Apologies for writing this all on one line but the return key doesn't seem to be working in this window (it does everywhere else...). We're coming up for 20k in our VRS and the servicing light has just popped on (we're on variable). Do we have to have the 1 year service or can we skip to the 2 year? Also, has Skoda resurrected any of its good servicing deals? I recall that a couple of xmases ago they were giving out vouchers with the fixed plans. Again, sorry for the lack of spacing but nowt I can do about it! cheers Chris.

The choice is yours.

1) Fixed - 10,000 miles or one year - whichever is reached first.

2) Variable - up to 2 years or 20,000 miles - the car monitors certain parameters and decides when it wants a service.

The fixed regime is recommended for those who drive no more than 10,000 miles per year or those who mainly cover short distances.

Variable is better suited to those who cover longer journey's and cover higher mileages with less stop/start or city driving.

I'm not aware of any servicing deals at the moment (apart from those offered on new Skoda's sold on finance), however dealers often do their own schemes (which in my experience rarely offer much of a saving).

A fixed service should never cost you more than £129 from a Skoda main dealer.

A variable service should never cost more than £249.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/owners/national-pricing/pages/servicing.aspx

The variable service is too much in my opinion, for the extra £120 all you get is a fuel filter (£20) and an air filter (£18) and a couple of extra visual checks.

I ask my dealer to do the fixed service but set the service indicator to variable. I then pay them extra to replace the air and fuel filter (£70), so get a variable and a stamp in the book for £200.

I'm not aware of any servicing deals at the moment (apart from those offered on new Skoda's sold on finance), however dealers often do their own schemes (which in my experience rarely offer much of a saving).

A fixed service should never cost you more than £129 from a Skoda main dealer.

A variable service should never cost more than £249.

http://www.skoda.co..../servicing.aspx

The variable service is too much in my opinion, for the extra £120 all you get is a fuel filter (£20) and an air filter (£18) and a couple of extra visual checks.

I ask my dealer to do the fixed service but set the service indicator to variable. I then pay them extra to replace the air and fuel filter (£70), so get a variable and a stamp in the book for £200.

This is a brill piece of info- what it suggests is that you don't really save anything by going for the variable service, i.e. 2 x fixed service = £258 but for that you get 2 oil and filter changes not 1 and it's the same oil too, or am I missing something- I'm on the fixed plan "free for 3 years" deal as I do less then 10k so it doesn't effect me but others may be interested.

In my opinion you'd be mad to pay £249 (or more for that matter!) for a variable service.

Take a look at the link I posted earlier in this thread and look at the physical differences between the minor (fixed) and major (variable) services.

The laughable bit is the extra physical checks they claim to make on the variable service. My dealer fall over themselves to check every inch of the car regardless of which service you are in for in the vague hope they'll find something that they can ring you up over to ask if you want it fixing - brakes, tyres etc. etc.

I've started using Pulman VW (approved Skoda franchise for servicing only) in Durham as I lost faith in DM Keith in York after they messed up the injector recall.

Looking on their website I had to chuckle to myself.

http://www.pulmanservicing.co.uk/fixed-skoda-servicing-north-east.php

I wonder who pays the £189 for the interim service? The only difference between the interim and the minor service (£129) is the pollen filter. That's £60 for an £8 pollen filter!

You also have to be on your toes. The minor service on 'Skoda's National Pricing' includes the pollen filter, the minor service listed on Pulmans website doesn't include it. When I questioned them they said they'd do it for £129, but I wonder how many people pay extra for it!?

Thanks for all the info guys - it's certainly food for thought. We've still got 500 miles before the countdown runs out (and the wheels fall off ) so there's time to mull over the above wisdom!

Bloody hell. I do less than 5,000 miles per year and was told to keep on variable.

£129 for an oil and filter change essentially!!! Wow nearly Bmw prices!

Bloody hell. I do less than 5,000 miles per year and was told to keep on variable.

Your unlikely to reach the mileage limit (20,000) but will instead hit the maximum time instead (2 years).

It's all down to personal choice and how much you think 2 year old oil will protect your engine.

At £249 for a variable service every two years you might as well get two oil changes for the same price (2x £129 fixed services = £260) and know you are getting fresh oil at least once a year.

Bloody hell. I do less than 5,000 miles per year and was told to keep on variable.

look in the brochure mate- page 35. for less than 10k per annum they recommend fixed servicing. which idiot told you to do that! doing your miles the oil gets more crap in it so best change annually- makes me smile when people pay loads out for a car then skimp on servicing it (a comment NOT made at you!) they use the same oil both fixed and variable too, which reinforces my view somewhat don't you think

See both me and silver 1011 think alike on this you'll not save anything either from his excellent research

£129 for an oil and filter change essentially!!! Wow nearly Bmw prices!

