Hi

 

I have a new Octavia 1.4 petrol DSG. I opted (I think) for 'variable servicing'. The salesman did explain it at the time, but I was suffering from severe information overload & cannot remember the detail.

 

I understand the car will tell me when it needs to be serviced. I drive about 7000 miles per year, so what should I expect ? Can I check that I do indeed have variable servicing? 

 

All advice gratefully received !!

 

Thanks    KK

Check in the cars onboard computer, in there will be an option to see how many miles and days are remaining until the next service is due.

 

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

Variable = Up to 20,000 miles / 24 months, the car decides when it needs a service for itself.

Inspection = ignore, this is a rouse to get you into the dealer, nothing is replaced.

 

If the car is yours (not a lease or company vehicle) and you plan to keep it beyond the 3 year warranty period I would revert back to fixed intervals. This ensures the car gets fresh oil at least one a year. Your mileage is not higher enough to warrant the long life / variable servicing.

Edited 16 May, 201610 yr by silver1011

This sounds sensible. Might it be an idea to ask just for an oil & filter change, then a full service when the car insists?

If you do low miles, get an annual service. Keeps the oil clean for the turbo.

Especially if you plan to keep the car. The engine should last longer.

Check the prices out here...

 

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

 

Fixed (minor) is an oil and oil filter change @ £149.

 

Variable (major) is as above plus air, fuel and pollen filters* @ £269

 

* be aware, the extra filters on the variable service are only replaced if required, which on almost all Skoda models is at least 3 years or 60,000 miles.

 

Therefore DO NOT pay for the £259 service unless you can be sure the extra filters are being replaced, otherwise you are paying £269 for a £149 service. I don't know how Skoda UK sleep at night.

I drive about 7000 miles per year, so what should I expect ?

 

You should expect to be on fixed servicing!

 

The 20,000 miles / 2yr variable service interval is a myth (the whole thing is a con in my opinion, but that's a long winded rant if you get me going...). The oil, and ONLY the oil is actually (up to) 18.7k miles (it's 30k km) and 2 yr intervals, but there is also an 'inspection' interval. The 'inspection' is 2yrs for the first one and then annual after that. So once you get past the first service you're supposed to take it in annually whether it needs an oil change or not.

 

Anybody that does less than 9,300 miles per year should be on fixed interval servicing.

 

Incidentally, the main point of the variable regime is that they can lease cars to Hertz or whoever, who rent them out from the local airport for a year, putting up to 14k miles on them, and they don't need a service before they get sold on second hand. Which I don't mind, I bought one of those and they're excellent value, but the variable servicing is not for the benefit of the private owner. If you want the full rant let me know.

Every one should do Fixed service FFS!

Check in the cars onboard computer, in there will be an option to see how many miles and days are remaining until the next service is due.

 

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

Variable = Up to 20,000 miles / 24 months, the car decides when it needs a service for itself.

Inspection = ignore, this is a rouse to get you into the dealer, nothing is replaced.

 

If the car is yours (not a lease or company vehicle) and you plan to keep it beyond the 3 year warranty period I would revert back to fixed intervals. This ensures the car gets fresh oil at least one a year. Your mileage is not higher enough to warrant the long life / variable servicing.

I checked and yes it says the next service is due in 18,800 miles and just under 2 years. 

Many thanks all, you have confirmed my instincts. Fixed servicing here we come.

 

Mostly Grumpy, I would love to hear your full rant, but am not sure if this forum is the best place ?

 

KK

Many thanks all, you have confirmed my instincts. Fixed servicing here we come.

 

Mostly Grumpy, I would love to hear your full rant, but am not sure if this forum is the best place ?

 

KK

 

I'm in a better mood today, so I'll spare you the full version! 

 

The idea of an inspection service is an insult to common sense. In the old days there was a specified interval for all service items - oil, various filters, plugs, belts etc. If you checked the handbook you could find all the relevant information. Check your Octavia Mk III handbook and you'll find very little in the way of information (I think brake fluid is specified, but nothing else).

