Hey,

 

My Monte was in today for its 40K service which I paid for, can't complain as its the first service I've needed to pay for since owning the car since new. 

 

They recommended a brake fluid change at a cost of £99.00 I think they wanted, does this seem excessive and would you think it needs done after 3 years of ownership and 40K miles? I know Skoda recommend it to get done but at the cost of £99 as a dealer price is this expensive? Do you know how much brake fluid in litres is needed for a change? 

 

They also said the rear shoe linings are damaged and need replaced, Lever and adjustment wedge seized. They wanted £200 for this work. Again excessive? I was going to source the rear shoes myself and get them fitted elsewhere, question is should I or would you replace the drums also if doing the shoes or not? 

 

Thanks again,

 

 

Stu

Edited 28 January, 201610 yr by Guest

Back in October I think I paid £90 for brake fluid change AND an air con service at a dealer - this was an offer they were running though.

Re your drums - get a second opinion and if they need done get an indie to do it - dealer prices for anything brake related are a rip-off.

Edit: If you're south side I can recommend David Mylett in Thornliebank (VAG specialist - also restores campers - and very nice set up)

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by Brian69

Who were you at Arnold Clark or Henrys.?

 

As Brian says, Brake and AC Service at £90 or less.

Brake Fluid change, £49 or so, any more is pure greed.

 

Unlikely to need brake drums at 40,000 miles.

Edited 28 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Ah, didn't notice Stu was a Weegie - the £90 (it certainly wasn't more than that) for the brake fluid change and air con service was at Henry's.

 

First brake fluid change is at three years and then bi-annually thereafter.

Edited 28 January, 201610 yr by Brian69

I thought that brake fluid replacement was on menu servicing and its price might even be quoted on the VAG marque websites, I was offered a brake fluid change at my Audi garage when it was in for its MOT, and I don't think that it was as much as that - either way I do my own - in the warmer weather, got a "big" tin of it keeping dry in the airing cupboard!

 

These drum brakes are a nuisance, my daughter's late 2009 Ibiza has partially seized levers and so wedge, I might try to ease the levers free again in the summer, though I'd think that a new set of shoes is the way forward as they come with levers etc fitted. Her car is at 40K and it will not be getting new drums for a long time yet.

100 quid ouch! I've always seen it advertised at skoda at 49 for brake fluid. I think that's a rip off too. Took it to my local independent and they charged me...25 quid :-0

It depends on if the are 'Participating' ,  being greedy, incompetent on the Service desk Computer, or just thieving barstewards.

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed/default

 

'Simply Fixed', Fuddle or Fiddle or just at it gadgies.

Who were you at Arnold Clark or Henrys.?

As Brian says, Brake and AC Service at £90 or less.

Brake Fluid change, £49 or so, any more is pure greed.

Unlikely to need brake drums at 40,000 miles.

Cheers. It was West End Garage in Edinburgh I got it serviced at.

Have took your advice Brian and dropped the guys in the southside a email.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll be looking elsewhere to get these niggles sorted and hopefully save myself some pennies also.

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by Guest

Brake fluid change at Henry's is £45 - if West End want £99 I'd tell them to do one.

http://westendskoda.com/servicing

Someone on the desk will have looked at the Brake Fluid & Air Conditioning offer that was on and got the price wrong.

Odd thing there is the Dealerships do the same job day in day out and get so often things wrong.

(And so many Drum Brakes have the same issue that the Dealers have had 5 years of experience and Skoda UK & CZ know there is a Fundamental Design issue and Manufacturing, so Services really need the Drums off at Every Annual Service as they used to be.)

 

..........................

I know there is a few threads with Westend failing on simple stuff, overcharging, getting diagnosis wrong,

a member collecting a car that should never have been up for sale as it was prepared,

even a Senior staff member pretending to be a satisfied customer on here at one time.

here is another thread.

?Where do Westend get employees and who trains them?

