Good day y'all, I would appreciate some input on a scenario I would rather not be in.

I bought my 06 Fabia VRS in January from a local car dealer. They specialise in selling other marques brand new, but also have a selection of used vehicles. They've been in the town for as long as I can remember and always held a reasonable reputation. My mums car also came from them brand new in 2010 with no complaints and had no reason not to trust them. It just so happened they had a VRS with a spec I approved of for the right price when I was looking for a replacement car. Full service history including cambelt with skoda up to 40k, 48k by independent and then 56k to be done by dealer I bought the car from. The car, due a service, was to be done prior to delivery along with a fresh MOT. The service book is suitably stamped for the service including the Air Filter being ticked as changed.

I've had the car now for just under 2 months and done approximately 2500 miles. Yesterday I went to replace the standard air filter with a Green Cotton Panel Filter and discovered that the filter in it was absolutely rank, black, extremely dusty and well and truly stuffed with dead flies! I used to service my MK4 Golf myself and have never seen a filter like this even in the middle of summer. Hmm... so I went back inside the house and discussed it with the folks to see what they thought. After I'd told them, it comes to my mums mind that she had doubts they'd serviced her car at it's first 10k service a few months ago after forgetting to stamp the service book and also that the service indicator was still flashing on her car. We rang the dealer about my mums car and they have no record of her 10k service being done.

I'm going down first thing tomorrow morning to discuss this with the manager as I really do have my doubts. It all just seems too much of a coincidence.

tbh is there really any point seeing as you are changing it for a 'faster' air filter anyway, you may as well change the oil while you are there too...

all you will do is stress yourself out going and confronting the dealer who obviously hasn't serviced the car, although i would take a great pleasure in watching them squirt

Good day y'all, I would appreciate some input on a scenario I would rather not be in.

I bought my 06 Fabia VRS in January from a local car dealer. They specialise in selling other marques brand new, but also have a selection of used vehicles. They've been in the town for as long as I can remember and always held a reasonable reputation. My mums car also came from them brand new in 2010 with no complaints and had no reason not to trust them. It just so happened they had a VRS with a spec I approved of for the right price when I was looking for a replacement car. Full service history including cambelt with skoda up to 40k, 48k by independent and then 56k to be done by dealer I bought the car from. The car, due a service, was to be done prior to delivery along with a fresh MOT. The service book is suitably stamped for the service including the Air Filter being ticked as changed.

I've had the car now for just under 2 months and done approximately 2500 miles. Yesterday I went to replace the standard air filter with a Green Cotton Panel Filter and discovered that the filter in it was absolutely rank, black, extremely dusty and well and truly stuffed with dead flies! I used to service my MK4 Golf myself and have never seen a filter like this even in the middle of summer. Hmm... so I went back inside the house and discussed it with the folks to see what they thought. After I'd told them, it comes to my mums mind that she had doubts they'd serviced her car at it's first 10k service a few months ago after forgetting to stamp the service book and also that the service indicator was still flashing on her car. We rang the dealer about my mums car and they have no record of her 10k service being done.

I'm going down first thing tomorrow morning to discuss this with the manager as I really do have my doubts. It all just seems too much of a coincidence.

Sounds par for the course these days. Without actually seeing the work done you will never be sure it has been.

Personally I would do a service yourself, that way you know the correct oil will be used in it.

I don't suppose the cambelt (which is overdue) has been done either?

with things like the cambelt i'd ask to see the previous belt.

The cambelt has definitely been done, have service invoice for it. I do think I'm going to do an oil change myself regardless.

The car runs absolutely fine, I I can't fault it but if it's not been services I'd rather know.

I think it's important I still drop in to them tomorrow and put some heat on them.

In fairness, I was suprised how dirty an air filter was after being in for only 10k miles. I'm pretty certain the air filter is replaced at either 20k or 40k, so if you bought the car at 56k it has probably been in for 16k plus however many miles since (2500?).

I wouldn't necessarily go in all guns blazing, as the saying goes:

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar

PL

The 'service' was probably just an oil change unless anything else was noticeably wrong.

The "correct" service interval for air filters is about 40-60k miles and IMHO that is far too long.

Much better to change them every 10 to 15k miles.

FWIW, it could be that it's been changed to spec.

I agree folks, the air filter is only scheduled to be changed at much greater intervals, but the service book is ticked as being changed when clearly it wasn't, hence my concerns.

I went in this morning and spoke to the service manager who admitted that they only do a basic oil service on used vehicles before delivery. I questioned why they'd ticked the service book indicating the air filter had been changed - they said it must have just been a mistake. Also brought up about my mums car, that I had no confidence that they'd bothered to service either of them and I would be servicing the car myself regardless. They managed to partially redeem themselves by giving me a cheque for the inconvenience as a goodwill gesture. I will put it down to bad experience, but I won't be recommending them to anyone.

I agree folks, the air filter is only scheduled to be changed at much greater intervals, but the service book is ticked as being changed when clearly it wasn't, hence my concerns.

I went in this morning and spoke to the service manager who admitted that they only do a basic oil service on used vehicles before delivery. I questioned why they'd ticked the service book indicating the air filter had been changed - they said it must have just been a mistake. Also brought up about my mums car, that I had no confidence that they'd bothered to service either of them and I would be servicing the car myself regardless. They managed to partially redeem themselves by giving me a cheque for the inconvenience as a goodwill gesture. I will put it down to bad experience, but I won't be recommending them to anyone.

At least they did the oil service and that's the important one.

I'd think that there are probably a few less scrupulous places out there that reset any counter and tick the book and that's it.

At least they did the oil service and that's the important one.

I'd think that there are probably a few less scrupulous places out there that reset any counter and tick the book and that's it.

Probably didn't use 506.01 VAG oil though :(

Probably didn't use 506.01 VAG oil though :(

Probably got it from Tesco

Probably got it from Tesco

Are you telling me Tesco Value Motor Oil isn't suitable?

Are you telling me Tesco Value Motor Oil isn't suitable?

He was talking about Tesco Value Vegetable Oil not Motor Oil

Are you telling me Tesco Value Motor Oil isn't suitable?

I ran my Fabia on Wiklo motor oil!

Quantum or something in it now. Whatever VAG specify.

Edited 1 March, 201115 yr by TriggerFish

He was talking about Tesco Value Vegetable Oil not Motor Oil

Penny has dropped!

I ran my Fabia on Wiklo motor oil!

Quantum or something in it now. Whatever VAG specify.

Wilkos is good for bungee straps and tax disc holders!

Prob payback for the fly wheel mate....lol

I don't trust them....when my mother had a big crash in my old golf it took them 5months to fix it.....still wasn't right after

The body shop there isn't the best, heard lots of reports of overspray everywhere and untouched panels coming out with more marks!