as follows:

July '04 12k miles longlife
June '05 17k miles longlife
April '07 36k miles longlife
October '08 56k miles longlife.

I've only owned it since July this year, but to be honest I'm thinking of having it serviced once a year (approx 12k miles for me) despite the extended intervals that "longlife" servicing offers.

Hope this helps, Paul.

 

[wibble111]

Long life service schedules are not really what you want anyway IMO, i took mine from longlife to fixed servicing last year, when i changed it the oil looked pretty black and way too thick for my liking. Its now done every 6k religiously.

 

[madvw]

different types of dealer service and whats included:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=21647

 

[jcs356]

Longlife servicing is just designed to reduce servicing costs for cars on company leases. Over a typical 3 year lease, you'll save at least 1 and possibly 2 services.

My personal view is to stick to fixed servicing pattern. The oil is a lot cheaper for starters (especially if you bulk buy and supply your own to the garage). I've been changing mine every 6 months or so. I do one mid year, then the garage does the other when it has it's annual service.

 

[Essflee]

I went for the long life service last time and regret it, there's no way I'd leave my car for 20k wothout doing the oil so it'll be going in sooner. It also depends how you drive to benefit from the long life, the service indicator was showing 19500 miles till next service when I picked it up, but I checked the other day and it has dropped drastically in the last 5-6 months, reckon I'd be lucky to get 12k...lol

I'm going to stick with usual services from now on and get itdone every 10k'ish

 

[jq_quint]

Thanks all for advice I agree with the majority in that keeping to annual servicing is probably best for the engine (especially a performance one at that).

so should I be concerned of a 70k mileage car that has only had long life services?

 

[jojo]

Definitely switch to annual servicing if the car is remapped!

 

[indiemike]

I service my car myself every 10k Miles

Castrol Edge, Filter, Pollen, Plugs and Haldex

Dont like the sound of the long-life... 20k just seems to much

 

[madvw]

AVS gets a bit of a bad slating on here. Mostly due to extended service intervals that it gives.

For me AVS worked out more expensive - as my AVS intervals were 7500 miles between services over about 14 months.

 

[MintyS3]

If I wasnt so lazy I'd change my oil every 5k but I am and every 5k lies over winter and no one likes working on the car when its cold, so its just into the local specialist every 10k.

Long life servicing cant be a good thing in the long run.