Good afternoon,

I am just about to have my second service on my year old L&K which now has 37,000 miles on it.

As always I have been shopping around for prices, and out of my local dealer, and two others, only one of them actually suggested me have an oil change on the DSG box (and this did not include my local dealer)

Having read other posts I think this is important, and am very upset that even though thye know it is on variable servicing, and it is DSG, and some people post it is part of the warranty requirements, it was not costed in.

Good afternoon,

I am just about to have my second service on my year old L&K which now has 37,000 miles on it.

As always I have been shopping around for prices, and out of my local dealer, and two others, only one of them actually suggested me have an oil change on the DSG box (and this did not include my local dealer)

Having read other posts I think this is important, and am very upset that even though thye know it is on variable servicing, and it is DSG, and some people post it is part of the warranty requirements, it was not costed in.

I think that only the 6 speed DSG requires an oil change at 40k; the 7 speed does not.

I think that only the 6 speed DSG requires an oil change at 40k; the 7 speed does not.

I only have the six speed, but they would know that when they pull up the details.

I wonder what would happen if I did not get it done, and then I had a problem, bearing in mind I have written quotes from two of the dealers.

I only have the six speed, but they would know that when they pull up the details.

I wonder what would happen if I did not get it done, and then I had a problem, bearing in mind I have written quotes from two of the dealers.

Please do not wait what would happen, tell them!

Apparently services tend to forget the dsg oil change unless told and when they do change it, they tend to forget the microfilter.

They bombard me instead, with reminders about the cambelt.

have continued to call/email around, and people are starting to tell me.

My issue now is that the cheapest service I am being offered is £365.00 and the most expensive is nearly £560.00

This is disgraceful, and I am going to ask Skoda to explain why, as the whole service only takes 3 hours. is there that much difference in hourly rates?

have continued to call/email around, and people are starting to tell me.

My issue now is that the cheapest service I am being offered is £365.00 and the most expensive is nearly £560.00

This is disgraceful, and I am going to ask Skoda to explain why, as the whole service only takes 3 hours. is there that much difference in hourly rates?

There can be that much differance in hourly rates and im sure the hourly rate has nothing at all to do with Skoda uk.

iirc a dsg service is around £120-150 and a service is around £150.

I wouldn't trust anything a dealer says. They only seem to be interested in selling you cambelts that you don't need at 4 years even though there is no age limit on them anymore.

Go by the service book you got with your car and failing that SUK.

40k is the service interval for a DSG box. My next service will be at about 37k and i will just get the dsg done at the same time (and before the warranty expires!)

I wouldn't trust anything a dealer says. They only seem to be interested in selling you cambelts that you don't need at 4 years even though there is no age limit on them anymore.

Rubbish, there is a four year limit on all cambelts, I have the latest document printed off desktop in front of me.

Rubbish, there is a four year limit on all cambelts, I have the latest document printed off desktop in front of me.

So my service book and SUK are wrong then?

Time and time again this is covered and everytime somebody contacts SUK or actual Czech Skoda the answer is the same - no time limit.

I am sure my last car(Jetta with 6 speed DSG) book recommended gearbox service at about 37,000 miles.

I bought my Octavia (manual)with a 3 years service plan for about £320.

So my service book and SUK are wrong then?

Time and time again this is covered and everytime somebody contacts SUK or actual Czech Skoda the answer is the same - no time limit.

Seeing as it's Skoda UK who have supplied us with the technical data sheet then it's say there is a mix up somewhere along the line. Czech Skoda may say different but being as your warranty etc is with a UK car, car is a UK model it should be serviced to UK guidelines. Sadly I'm not allowed to publish the document I have from desktop, it shows all engines and all models, when the cam belts should be changed etc, all now say four years on them. I've also just done the service and repair procedures course at Skodas training facility in MK where I got this info so I would think it's pretty fair to say it's accurate.

Seeing as it's Skoda UK who have supplied us with the technical data sheet then it's say there is a mix up somewhere along the line. Czech Skoda may say different but being as your warranty etc is with a UK car, car is a UK model it should be serviced to UK guidelines. Sadly I'm not allowed to publish the document I have from desktop, it shows all engines and all models, when the cam belts should be changed etc, all now say four years on them. I've also just done the service and repair procedures course at Skodas training facility in MK where I got this info so I would think it's pretty fair to say it's accurate.

