Morning All,

As per the title. Seeking advice as my Scout has just done 13k (registered July 2010) and the Service Spanner Icon is telling me that I should get the car serviced within 300 miles or 345 days, I thought I would get at least 16k out of it. 80% of my journeys are motorway,(my commute to work is 50miles each way via motorway) so I am a bit miffed that the Service Indicator has came on only few thousand miles more than the annual fixed servicing.

I contacted my local dealer who states I should just continue until the cars done about 14k then bring it in, and they will reset the Service Indicator as part of the service and ensure it is definitely set up for Variable Servicing. Not sure how that would stand up with SUK if anything untoward was to show up during the service. I already have the Scout affliction of delamination of all four alloys, I don't wand to jeapardise my warranty claim for that, due to not getting the vehicle serviced as laid down in the owners manual, due to being given a bum steer by a dealer!!

If I have to get it serviced this early, and due to the mileage only being a few k over the fixed service mileage limit, would it be alright for me getting a fixed service but ensuring the car was set up for variable?

Reason that I ask, the other dealer I contacted stated different oil is used during fixed servicing than for the variable. I thought because I have a 2L TDi PD , the same oil is used regardless.

I have been quoted £109 for the fixed and 'about £140' for the variable, money wise, there is not much in it, it is just the inconvenience of it coming up so soon!

Many thanks in advance.

Fin

Seeking advice as my Scout has just done 13k (registered July 2010) and the Service Spanner Icon is telling me that I should get the car serviced within 300 miles or 345 days, I thought I would get at least 16k out of it.

This does seem very early, with your type of journey's I too would hope for at least 16,000 - 18,000 miles.

They will reset the Service Indicator as part of the service and ensure it is definitely set up for Variable Servicing.

I was expecting my Scout to flag up its need for a service at exactly 10,000 miles or 12 months, however it was more like 12,000 miles before I saw the spanner. Sounds to me as though you may be on fixed? Even the dealer sounds as though they are unsure too.

I already have the Scout affliction of delamination of all four alloys.

Welcome to the club, I just got my second set of alloys in before my warranty expired. Less than a year for them to fail, and all four at once is suprising though.

The other dealer I contacted stated different oil is used during fixed servicing than for the variable. I thought because I have a 2L TDi PD, the same oil is used regardless.

Rubbish, as your Scout is equipped with a DPF then long life oil should be used for any service, fixed or variable. Shame on them, they should know better!

This does seem very early, with your type of journey's I too would hope for at least 16,000 - 18,000 miles.

Variable is just that, with lots of short (= cold) journeys the range will decrease dramatically, however you are not doing that by the sounds of it.

Did you buy the car new or nearly new?

I was expecting my Scout to flag up its need for a service at exactly 10,000 miles or 12 months, however it was more like 12,000 miles before I saw the spanner. Sounds to me as though you may be on fixed? Even the dealer sounds as though they are unsure too.

But fixed is also every 365 days and the OP has another (up to) 345 days left, so it must be on variable?

Rubbish, as your Scout is equipped with a DPF then long life oil should be used for any service, fixed or variable. Shame on them, they should know better!

+1 they haven't a clue what they are on about, your car HAS TO HAVE VW507.00 spec oil in it for the DPF - this is variable servicing oil!

Personally I would use another dealer - one who knew their own product.

My Scout also on variable & showed 1st service due at 13k, thought it might settle in to longer interval once I had a few more miles on the clock. Now on 23k & next service due in 2400 miles so roughly the same interval. I cover a good range of road types & journeys with plenty of long motorway stints. Also disappointed that I'm not getting the longer intervals I had expected. Average about 15k a year & was hoping to get at least a year between services. Interested to hear what others are getting.

Edited 20 August, 201114 yr by Skaut

Watching the spanner is annoying - best to get a dealer to check that it is set for variable in the first place, wouldn't be the first time they got it wrong, with a car still under guarantee better not to tempt fate just in case you need to invoke the guarantee for any reason.

Thanks for the replies lads.

If the same oil VW507.00 is used in Fixed and Variable, is there a difference between what they check? I'm going to book it in next week, but as I posted earlier, there is a approximately £40 - £50 price difference between the services. If they are approximately the same, I would rather the price difference was in my pocket than their tills!

Many thanks again.

Fin

The first service on a fixed interval is a simple oil change, the first service on variable is more like a 20K fixed one with more checks involved.

Cheers Manny.

Variable Service is it is then.

