As I purchased my Skoda Superb second-hand I am coming up to my first Service and I wondered if any of you Guy's could give me a clue in what to look out for, expect in the way of works that would be required and expected costs - Also is it advisable to stick to a Skoda Dealership bearing in mind I purchased my car in the Midlands and live in Scotland

 

Cheers

As I purchased my Skoda Superb second-hand I am coming up to my first Service and I wondered if any of you Guy's could give me a clue in what to look out for, expect in the way of works that would be required and expected costs - Also is it advisable to stick to a Skoda Dealership bearing in mind I purchased my car in the Midlands and live in Scotland

 

Cheers

What kind of service history did it have before you bought it and is it on fixed or variable servicing?  If it has been looked after it shouldn't need too much work and just the usual filters (air and fuel if its a major service).  You should be fine for timing belt and brake pads but depends on the age of the car - what year is it BTW?  A decent diagnostics scan will throw up any issues but of course anything major will already be flagged on your dash or maxidot.  I always have a good look around the car and particularly the electric bits before getting it serviced just to try and get everything sorted when you have it in.

 

I don't have specific knowledge of the dealerships in the UK but personally I would take it to either a Skoda dealership or a VAG dealer or a reputable independent - in that order!  There are too many electric and software-based areas to let a less than competent technician mess around and if you need software updates it would be useful to go to a Skoda dealer.  The stamps on the service book will help when you are selling it on (even second-hand) especially if they have been maintained up to now.  I suppose this depends on the age of the car and if you are planning to shift it in a few years again.

What kind of service history did it have before you bought it and is it on fixed or variable servicing?  If it has been looked after it shouldn't need too much work and just the usual filters (air and fuel if its a major service).  You should be fine for timing belt and brake pads but depends on the age of the car - what year is it BTW?  A decent diagnostics scan will throw up any issues but of course anything major will already be flagged on your dash or maxidot.  I always have a good look around the car and particularly the electric bits before getting it serviced just to try and get everything sorted when you have it in.

 

I don't have specific knowledge of the dealerships in the UK but personally I would take it to either a Skoda dealership or a VAG dealer or a reputable independent - in that order!  There are too many electric and software-based areas to let a less than competent technician mess around and if you need software updates it would be useful to go to a Skoda dealer.  The stamps on the service book will help when you are selling it on (even second-hand) especially if they have been maintained up to now.  I suppose this depends on the age of the car and if you are planning to shift it in a few years again.

 

Cheers for your very informative response - I should have said it is a 2012 Skoda still under warranty and has been serviced on a regular basis by Skoda dealers - at present it runs like a dream and I am absolutely delighted with it - there has been no issues come up so far on the Maxidot and my last visual check did not show anything untoward s 

When you say it has been regularly serviced, how regularly?

 

The car will either be set to:

 

1) Fixed - every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

 

2) Variable - up to 20,000 miles or 2 years, car monitors oil viscosity, number of cold starts, journey length etc. and decides for itself when it needs a service.

 

Depending on how many and which services it has already had will depend on what you need now.

 

Is the car asking for a service?

When you say it has been regularly serviced, how regularly?

 

The car will either be set to:

 

1) Fixed - every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

 

2) Variable - up to 20,000 miles or 2 years, car monitors oil viscosity, number of cold starts, journey length etc. and decides for itself when it needs a service.

 

Depending on how many and which services it has already had will depend on what you need now.

 

Is the car asking for a service?

 

Sorry been away for a few days - At present I am registering approximately 32000 miles and according to the computer I have another 5000 to go (giving me 37000) before my next Service, however, according to the Service book it has been Serviced by Skoda dealership on the 29th May 2012, 16th March 2013 (10000 miles) and  20th December 2013 (19804 Miles) - I purchased the car just after this date and the Salesman said they have re-set the computer and the car will let you know when the next Service is due 

 

So I am a bit confused as to go by the book or the computer

So it looks to me as though the car was set to fixed from new.

 

Fixed = 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

 

The car was serviced at 10,000 miles and again set to fixed. It therefore had its second service done at 19,804 miles.

 

At this point the service indicator was changed from fixed to variable - when you bought the car.

 

Variable = up to approx. 20,000 miles or 2 years.

 

You have since done 12,000 miles since the last service, and the car is currently estimating you have another 5,000 miles until it needs a service, so a total of 17,000 miles since the last service.

 

Fixed service intervals are ideally suited for those that cover low to average mileage (up to approx 12,000 miles per year) or those that do only short journey's.

 

Variable service intervals are better suited to those that cover high mileage and spend most of their time on the motorway.

 

Since your annual mileage appears to be around 12,000 miles I would be tempted to have the car serviced now and the service indicator changed back from variable to fixed.

 

Opinion varies but for me up to 2 years / 20,000 miles is too long without having fresh oil, hence I prefer at least one service per year.

 

A fixed service according to Skoda's national pricing policy is £139...

 

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

 

Don't be tempted to pay for the more expensive variable / major service. The extra's listed over and above the fixed / minor service (air and fuel filter) are only changed "if required".

 

First check the service book in the glovebox to see when these items are required. They are rarely needed before 3 years old or 60,000 miles.

