oil sludge recall for 1.8t's

[Jon]

> I doubt many 'average' owners would have oil changes done in the interim. Even the '04
> models were at 10k, after the first change at 5k (15k, 25k, 35k).

FYI: my 2001 1.8t had its scheduled intervals at 5k, 10k, 20k, 30k,
40k and 50k.  Only slightly different that you state above.  The first
interval at 5k was to get the factory oil out.  From that point
forward I used Mobil1.  I did 2 oil changes between the 10k scheduled
stops at the dealership.  When I dropped it off at the dealership for
the 10K service intervals I always had bottles of Mobil1 sitting on
the passenger seat.

> I'll be interested to see whether buyers of '05 models still get 40k of free scheduled 
> maintenance if VAG has to double the amount of oil changes included, now using more
> expensive synthetic oil.

I found it interesting that my 2001 A4 had the intervals as mentioned
above.  I had a 97 A4 in FWD that I got rid of for my current quattro.
  The 97 through 00 A4s had free service (mainly just oil changes)
intervals at *EVERY* 5k interval between 0K and 50k.  They told me
that Audi found that it wasn't necessary in these cars to change it
every 5k.  I guess they are now seeing what happens when you tell
people they can wait 10k.

> I purchased an OEM filter earlier this week, for my 10k change, and was given the larger 
> (by about .5 quart) filter that came out with the '04.5 cars. I was told this is all they sell for
>  the 1.8T motors now (it is actually the same one used on the old Rabbit diesel).

I haven't bought filters at the dealership recently.  Maybe I should
check them out.  I had bought about a 1/2 doz. MANN filters from an
online source awhile back.  I am on my last one now...

Jon