Servicing
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What We Offer
Servicing and MOTs
Fixed or Flexible: Which Are You On?
Every Volkswagen Group car leaves the factory on one of two service regimes, and most owners do not know which one theirs is on.
Fixed servicing means an oil and filter change every 12 months or 9,300 miles, whichever comes first. Predictable, and the safer choice for most local driving.
Flexible servicing, also called LongLife, lets the car decide. The engine control unit works out the interval from oil temperature, load and how the car is driven, and it can stretch to two years or 18,600 miles. It suits long motorway miles. It does not suit short trips and stop-start traffic, where the oil works harder than the car gives it credit for.
We check which regime your car is on, tell you whether it suits how you drive, and change it if it does not. There is more detail in our article on fixed versus flexible servicing.
What a Service Involves
The exact list depends on your car and the interval it is at. As a minimum, every service here covers:
Anything we find that needs attention gets a phone call and a price. Nothing is added to the job without your say-so.
Parts and Oil
We fit genuine Volkswagen Group parts or OE-quality equivalents, depending on your choice and your warranty position. OE means the same part from the company that supplies the factory, without the badge on the box.
Oil is matched to the VW standard your engine calls for, not a generic 5W-30 off the shelf. Petrol, diesel and newer engines each have their own specification, and running the wrong one can shorten the life of turbos, timing chains and particulate filters.
Other fluids
Brake fluid absorbs water from the air and needs changing every two years whatever the mileage. It matters even more on a hybrid, which is covered in our article on why brake fluid matters. Where your car is due a DSG service, Haldex service or timing belt, we tell you before it becomes a problem.
Your Warranty and Service History Stay Intact
Servicing your car at an independent specialist does not invalidate your manufacturer warranty. Under Block Exemption Regulation you are entitled to have your car serviced anywhere, provided the work follows the manufacturer schedule and uses parts of matching quality. We do both.
We record every service to the Volkswagen Group digital service record against your VIN, the same system the main dealer uses. More on that in our article on digital service history.
What It Costs
Oil service, from £[CONFIRM]
Oil and filter to specification, safety checks and service indicator reset.
Inspection service, from £[CONFIRM]
The full inspection for your interval, with filters and items as the schedule requires.
MOT, £[CONFIRM]
Booked alongside your service so it is one visit.
The final figure depends on the engine and what is due at that interval. Send us your registration and mileage and we will give you a price before you book.
What Happens When You Book
1. Send us your registration and mileage
That is enough for us to identify the engine, the service regime and what is due.
2. We check the schedule against your VIN
So the correct oil, filters and parts are on the shelf on the day.
3. Drop the car off from 08:30
[CONFIRM: most services completed the same day?]
4. Nothing extra without a phone call
If we find something, you get a call, a photo where it helps, and a price. You decide.
Servicing: Common Questions
Will servicing at an independent garage affect my warranty?
No. Block Exemption Regulation entitles you to use an independent garage without losing your manufacturer warranty, as long as the work follows the manufacturer schedule and uses parts of matching quality. We do both and record the service properly.
Can you update my digital service history?
Yes. We record services to the Volkswagen Group digital service record against your VIN, the same system the main dealer uses.
Do you use genuine parts?
We use genuine Volkswagen Group parts or OE-quality equivalents, depending on your choice and your warranty position.
How often should my VW or Audi be serviced?
On fixed servicing, every 12 months or 9,300 miles. On flexible servicing the car calculates the interval, up to two years or 18,600 miles. For short trips and stop-start driving, fixed servicing is usually the better choice. We can tell you which your car is on.
Can I book an MOT and a service at the same time?
Yes. We plan them together so it is one visit, and the service picks up anything likely to cause a fail before the test.
Do you service vans?
Yes. We service the Volkswagen Transporter and the rest of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range, including campervans.
How much is a service?
It depends on the engine and the interval. Send us your registration and mileage and we will give you a price before you book.
Where to Find Us
High Volt Garage
16 Pease Road, Northwest Industrial Estate, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 2RD
0191 586 4148
Monday to Thursday, 08:30 to 18:30
We are a VAG specialist workshop on the Northwest Industrial Estate in Peterlee, with two IMI Master Technicians and dealer-level diagnostic equipment.
Customers travel to us from across County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teesside, including Easington, Horden, Blackhall, Seaham, Murton, Wingate, Trimdon, Shotton Colliery, Durham City, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Houghton-le-Spring, Chester-le-Street, Washington, Stockton-on-Tees and Billingham.
Call: 01915864148