Jetta VR6 Maintainence

[axboi87]

I have an 03 Jetta VR6 that uses regular, non-synthetic oil. How much will my 50k 60k and 70k mile services cost me? I read some guy with a TDI that used synthetic paid $80 then $325 then $80 and so on for service! I know every other service is a long list of things...I just got out of a mercedes for this specific reason lol...Thought VW without synthetic and with warranty would be the cheapest euro to own lol..maybe close to amer/jap?

 

[bousozoku]

Some of the engines had free scheduled maintenance in the first 2 years at select times and the standard 4 cylinder is lower on routine maintenance than they used to be but the VR6 is pretty typical of VW.

Generally, I've seen $300-$400 for a major maintenance, depending on the dealer and $150-$225 for the minor maintenance for other engines over 4 different VW models.

It could be the cheapest of the European brands to maintain, but there were a lot of problems with VW from 1999 onward. I still have my 1999 Golf GLS but it's probably the last VW I'll have, though they're so good to drive.

 

[devilot]

Thought VW without synthetic and with warranty would be the cheapest euro to own lol..maybe close to amer/jap?

I think that was your major mistake-- I can't imagine any European car being anywhere near as affordable to maintain as a Japanese car.

 

[balamw]

I just had the 120K service on my '02 Passat 1.8T and the total billl was over $2K (I needed new cam seals and rear shocks as well as the major service) the timing belt was replaced earlier in the year for another $800.

It's a shame the stupid car fits me like a glove and is actually fun to drive.

B

 

[etoiles]

I own a GTI VR6 (04)... this is roughly what I paid for my last couple services:
20K - $290
25K - $40
30K - $80
35K - $40

...all done at the VW dealer here in Carlsbad, CA.

 

[balamw]

I own a GTI VR6 (04)... this is roughly what I paid for my last couple services:
20K - $290
25K - $40
30K - $80
35K - $40

...all done at the VW dealer here in Carlsbad, CA.

Your 5K oil changes seem "pretty typical", but the 30K service seems a tad cheaper than a typical 10K services I've had. All in all the big expenses for me have been around 60K and 100-120K.

B

 

[adk]

All I can say is that the 40,000 mile service on my 2.0 jetta cost me about $450. I think 60k may be the next big one for you, but i'm not 100% sure. either way, I'm sure your dealer will find some way to rip you off.

 

[cyberddot]

My '03 TDI Jetta Wagon has 71K+ miles on it and I have yet to spend more than $250 on a standard service, but I'll be dropping the $800 on a timing belt replacement in another 9K. I've been following the oil-change-every-5K, rather than every 10K recommended for the TDI. Of course, I save some money when I buy the oil/filter that I want to use, and I often buy the parts that need replacing (air filter, fuel filter, etc) and then bring those to the god-like VW mechanic that does not work at the dealership.

Finding a good mechanic outside the dealership for anything other than repairs needed under warranty (when I still had a warranty) has saved me money and has given me a chance to actually talk to the guy that is doing the work on the car, which has lead to pointers on how to do the work myself. I ended up removing the stylish plastic cover over the engine and the plastic skid-baffle from the bottom of the engine, and now changing the oil is a breeze for both me and the mechanic, meaning less time on the clock.

I had my Toyota pickup for 11 years before I sold it, never took it to the dealer for repairs, had a great mechanic for the times that I needed one and I never spent over $300, but I also avoided a timing belt/chain replacement, which is always one of the most expensive bills you'll get, no matter what the make of the car.

 

[timnosenzo]

Looks like 80K is your next major service:
http://www.vw.com/spweb/pages/spweb...003&engine=2.8LVR6&odometer=50000&units=MILES

 

[nived]

If you came into this thinking a VR6 would be cheaper, well... buyer beware.

My '02 VR6 has had over $25k in total warranty-covered repairs; then there are the 4 or 5 that weren't under warranty (not sure how much they cost altogether). I only paid ~$33k for it in the first place. There were reasons for them discontinuing the 24-valve VR6 (and the 12)... it was heavy and it had a massive load of problems.

You can get a printout sheet from any vw/audi service dept that lists exactly what they do each service session... then take it somewhere else that doesn't cost as much. I trust my local Goodyear service center more than the VW dealerships around here... and it comes out to about half the price.

4 years, 104k miles.

 

[pseudobrit]

My '03 TDI Jetta Wagon has 71K+ miles on it and I have yet to spend more than $250 on a standard service, but I'll be dropping the $800 on a timing belt replacement in another 9K. I've been following the oil-change-every-5K, rather than every 10K recommended for the TDI. Of course, I save some money when I buy the oil/filter that I want to use, and I often buy the parts that need replacing (air filter, fuel filter, etc) and then bring those to the god-like VW mechanic that does not work at the dealership.

I hope you're using a group IV synthetic oil like Delvac-1 that can hold soot in suspension. But 10k is fine with that. In fact, 15k is probably okay with a quality oil (most results from oil analyses have proven it). Also, the TB change can be done for about $500 or less if you bring your own parts like the 100k belt kit you can buy from dieselgeek or Impex.

Finding a good mechanic outside the dealership for anything other than repairs needed under warranty (when I still had a warranty) has saved me money and has given me a chance to actually talk to the guy that is doing the work on the car, which has lead to pointers on how to do the work myself. I ended up removing the stylish plastic cover over the engine and the plastic skid-baffle from the bottom of the engine, and now changing the oil is a breeze for both me and the mechanic, meaning less time on the clock.

The plastic baffle is worthless. You'll learn this one day when you crack your fragile cast aluminium oil pan, as I did on vacation 500 miles from home. It's a $600 repair (more of course if you don't shut off the engine in time and destroy your bottom end) that can be prevented with a $300 1/4" stamped aluminium skid plate that bolts to the subframe (also from dieselgeek).

VW make some fantastic cars but have such horrible dealers with such horrible service departments that I cannot recommend buying one unless you:
a) turn your own wrenches for routine stuff, and
b) have a competent and honest private mechanic

I didn't even take my car to the dealer for warranty repairs, that's how crap they are.

 

[cyberddot]

I hope you're using a group IV synthetic oil like Delvac-1 that can hold soot in suspension. But 10k is fine with that. In fact, 15k is probably okay with a quality oil (most results from oil analyses have proven it). Also, the TB change can be done for about $500 or less if you bring your own parts like the 100k belt kit you can buy from dieselgeek or Impex.

I'm using Delco 400 full synthetic, so I'm golden. I shortened the lube/filter changes for a couple of reasons, but my biggest concern is that I may have an above average chance of problems with a 10/15K schedule because I use higher than 20% blends of bio/petrol on occasion. I'll have to keep the TB kit in mind before I make the fateful trip for the change.

The plastic baffle is worthless. You'll learn this one day when you crack your fragile cast aluminium oil pan, as I did on vacation 500 miles from home. It's a $600 repair (more of course if you don't shut off the engine in time and destroy your bottom end) that can be prevented with a $300 1/4" stamped aluminium skid plate that bolts to the subframe (also from dieselgeek).

VW make some fantastic cars but have such horrible dealers with such horrible service departments that I cannot recommend buying one unless you:
a) turn your own wrenches for routine stuff, and
b) have a competent and honest private mechanic

I didn't even take my car to the dealer for warranty repairs, that's how crap they are.

The plastic baffle is indeed gone, as I mentioned, but I hadn't thought to look for a replacement until now. Thanks for the dieselgeek tip!