Okay, so this is going to be a long AMAZING update. I am keeping names out of it (I never even mentioned the specific dealer) and you will soon see why:
1.) I did not change the oil myself because I recently moved, and all of my tools etc are in storage. I will be from now on I think, and just documenting when it was done, keep receipts/pictures... etc. I had hoped a VW dealer could handle this simple task, I was wrong and end of story.
2.) I called my local Audi dealer part department, and asked what oil a 2019 S3 would take. I was informed VW 502 / 504, but that these days they used 504. I thanked them for their time, and we hung up.
3.) I then called the dealership, and asked for the parts department. A gentleman answered, and I asked for the P/N of the oil required for a 2019 Golf R. Instead of giving me this information, he responded more/less that he was a member of this forum and had seen my post. He went on to inform me the correct spec for the R was VW 508 / 0W-20. I asked if he could produce a TSB with this for my records and the response was "...I think we can" and insisted the car now used 508. I won't lie, I became a bit irate and he said I should call VW of America and I hung up irate.
Looking back, I should have just asked for the service manager directly. I didn't expect the person to answer to be a member of the forum and essentially dox me. I found that to be SUPER CREEPY.
4.) I called VW of America, and a nice person answered the phone. They confirmed the car should have VW 504, and provided to that in writing to me via email. The CSR then asked if I wished to file a compliant, and I said yes. When I called I had no intention of filing one, but when asked, I said why not.
5.) About 10 minutes after hanging up with VW the service manager called me. We talked very calmly, and he agreed the car should have 504 and they would like to make it right. I took the car in, they did a quick dump/fill of 504 and I was on my way. I spoke to the manager in person and he had a printed sheet of paper with the proper oil specs and part numbers written down for my future reference. I was also given a printed receipt for my records to prove the oil had been replaced with the proper grade/spec. I went about the rest of my day.
This is a long read, I know... painful. I have never had a situation like this before, and I know you're reading the forum right now. I will tell you the same thing I told your manager: its OK to say "I don't know" or look things up. To just give out false information, or pretend like you can produce technical documentation like that is ... silly? I mean you knew I would call VW.
This is just business, nothing personal and it isn't even your car or money.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Supposedly, my MB dealer does it, but I didn't ask when I had it in for service. I'm pretty OCD, but for some reason this doesn't bother me. YMMV.
