shock-horror!

[moosecreek]

Hello. Have just had my first variable service. The spanner showed up at 15000 so I decided to have the brake fluid changed at the same time to save another trip to the dealer at 20000 miles. The total cost was just over £300!!! Have others experienced a similar situation or do I have an expensive garage?

[vRSLen]

Sounds about £40 over the top to me...

Oh, and welcome

[howardshe]

I buy the parts from the dealer then go home and do it myself. for no more than 70 euro, you can make sure everything is properly done. I don't trust the garage. For safety and health reasons, they wouldn't let you watch when they are servicing your car, so you never know in what way they do it or if they did it at all. I remeber several years ago I bought a micra from a reputable dealer in Dublin, they told me the car had been fully serviced. One month later, for some reason I checked the airfilter and found some dry leaves undereath! Servicing a car is not rocket science, if you have the right tools, and have someone show you the first time, it can be done in no more than 30 minutes.

[Mison]

Hi, I've just had my 1st variable service at just under 10,000 miles and 20 months and it cost me £220. This means it's around £80 for a fluid change which sound a lot. Mine will need changing in June (2 years) so I might take it to a local garage rather than Skoda. Did they itemise your bill?

[Steve vRS]

I buy the parts from the dealer then go home and do it myself. for no more than 70 euro, you can make sure everything is properly done. I don't trust the garage. For safety and health reasons, they wouldn't let you watch when they are servicing your car, so you never know in what way they do it or if they did it at all. I remeber several years ago I bought a micra from a reputable dealer in Dublin, they told me the car had been fully serviced. One month later, for some reason I checked the airfilter and found some dry leaves undereath! Servicing a car is not rocket science, if you have the right tools, and have someone show you the first time, it can be done in no more than 30 minutes.

I agree but the all important stamp in the book means that the work has to be carried out by a VAT registered garage - at least in the UK it does - for any warranty claims to be looked at.

Steve

[Stoofa]

I've just been quoted £290 all in for the 3rd variable service @ 46,000 miles.

Apparently the 3rd service is "bigger" than the first 2 - so if I'm getting more done for less that doesn't sound right.

Oh and as for not watching them.

If I really want to I can go to the "viewing area" and watch - however I do trust my local dealership.

[Aspman]

I was £180 for 2nd variable and that included a brake fluid change (I think).

[theandywaite]

I paid £250 at a local VAG specialist for a 2nd variable service and brake fluid change.

Main dealers I asked quoted between £300 and £340.

If I remember correctly, isn't the first variable service just a load of checks and an oil & oil filter change? It was my understanding that the plugs and other filters were only done on the 2nd variable?

[FriendlyFire]

I paid 155 in november for a first variable service and another 50 for the BF change. Hobin's Skoda/SEAT in Salford, i.e. a Skoda main dealer. Price included a curtesy car and a litre of top up oil. Total cost was 204

For a further 34 I could have had a pollen filter changed.

[allan1888]

i was £179 for my second service including the £39 they charged for a brake fluid change

Edited 4 March, 2010 by allan1888

[skippy41]

I know this is not the right place but our 03 superb never had a break fluid change in 156000 miles, just new pads and 1 set of discs not bad for 7 years old. breaks where as sharp as the day we got it before it was traded in.

And in the 30 years I have been a taxi owner I have never changed the fluid in any of my cars

[earos74]

1st variable cost £170 second variable £180 and my next variable service will cost £170 plus a new set of front pads. Oil top ups are free from my dealer as they look after the car. I did ask why they didn't change the brake fluid on the second service but it wasn't required yet. As to regards never changing the brake fluid - that's taking some risk especially as you're a high mileage driver.

found on a skoda dealers website

"Skoda recommend that a Brake Fluid Change is carried out every 2 years alongside the manufacturer's scheduled service.

It is important to ensure this procedure is carried out when required as the fluid that is used in the braking system is prone to drawing in moisture. Once moisture is in the system, it can reduce the braking efficiency of your Skoda.

A complete brake fluid change can be carried out on a 'while you wait' basis, taking approximately 30 minutes and costing you only £50.00 every two years "

hardly breaks the bank even for the dealer to do it.

[mannyo]

I had 4 variable services on my old octavia, each one costing about £180, except for the two where I had the brake fluid changed and even then it did not really add that much to the total cost. I sold the car at 93K miles and it was still running perfectly with no problems at all in its life.

[bluemoose]

I paid £185 for the first variable service at 18,500 and £25 for the brake fluid change at my local main dealer last month.

[blueR36]

I paid £250 at a local VAG specialist for a 2nd variable service and brake fluid change.

Main dealers I asked quoted between £300 and £340.

If I remember correctly, isn't the first variable service just a load of checks and an oil & oil filter change? It was my understanding that the plugs and other filters were only done on the 2nd variable?

Think that`s the 4th service or 40000 miles, been quoted £330 for that.