Team-BHP - VW Polo - Maintenance and Service cost and dos/don'ts

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kkkkkaran (Post 3860421)

1st proper service, is a year or 15k.

Thanks, but where exactly is this info? Everyone on this thread has mentioned it so I know it is correct but is it in the service booklet/owner manual?

Also, can others confirm then that the MID will not remind me to do a service based on time elapsed and can only recommend a service based on mileage?

Our Polo 1.2 Mpi is up for its second service over the weekend.
Done 18K kms till date. Since i have lost the service book,
can anyone tell me what are the mandatory things to be replaced?
Just want to be sure, so that i don't get ripped off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez (Post 3860401)

1) Does the MID display tell you when you need to service the car or is it a fixed interval thing? I can't find anything in the manual about this 15k/1 year service interval.

I can tell you by personal experience that it's definitely time based (not sure about KMs). My running is not high like yours but when I was nearing time for second service I had the 'INSPECT' indicator with wrench logo come on my MID. I belive this is reset during service and shows again later at appropriate time/KMs.

Quote:

2) Is there an initial oil change after running in that occurs before the first 15k service (and will this show up on the MID)?

Oil change is during service.

Quote:

3) There is a "free checkup" at 7.5k according to VW. Our Polo will be used very little so the 7.5k mark will not come up for at least a year. So how does this fit in with the 15k/1 year paid service?

7.5k or 6 months whichever is first.

Maybe this is the wrong place to ask this question but does the facelifted Polo (petrol) have any sort of underbody protection? Have members here gone for aftermarket options or is the factory fitted kit sufficient?

Hi guys,

So I have completed around 55k kms on my 2011 (Feb 2012 registered) Polo 1.6. I have noticed two issues:

1. Brakes seem to give out excessive brake dust. So much so that there is a black patch formed in my parking area under both my front wheels. My brakes were already changed during my 2nd service / 30k kms.
2. My suspension feels loose. I don't know if this makes sense but I get excessive noise while going over bad roads. Shock absorbers were changed in Feb 2015. Also, my tires have never been changed from the time I have bought my car. Could this be adding to any problems?

Please help.

A question regarding the AMC. VW's website (http://www.volkswagen.co.in/en/value...intenance.html) appears to say that AMC is available only for those who purchased the car through Volkswagen Finance. We did not take a loan for ours but can I purchase it nevertheless?

Assuming I can, should I go for it? According to this thread, the AMC is around 20k for three years (I will check these with the dealer) while each service costs around 10k. My current logic is that our Polo, which will run very little (7500 kms per year only) will probably need fewer parts replaced in each service so my service bills should be a little lower than a typical Polo. Does this make sense?

Are there any other advantages to the AMC? Unexpectedly large service bills being covered or such things? Your advice based on experience would help me a lot. Given my low running per year, does the AMC still make sense?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencharles (Post 3794704)

Hi Polo Owners,
Appreciate any advice to figure out the problem in my Polo Highline 1.2 Petrol in India. Sequence of events/observations:-

1. ABS warning yellow light on intermittently (continued driving); when warning is Off, ABS functional on hard braking.
2. After a few days ABS warning stayed ON permanently.
3. Brake warning red sign coming ON intermittently. Brake fluid okay, parking brake released, wheel brakes effective.
4. Began noticing sluggishness in steering; no warning sign, did not suspect anything wrong with power steering.
5. Then 'Steering Assist' or power steering yellow light started coming ON intermittently.
6. Whilst driving, whenever power steering warning went off, steering became effective and smooth as butter.
7. Switch OFF-Switch-ON ignition, sometimes power steering & brake warnings went off; only ABS warning stayed.
8. Whenever brake warning is ON, speedo needle stuck at zero and odometer stopped working.
9. Sometimes with ignition switched ON and also whilst driving, brake warning & speedo flickering.
10. STOP & RESTART - often drive entire journey with only ABS warning. No steering/brake warning, speedo/odo functional.
11. Checked out at VW workshop - Only ABS light remained ON during test drive. Diagnostic test results as follows:-
^ BRAKES 1 (03-ABS Bosch 8.2) (6RF907379 0002 ABS8.2 front 6R0907379AB H03)
- 285 8 Right Front ABS wheel speed sensor (implausible signal - static)
- 287 8 Right Rear ABS wheel speed sensor (implausible signal - static)
- 1683 8 Wheel speed signals/vehicle speed (implausible signal - intermittent)
- 283 8 Left Front ABS wheel speed sensor (implausible signal - intermittent)
- 290 8 Left Rear ABS wheel speed sensor (implausible signal - intermittent)
^ Steering Assistance (44-Power Steering) (6RF909144H 0321 EPS_ECU 6RF 909144C H25) - (not clear if checked?)
12. VW advises replacement of all wheel speed sensors. Parts not in stock.
13. Return home from workshop, ABS warning, Steering warning and brake warning (flashing) remained ON. After en-route stop and restart, only ABS warning stayed on for rest of drive of 20 kms.
14. Next morning all warnings ON. Stopped enroute and restarted, only ABS warning ON for rest of drive of approx 30 kms.

I am continuing to drive carefully, with the belief that there is nothing wrong with the braking system. Plan to consult a senior VW service engineer. However, I am not fully convinced that all speed sensors have failed together. Maybe it is a fault in the signal processing system. Also, I wonder if the power steering is connected to the speed sensors in any way?

