Hey all I really could do with some advice on this as I'm not sure how to go about this.

 

Basically, I bought an 11 plate VRS TDI (CR) in January with approx 58K on the clock. The car was originally on a variable service plan and has since first registration (Dec 2011) had 3 services comprising the following mileages:

 

1. 18,536K

    28/09/2012 - next service indicated on dash

 

2. 37,696K

    18/7/2013 - as above

 

3. 57,735K

    30/05/14 - 77,735K OR 30/05/16

 

The last service included engine oil, fuel filter, air filter replaced. Brake fluid has a tick in box 'additionally every 60km or 4 years' so not sure if that means it's been done.

 

Because I won't nearly be doing 19K a year then to me, I need to change the service frequency to annually. To further confirm this and for clarification I popped into Lightcliffe Warrington to query this. I was told by the chap there that as the car is approaching 60K, it is due it's first major service and that they can do this for £259. Also, he made reference to my earlier point regarding changing it from variable to fixed and was presented with a service plan that included the 60K major service plus 2 MOT's and a minor service all in for £378.

 

I haven't personally dealt with Skoda before (first ever Skoda and TDI) and I'm not sure if I'm being had off or if the above is even necessary. Finally, I was informed that the cambelt should be changed Dec this year as it would be 4 years old but I disagree with this. I'm under the impression they just want the extra business (and of course revenue) not to mention a thread posted on here by someone claiming if it's post 2010, it's actually 5 years or 120K, I think.

 

So yeah, quite informative and a lot of information but could do with some help from you guys:

 

1. Does it require a "major" service as it has now gone past 60K?

2. Dreaded and done to the absolute death but do I even need to change the cambelt so soon?

3. Does the service plan sound legit and is it value for money?

 

If you've read this then thank you kindly. Hope you have some answers

 

looks like we have a similar  aged car with roughly the same mileage but mine looks like its had one more service (mines 55 thousand ) . I get mine done every 10 thousand which is my choice which can mean it sometimes gets done every 9 months.

with the cam belt I got told in person by 2 different dealers that it is every 5 year for the cam belt , think they said it had been increased from 4 too 5 years.

The price is good as majors are 259 and minors 139 on the national pricing plan IIRC. On fixed servicing minors are at 10, 30, 50, 70k with majors at 20, 40, 60 etc or 12 months which ever comes 1st. Last I heard cam belt is now 5 years. If you're switching to fixed its probably best to have a major as he suggests, but that's your choice.

Factory fitted cam belts from 2010 (IIRC) are 5 years; prior to that it was 4.

I don't think you are being ripped off. At least no more than anyone else who uses Skoda to service their car...

Having looked into what the two services include, and also found out how poorly the inspections are carried out, and how reluctant they are to change filters, then I really don't see why anyone would book it in for either service when they could just ask for an oil + filter change and whatever filters they wanted and save money.

I'm sure some dealers / technicians do pride themselves on doing a thorough job (I miss our local master technician), but I can't say that many do.

My Octavia was on variable and was serviced at Skoda. But my Yeti will be serviced by me every 8-10 thousand miles and is now on fixed service regime.

If I suspect a fault, I'll probably approach my local VW dealer to see if they can help. Cam belts there are £150 cheaper at present due to a special offer. There's a thread on it somewhere on here.

To answer your questions...

1) Yes, but you've already had one.

A major service consists of oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and pollen filter. You've had these items changed during the last service with the added bonus of the brake fluid change.

2) Skoda's registered after September 2010 have extended cambelt service intervals, it goes from 4 to 5 years.

3) Service plans rarely offer value for money. As mentioned a major service is £259, a minor is £139. The thing is the major service only offers the air and fuel filters over the minor service and then these items are only changed 'if required' which is roughly every 3 years or 60,000 miles, even though the dealers will happily charge you £259 for what often ends up being only a £139 service.

Personally I'd have a £139 minor service (oil and filter), set the computer to fixed (10,000 miles or 12 months, which ever is reached first) and add the air and fuel filters off their menu price list - it'll still be cheaper than the £259 major service.

Edited 30 April, 201511 yr by silver1011

Hmmmmmmm didn't think of it like that. So your basically saying, opt for the minor service and then separately price the oil and filter change individually? How easy would it be to do this myself like supplying and changing my own oil (believe a lot of members on here do just that)?

All the filters are pretty easy to change at home for someone not trained in in automotive engineering and with a few basic tools.

 

The most risky is probably the fuel filter, the most messy is the oil filter.

 

A complete set of genuine filters can be had for about £50. Add the appropriate oil (variable and fixed is slightly different, but I believe VW 507 oil can be used for both - please correct me if I am wrong and I will delete this bit of info) and you are good to go.

 

There is quite a difference between the inspection that comes with a minor and major service. This is one of the explanations I have had from our local dealer:

 

 

The variable service includes any filters due so will remain at the price of £259.00. The reason why it is so much cost wise is because it is a bigger check, also we run it through the guided fault findings as part of the service to check if any faults in the ecu. The fixed service does not include any of this and is literally just an engine oil and filter change new screen wash and new sump plug. Iv attached copies of the service sheets that the technicians follow for an oil change and a variable service,....