 

If they are needed it is often still cheaper to add these items separately from their menu pricing.

So it looks to me as though the car was set to fixed from new.

 

Fixed = 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

 

The car was serviced at 10,000 miles and again set to fixed. It therefore had its second service done at 19,804 miles.

 

At this point the service indicator was changed from fixed to variable - when you bought the car.

 

Variable = up to approx. 20,000 miles or 2 years.

 

You have since done 12,000 miles since the last service, and the car is currently estimating you have another 5,000 miles until it needs a service, so a total of 17,000 miles since the last service.

 

Fixed service intervals are ideally suited for those that cover low to average mileage (up to approx 12,000 miles per year) or those that do only short journey's.

 

Variable service intervals are better suited to those that cover high mileage and spend most of their time on the motorway.

 

Since your annual mileage appears to be around 12,000 miles I would be tempted to have the car serviced now and the service indicator changed back from variable to fixed.

 

Opinion varies but for me up to 2 years / 20,000 miles is too long without having fresh oil, hence I prefer at least one service per year.

 

A fixed service according to Skoda's national pricing policy is £139...

 

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

 

Don't be tempted to pay for the more expensive variable / major service. The extra's listed over and above the fixed / minor service (air and fuel filter) are only changed "if required".

 

First check the service book in the glovebox to see when these items are required. They are rarely needed before 3 years old or 60,000 miles.

 

If they are needed it is often still cheaper to add these items separately from their menu pricing.

Thank You for your help - As a person who spent their work-a-day world driving Company cars I am fairly naive when it comes to service expectations and I suppose I would be an easy candidate to rip off (should a garage be that way inclined) however you have certainly given me something to go on 

I have checked the Service book and the only filter replaced was the Pollen Filter but that looks standard for each service - As far as mileage is concerned although I do not do a lot annually I do travel predominantly on Motorways or dual carriageways i.e. when we visit the Daughter in Lincolnshire it is just under a 600 mile round trip 85% of which is motorway and A1, I also play Golf through the year at a lovely course in Fife and that is a 160 mile round trip 60% of which is motorway and anything local I, as a Pensioner, will use my Bus Pass as we have a great Bus service 

Well I am off to the Local Skoda Dealership to see what they say and if alls well I will book the car in for a Minor Service - Once again Thank You for you knowledgeable assistance

You will be due the larger service @ 37000, this is the one that includes the fuel filter and will cost around £250, if yours is a DSG then that is also due shortly and costs around £180, pads etc are not included the serive will simply check them and advise on wear,

 

It's worth keeping it Skoda serviced as even when out of warranty a future big fault will be assisted with as long as you can show you have Skoda'd it so far, this is a sliding scale as it depends on how many Skoda's you've owned, how many miles the car has on it when say the gearbox dies and if it's always been serviced at Skoda, the scal works from 5% - 100% depending, hth.

You will be due the larger service @ 37000, this is the one that includes the fuel filter and will cost around £250, if yours is a DSG then that is also due shortly and costs around £180, pads etc are not included the serive will simply check them and advise on wear,

 

It's worth keeping it Skoda serviced as even when out of warranty a future big fault will be assisted with as long as you can show you have Skoda'd it so far, this is a sliding scale as it depends on how many Skoda's you've owned, how many miles the car has on it when say the gearbox dies and if it's always been serviced at Skoda, the scal works from 5% - 100% depending, hth.

I agree with you on maintaining servicing outside of warranty, especially if, like some of us, you are a longstanding Skoda customer .  The saving you make if Skoda splits the cost/discounts on a major part can often be greater that the additional cost of paying for a few dealer services. I've had a positive experience on this before

You will be due the larger service @ 37000, this is the one that includes the fuel filter and will cost around £250, if yours is a DSG then that is also due shortly and costs around £180, pads etc are not included the serive will simply check them and advise on wear.

 

The diesel fuel filter is due at 90,000 km (56,000 miles) or 4 years, whichever is reached first on the Superb.

 

My local Skoda retailer charged me £80 for both the air and fuel filter.

 

£139 + £80 = £219.

The diesel fuel filter is due at 90,000 km (56,000 miles) or 4 years, whichever is reached first on the Superb.

 

My local Skoda retailer charged me £80 for both the air and fuel filter.

 

£139 + £80 = £219.

 

 

Fair dues but have you seen a filter that has done that sort of mileage and especially in a VAG car, personally it's all about fleets again imo, I change mine every 20K regardless of the car I own at the time and even then they look like they've done 100K

Fully agree, I'd never leave my fuel filter that long.

 

I change it every 20,000 miles, or at least the dealer does.

 

I'd like to renew it myself but am worried about getting air into the system.

Fully agree, I'd never leave my fuel filter that long.

 

I change it every 20,000 miles, or at least the dealer does.

 

I'd like to renew it myself but am worried about getting air into the system.

 

 

Easy job no worries about air blocks,

 

Have respect for the screws as they are in soft alloy, optional whether to undo hoses, I never did, and simply slot the new filter in and prime if required by switching the ign on and off a few times,

 

Thorough way is to remove the bowl and ditch the derv in it, wipe out and fill with fresh, hth.