Amazing that VAG use different Cambelts to the rest of the world then. You would have thought they would have been the same ones. Seems to me that VAG UK are on to a good thing with the 4yr cambelt replacement. Yet other parts of the world (USA for example which has all extremes of temp) don't have a 'use by' date. :wonder:

To be honest it's up to you isn't it, it's only a recommendation, at four years it's out of warranty anyhow so don't change it, if it breaks then you have to pay either way.

Check the Octavia 2 section, chap with a vRS has just had one snap and it's taken all the valves out and that was just over four years and under mileage.

To be honest it's up to you isn't it, it's only a recommendation...

Actually, I would say it rather more than just a recommendation as SUK stand behind that advice. There is one thread on here and I know of another case, where SUK have picked up the tab when customers were not advised of the 4-year interval and the belt has snapped.

Let's be honest. There is no technical reason to have a 4-year change interval, but SUK will not pay goodwill on belt changes after 4 years where the advise is not followed.

Like it or not - this is how it is. If you ignore the advice and the belt snaps you are on your own.

To be honest it's up to you isn't it, it's only a recommendation, at four years it's out of warranty anyhow so don't change it, if it breaks then you have to pay either way.

Check the Octavia 2 section, chap with a vRS has just had one snap and it's taken all the valves out and that was just over four years and under mileage.

Not really up to me, It is clearly stated in the book. If mine went before the mileage i would see them in court.

I am in no way having a go at you, i am just gobsmacked at the amount of mis-information that goes on from dealers.

Out of warranty is neither here nor there. In the eyes of the law, the service book states that it should last at least 180000km or whatever the book says. If it goes prior to that, then under the Sales of Goods Act SUK would be deemed liable. If they have notified you by an official letter to replace or supplement your service book then this is fine. A Letter/offer/promotion from the dealer does not suffice in this case as it that is a sales tactic rather than a bulletin/supplement.

I think it is about time we had a clear definition on this. Also the dealers need to be more knowledgeable on what needs to be done and when on their cars. I had the same situation with my PD130 Bora. 80k the book said, some dealers said 40k and others 60k and 4 years. No-one seems to have a clue. I got it done at 80k and 6 years no problem.

Do you have the link to the cambelt snapping, can't seem to find it!

There is a footnote in the book that information contained within is subject to change and you should check with dealer for current and up to date info or something of that nature, wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Do you have the link to the cambelt snapping, can't seem to find it!

Its in the maintenance & performance section(dont know how to do a link!) it was a 56 plate vrs with 40k on it when the belt failed.

Sadly I'm not allowed to publish the document I have from desktop, it shows all engines and all models, when the cam belts should be changed etc, all now say four years on them.

How about a 'stickie' for the mileage that Skoda currently recommend each engine type should have the belt changed, as I know VAG/Skoda change the intervals every now and then, so it would be good to keep the members up to date on the current recommendations.

Would that be possible?

Technically no, I've been burnt many times on this as Skoda see it as me undermining them. The only way to check is to call your dealer with your chassis number and get them to check.

That's what I thought would be the case

It's a pity though as it could actually be financially beneficial for the dealers, but I am aware of your previous comments regarding your past 'run-ins' hence the question to see whether it was possible, obviously it wouldn't be an issue for someone not employed by Skoda, but you need to look after your own interests first .

Well technically I am not employed by Skoda, but I am privy to sensitive material etc. The main issue as soon as I type something and commit to print as such it's out of date and subject to change, much the same as your service book.

Agree with all the comments here about the dealers often being clueless. My experiences have been awful, if I didn't love the octy I would not buy it just because of the dealers.

I guess it's because most of them don't give a f**k. If I was like that I would be out of a job. But I guess that's where the difference in salary comes in. Rant over.

iirc a dsg service is around £120-150 and a service is around £150.

My local independent charged £125 for a DSG service, with the oil/filter being most of that.

Technically no, I've been burnt many times on this as Skoda see it as me undermining them. The only way to check is to call your dealer with your chassis number and get them to check.

Mmmm sound advice.... except that I've phoned 2 local dealers, given them my vehicle details, and got 2 different answers.

Not impressed.

This is replicated by the brake fluid change periods. Some say every 2 years come what may, others every 2 years except for 3 years before the FIRST change.

Not impressed x 2

Edited 21 September, 201114 yr by Minimoke

Brake fluid has changed from A chassis vehicles to 3 years for the first change and 2 years thereafter.

As for the difference between dealers I'd bet it would be some quoting from menu pricing and some from ELSA. It's crap we have two systems that quite often conflict, add to the fact service advisors are usually paid peanuts and thus don't care it's understandable.