Please share your experience and advice. Many thanks.

Got all 4 speed sensors replaced (after a repeat diagnostic test). Cost of sensors/taxes/labor 17 K. Operations Normal. Questions/Lessons:-
1. Does failure of one speed sensor subsequently affect other sensors? The mechanic had some opinion like this. I landed up changing all sensors eventually. A stitch in time saves nine?
2. The butter smooth steering was a result of wrong sensing of speed (lower than real) due defective speed sensor and thus more power assist being given to turn the wheel; could be dangerous when actually at higher speeds.

So I started getting the rattling and clattering noise from suspension last week. I would notice this unusual noise whenever I went over even mild undulations on the road. So I get it checked from a FNG and find out:

There is leakage in the front left strut, meaning it needs to be replaced (See photo attached)
The swivel joint rubber in both lower arms are cut/deteriorated, meaning the lower arms need to be replaced (See photo attached)
The left link rod / tie rod has become a bit loose and a replacement is advisable
The suspension ball joints are shot and need to be replaced

So I check the prices of these parts from a couple of VW workshops over the phone and get these prices:

Struts (L+R) and Suspension Mounts (Pair): 4000 + 2500
Lower Arms (L+R): 2600
Link Rods (L+R): 4000
Ball Joint: 9600 per piece :eek: and I need two of these (See photo attached)

Naturally I was not going to pay almost 20,000 for something that costs around 1/10th in US/UK. Amazon US shows this part to be priced at about $12 per piece and another shop in UK shows the price as 10 pounds per piece. I then came across this online spares website based in Pune (spareshub.com) and found this part from an aftermarket company called Lemforder for 1800 per piece. Did some research about Lemforder and came to know that this company supplies parts to VW and other manufacturers as OEM in the US/EU. A few people here had good things to say about spareshub.com. So I placed an order online after talking to a sales rep there to get expedited shipping. The parts are due to arrive tomorrow. Lets see how these turn out to be.

I am not sure why VW India would sell this part (6R0 407 366D / 6R0 407 365B) at such ridiculously expensive price point. Anyone else had similar experience with ball joints pricing here?

So i happened to damage my service manual, user guide and rcd310 booklet (a bottle of oil leaked over these documents)

I contacted VW through the site, and they just got back through VW Downtown.

They have quoted 5,000/- for the 3 booklets, which is ABSURD. I can's imagine how the books cost so much. And I really do wonder how VW affords to put these (at these prices) as standard in every car they sell.

Any place i could get the three for cheaper, since there is no way i,m spending that much on this. I have the 1.5 GT TDi polo

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmridul (Post 3877733)

They have quoted 5,000/- for the 3 booklets, which is ABSURD. I can's imagine how the books cost so much. And I really do wonder how VW affords to put these (at these prices) as standard in every car they sell.

Any place i could get the three for cheaper, since there is no way i,m spending that much on this. I have the 1.5 GT TDi polo

All these literature is reproduced in Germany and they import it, hence the high cost. Yes, they can very well reproduce it here in India at half the cost with the same quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KkVaidya (Post 3878093)

All these literature is reproduced in Germany and they import it, hence the high cost. Yes, they can very well reproduce it here in India at half the cost with the same quality.

Thank for that, i dint expect that.

I understand that importing it from Germany is expensive :Frustrati, however i don't see the "benefits" of importing it, especially when the negatives include

1) Increased costs for end customers
2) Un-necessary freight charges
3) Waste of resources (logistics etc)

Im going to try and find someone else who has the manual and make a photocopy of the set. As gannu suggested, it would be vastly cheaper to procure the same.

How many times do we read our manual? Granted: everybody should look through it at least once, but many never do.

I think it is something that you can easily live without. There is also the internet: people seem to find even internal company service literature online.

The loss is the record of services already done, if the centre bothered to fill in the book. For that, you probably have the invoices?

Okay folks, this isn't exactly ethical but given how hard VW is trying to rip us off with their prices for a simple book, I don't feel too sorry sharing this.

Here's a link that claims to generate a copy of the user manual online. It requires a UK Polo VIN or registration number. I googled "VW Polo UK" and used the license plate number of the first car I saw "KU14WMF". This particular car was reviewed by carbuyer.uk. Enter this and it takes you to a website with the user manual, among other things!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom (Post 3878487)

I wont (if all goes well) have to use the manual ever, but it's a handy thing to have if things ever go south and internet access is tough.

But i do understand what you mean by the above. However, im old fashioned that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez (Post 3878628)

Thank you, I am trying to get the manual from that site, however it keeps timing out. Ill keep looking though. Thanks again :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmridul (Post 3882696)

Thank you, I am trying to get the manual from that site, however it keeps timing out. Ill keep looking though. Thanks again :)

Got you covered there ;)

Here's the manual as well as the service booklet in PDF. Apologies that I had to break it into five pieces (the forum has a 5MB limit on attachments).

Mods, if you wish, you can cross-link this post to this thread

Polo_Manual_1.pdf

Polo_Manual_2.pdf

Polo_Manual_3.pdf

Polo_Manual_4.pdf

Polo_Manual_5.pdf

Polo_Service.pdf