Again, apologies if this has ever been covered elsewhere... again, I did look...

 

Dealership made a noise about charging half-an-hour's labour to set up MaxiDot settings and other settings (through diagnostics, VCDS or whatever they use) during PDI when Yeti arrives in a couple of weeks. That's going to be an interesting conversation when crunch time comes, particularly as they know they are going to be supplying and fitting various other dealer-fit items including underseat drawers. 

 

Are there any precedents for this and what was the outcome?

 

In the meantime, I'm still trying to get a definitive list of non-Maxidot settings (such as headlamp wash-wipe delays and so on) out of SUK so as to be able to tell the dealership what I'd like set up. And yes, the posts on Briskoda have been very helpful as a starter...

 

As I recall, Franz Kafka came from what is now the Czech republic and I'm sure he'd love the emerging Kafkaesque impasse: dealer says tell us what you would like us to set up during PDI (BTW, we'll charge you £45); SUK says (so far, but a nice man from Mr Stewart's office is on the case) that the factory almost certainly won't give out this ECU information because it is 'proprietary'. Aaargh.

 

Any suggestions? TIA

Tom,

Tell em to stick it and then have a look here....

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262215-list-of-vcds-owners-previously-known-as-vag-com/

Pick the one nearest and PM them.

All it'll cost you is the fuel to get there and a pint or two.

The bonus is you get to meet another Brisky member and you know it has all been done as you asked.

Not a very nice dealer if you ask me!

The setting up of the vehicle systems, including the Maxidot settings, is included in the list of items they MUST do on PDI. Most dealers will only check that it is set to the factory default settings, but a good dealer should ask you what settings you want and do them for you FREELY!!

A really good one will do it with you on the handover............................

 

Changes to the VCDS system is moving into a grey area; some will but most seem to refuse. It should be noted that the dealer system actually isn't as good for doing alterations as an independent VCDS owner.

Name and shame?

You might want to leave this until after delivery.....but I would not be happy with this attitude

Mine took it upon themselves to use the PDI to change the service interval from variable (which I would have been happy with) to fixed which obviously gives them a bit more income from servicing without actually telling  or asking me.Thank you and goodbye Arnold Clark.

Henry's in Glasgow set up my 2.0 Elegance as part of PDI. Mainly factory settings - only one I changed was auto door locking when moving away (turned on). Service interval selected for annual as projected lowish mileage (A. Clark didn't ask for Golf and interestingly service countdown was 750 miles different from odometer. Another A Clark trick is to charge for diagnostics even when under warranty - beware of that one.

 

Dealer really should not charge to set up for you.

 

 

I would do three things.

 

1. Name and shame.

2. Tell them it will effect the score you give them whan Skoda contact you about customer satisfaction. (dealers hate this as it effects their ranking in the UK)

3. if that fails, complain to Skoda UK.

UNLESS.... PenTom you asked them to do a whole list of things (that you might have seen on Briskoda as done by other members) that they do NOT do for a normal PDI?  You did not really say.  If you did, then yes they can charge time for sure, since they do not normally do that sort of thing and ten to one do not know where it will be in their computer to do it quickly.

 

If however you just inquired about this and this will just be the normal setting up of the car's software, then no, they should not charge you.  Anything over and above that I think is fair enough to be charged for.

Hi guys

 

Thank you for the feedback and wise words Johann. As you'll read in a minute, you and I must be on the same wavelength (probably scarier for you than for me... ).

 

Without going into the exact timings and requests, this didn't come from, shall I say, the main sales and business teams and the person who wrote it in an email is working very hard to look after everything for us. At the time I had mentioned a couple of non-Maxi-dot items and asked about the options that could be set. A short list came back (mainly Maxi-dot but including headlamp washer timings). That was when the half-hour of labour was mentioned.

 

Based on their suggestions and other things I have discovered. I have since prepared a longer list including Maxi-dot, ECU/diagnostic settings and various other things to do and not do pre collection. As Ottie arrived at the dealer's yesterday, the dealership has kicked into action and I can feel the buzz of activity from 90-odd miles away. I believe my list is now being worked on by the After-sales team – it includes a column flagging up particular items that I will be taken into account when considering the difference between a good and excellent rating..

 

I'm hoping that everything will get done and I won't be asked for the half-hour's labour. If it comes up I shall very nicely ask whether it could be waived.

But, I actually agree with you about the non-Maxi-dot stuff and, at the end of the day, I would, if I have to, pay the £45 (for exactly the reason you mentioned) to get my wish list of settings done.

 

In fact, said dealer has been very good. I got a great price and they are doing all the right things. Ottie is now being referred to by name in emails and (touch wood) they are on-track for a 5* Excellent rating.

 

I'm not mentioning names at this stage, but if they go on as they are now, there is going to be a glowing report in the dealer recommendation section once Ottie is home next Friday! As our collection trip will be by train (and the dealership has already offered free collection from the station), it may not be quite as exciting as MarieK's recent epic...I'll try my best though...

