Why do servicing prices vary so much?!

[PastyBoy]

I didn't realise how spoilt i'd been having a tame VW master tech on hand to do my servicing for cash at a decent fixed price every year.

 

Mrs Pasty's Fabia needs a service and he seems to have gone off the grid meaning calls to local garage to try and book it in somewhere.

 

It had everything last May so in theory it should be the minor-est of minor services with a check over and change of oil.

 

I seem to remember an oil change service being around £60 cash in the past so:

 

Main dealer - £149

local VW specialist - £149

other local VW specialist - £110

another local VW specialist - "somewhere between £170 and £200"

my nearest generic backstreet garage - £85

 

If you're all doing the same things how can prices vary so wildly!?

 

Any advice on what should I be paying?

[softscoop]

This is why I gave up on garages except for big jobs I can't do DIY, and MOTs.

 

The PD engine is the easiest thing you could imagine to service yourself, and can be done with genuine Quantum Platinum oil + all filters changed for less than £50

 

 

Oil: £25.90

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quantum-Platinum-Fully-Synthetic-Engine-Oil-5W40-5W-40-5-40-5-Litres-/191454243819?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c938febeb

 

All filters: £23.42

 

 

£49.32 in total

[silky16v]

i charge £95 for full service using all genuine parts

 

• oil filter
• air filter
• fuel filter
• pollen filter
• genuine Quantum PD oil
• service reset and full diagnostic check
• check and set of torsion values and turbo stop screw and N75 group 11 log

 

i'd suggest you just go to your nearest TPS and buy the parts and do it yourself should take no longer than an hr

 

if that isn't an option try http://www.vwspares.co.uk/

[PastyBoy]

Thanks Boys

 

could have been £90 cash based on al genuine parts maybe. 

I mean it was 2 years ago how can I remember

 

It probably will become a DIY job as you say Sam.

I've stood and watched and nothing look particularly over and above my abilities.

It'd just cost me more in new tools than parts and time!

[softscoop]

All you need is a basic socket set.

 

As your car is a 54, I'm fairly sure the oil filter cap will be 32mm, but the earlier cars like mine were 36mm so that's the only thing to watch out for.

 

I have the below for doing "dirty" jobs, and for the price you really can't go wrong.

It includes sockets up to 34mm and the torx bits to get the undertray off.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/94PC-1-2-1-4-SOCKET-SET-SCREWDRIVER-BIT-TORX-RATCHET-DRIVER-CASE-TOOL-KIT-/311106397094?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item486f62e3a6

[PastyBoy]

Hmmm maybe i've actually already got most of the bits then.

I've got sockets (no sure about 34mm though) and the torx bits (had the undertray off the Ibiza to stick the DTUK box on recently)

I've even got something to cath the manky oil in.

 

wowzers i'm gunna become by own mechanic

[mattbvRS]

It's well worth learning how to do a DIY oil change and other basic service items. You will save yourself a small fortune over the lifetime of owning a car. The downside is you don't get the book stamped but so long as you keep a record in there that the service was carried out when it should have been, note down the mileage and parts used (keeping receipts for parts would be a good idea) then it won't really effect resale value. 

 

Oil service, air filter, pollen filter, fuel filter are all fairly simple to do for a novice. So long as you follow guides and do things methodologically you can't really go wrong. 

 

Prices vary for a number of reasons. Every garage will have a set rate they charge for basic labour which can vary from £30 to over £100 an hour in and around London. Generally smaller garages or a specialist who works for himself with one or two others will be able to offer the best prices as they will have little/no overheads compared to a franchised dealer. Also they may not be doing the same thing on the service. Notice on silky16v's post: 

i charge £95 for full service using all genuine parts

 

• oil filter
• air filter
• fuel filter
• pollen filter
• genuine Quantum PD oil
• service reset and full diagnostic check
• check and set of torsion values and turbo stop screw and N75 group 11 log

 

Most places wouldn't check and adjust these on the service, if they even know what the torsion value is and how to check/set up the vnt on the turbo properly. That is the difference a specialist will offer over a garage even a dealer probably wouldn't do this and if they did they'd charge you through the nose for it! £95 for the above work is a pretty sweet deal in fairness! 

Edited 16 January, 2015 by mattbvRS

[vRSAnt]

Pinch self, and remind self never to follow sofscoops advice to buy Platinum Quantum from a seller called X?

