Hi all,

My car is16 months old and just clocked 18,500 miles, and the in-car computer suggested a service. Duly booked in and since performed (very, very poorly - shame on you Westover Group! But that's another story.)

Anyway, I was told that my car should be on fixed life servicing rather than variable which is only available on newer Fabias. My supplying dealer (Doncaster) told me it was on variable when I picked it up - it's a CAVE engine BTW.

Does anyone with a car of similar age (September 2012, 62 plate) have variable servicing on their car?

Sounds like a dealer that wants you to have more services

Ask the dealer again, depends on the Build Date, but your car if a CAVE engine was built before the CTHE engines were fitted late Sept/Oct 2012.

 

Anyway they had Cars with the Variable Servicing Code and yours appears to have been one.

**No big issue really if the car has not been an oil user and has performed OK.*

There are others With CAVE engines that do High Miles that have been on Variable Servicing without issues.**

 

So has your car just had a Minor Service or a Major Service?

About £130, or something crazy like £230?

Have they changed the Pollen Filter?

 

Fixed Servicing,  Oil & Filter & Fluids, = 'Minor Service'  Normally 12 months/10,000 miles, (9,400 miles actually)  Major Service

@ 24 months/20,000 miles.

 

Look in the Service Book & see the Service Code on it.

(i will post a poor picture of where it is.)

 

?? So Have you owned the car from new, do you have a Service Plan.??

I take it that the Service Light never showed after 9,400 miles or 372 days, so it was set for Variable Servicing.

& has duly indicated an Oil & Filter change was required.

So I've just looked in the service book. Written in it states that the first service should be 10000 miles or 29/8/2013 rather than what the car computer stated. So this doesn't match.

However, the service code - The QI number, which states Variable Service interval QI6. So even that doesn't match either!!!!!

Bottom line is; it's had a 1st variable service at 18.5k miles and long life oil put in. So good for another 18-19k miles.

The gripe I had with the servicing dealer is that they gave me a price for a 1st service and then rang me to say that they should've priced for a variable service. I wanted what I'd booked (I did it online stating 1st service at 18.5k miles and they priced accordingly) & shouldn't have to tell them what service it requires - I assumed they can work that out from the mileage. They then rang me after the work had been done to say if I wanted the variable service it would be nearly twice the price and they'd already put non-long life oil into the car.

Never, ever going to Westover Poole ever again.

No the Q1 means that Skoda had it as Suitable for Variable (Flexible Servicing.)

But really you are not doing high Miles and the car is better looked at annually if you are not doing checks on brake pads, discs etc.

 

What a Dealership, or Technician Writes in a they Fill in the Book and First Service in 12 Months or 9,400 or 10,000 miles is often a mistake.

This is these peoples full time jobs, some think a profession.

Why are they so hopeless at it?

 

I can tell you the prices to the penny,

For Minor or Major Services.  I have Invoices here if you want to confirm prices.

 

Since your car is near 2 years old and never had a 'Service' as in a proper check over, i would expect to pay for an

'Inspection Service'/ Major Service..

If you leave it for another 18,000-18,500 miles then thats maybe MOT time, it will possibly need brake Fluid Changed, 

Spark Plugs certainly checked. (not left till 40,000 miles)

Yet normally the 3 Year/30,000 mile Service on Fixed Servicing is a 'Minor Service'.

 

?? How much did they charge you,

Less than these prices i hope!

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/national-pricing/servicing

 

EDIT, they nearly all put Long Life Oil in Fixed Servicing or Variable, they leave the Factory with Long Life Oil what ever the Service Interval,, the cost difference is nothing,

so that should not bump the bill.

3.6 Litres Long Life £25.92

Oil Filter £7.79

Sump Plug £1.70

Screen Wash £3.54

Pollen Filter £11.00   Then the VAT @ 20%

I paid £215 for the 20,000 mile service.

They originally quoted me £135 which is more that the £129 in your link. I really should shop around more :-) My next service will be at an independent unless there are some warranty issues which need looking at before it expires.

Thats a fair price if theirs is a High Hourly Rate.

The Service Reception messed up and could have discounted that for their error.

 

You can have it serviced with the correct parts at any VAT Registered Workshop.

BUT,

was your car on the Diagnostics, did it require a ECU Update?   Have you received a Full Report, Health Check?

including Body/Paint Inspection,

(for the Perforation Warranty.)

 

Using a VW Dealership or a good Independent are OK, but they may not know Update Information or 

have ECU Updates available.

& if they pick up on something needing Fixed under Warranty, you still need to go off to a Skoda Dealerships.

 

I would get everything done with Skoda before the Warranty Expires,

So another Major/Inspection Service and Brake Fluid Change.

Or get the Brake Fluid done elsewhere,

but the National Pricing offer is actually OK.

 

As was the MOT offer.

my new one is on variable servicing... I had its first service done at 10k.... cant decide whether to wait for the indicator next time.....

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes