Took my VRS for it's second service (20k annual) today. I live in Cambridge and bought the car new last year at the local dealership.

Originally rang them and they said £180 for service and oil change, but would require brake service at 2 years (additional £50?). Decided compare another local dealer who said service would require strip down of brakes and pollen filter at £215 all in.

Decided to give them a go and asked them to check minor niggles with clutch, gearchange and boost pressure (remapped) and to activate cornering fogs.

Picked up car at lunchtime to hear that no faults found and no brake fluid or pollen filter replaced as apparently not required despite previous phone call. To add insult to injury another £30 was added for the checks requested (non-warranty work) and official Skoda software cannot activate cornering fogs on the Octavia! So I am £250 down for what was essentially an oil and inspection service.

Does this sound right? Was all the correct work done? AND is there anyone in the Cambridge area with VCDS software able to help me enable the cornering fogs?

Funny thing was that I was going to take this opportunity to ask about trade in values against a new Yeti but in the end just decided to cut my losses.

You should have an itemised bill, best to post a copy up of it. Dealer costs vary around the country with differing labour rates. However a pollen change is every two years and brake fluid is every 3. There is no "strip down" of brakes as there is nothing to strip down! Never heard of this on a modern car.

Corner fogs can be done by dealers (I had mine done before VCDS) but it depends if they know what there doing. Did they tell you about the increase cost before? If there is additional cost they should contact you first, given its a standard routine thing its menu pricing.

OK. Not sure how good the picture is, but this was the itemised bill. http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h352/clarkyboy70/?action=view&current=c8d44d5f.jpg

Noticed I was charged for 'long life' oil at nearly £50 too despite this being an annual service schedule.

Dealer stated that VCDS could make alterations to coding that they could not do with official software? All I wanted was the cornering fogs set up.

Looks ok except: Why have they charged you to inspect the turbo, if the car is under 3 years old!

What's the charge for fuel??!

Might be worth asking why they've not checked and filled in the tyre tread and pressures on the invoice

Ask for the service tick sheet!

Tell them you know of others that have had the dealers activate fogs on corner.

Keep us posted!

Apparently the turbo check was in addition to the standard service and something I specifically requested as I felt the car was not making the power it should. TBH I was surprised this was charged as an extra item.

I told the mechanic that many others had activated their cornering foglights, but they insisted that this was something the dealer software would not allow to be done!

You're in the Cambridge area - which dealer did you go to if I may ask?

I thought it was drum brakes that needed the occasional strip and clean to stop them binding?

And you ain't got them.

I thought brake fluid change was every 2yr?

I doubt you'll get anywhere complaining unless they've done something critically wrong. Best to vote with your feet and not go back.

This was supposed to be the 2 year/20k service and I was expecting a brake fluid change and new pollen filter based on the phone conversation I had beforehand.

The garage was ALS Autos at Little Downham.

More to the point I still don't have cornering foglights. What is a man to do when his functionality is compromised!

pollen filter takes 5 mins to do. find a local vcds owner and send that bill to skoda for your 30 quid!

I told the mechanic that many others had activated their cornering foglights, but they insisted that this was something the dealer software would not allow to be done!

To be fair I have heard a lot of people talk about activating cornering fogs with their own VCDS cable/software, however maybe the dealer is correct, maybe their software simply isn't set-up to allow them to make the change on certain vehicles?

I gave my dealer a long list of things I wanted changing when I picked up the car (activation of hazards under emergency braking, second rear fog light, auto-lock over 5mph, one key fob button press to open all doors, coming/leaving home headlights turning off and cornering fog lights turning on.

They managed everything except the cornering fogs claiming it couldn't be done.

The dealer did my corners, but told me its impossible to have them as CH/LH as well.... I done it myself with VCDS!

All that probably took about 2hrs MAX around £80 an hour labour good lord nearly BMW prices at £95 an hour!

bugs me that they put in screenwash when you probably didnt need it.

To be fair the mechanic was pleasant and did take time to talk about what he had done He said they couldn't change the long coding when I asked about the cornering fogs.

I did question the cost and why the work I was quoted was different to that carried out. They said they would email but nothing received yet.

I would feel a lot better about this if I could find someone in the Cambridge are with VCDS! Anyone?

Have you paid them for this work? I hope not, as they've gone ahead with extra work that's not authorised, as they've not checked with the customer before carrying on. If deviation was required from the original quote, then you should have been contacted.

As for VCDS, check the members map, in the VCDS section.

If in cambridge, what was wrong with Vindis on Cowley Park?

Not sure why you went for the more expensive option over your supplying dealer. The brakes would have been looked at anyway! As supplying dealer they'll have likely checked your turbo for free as well.

I'd take up this charge with the dealer, and if no joy direct with Skoda.

+1 on the fuel charge. Was this for a loan car?

Yes. Fuel charge was for a loan car.

Vindis essentially said they would do an oil and inspection service at 20k, but more work (brake fluid) would be required in a few months when the car was 2 years old. ALS seemed to be saying they would cover everything for £215. I also thought it was an opportunity to compare the service of both my local dealers so decided to go with ALS.

