Extremely depressed here . Just back from the 70k service at the Skoda dealership and they've booked me in to come back in 2 weeks for more work, apparently i need;

- 2 rear wheel bearings

- 1 inner CV boot

- 2 outer CV boots

- 1 CV joint

- Coolant bottle cap

- Thermostat housing

- Exhaust middle pipe

Service itself was £117 and they've told me the rest of the work will be another £500! Anyone reckon i'm being completely ripped off here?

Cheers

sounds a lot to me, get an independent inspection done

Get another quote from a recommended independant garage.

If you can you can do the stat housing & coolant cap yourself.

Then get a quote from a exhaust fitting place for the centre section, or better still buy off ebay and fit yourself.

I would definately get a second opinion/quote.

Mick

Rear wheel bearings aren't too difficult to do yourself if you're a bit of a diyer and available for a tenner a side off ebay. Main thing to watch out for is that they are likely to need re-adjusting after a bit. Seems unusual they think both sides need doing though. There's normally an obvious sound when driving when they've become rough.

You still get yours serviced at a dealer?

I always get quotes off my local dealer but just get my parts from them as I know whilst they will be good fitters being Skoda specialists in my area I just cannot afford that much.

I wouldn't say you are being ripped off but you can definatly get a few hundred knocked off by going to an independant or a good mechanic if you know one.

Why does the Thermo or housing need replacing? Showing overheating signs?

Other things to watch for are the brake pipes but I'm getting them changed when the car has the rear wheel bearings done, prob get the brake shoes replaced too.

Then get a quote from a exhaust fitting place for the centre section, or better still buy off ebay and fit yourself.

Unless you've done one before, don't try the exhaust yourself. It's much easier in a garage with a lift, air tools, and a gas axe. A fast-fit place will do it in a tenth of the time you would at home- the bolts will be rusty, and the pipe rusted together.

I would definately get a second opinion/quote.

Without a doubt. That seems expensive. Find an independent garage rather than the main stealer.

I work on the spanners, and would say there is about 3 hours work there. This is based on me doing it at home on the floor. My experience of dealers is not to good, my mate was quoted over a grand for work doing on his octy after it went in for service, After i had a look at it , i found that non of the work needed doing apart from a tyre. And one of the parts they had quoted for, had only been changed a month before

So i would deffo get someone else to make sure the work needs doing

Thanks for the advice Think i'm gonna take it to an independent mechanic i know during the week and see what he makes of it, may end up getting the parts from skoda and getting him to fit them

Well folks, took her to a good independent mechanic i know this morning, total will be £120 with him, instead of the quoted £500. It seems the 2 rear wheel bearings just needed greased and tightened, not replaced, there was nothing wrong with the thermostat housing and nothing wrong with 2 of the CV boots. Just goes to show you how far dealerships are prepared to take you to the cleaners!

They can't even use the excuse of preventive maintenance saying 3 cv gaiters need replacing. Surprised they didn't want to replace the other one as well.