When I booked my car for service, I was given a later date, meaning the kilometres are going to exceed 75,000 by 450 kilometres when I go for the appointment. The dealer says I have a 1,000-kilometre allowance. Should I be worried? – Phumudzo
No, you should not worry. You have two things going for you – you tried to get in within the specified mileage and you are using a dealer.
These mileage numbers are recommendations and there is some leeway – within reason.
It sound as though you have been following the recommended service intervals and that means a record exists of that fact. If a warranty issue should arise, that record will serve you well. But it also a good idea to keep all receipts and make notes such as this one – that you tried to book an appointment within the suggested mileage, but were given a later date and the extra mileage.
Speedometer adjustment
Is there a third-party fix/adjustment that can be performed to adjust a speedometer? The speedometer is 6 per cent high in my 2012 Golf Sportline. When I set the cruise control to 106 km/h, the GPS reads 100, and when I switch to the "average speed" screen within the instrument cluster, hit reset and wait a few seconds, it comes up with 100. So the true speed is being captured; it's just not being fed to the digital and analogue speedos. – Don
This is not an uncommon complaint with Volkswagen products. The factory sets the speedometer to meet regulations, which require the speedometer to be optimistic, to display a higher than actual speed. Those regs were put in place to protect consumers. The European standard allows manufacturers to have a 10 per cent plus 4 km/h window.
To be fair, every vehicle rolling off an assembly line has this issue, but VW seems to have pushed it further. The company is aware of this and has even issued a Technical Service Bulletin about it that says: "If you receive a customer complaint that the speedometer displays a vehicle speed that is slightly faster than the actual speed, this is normal. The speedometer is operating per manufacturer specifications. Volkswagen does not manufacture vehicles where speedometers read slower than actual speed. To allow for possible differences in overall tire diameter with different tire manufacturers and wheel sizes, a factor is designed into the speedometer function that increases the displayed speed. This factor does not affect odometer readings, which show actual distance travelled. Do NOT replace ANY parts for this condition."
There is an adjustment that can be made, but not one a dealer is permitted to make. It involves accessing the "distance impulse number" and changing the factory setting to a higher number. The change reportedly does not affect the odometer or computer, just the speedometer needle.
Another way to alter the speedometer, but one that will also affect the odometer, is to alter tire size. VW equips this vehicle, depending on trim level with three different tire sizes – 195/60-15, 205/55-16 and 225/45-17. But be wary of changing size beyond factory equipment levels, as even one size up or down will make a significant difference in real speed. For example, there is a 3 per cent difference between those wheel and tire sizes, as fitted by the manufacturer at the source of production.
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