Yeah me too, thats what the manual says... so much for dealer servicing for expertise etc

Not all dealers are created equal. But like I said, at least you've got a large forecourt and Skoda Uk to fall back on in the events of anything bad happening

Just spoken to the dealer about this, and they say it was their mistake and in fact they have put fully synthetic oil in the car. Obviously Ill never know but the oil on the dipsick certainly looks very different to what was in before, its darker in colour and seems thicker.

£70 is a very good price, assuming they used the correct spec oil etc. Many VW dealers currently have an offer where they will match any quote given by another garage within (IIRC) a 7 mile radius.

Remember that the cost of garage work is always 'negotiable' and as with tyres, exhausts etc it can pay to ring around and play one off against another.

Most modern cars are very easy to service and technicians can usually complete the job in less than book time. Be on the look out for 'upselling' - e.g. brakes, shocks etc., which main dealers can really sting you for. You can have the service done at the dealer, get the stamp, and have any extra work done elsewhere.

I bet the main dealers won''t drop their service prices by a single pound.

So does that mean for my second service I can have the minimum done at the main dealers just to get the stamp and have the rest done at a VAG specialist.

I had my Fabia serviced today by a franchised dealer for £70 for a 10k service. No idea what oil they used at that price, probably chip fat Independant wanted £100.

Mind you, the service indicator no longer counts down like it used to so they probably didnt reset it properly.

£70 for just an oil change is still expensive. I'm sure you'll get a cheaper price if you phoned around. What does the £100 include, just oil?

Just spoken to the dealer about this, and they say it was their mistake and in fact they have put fully synthetic oil in the car. Obviously Ill never know but the oil on the dipsick certainly looks very different to what was in before, its darker in colour and seems thicker.

let's hope the only mistake was them saying that they used semi synthetic.

I bet the main dealers won''t drop their service prices by a single pound.

Yes they will. Trust me, I used to work in the motor trade and knew many service managers. They WILL drop their prices if you haggle. A lot depends on how busy the workshop is. A year ago, then the recession was really biting, they were coming up with some very good deals.

So does that mean for my second service I can have the minimum done at the main dealers just to get the stamp and have the rest done at a VAG specialist.

To get the 'stamp' they must do the service according to the book. Any additional work (e.g. brake pad change, timing belt, replacement of wear and tear items such as clutch, suspension components etc) is completely outside of the service regime and can be done at any garage. Use OE-spec parts (not necessarily VAG-branded) and keep your receipts and you will still be covered by warranty.

£70 for just an oil change is still expensive. I'm sure you'll get a cheaper price if you phoned around. What does the £100 include, just oil?

Typically its an oil and filter change plus various checks. Dealers charge the synth oil at about £50 and the filter at around £6 so £70 is cheap. Obviously you could do it yourself for half that. An independent is unlikely to charge any less, depending on whereabouts you are in the country.

let's hope the only mistake was them saying that they used semi synthetic.

I think I might change the oil in 5000 miles just to be sure and then use a different dealer. Have to say that I thought Id left the days of shoddy dealers when I stopped buying Fiat but it seems not... how did Skoda get such great reviews for the dealers, Ive used three and they have all been very average.

Mind you, I dont intend keeping the car for more than 3 years so should I even worry

I think I might change the oil in 5000 miles just to be sure and then use a different dealer. Have to say that I thought Id left the days of shoddy dealers when I stopped buying Fiat but it seems not... how did Skoda get such great reviews for the dealers, Ive used three and they have all been very average.

Mind you, I dont intend keeping the car for more than 3 years so should I even worry

Lemon, I really wouldn't bother. Those beautifull little 1.2 3cyl petrol units will run on anything without any problems. Semi sympathetic oil would still be ok, but if the dealer says they put fully syn in, then you don't need to worry. It's the PD diesels that are very fussy about oil, not the petrol units. Let it go the whole 10k without changing the oil. It'll be fine.