Yep, £129 still isn't what you'd call good value, especially when you can get 5 litres of Quantum (the same oil used by Skoda) for £40 (delivered to your door) and £8 for an oil filter.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5W30-QUANTUM-ENGINE-OIL-5-LITRES-/271107513750?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f1f445d96

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-SEAT-OIL-FILTER-SUMP-PLUG-071115562C-N90813202-/320844808815?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3AOctavia&hash=item4ab3d7426f

Yep, £129 still isn't what you'd call good value, especially when you can get 5 litres of Quantum (the same oil used by Skoda) for £40 (delivered to your door) and £8 for an oil filter.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5W30-QUANTUM-ENGINE-OIL-5-LITRES-/271107513750?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f1f445d96

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SKODA-SEAT-OIL-FILTER-SUMP-PLUG-071115562C-N90813202-/320844808815?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3AOctavia&hash=item4ab3d7426f

yeh exactly although i would usually do it my self if your fixed service falls near winter.... Its a small price to pay for someone else to get ther hands cold and dirty lol.

and £8 for an oil filter.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4ab3d7426f

Oil filter genuine - £3.90 delivered

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oil-Filter-1-9-TDI-2-0-TDI-/261127017173?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3ccc6212d5

Bloody hell. I do less than 5,000 miles per year and was told to keep on variable.

Me too. Told them I would be doing about 7k per year and was recommended variable. :(

From brochure:

Fixed regime: Service every 10,000 miles or one year (whichever comes first).

This is recommended if the vehicle is likely to be used in the following way:

> Driven fewer than 10,000 miles per annum and/or

> Mainly short journeys, drive mostly in towns or cities and/or

> High vehicle loading/towing and frequent hill climbs and/or

> Heavy accelerating and braking, using high revs

Flexible regime: Sensors in the engine detect when a service is needed. You will

be informed of this by a service light which will show at any point between 9,000

and 20,000 miles, up to 24 months (whichever comes first).

The flexible service regime is recommended for vehicles with a daily mileage of

more than 25 miles where the vehicle is driven regularly and mainly at a constant

speed with minimum vehicle and engine loading, minimal towing and driven in an

economical manner.

I just had mine changed from variable to fixed as I do less than 3k a year.

Edited 26 November, 201213 yr by Ultima

It's usually the other way around, the dealers trying to get you onto fixed and off variable as this often generates them additional business through the increased servicing!

Hmm, this is all very intriguing!

I don't mind getting my hands mucky for changing oil and the filter (which I'm guessing is a reasonably simple procedure unless things have changed significantly since the days of my old Fiat 127 (Ah, memories :'( ). But I'd not have a scoobie as to the state of my brakes (although I do have hydraulic brakes on the bike I guess it's not quite the same ).

Since I'm intending keeping the car until the wheels fall off (200k plus and then some judging by other threads here) will a dealer pour in new oil and pop in a new filter in any more efficient a manner then I could?

Oh - and how would I let the car know that I'd done this :-/ ?

Edited 26 November, 201213 yr by orafus

Do all VAG cars start life with variable service or is this a Skoda thing? On a more practical note, will I have to pay to have the car changed from variable to fixed (I don't have maxidot).

It is possible for you to change the car from variable to fixed yourself. Simply following the procedure for resetting the service indicator in the owners manual will do this.

However, what you can't do yourself is change from fixed back to variable. To do this you need to plug the car in, which means finding a member with a laptop, cable and VCDS or getting the dealer to do it (which they'll be reluctant to do, especially if you haven't had them carry out the service).

Hmm, this is all very intriguing!

I don't mind getting my hands mucky for changing oil and the filter (which I'm guessing is a reasonably simple procedure unless things have changed significantly since the days of my old Fiat 127 (Ah, memories :'( ). But I'd not have a scoobie as to the state of my brakes (although I do have hydraulic brakes on the bike I guess it's not quite the same ).

Since I'm intending keeping the car until the wheels fall off (200k plus and then some judging by other threads here) will a dealer pour in new oil and pop in a new filter in any more efficient a manner then I could?

Oh - and how would I let the car know that I'd done this :-/ ?

An oil change is quite straight forward. The longest/hardest part is jacking up the car and removing the large plastic undertray from below the engine bay to access the sump plug.

Most Skoda dealers now use a special pump/vacuum to suck out the oil through the top of the engine. There has been lots of debate on this, but my preference is through the sump plug as I believe you have an increased change of removing any sludge/debris. Get the engine nice and hot to ensure the oil has collected up all the nasty bits and drop it out of the lowest point in the engine.

It is also recommended you replace the sump plug each time it is removed too, rather than the older method of simply renewing a copper washer.

The oil filter is slightly different too, unlike the metal threaded filters, the Octavia has a paper filter that sits in a plastic housing. You'll therefore need a new rubber seal to replace in the lid at the same time.

Make sure the oil you use has VW 507.00 listed in the specifications on the container. All diesel Octavia's with DPF's (Diesel PArticulate Filters) need this long life, low ash oil regardless of if it is on a fixed or variable service. Some dealers still try and use the fact that the variable services are more expensive becuase of this long life oil. They are wrong, they are either over charging you or they are using the wrong oil for their fixed services.