 

I want to know what work I expect to be done before I take my car in, or even before I decide who to take it to. The idea that I have to have an inspection to find out what additional work needs doing is beyond frustrating. I don't rent the car, I bought it outright for cash, and I expect to have bought all the necessary information for running it as I see fit!!

 

Furthermore, if you do between 9,300 miles and 18,700 miles per year on the variable regime then the oil and inspection intervals will diverge. As an example, my car is 3 yrs old at the end of the month - due an MOT and brake fluid change. The 'inspection' interval is up in late August and the 'oil' interval on current mileage will be up in December. Ideally I would like to take my car in once a year and get it all done at the same time, so what's the best way to bring it together again?

 

Now, I happen to know (because I paid for an hours access to ERWIN, the online servicing and maintenance site) that no intervals for any serviceable items will be required before December, so what happens in August when the service light in the car comes on? I phoned the local Skoda service centre and this is what happened:

 

Me: Bit of explanation, MOT/brake fluid required, inspection in August, but oil not due 'til end of year. 

Him: How many miles

Me: tells him how many

Him: That's about 10k since the last service?

Me: Yes

Him: So if the service light is on it's been set to the wrong thing

Me: The service light isn't on, I'm anticipating what will happen in August

Him: Carry on 'til it's done 18,700 miles since service

Me: So when the light comes on in August for the inspection interval would you change the oil?

Him: Yes

Me: So the oil interval is really 18,700 miles or 1yr if you change it when the light comes for an 'inspection'

Him: No, you can do 2 years between oil changes

Me: So if I can go 2 years between oil changes what do I do in August when the service light comes on 1 yr after the last service?

Him: If the service light is on already then it's been set to the wrong thing

Me: The light isn't on.........

 

The conversation reached no conclusion. The Skoda service employee simply didn't grasp the concept that my car even had two intervals programmed in.

 

I opted not to bring the service forward. I will ignore the light until December when the oil is due and get it serviced then. It's a con.

 

Wow, Having written that down I feel frustrated again. It's a shame coz the car's really good!

Mostly Grumpy, why still use Skoda to do your servicing? Can a good independent not do it ? 

PS, I don't know but I imagine other car manufacturers use the same tactics to wrench money from us ?

Mostly Grumpy, why still use Skoda to do your servicing? Can a good independent not do it ? 

 

 

I have always used an independent in the past, but there were various reasons that I used Skoda for my Octavia, one of which being a desire to figure out how the variable servicing works. Well now I know that it doesn't (at least not to my satisfaction).

 

I shall be taking it to my friendly independent from now on.

 

If I were beginning again, buying a 1yr old car with 14k miles on it and expecting to do 15k miles/yr, I would have it serviced straight away and then leave it on the variable regime but get it done annually on it's birthday. That's what I shall do once the service and MOT coincide again.

Every one should replace oil every 10K km or at least 15K km. So   Skoda and modern car lobby.   

 

Best practice is to have your personal mechanic someone with experience some one you trust.

If you do 2K miles a year, does the oil still need to be changed annually?

 

Is it difficult for someone who's not a mechanic to change the oil and filters themselves?

 

Thanks

Edited 19 May, 201610 yr by Ultima

Check the prices out here...

 

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

 

Fixed (minor) is an oil and oil filter change @ £149.

 

 

 

Intresting, the wifes Fabia SE-L is in for it's first service on Tuesday, Quoted less than £90

Edited 19 May, 201610 yr by Auric Goldfinger

I think the Fabia and Citigo attract lower prices. If you click on the maintenance tab you'll notice lower prices for these two models on cambelts and brakes etc.

If you do 2K miles a year, does the oil still need to be changed annually?

 

Is it difficult for someone who's not a mechanic to change the oil and filters themselves?

 

Thanks

 

Yes, I'd still change it. A car doing such low mileage will need as much if not more maintenance than one doing high mileage. Cars don't like to be stood for long periods or constantly run on short journeys where the oil rarely gets up to temperature.

 

The oil change is relatively easy, see here for my experience...

 

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