Many thanks. :thumbup:

have you ever topped up or changed oil before the spanner showed?

13k is past fixed, but variable is 10k - max 18.5k OR 2 years. Some make the 18k, others won't. For your warranty you have to go by what the car is telling you as if something breaks the dealer will deny the 14k conv and blame you.

I've never had to top up the oil. Check it weekly, and it has been spot on. Guess I have dipped out this time!

Concur with you on going over the mileage especially as I have delamination on all four alloys!

Fin

Interesting, do you use the loud pedal a lot? I have a 2008 Scout TDi and have managed 20k between services, so 20k, 40k and now 59k with no sign of a spanner yet!

I did have one interesting aside along the way when the spanner came on at 49k, booked it in and was told "oops sorry it doesn't need servicing, we accidentally set it to fixed servicing last time it was in" apparently their equipment makes it very easy for this to happen so it is quite common. Anyway they reset the service light back to variable and sent me away and I must say I was a bit worried about the light coming on so early but alls well.

On another aside I don't like a diesel going 20k miles between services so I have been doing interim oil changes at 10k, 30k and 50k. As long as I use the wright oil I think this can only benefit the car and as I do it myself only costs £35.

On another aside I don't like a diesel going 20k miles between services so I have been doing interim oil changes at 10k, 30k and 50k. As long as I use the wright oil I think this can only benefit the car and as I do it myself only costs £35.

Would it then not make sense for you to change to fixed?

Would it then not make sense for you to change to fixed?

It would be more expensive getting a full Skoda service done every 10k miles. All I do is oil and filter, do it myself so £35 and half an hour for a bit more peace of mind.

Given the variable service is more expensive and you are only managing 13,000 miles it might actually be less expensive for you to be on fixed, this would also cut out your need for a £35 self-service?

I have decided to go on annual servicing, especially as Skoda were offering two services for £299, with a £50 voucher thrown in as I was not taking advantage of the 2 x MOT's.

Booked the car in with Henry's North (Glasgow), they were also going to replace all four of my alloys due to delamination. I was given a time slot of 11am, and was told it would take a few hours.

Turn up at 1035, and am informed that the service and removing/replacing the alloys will take six hours, which came as a bit of a shock, I thought no more than three at a push. I asked them to check the drivers door window liner as it whistles a good 'un above 50mph, the only way round it is to open the window slightly. I also asked them to look at the rear hatch lock mechanism as the plastic housing round it had snapped off at some point, I hadn't noticed this until cleaning the car and found it lying at the other end of the boot. Finally as a favour, I asked if they could check my tyre pressure gauge as I wanted to make sure the pressure was correct.

I noticed in the Skoda accessories catalogue that they sold Autoglym Hi Definition wax, admittedly their price was dearer than Halfords, but as I had the £50 I would only have to pay £3.00. I was initially informed that they had no idea what I was talking about, then I was informed that it was £60, almost twice what Halfords are charging, and that I had to buy them in quantities of four. £240 for car wax!!!!!!:thumbdown:

Any way, I turn up 30 minutes early, you guessed it no coffee in the customer lounge, even though a member of staff stocked it up with sugar and milk, didn't notice the lack of a coffee pot in the machine. They couldn't find a fault with the window liner, and if I wanted the rear hatch lock housing replaced I would have to order it in. So it's not a warranty job then?!?!!?? As for the tyre pressure gauge? Sorry, but they wouldn't be able to check it as they don't have a machine to do that and they don't know who has!! All they had to do was check the pressure reading of my tyre gauge against theirs and tell me if the reading was the same as theirs or not.

Next year I will be looking at an alternative dealer for servicing. Park's of Hamilton are ruled out straight away as they don't operate the Skoda Service Plan, they run their own which is £80 dearer.

Is it any wonder that people are no longer taking their vehicles to franchised dealers if this is typical of Skoda servicing!:(

Fin

There is a massive variation in the quality / ability of franchised dealers.

My local dealer is pretty good, sounds like yours is duff, try another one next time, hopefully there is another one nearby.

Glad you got the wheels replaced under warranty, its just a shame Skoda haven't bothered to make them any more durable. This time next year after a tough winter you'll be asking for another set

I'd also be insisting they replace the plastic cover for the lock mechanism. The latch itself houses some electrical bits so the spring loaded flap keeps any dirt from getting in. Hardly a wear and tear item so it should be fixed under warranty.

Mine is on Variable and just had it done after 18k miles since the last one .I do mixed driving ,motorway ,urban and tow a caravan .