I am due to pick my Octavia diesel VRS -65 plate up next week.

It was registered on 4/12/2105 and has done 12,500 motorway miles mainly. It is on LOnglife service.

Shall I just leave it to December 2016 and change to fixed - get the oil change then or do it before?

The car has got to last a few years so want to get it right from the start!

If I DIY the oil change it will be genuine Skoda vag from TPS @

£7.66 filter

£2.47 sump plug

£39.19 Oil Quantum LOnglife 5w30

Equals £49.32.

If I used independent vat registered with genuine vag parts would be £130.00

If I use Skoda garage would be £178.00!!!

So now ive set the scene - a couple of questions.

How easy is it access wise to do oil change?

I know how to change oil and filter on previous cars but any particular advice for a Skoda? Can you load some oil on the filter before applying or is filter location horizontal so oil won't stay in?

If for some unknown reason something went wrong with the engine - essentially could the oil change dIY invalidate warranty for related engine parts using the oil?

Ultimately - is it worth being a tight arse or stumping up the cash??

Any advice and thoughts appreciated.

Ryan.

Unless book is stamped Skoda will avoid warranty claims.

This is a great money maker/get out clause for all manufacturers

Unfortunately Tommy is right. Unless it's got the stamp then warranty won't be void. I did all my oil changes on my previous cars, last one been the Audi S3 and like you said, you save a he'll of alot of money. Luckily I've got two free services with mine but as soon as it's out of warranty I'll be doing mine myself.

On a separate note, my Mrs has a VRS Tdi mk2 and I've done the servicing on that since we got it. Very easy to do.

Just for the record there isn't a service book to be stamped any more. All servicing, repairs etc. are recorded on Skoda's computer data base. AFAIK a customer cannot access this data base and I'm not sure if a dealer will provide a print out of work done to a car. 

Well I think i will leave it to December and change to fixed.

Skoda doing minor and major service for used car purchases for £139 so seems best best to add on to my order.

Thanks for replies.

Why don't you get the garage your buying it from to change the oil before you pick it up or the deals off!

I've got it at a good price already plus negotiated throwing in proper spare wheel and jack kit plus full tank of fuel so unlikely. I know there'll still be making mine on it but I've got to be about right with salesman.

I'll get it service in December and get it onto fixed.

I am not sure where on earth you got the price of £178 for an oil change from Skoda. Some unscrupulous dealer who is trying to make a fast buck maybe?

 

You may not be aware that Skoda has a fixed price policy, and that a minor service [including the oil change] is only £149 inc VAT irrespective of model = LINK  Not all dealers [use the link to find yours] subscribe to this price policy, but it's worth while showing the one who quoted you that you know what price Skoda recommend. Who knows, they may climb down and give you a good deal.

 

NOTE "Prices offered in our Fixed price servicing offer are the maximum selling prices. ŠKODA Authorised Repairers are free to offer prices lower than this offer." and quite a few do - it's worth asking!

 

A minor service includes:

• Oil & filter change (fully synthetic oil)
• Vehicle inspection test and report*
• Full vehicle road test**
• Vehicle & software enhancements from ŠKODA’s database
• Replacement pollen filter †
• Diagnostic check including report
• Re-set service interval display
• Wash and vacuum
• ŠKODA stamp in service book

Hope this helps................Tony

 

 

Just for the record there isn't a service book to be stamped any more. All servicing, repairs etc. are recorded on Skoda's computer data base. AFAIK a customer cannot access this data base and I'm not sure if a dealer will provide a print out of work done to a car. 

 

The Dealer should give you all the information about the car on there system and print it for you. If not ring Sokoda C S and give them the Reg No/Vin No and they will tell you everything.

 

Any warranty work, servicing, recalls, anything.  The dealer can do exactly the same.  If they don't they may be hiding something......

 

I've done it a couple of times when I've bought used cars and asked loads of questions about the car

Edited 23 July, 20169 yr by Auric Goldfinger

You doing the sensible thing, no point servicing yourself until its out of warranty.

Edited 23 July, 20169 yr by vRSAnt

Just to be clear. Skoda cannot invalidate the warranty just because it has not been serviced at a main dealer no matter what they say. There are clear EU rules preventing this.

However you do need to be able to prove you have followed the full service schedule using genuine parts. If you can do this warranty must be maintained. Of course you will not get any goodwill gestures outside of warranty.

As for the service log being stored online, how is this supposed to work, how do you keep track of when a service is due or when buying a second hand car how do you check the service history?

Edited 24 July, 20169 yr by Greetty

Skoda Dealers or Customer Services will tell you or VW Group Main Dealers off the System, 

because as much as they think it is a Skoda Secret Service organisation there are safety implications.

