Yes car dealers are struggling to make money, but £705 for a 4th service just seems insane.

2.0 TDI PD, 32k miles:

cam belt, oil + brake fluid and a few filters (and an MOT) = £705

Is this normal / expected?

Have I been completely shafted by my garage?

I've paid them, but am not a happy customer, especially since I had to fork out £950 just a couple of months ago for a new power steering rack.

Any advice (other than never using them again)?

Cheers

Dan

TBH it seems about right for the work done, half of that cost at least will be for the cambelt to be changed.

If you split it into approx costs...

Brake fluid - £50

MOT - £50

Cam belt - £350

Service (inc oil and filters) - £250

....none of them look wildly high.

Of course, your local independent will probably be cheaper.

I'd be more annoyed at having to pay £950 for the power steering rack. Granted the car was out of warranty, but with a full dealer service history and only 32k miles (presumably a bit less at the time) I would have hoped Skoda UK and/or the dealer might have made some good will gesture.

When should the cam belt be changed. I've got a vRS TDi thats just past 34k. Dont fancy shelling out already as i've just bought the car.

The cambelt intervals on a Vrs tdi are 4 years or 75000 miles.

And also with reference to contribution for the steering rack, yes I would have tried Skoda customer care to see if I could get some contribution, BUT why should the dealer have to give contribution? especially if Skoda UK would not?

Dealer doesn't they just speak to skoda and ask.

I got charged about this the other week, bloody con to change a part that cost a few quid to make.

I got quoted £720 for a 60,000 service on a Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDI FR which included cambelt.

Sounds about right to me.

Thanks for the replies everyone, no longer feeling so cheated.

WRT the steering:

I did ask the dealer to contact Skoda for a goodwill gesture, but the mechanic I spoke to didn't expect any results. I asked him to try anyway and of course Skoda just came back with a "no". Maybe I should have spoken to skoda myself.

I've always just bought bangers before so am rather inexperienced at this whole "nice car = expensive services" game...

Cheers

Dan