To their credit they sent me an email yesterday confirming that they had incorrectly told me the service included a pollen filter. They offered me a free filter and mini valet when It is due (40,000).

I've now just asked them to confirm exactly what work is required at the 20000/2year service and when the brake fluid will need to be changed.

This is still rumbling on.

Apparently the dealer assumed it was on variable servicing despite me requesting a second annual 10k service when booking the car in and when dropping it off. The stamp from the first service was also in the service book! Looks like they decided to carry out a first variable service instead.

Got no idea where this leaves me as they seem to think its no big deal.

Latest response from ALS Autos copied below:

Good Afternoon Jonathan

I have had several conversations with my Master Technician who has explained to me and in turn i will try to explain to you.

All Skoda Octavia models from the factory are set on Variable servicing regime, it is upto the dealer who sells the car to you the customer to explain the benefits and downfalls of variable servicing and qualify which one you need.

1. If a car is set to variable servicing the 1st service is 20,000 miles or 2 years which ever comes first, variable oil would be used on this service.

2. 10,000 miles or annual servicing which ever comes first uses Quantum Platinum oil .

As we did not supply the vehicle we took the car to be on standard variable servicing which is the norm for an Octavia. Pollen filters should be changed at 40,000 miles as per the service schedule. As i have already said in an earlier email i will fit a pollen filter on your next service Free of charge as you were quoted for it and it was not fitted as the young lady on reception made an error in quotation.

Regarding the turbo assessment charge of £30 i explained this also in my earlier email to you and i feel there is not much i can do about this.

To move this along what would you like me to do to help further.

Yours

Is yours petrol? for me, quoted £180 for my second service. pollen done by me so knocked tenna off. brake fluid at 3 years then every 2 for my chassis. for me fixed or variable is the same cost/oil.

Do as I do, your own servicing.

Get your 4 filters Fuel/Air/Pollen/ Oil and engine oil from E-Bay.

White grease,DOT4 brake fluid 1 litre, with auto-bleed system, gearbox,steering box oil from local car factor shop.

Get a couple of specialist tools, from E-Bay or factor shop.

A good trolley jack preferably two axle stands.

You are now ready to do a very thorough service yourself and save a bomb in labour and queries whether was this or that done.

Keep all your receipts for future proof if selling at a later date, just as impressive as a half baked service sheet being signed, I know.

Remember you haven't got to do it all in one day, but over several days, as I do.

Just had my 2nd service (fixed schedule) at main dealer. Car is 2 years and on 10k . Service was Quantum Platinum oil and filter. Pollen filter and brake fluid change. Came to £238. Did not include screen wash as requested.

Do as I do, your own servicing.

Get your 4 filters Fuel/Air/Pollen/ Oil and engine oil from E-Bay.

White grease,DOT4 brake fluid 1 litre, with auto-bleed system, gearbox,steering box oil from local car factor shop.

Get a couple of specialist tools, from E-Bay or factor shop.

A good trolley jack preferably two axle stands.

You are now ready to do a very thorough service yourself and save a bomb in labour and queries whether was this or that done.

Keep all your receipts for future proof if selling at a later date, just as impressive as a half baked service sheet being signed, I know.

Remember you haven't got to do it all in one day, but over several days, as I do.

But void your warranty in the process. :'(

Do as I do, your own servicing.

Get your 4 filters Fuel/Air/Pollen/ Oil and engine oil from E-Bay.

White grease,DOT4 brake fluid 1 litre, with auto-bleed system, gearbox,steering box oil from local car factor shop.

Get a couple of specialist tools, from E-Bay or factor shop.

A good trolley jack preferably two axle stands.

You are now ready to do a very thorough service yourself and save a bomb in labour and queries whether was this or that done.

Keep all your receipts for future proof if selling at a later date, just as impressive as a half baked service sheet being signed, I know.

Remember you haven't got to do it all in one day, but over several days, as I do.

Bottom line - new cars, still in warranty are worth less without a service history.

Be that main dealer or independant - without those official stamps the cars value will drop.

Add-in that part of the warranty conditions are that the service is in line with Skoda recommendations - again, I'd hate to be in a 2 year old car with something failed and all I've got in my service book is nothing but a few receipts to show what I bought.

I can service a car - I trained as a car mechanic and my first cars, all old I'd regularly do them.

These days I personally value the warranty and future resale on my vehicles.

To their credit they sent me an email yesterday confirming that they had incorrectly told me the service included a pollen filter. They offered me a free filter and mini valet when It is due (40,000).

......hmmm, but only if you take it back to them I would assume, thus ensuring that there'll be another bunch of "extras" that'll be requried :giggle:

Not the gesture of goodwill I'd be looking for....

Off topic - does Kelvin still work at ALS?

I can understand the £30 diagnostic charge, you have asked them to look at a boost issue on a remapped car, this wouldn't be covered by warranty so you would have to pay.