 

Let's see what happens. I can hardly type straight for the excitement and heavy workload this week. Only eight sleeps to go...

 

It's all going to work out fine. I can tell.

The setting up of the vehicle systems, including the Maxidot settings, is included in the list of items they MUST do on PDI. Most dealers will only check that it is set to the factory default settings, but a good dealer should ask you what settings you want and do them for you FREELY!!

A really good one will do it with you on the handover............................

 

Changes to the VCDS system is moving into a grey area; some will but most seem to refuse. It should be noted that the dealer system actually isn't as good for doing alterations as an independent VCDS owner.

The big problem has been finding out what the settings are (beyond the ones listed under Maxi-dot in the vehicle manual). SUK haven't been wonderful... it's been a bit painful but I think I have now got to pretty much what I want done. We''l see.

Hi guys

 

Thank you for the feedback and wise words Johann. As you'll read in a minute, you and I must be on the same wavelength (probably scarier for you than for me... ).

 

Without going into the exact timings and requests, this didn't come from, shall I say, the main sales and business teams and the person who wrote it in an email is working very hard to look after everything for us. At the time I had mentioned a couple of non-Maxi-dot items and asked about the options that could be set. A short list came back (mainly Maxi-dot but including headlamp washer timings). That was when the half-hour of labour was mentioned.

 

Based on their suggestions and other things I have discovered. I have since prepared a longer list including Maxi-dot, ECU/diagnostic settings and various other things to do and not do pre collection. As Ottie arrived at the dealer's yesterday, the dealership has kicked into action and I can feel the buzz of activity from 90-odd miles away. I believe my list is now being worked on by the After-sales team – it includes a column flagging up particular items that I will be taken into account when considering the difference between a good and excellent rating..

 

I'm hoping that everything will get done and I won't be asked for the half-hour's labour. If it comes up I shall very nicely ask whether it could be waived.

But, I actually agree with you about the non-Maxi-dot stuff and, at the end of the day, I would, if I have to, pay the £45 (for exactly the reason you mentioned) to get my wish list of settings done.

 

In fact, said dealer has been very good. I got a great price and they are doing all the right things. Ottie is now being referred to by name in emails and (touch wood) they are on-track for a 5* Excellent rating.

 

I'm not mentioning names at this stage, but if they go on as they are now, there is going to be a glowing report in the dealer recommendation section once Ottie is home next Friday! As our collection trip will be by train (and the dealership has already offered free collection from the station), it may not be quite as exciting as MarieK's recent epic...I'll try my best though...

 

Let's see what happens. I can hardly type straight for the excitement and heavy workload this week. Only eight sleeps to go...

 

It's all going to work out fine. I can tell.

I just read this. OMG! You wouldn't think I write for a living would you. My brain is like cheese at the moment... 

I've now got a good idea which dealer it is.

I've now got a good idea which dealer it is.

Is it the 80 miles that gave it away? 

Is it the 80 miles that gave it away? 

Or even the 90 miles...

Well I hope so, but my "thought" will have to wait until you've collected it.

Well I hope so, but my "thought" will have to wait until you've collected it.

Appreciated. Could be that's three beers you'll be getting when we eventually meet!

Appreciated. Could be that's three beers you'll be getting when we eventually meet!

Handy tool for radii from UK postcodes – http://www.freemaptools.com/radius-from-uk-postcode.htm

The dealer should have a sheet (provided by Skoda iirc) that lists the options available that can be set up at PDi using the diagnostic machine. The salesperson should go through this sheet with the customer and tick what you want activating etc at point of sale. That sheet gets added to the job card and then the technician gets it when he is carrying out the PDi.

 

15 years in dealers, think i had about three sheets, gave up banging on about them years ago..lol

The dealer should have a sheet (provided by Skoda iirc) that lists the options available that can be set up at PDi using the diagnostic machine. The salesperson should go through this sheet with the customer and tick what you want activating etc at point of sale. That sheet gets added to the job card and then the technician gets it when he is carrying out the PDi.

 

15 years in dealers, think i had about three sheets, gave up banging on about them years ago..lol

That is very helpful. Thank you. 

If your dealer falls short on your expectations and wishes to charge you then tell them to poke it, come along to the national meet next weekend at Gaydon and myself or someone else who is taking VCDS along will gladly set the car up for you.

All worked out fine. Any charge for setting up Ottie wasn't ever mentioned again by me or the dealership and they (Heritage Yeovil) were brilliant. Couldn't have done more; worked like Trojans to do what I wanted and accommodate our wishes including pics and video of Ottie coming off the transporter and other lovely details that made collection day memorable. Based on our experience, I'd definitely recommend them – and they did us a very good deal. All in all, happy bunnies!

 

Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions on this one.

Can we see Ottie coming off the transporter?

Can we see Ottie coming off the transporter?

Oops! That went wrong... Try again...