OIL CHANGE SERVICE ?139.doc

MAJOR SERVICE VARIABLE ?259.00.doc

Hmm, my response back to that dealer would be to ask if they are adhering to Skoda UK's official procedures - as part of their franchise agreement.

 

You can see here that both the £139 minor (or fixed) service and the £259 major (or variable) service list the following:

 

• Full vehicle road test
• Vehicle and software enhancements from ŠKODA's database
• Diagnostic check including report

 

See here...

 

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

 

Another trick some dealers try and pull is to claim that the major service includes more expensive 'long life' oil. Before the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) this may have been the case, now any diesel engine with a DPF gets the VW 507.00 (5W30 fully synthetic long life / low ash) oil regardless of which service interval the car is set to.

 

It really does pay to approach a main dealer only after doing a little homework, it can save you hundreds of pounds.

Hmmmmmmm didn't think of it like that. So your basically saying, opt for the minor service and then separately price the oil and filter change individually? How easy would it be to do this myself like supplying and changing my own oil (believe a lot of members on here do just that)?

 

Check the link in my previous post to see what the differences really are between the two services. Pull out all of the fluffy marketing and it really does come down to the air and fuel filter.

 

Seriously, the air filter can be had online for less than £20 and fitted in 3 minutes, pop the bonnet, undo 8 T25 (Torx) screws, lift out old filter, drop in the new one, re-tighten screws.

 

The fuel filter is a little more complicated, the fuel pump can benefit from being run to purge the system of air which needs VCDS or the dealers computer to do properly. The old PD engines used to prime themselves with each cycle of the ignition, the later CR engines don't which could result in some lengthy engine turning to get fuel through the system. I usually get the dealer to do this for me as I don't have VCDS. This add's £50 to the bill.

 

Of course prices vary from dealer to dealer but it pays to ring around.

 

I don't know of any 'modern' (glass show-roomed) Skoda dealer that would allow a customer to supply their own oil, no harm is asking though, especially when the genuine stuff can be had for less than £28 delivered! From a UK main Audi dealer...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quantum-Longlife-3-5W-30-Fully-Synthetic-Engine-Oil-5-Litre-Bottle-/171774460773?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27fe8e4365

Edited 1 May, 201511 yr by silver1011

Not an Octavia, I appreciate, but very similar in terms of the layout / procedure.

 

I now self-service...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/346425-oil-and-air-filter-change-skoda-superb-cr140-cffb/

 

I am about to invest in VCDS so that I can properly re-set the service computer and prime the fuel system for the next service.

 

The fuel filter is a little more complicated, the fuel pump can benefit from being run to purge the system of air which needs VCDS or the dealers computer to do properly. The old PD engines used to prime themselves with each cycle of the ignition, the later CR engines don't which could result in some lengthy engine turning to get fuel through the system. I usually get the dealer to do this for me as I don't have VCDS. This add's £50 to the bill.

 

While I agree with everything else yo have said, I changed the fuel filter on my CR170 Yeti and had no need to prime the pump with VCDS and had no issues with starting the car afterwards.

 

I didn't do this, but if you keep some extra fuel from the old filter (I lift the filter out and put it in a plastic take away tray), replace the new filter and top up with the removed fuel, then there should be minimal air in the system and no problem.

 

Obviously, I am not going to guarantee it, but I've had no issues on a PD Octavia or a CR Yeti.

Not an Octavia, I appreciate, but very similar in terms of the layout / procedure.

 

I now self-service...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/346425-oil-and-air-filter-change-skoda-superb-cr140-cffb/

 

I am about to invest in VCDS so that I can properly re-set the service computer and prime the fuel system for the next service.

I am moving toward sell-service myself as well.

 

You do not need VCDS to reset the service interval. If you have Maxidot - it is in a menu; if you don't there is a sequence of ignition and button presses to reset it, but it differs form model to model.

 

See above for my (limited) experiences with not needing to prime the fuel pump.

I was on the understanding that by resetting the service interval using Maxidot it defaulted to the fixed interval.

 

To reset to variable I thought you needed VCDS?

 

I cover high annual mileage so whilst I prefer short service intervals if I set to fixed I'd be changing the oil three times a year which is a little too often for me.

 

I'd read lots of positive results on the fuel filter change on CR engines without using VCDS, but also one or two issues with restarting the engine, mainly on YouTube so thought it wise to mention the risks.

I was on the understanding that by resetting the service interval using Maxidot it defaulted to the fixed interval.

To reset to variable I thought you needed VCDS?

I cover high annual mileage so whilst I prefer short service intervals if I set to fixed I'd be changing the oil three times a year which is a little too often for me.

I'd read lots of positive results on the fuel filter change on CR engines without using VCDS, but also one or two issues with restarting the engine, mainly on YouTube so thought it wise to mention the risks.

Correct on the service regime changing when using Maxidot or the button pushes. Only VCDS or dealer system can reinstate variable.

I've heard stories of the risks with fuel filter changes, but haven't experienced it myself or actually know anyone who has had issues.

Always best to be aware of the potential pitfalls and solutions beforehand though.

Thanks for the responses guys and the advice. Regards the self servicing (which I may very well consider with the aid of some YouTube vids), is there any link that anyone is willing to post that will provide a kit for the TDI CR 170?

 

Much appreciated.