(who is really looking up contact details) XXX. Mechanics LTD ?

Sum Joe Schmoe?

etc etc Whose to say its not cheap chainsaw oil put into reclaimed genuine or reprinted labels ?

 

Sorry I'm going to have to beg to differ on this one softscoope but if I'm going to buy something as important as oil, it at least needs to come from a major factor - or Skoda Dealer. Whats the point on try to save pence on something so important that if wrong can be devastating to your vehicle ?

 

Same oil is £33 from ebay Skoda dealer. Peace of mind = Priceless

[mattbvRS]

Nothing wrong with buying oil from a reputable seller on e-bay, at all. I always buy my service items from there. You can usually spot fakes and fraudsters a mile away. I've just got some oil from the same seller coincidentally and I can say with 99.99% certainty that it's a genuine factory sealed bottle. 

 

Dealers always overcharge for their products, the reason some can sell it cheaper on-line is because they'll buy it in bulk and at trade prices. £33 is the price for the public consumer. I bet trade prices and in bulk it's half that!  

[sepulchrave]

I didn't realise how spoilt i'd been having a tame VW master tech on hand to do my servicing for cash at a decent fixed price every year.

 

Mrs Pasty's Fabia needs a service and he seems to have gone off the grid meaning calls to local garage to try and book it in somewhere.

 

It had everything last May so in theory it should be the minor-est of minor services with a check over and change of oil.

 

I seem to remember an oil change service being around £60 cash in the past so:

 

Main dealer - £149

local VW specialist - £149

other local VW specialist - £110

another local VW specialist - "somewhere between £170 and £200"

my nearest generic backstreet garage - £85

 

If you're all doing the same things how can prices vary so wildly!?

 

Any advice on what should I be paying?

 

I'd go with the £110 quote myself, that's very reasonable and you can expect the job to be done right since it's a VW specialist.

 

As others have pointed out the parts alone are £50 for the most basic cheap stuff available and garages must make a profit or as you've found out they tend not to be around very long, support your local specialist and they will look after you. Screw the dealers though.

[vRSAnt]

MattbVRS you are a better man than I if you really think you spot a good counterfeit product.

Many, many millions of people are outsmarted by genuine looking conterfeit goods, its a massive problem.

 

Did you not see dentists were fooled with counterfitted drilling equiptment it was on watchdog recently if I recall ! They only realised when they came to drilling.

Now take something far more subtle like engine oil - how will you be able to tell the VAG spec standard stuff from some cheaper generic - you haven't a chance.

 

With bigger brands you know you have a higher degree of protection from this kind of thing and you've no idea who is either deliberately or unwittingly falling foul to counterfeits.

Some unknown backstreet garage you have a gut feeling about isn't a good enough convincing factor for me (I'd have to know them personally or at least know someone who know them to be convinced here).

 

For me just over £5 a service is that all you are saving, easiest decision ever.

[Coco76]

I'm new to this forum and new to Skoda/VAG but have done my basic sercvicing and maintenance for over 30 years.

 

Three things I've always done and are borne out above;

 

1 - Find a local independent - they are worth their weight in gold. This might be a recommend or a lucky find. Gut instinct, a feel for the place, seeing what's in there and what's going on - any number of things might make it right for you, you'll know when you find them! When you find them hold on tight and don't let them go. Don't go anywhere else and give them a good drink at Christmas - if you do this and they are decent, they will be there when you need them.

 

2 - Do what you can yourself. Buy a HBoL and learn. There are some jobs that you won't want to tackle, don't have the tools to tackle or can't justify buying the tools to tackle; that's where point 1 comes in. There is an awful lot you can do yourself with a bit of confidence and self learning.

 

3 - If you buy anything for you car, from a wiper blade to a gearbox, buy it from a seller with a good reputation. Keep the receipt and make a note on it of the mileage. This is all part of the provenance of the vehicle when you come to sell it.

[DanHarper]

Pinch self, and remind self never to follow sofscoops advice to buy Platinum Quantum from a seller called X?

(who is really looking up contact details) XXX. Mechanics LTD ?

Sum Joe Schmoe?

etc etc Whose to say its not cheap chainsaw oil put into reclaimed genuine or reprinted labels ?