Lemon, I really wouldn't bother. Those beautifull little 1.2 3cyl petrol units will run on anything without any problems. Semi sympathetic oil would still be ok, but if the dealer says they put fully syn in, then you don't need to worry. It's the PD diesels that are very fussy about oil, not the petrol units. Let it go the whole 10k without changing the oil. It'll be fine.

so what oil is best for this engine. Went to a VAG specialist and they say 5-30 same stuff as the dealers use, but when I went to dealers they said 15-40. I thought 10-40 would be a good compromise and better than 15-40. I thought 15-40 is a bit thick considering the VAG specialist recommend 5-30.

I might buy some quality oil and get it changed in the near future. Probably go for Castrol 10-40 semi synthetic.

Edited 26 April, 201016 yr by fabia55

A fully-synth 5W-30 to VW Spec 504.00 is the recommendation for your engine.

At the first service the dealer used 10w-40 semi synthetic. But for the last two have taken my own oil and had 5w-30 fully synthetic meeting 504.00. May be a bit overkill but would rather use a decent oil as it stays in for 10,000 miles.

so what oil is best for this engine. Went to a VAG specialist and they say 5-30 same stuff as the dealers use, but when I went to dealers they said 15-40. I thought 10-40 would be a good compromise and better than 15-40. I thought 15-40 is a bit thick considering the VAG specialist recommend 5-30.

I might buy some quality oil and get it changed in the near future. Probably go for Castrol 10-40 semi synthetic.

55...yes use what Hauptman says. Always use the stuff the manufacturer recommends wherever possible. Also, I would go for the 5-30 grade too. This gives good flow rate which is reckoned to be more important than the slight increase in oil pressure provided by a slightly thicker grade, especially as the oil film of a fully sympathetic oil is much much stronger than semi or mineral. Oil is not something to economise on in the long term. But you know that.

Edited 27 April, 201016 yr by Estate Man

Also someone who knows how to resit the service indicator.

The manual tells you how to reset your service indicator.

Estate Man, you said earlier that if I have a semi in mine thats OK, but now you say go fully :(

Anyone know why my service indicator now says -------- instead of counting up the miles and down the days to next service?

so what oil is best for this engine. Went to a VAG specialist and they say 5-30 same stuff as the dealers use, but when I went to dealers they said 15-40. I thought 10-40 would be a good compromise and better than 15-40. I thought 15-40 is a bit thick considering the VAG specialist recommend 5-30.

I might buy some quality oil and get it changed in the near future. Probably go for Castrol 10-40 semi synthetic.

Hi fabia55

I am not going to get into the should I or not in warranty, But over the last 30 years of buying new and s/h cars having a full dealer service history has made no difference at all part exchanging

a car into dealer for a new one, I always say no to the question og have you got a full history, then when I have a price, I say if I had a full history would I get more, and always I am told NO !

I don't know if you have got sorted but just had a Interim service at Kwik-fit and MOT and paid £116, and that included Mobil 1 ESP oil !

Radiotwo

Hi fabia55

I am not going to get into the should I or not in warranty, But over the last 30 years of buying new and s/h cars having a full dealer service history has made no difference at all part exchanging

a car into dealer for a new one, I always say no to the question og have you got a full history, then when I have a price, I say if I had a full history would I get more, and always I am told NO !

I don't know if you have got sorted but just had a Interim service at Kwik-fit and MOT and paid £116, and that included Mobil 1 ESP oil !

Radiotwo

And of course, car salesmen are known for being very forthcoming with information, and they always tell the truth...

Estate Man, you said earlier that if I have a semi in mine thats OK, but now you say go fully :(

Anyone know why my service indicator now says -------- instead of counting up the miles and down the days to next service?

Sorry Lemon, didn't mean to confuse. What I mean is...yes always use the manufacturers recommended oil for grade and type. However, in your case if the dealer has put in a semi sympathetic oil on this occassion I wouldn't worry about it this time, it isn't very critical over just 10k, unless it's a PD diesel.

my 57 reg fabia 1.2 is going to a VW dealer tomorrow for it's 3rd service and brake fluid change. would the dealer have all the updates as it's a vw engine ??

my 57 reg fabia 1.2 is going to a VW dealer tomorrow for it's 3rd service and brake fluid change. would the dealer have all the updates as it's a vw engine ??

This is something you will need to check with the dealer James. Skoda issue their own updates for their own models (albeit some of them have come from VW), and you cannot guarantee a VW dealer will be able to deliver every update designed for a Skoda.