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/352985-fabia-monte-daytime-lights-not-working

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

http://westendskoda.com/servicing

Someone on the desk will have looked at the Brake Fluid & Air Conditioning offer that was on and got the price wrong.

Odd thing there is the Dealerships do the same job day in day out and get so often things wrong.

(And so many Drum Brakes have the same issue that the Dealers have had 5 years of experience and Skoda UK & CZ know there is a Fundamental Design issue and Manufacturing, so Services really need the Drums off at Every Annual Service as they used to be.)

 

..........................

I know there is a few threads with Westend failing on simple stuff, overcharging, getting diagnosis wrong,

a member collecting a car that should never have been up for sale as it was prepared,

even a Senior staff member pretending to be a satisfied customer on here at one time.

here is another thread.

?Where do Westend get employees and who trains them?

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/352985-fabia-monte-daytime-lights-not-working

Agreed drum brakes are a pain and always need attention every year. I think its my downfall that I haven't had them serviced sooner but I'll get this sorted at another garage, a reputable one. 

 

Thanks for pointing out the website I didn't realise it should have been £49 for brake fluid, they have actually put £99.00 on that "health check" paperwork. 

 

I had my car in a few months ago for a intermittent whine from the engine when idling. Got it back from them saying no fault found, but the noise was still there. Took it to another dealer and got it repaired under warranty as they found it was the water pump, funny how they could find the issue within a few hours but West End Skoda could not. 

 

Is there any good Skoda Dealers out there now! 

Have you decided against getting the Octavia?

What is really annoying is the lack of knowledge at the Service Desk.

 

You book your car in on the phone or at the Desk.

You say your car needs serviced, you give the Registration Number.

If your car has had Main Dealership or Volkswagen Group Servicing,

 

They know the car is 3 Years Old. 

They know it Shows a Major Service @ 2 Years or what ever.

So a Brake Fluid Change might be due, they should say.

or

You hand in the Keys, they should say, 

This is a 'Minor Service'  30,000 miles, or what ever, & do you want the Brake Fluid Changed.

We should take your Drums off, but do not anymore, do you want us to Service your Brakes, etc etc 

*They should speak when you are there, ask if they can call if any genuine issue, and not just Up selling'*

 

'Simply Clever'.   None of it is rocket science,

Have you decided against getting the Octavia?

Went for the drive and I loved it. The deal just didn't work out. It was from a dealer up in Perth and I just was not impressed at all by them, had a very had experience. The sales associate couldn't have been more interested if he tried. 

 

I was ready to buy that day but there was no back and forth with them, so I walked away, decided to get my Fabia serviced and will visit this idea in the summer or so! 

 

But it will be my next car

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by Guest

Was that (Thomson & Potter) Skoda Specialist Cars part of the John Clark group and probably that very special sales executive that must be sending potential customers into the arms of other Manufacturers Main Dealers.

 

Unbelievable, move from Thomson & Potter, Burrelton to their new super dooper showrooms, and what you get is 'attitude'.

 

It is amazing that Skoda sell as many cars as they do in Scotland, Main Dealerships, Sales Staff, Service Staff and Workshop Staff can be a total joke.

Westend, they seem to have expanded rapidly/greatly from being a Skoda "agent" through in the Calders area, they may have been pushed/helped into or grabbed the old Chatham  Skoda premises, in Edinburgh and in Fifedom.

 

I almost shuffled in there last week when my Audi S4 was in the "Audi Palace of Show" at Sighthill for its MOT, really just to ask about this evap pipe change on the 1.2TSI 110 engines that VW claim to know nothing about, but gave them a miss.

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by rum4mo

Took mine into Skoda today. First service since ownership + dsg campaign.

Bloke on Service desk tryed to sell me a cambelt. Says it all really.

?

How long did they want the car, 

and have they put the Sticker in the Spare Tyre well to show the Service Campaign is done?

They had it for 2 hours and 30 minutes. And yes sticker in boot.