 

Sorry I'm going to have to beg to differ on this one softscoope but if I'm going to buy something as important as oil, it at least needs to come from a major factor - or Skoda Dealer. Whats the point on try to save pence on something so important that if wrong can be devastating to your vehicle ?

 

Same oil is £33 from ebay Skoda dealer. Peace of mind = Priceless

 

Really, someones going to go to all that time and effort to FAKE a product that carries a <£15 mark up over the cheapest oil you can buy?

[vRSAnt]

You would ask that, but I am presumably you might buy something for £1 with free p+p without even thinking about it, right ?

Where there is money to be made, people can and will cheat/lie/steal/defraud etc. Naivety is no defence fro being exploited.

 

So, it couldn't happen to me, there isn't enough money to be made etc, thats justification for a good seller that couldn't possibly defraud?

What I am talking about is reducing your envelope of probability of it happening to you, surely that can only be a good idea ?

 

Looking at it from other way round from you, if the bigger motor factors can sell on volumes to attract the pricing at X,

How can you possibly believe its realistic to expect the same product at price X-Y when they can't possibly compete with the same economy of scale

(and if they did, wouldn't they have achieved some name/brand for themselves in doing so rather than Johns back yard garage somewhere??)

 

You might be right about the seller above in this case, it may or may not fortunately be legit. But I tell you what, taking that approach to buying stuff can and will eventually bite you in the arse I guarantee it.

 

I learn from experience on this, I did an engine job and bought genuine aftermarket water pump (this was for a Fiat) I think it was even branded Moto Morini and that was even from a well branded 3rd party.

Well I ended up buying the dealer OEM part (it was only something like £30 instead of £20 because that "cheap" part leaked like a sieve.

That would have saved me several hours of ****ing about due to the failure of said component from new, I generally wouldn't mess about trying to do anything on the cheap again after lessons like that.

 

Its your time that is the expensive component to servicing, you shouldn't mess about with the parts side of the equation.

[mattbvRS]

You could argue the same for ANY car service items in fairness. I've known parts bought direct from a dealer to fail so it's not something that is unique to pattern parts. Some pattern parts exceed the manufacture specification MYLE do some HD components such as bushes and drop links for example and they are covered by a 4 year warranty. I doubt you'd get that from a dealer part. Price wise I'm not sure if there's much difference in fairness, it's not always about doing it 'on the cheap' at all. But if you can save money and still get a quality part then why wouldn't you? Be mad not to in my opinion. 

 

There are many different manufactures of oil filters, air filters, fuel filters etc out there. Usually cost less than the dealer product too while doing the same thing.
 

In terms of the quality of non-dealer parts oil is a good example. While the PD oil is perfectly adequate for the engine and meets all the manufacture specs there are better oils out there that perform better in terms of temperature stability, maintaining viscosity and resisting shear as the oil ages. The average consumer doesn't care about such things though so they will happily buy the dealer oil as it's good enough. But in no way is the PD oil the 'best' oil for the engine.

Edited 17 January, 2015 by mattbvRS

[vRSAnt]

OEM oil also is not by far the worst either and ideally formulated for the requirements of the engine, also without being too expensive. The Fabia only needs 505.1 and for an unmodified car Quantum will do just fine.

 

My point was having the guarantee of buying from a branded quantity with proven supplier routes etc, has got to be far more sound that a mystery punt in the dark with some unknown potential Arthur Daly ?

 

To be honest my main point was not the goods but the supplier assuring the quality / you are getting what you are supposed to be.

As you mentioned Myle or other big pattern manufactures can provide good quality products.

Anyone can sell on ebay for instance thus become an ebay "dealer", what assurance of quality whatsoever do you have ?

 

How do you know the goods they have aren't subject to returns (e.g. bad batches etc). That was my point, you have to pay to assure quality otherwise its caveat emptor.

Edited 17 January, 2015 by dominorising

[mattbvRS]

Truth is you don't but you can argue the same for almost anything you buy on e-bay or on-line for that matter, there is always more of a risk involved. Take the Skoda dealer account you mention above, how do you know that's a genuine account? You use your best judgement and go off the feedback of previous customers hopefully and not just the fact it says 'Skoda dealer'. You could also do a check with companies house to see if it's a registered business and how long they've been trading for if they don't look legit. My point is it's easier to spot a fake than you think in terms of e-bay seller. 

