DSG Gearbox - Oil change

[Glynn]

My second vehicle is a DSG VW Tiguan. Apparently it is time to change the gearbox oil for which VW want to charge me £199.00. Has anyone had any experience regarding this requirement with their Cali? Fortunately my Cali is a manual! £199.00 seems a lot of money for an oil change?

 

[Volkywagen]

If you are feeling brave there are 'how to' on you tube. It requires a special piece of equipment if i remember so that the oil can be sucked out. There will be other VW specialists who can do it at a fraction of the price im sure

 

[WelshGas]

My second vehicle is a DSG VW Tiguan. Apparently it is time to change the gearbox oil for which VW want to charge me £199.00. Has anyone had any experience regarding this requirement with their Cali? Fortunately my Cali is a manual! £199.00 seems a lot of money for an oil change?

Sounds about right. £182 on my California 2 yrs ago.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Sounds about right. £182 on my California 2 yrs ago.

How often is the DSG oil change service...?

 

[WelshGas]

How often is the DSG oil change service...?

I believe every 40,000 miles. Anyway that's when I get it done and in my case that is every 2 years. I get the Haldex done at the same time. But, this is on the T5.1 and might be different on the T6.

 

[Amarillo]

My second vehicle is a DSG VW Tiguan. Apparently it is time to change the gearbox oil for which VW want to charge me £199.00. Has anyone had any experience regarding this requirement with their Cali? Fortunately my Cali is a manual! £199.00 seems a lot of money for an oil change?

It requires change before 40,000 miles for the warranty on the DSG gearbox to remain valid, and thereafter every 40,000 miles.

I find it somewhat annoying that VW don't provide owners with a checklist of what needs doing when: DSG at 40,000, 80,000, 120,000 miles; brake fluid at 3, 5, 7, 9 years; etc. A single sheet with three columns: time sensitive service items, distance sensitive service items, time or distance sensitive service items. It really couldn't be easier. But no! They rely on the dealer to let you know what needs doing and when.

 

[Barbara]

My second vehicle is a DSG VW Tiguan. Apparently it is time to change the gearbox oil for which VW want to charge me £199.00. Has anyone had any experience regarding this requirement with their Cali? Fortunately my Cali is a manual! £199.00 seems a lot of money for an oil change?

Just had mine done by local garage (non VW dealer) who service all our cars and we trust.
Oil 97.50 plus VAT
Filter 26.87 plus VAT
Can not state exact labour cost as also had a new tyre fitted - work to change auto-gearbox oil plus filter and new tyre was 125 plus VAT say at least 100 plus VAT
Total approx cost £270

So £199 does not seen too high.

 

[Glynn]

Thanks for your replies -Very helpful. I think I am going to suck it up and book in with VW.

 

[Legin]

I would. The oil isnt cheap and the job is involved especially if you dont have the correct gear.

 

[356DNA]

Hi. Having done this job a few times on my Golf and A3 I bought the kit to allow it to be refilled from the drain plug. As others have said, £199 is a bit of a bargain by VW standards as the parts from TPS or VW are almost £115. You can re fill the DSG box from the top but it is a drawn out and miserable experience to be avoided.

DIY isn’t complex but is time consuming especially if you don’t have access to a lift as the car needs to be raised level to ensure the correct oil level post fill. It’s a faff as requires the undertray off along with the battery and intake pipe work (on the golf and a3) there may be more access on the Cali.

I imagine an indy wouldn’t be much cheaper unless they used non oem fluid and filters. It’s easily an hour of time.

David.

 

[Glynn]

Thanks - I am booked in with VW

 

[Eber123]

Good afternoon,

I used to have a Tiguan (Track and Field) from 2012 to 2017. Before I traded the Tiguan in for the California it was pointed out to me that the an oil change is due for the DSG. At the time I had around 86.000 km on the clock.

When I asked how much the service on the DSG is I've been told it is about EUR 300.00. Which at the time I thought was a lot of money.

Regards,
Eberhard

 

[Glynn]

Thanks Eberhard. My Tiguan has 37,000 miles on the clock. VW has confirmed the DSG oil change is now due.

 

[tuono001]

Be thankful it's not a Ford. £240 for auto box oil change! I tried 3rd party places but they were almost as expensive, left it with Ford this time as having other jobs done.

 

[Robin Brooke]

It requires change before 40,000 miles for the warranty on the DSG gearbox to remain valid, and thereafter every 40,000 miles.

