VW Touareg CR 3.0 TDI Service Schedule

The newer Touareg is practically a luxury car. Huge screens, loads of electronics, clever driver assistance systems and plenty of comfort. And with the 3.0 TDI, you've got plenty of power without ridiculous fuel consumption for a car this size. But here's the thing. If you think servicing is just about changing the oil and filters, there are a few important things I want to show you.

What should you know about the engine?

The 3.0 TDI is a V6 with timing chains at the gearbox end of the engine. If those chains wear out, you're looking at a serious repair because we have to take the engine out. That's why we use diagnostics to monitor whether the chains have stretched. The engine also has an SCR system that uses AdBlue.

How often should you change the engine oil?

My advice is simple. For cars driven in Bulgaria, change the engine oil and oil filter every 10,000 km or once a year, whichever comes first, regardless of the oil used. Just make sure it meets the correct VW specification for your engine. Don't rely on the LongLife interval alone. I'm telling you this because I'd much rather you avoided an expensive headache later.

Does the Tiptronic gearbox oil need changing too?

The Touareg CR has an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox. Every 90,000 km, we change the gearbox oil, along with the oil in the transfer case and differentials. It's a heavy car, often used for towing, and the transmission has to work hard. I want your gearbox to keep shifting exactly as it should. That's why we always carry out an adaptation after changing the oil.

How do we look after the electronics and driver assistance systems?

The Touareg CR is packed with driver assistance technology. Cameras, radars and, on some versions, even night vision. If you replace the windscreen, have repairs done to the front end or get the wheel alignment adjusted, the assistance systems must be calibrated. We also check the software in the control modules and update it during servicing whenever newer versions are available.

What else shouldn't you miss during a service?

AdBlue – top it up when the car tells you it's time.
Fuel filter, air filter and cabin filters.
Crankcase ventilation filter – we replace it every 80,000 km.
Brake fluid – we change it every two years.
Coolant – we replace it every third heating season.
Air suspension – we check it if your car is fitted with it.

Don't drive around with disabled or faulty driver assistance systems after front-end repairs. If they haven't been calibrated properly, they could slam on the brakes for no reason or fail to react just when you need them most. Please don't leave this until later.

A tip from Kris Mladenov: If you're leaving the car parked for several days, connect a battery maintenance charger. With this much electronics on board, a weak battery can leave all sorts of fault codes stored across different control modules.

If you drive a Touareg CR, come and see us at Das Auto Service for your next service. I want the people working on your car to know this model inside out and understand exactly what needs checking. Not just change the oil and filters, hand back your keys and send you on your way.