 

Think we've derailed this thread somewhat. I'm quite happy to continue buying my service parts from reputable e-bay sellers, never had an issue in the 10+ years I've been on there in terms of fakes or dodgy parts. If you and others don't feel safe buying from anything other than a main dealer than fair enough. But I'm not as paranoid with such things lol. 

[vRSAnt]

You don't need to be paranoid for them to still be after you lol

[wja96]

I always get my car serviced and MAINTAINED (not repaired) by Robinsons Skoda in Norwich. They will price match any local independent and as they've looked after the car for the last 8 years they know it and me. They have a perfectly sensible approach to fitting non-OEM parts (they fitted my Eibach and Koni suspension, Garrett hybrid turbo and updated clutch) and they automatically assume that if a bit isn't as good as new I will want to know so I can tell them to replace it, even if it's not actually worn out.

Robinsons aren't unique and my point of posting this is to emphasise that it's always worth building a relationship with the dealer. I know I get ripped off stupid by Audi and Mercedes because those cars are under 3 years old and the leasing arrangements require dealer servicing but Skoda dealers haven't won all those dealer review awards for nothing. I would definitely suggest you take your list of quotes to the Skoda dealer and ask them to match the best of them. They should do it. No worries on where the parts come from, trained technicians, and the prospect of a long-term relationship that will make sure your car gets looked after properly.

[PastyBoy]

decision made

ECP bits ordered

bosch air and oil filters

crosland fuel and pollen filters

have a sump plug left over from the post turbo change services (as i got one and so did the mech) so that's nice.

5l of Quantum being collected from VW dealer on the way

yes it's £32 but that's £10 cheaper than the exact same bottle from the Skoda dealer just down the road and i have the piece of mind of knowing it's the right stuff

also might swing by said Skoda dealer and pick up a rear wiper blade if i really feel like treating the Mrs.

 

now to make sure i have a 32mm socket to change the oil filter

[PastyBoy]

well it's done

i'm now a mechanic. unsupervised and everything!

 

• air filter is easy
• pollen filter takes a bit of persuasion to fit in the frame but also easy
• oil filter was pretty simple but the only thing i had with a 1/2 inch drive for the 32mm socket was from alloy wheel impact wrench.
  not really a problem except it doesn't fit in front of the engine to allow straight access to the socket, but with the socket on at a bit of an angle it did allow enough purchase to eventually pop the cover though.
  Has mangled the plastic "nut" of the cover a bit though - so bigger 1/2 ratchet required for the next one
• fuel filter - managed to buy a short one rather than a long one again but knowing it worked fine previously fitted it anyways.
  of the 3 retaining clips which hold the filter in place my car only had one - now it has none
  only fiddly bit with changing is getting the pipe clamps to move. fine when your tame mech has a special tool for those clips; bit of a pain when all you have is a pair of crappy pliers on a multi-tool. still i got there in the end.
• Oil change was pretty easy.
  I put the catch pan directly under the sump completely forgetting there'd be 4 litres of pressure pushing the oil out of the sump.
  Cue me removing the sump slug and a jet of thick lukewarm black stinking oil shooting out and straight onto the driveway behind my catch pan.
  Frantic readjustment caught most of it but there was a bit of a clean up.
  Then replace sump slug and pour in the new clean oil.
  pretty sure I've over filled it a bit but i'll wait to see if Mrs Pasty reports any symptoms before doing anything about it.

All in all a success.
I even treated Mrs Pasty a proper "dealer experience".

No I didn't charge her £250 for the privilege but i hoovered and washed it too.

I really do know how to treat my woman.

[J306TD]

All in all a success.

I even treated Mrs Pasty a proper "dealer experience".

No I didn't charge her £250 for the privilege but i hoovered and washed it too.

I really do know how to treat my woman.

What about a cup of coffee whilst she waited? Lmao

Sent from my Galaxy S5

[PastyBoy]

No need for coffee as she actually dropped it at the garage (our garage, i mean literally our garage) and headed off to get her nails done in a very nice courtesy car, a 2010 Seat Ibiza CR140 I happened to have lying around.

[pulse]

Glad it wasn't just me having a bit of trouble fitting the pollen filter lol. Out of curiosity, what make pollen and air filter did you use?

[pulse]

Glad it wasn't just me having a bit of trouble fitting the pollen filter lol. Out of curiosity, what make pollen and air filter did you use?

... Yeah. Helps to read the posts properly...