I find it somewhat annoying that VW don't provide owners with a checklist of what needs doing when: DSG at 40,000, 80,000, 120,000 miles; brake fluid at 3, 5, 7, 9 years; etc. A single sheet with three columns: time sensitive service items, distance sensitive service items, time or distance sensitive service items. It really couldn't be easier. But no! They rely on the dealer to let you know what needs doing and when.

Shall we start a thread, and get the collective knowledge of those on the forum so we can build the list you suggest? Would be there for all future owners to reference. Not sure which section to post it under...

 

[ian210]

I'm just wondering if anybody knows the size of the washer on the DSG drain plug?

 

[silversurfer]

Had my DSG oil changed a year ago and it made quite a difference to the shift. I put it in neutral at traffic lights, and it was reluctant to go back to drive. No problem now.

 

[Banzaibrothers]

Shall we start a thread, and get the collective knowledge of those on the forum so we can build the list you suggest? Would be there for all future owners to reference. Not sure which section to post it under...

Did this idea ever take off? Would be a great resource. We are looking to buy our first Cali used and it would be great to be able to check everything. Thanks.

 

[Perfectos]

Post from T6 forum,

shows various costs and in one instance VW part numbers etc

DSG Service cost

Have just been quoted £285 + vat to service the seven speed DSG gearbox on my 2016 caravelle. Just wondering if that seems reasonable as never had one done before. I’m in Nottingham If anyone has any recommendations for anyone cheaper. Thanks

www.t6forum.com

 

[Perfectos]

Current cost from VW

DSG service: including filter change £315.82

anyone getting quoted different?

 

[Rupes]

Current cost from VW

DSG service: including filter change £315.82

anyone getting quoted different?

Just had an out-of-the-blue call from my dealer telling me I needed a DSG Oil Change as I’m approaching 40,000 miles - quoted me £299 all in.

It was only in being serviced a couple of weeks back so I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned then. So I wondered if they were just trying to drum up some extra business by offering things I don’t really need, but from this thread it sounds like I do need to get it done.

Could do without another big bill though. I think I’ll check the price with our local non-VW garage too.

 

[Perfectos]

Just had an out-of-the-blue call from my dealer telling me I needed a DSG Oil Change as I’m approaching 40,000 miles - quoted me £299 all in.

It was only in being serviced a couple of weeks back so I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned then. So I wondered if they were just trying to drum up some extra business by offering things I don’t really need, but from this thread it sounds like I do need to get it done.

Could do without another big bill though. I think I’ll check the price with our local non-VW garage too.

40k mikes is correct for DSG

check wether they are changing the oil filter, some do , some do not !

I would suspect £299 is without filter change.

I would advise having the DSG filter changed at the same time as the oil regardless.

 

[silversurfer]

My local independent garage did this for me in 2021. Oil £48.85, filter £28.60. Those are a bit more than engine oil / filter but not a great deal. Labour - I can't say as this was part of annual service plus new tyre (£500 total).

Generally I'd say it's bound to be cheaper at your local independent, and they have all seen VW transporter vans before.

Question is who do you trust For me, it's Derek round the corner, VW deaier I trust not at all.

 

[Alied]

Just had an out-of-the-blue call from my dealer telling me I needed a DSG Oil Change as I’m approaching 40,000 miles - quoted me £299 all in.

It was only in being serviced a couple of weeks back so I’m surprised it wasn’t mentioned then. So I wondered if they were just trying to drum up some extra business by offering things I don’t really need, but from this thread it sounds like I do need to get it done.

Could do without another big bill though. I think I’ll check the price with our local non-VW garage too.

@Rupes I had my DSG oil and filter changed back in June of this year by Volkswagen Van Centre Swindon with a total bill of £350.00.

 

[B J G]

VW oil & filter kits cost approx £180, Non VW Oil & filter can be sourced cheaper.

On a DIY basis a special kit is needed to put oil back in as it goes back in via drain plug.
Oil level is set automatically (with van level) but has to be at a certain temperature which needs either a Carista or VW software laptop to display.

Oil filter is difficult to access as on top of gearbox, viewed down on right side in space between battery box and engine in my 204.
Undoing needs multiple extensions to reach from the top and a long arm to get it out/in from underneath.

I did mine at approx 25,000 miles (6 years) and was a bit looking a bit old in the drain pan when settled. I did wait until no more oil dripped out which I doubt VW do due to time constraints on labour.

Not much point in only changing the oil as has been mentioned elsewhere.