 

So ask, maybe use an Independent VW Specialist with all the Gear and a Licence, and access to Service Records, 

Service Campaign & TPI's etc.

Even some can do Warranty work. 

Often Trained & Qualified VWG Technicians with all the gear and the knowledge, maybe more than Main Dealers have.

Just had my first service (lease car) at 19,500 miles. If it was my cash and my car, and I was going to keep it for a few years, I would be changing the oil & filter more frequently, probably every 6 months or so. Maybe put it into Skoda once a year, change the oil DIY inbetween?

Those "fixed prices" are a maximum figure the dealer can charge. If you ask them they can and will often match the price of a local independent within a certain distance, however some will point blank reject any counter offers and stick firmly to the fixed price.

In my opinion you really are best getting the service done through any vat registered garage where a paper trail can be traced. Even if it's not recorded on the service system with Skoda (which will be viewable to the public at some point) you at least have complete proof that the job has been carried out and the correct parts used.

Registered in 2105? Should you even be driving it? Does it fly?

'National Pricing'  'Fixed Pricing',  these are supposed to be the Price 'Participating Dealerships Prices',  

Not 'The Maximum Price'  Skoda Main Dealerships can charge & do higher prices than these,

this is easily checked,  because people do pay more.

Then there is the upselling, the 'Brakes worn 80%' when they are 20% worn. 

A/C Servicing required on a 2 year old car,  Yes Sir/ Madam Skoda Recommend this.

(Not in writing they do not, no longer printed service books etc.)

 

And by 'Fixed Pricing' and National Pricing'  you can be paying a price and Parts are not Supplied, 

*As Required*. yet maybe the Air Filter Box is not opened to check, Rear Wheels not removed and Brake Drums Cleaned out.*  (not on the 'to do sheet.'.

which is Odd because there is Labour & VAT and Parts not Supplied but you pay the Fixed Price.

YOU PAY FOR OTHERS TO SERVICE YOUR CAR, THEY DO OIL / FILTER AND FLUIDS, AND A LOOK SEE REPORT.

THE LIST SAYS ROADTEST, DIAGNOSTIC / SOFTWARE / ENHANCEMENTS, REPORT.

ALL TICKET, NOT DONE IN MANY CASES AT PLENTY OF MAIN DEALERS IN EVERY SERVICE.

 

Asking and finding out what is done, because the 'Minor Service' at 9,400 (10,000) miles / 372 days or sooner and then a Major Service 

does not match Variable / Flexible Servicing.

 

Oddly Service Desk Employees & Workshop Staff seem to miss this odd situation and think charging for Checks and Parts and hence Maintenance not carried out is perfectly acceptable.

Some of it is unsafe and just pure profiteering.

 

AVERAGING OUT SERVICES,

Some get done and take the time that people pay for and parts, 

others are quickly done, parts not used, the only winner is the Dealership never the Customer, 

the customer pays, work carried out on not, parts done or not & pays 20% VAT to the Government / Them self as a Tax payer on Parts not actually used. ie Fixed Pricing, Fixed Final Bill includes the VAT.

Edited 25 July, 20169 yr by GoneOffSKi

Had my 'big' service done on my 1.4 se at Beadles Aylesford recently. £250 ish if I remember correctly. As far as I could see, it was just oil and filter plus a full inspection. I felt robbed at that but no choice re warranty. Turned up to collect it and it hadn't even been washed. I moaned and was told "It is a free service!" This, even though it's on the service menu and plastered around the service desk area. Makes me wonder what else was missed!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

What the website says is completely contradictory to what the service sheets say.

Regarding the fixed prices - if they are a participating dealer then the price quoted on the skoda website is legally the highest amount that the dealer can charge. If dealers are charging more than the stated amount then I'm fairly confident that if this was challenged the price would be reduced.

What SKODA UK Websites say has been contradictory to what happens for years.

 

Alasadair Stewart Brand Director Skoda UK knew that and the new Brand Director knows since he was with Skoda then VW and Skoda again.

 

So legally Skoda Main Dealers are no better than Cowboys that come to offer to clean your roof and drains, 

get on the job and do not do it properly and then tell you that your lead flashing needs repaired.

 

If the Oil is taken out by the Dip Stick Tube then the Drain plug is maybe only £2.00 but if not used you can not charge £2.00 

& 40 Pence VAT.

Same with,  'Changed as Required'   If it is not changed you can not charge VAT on something not provided.

Charging for Washer Fluid not used or the Bottle Provided.

Charging for 'OIl / Filter Disposal' etc  'Environmental Disposal'   YOU ARE A WORKSHOP SERVICING VEHICLES, 

YOU CHARGE FOR SERVICING, THATS YOUR OVERHEADS, THATS WHY YOU HAVE HOURLY RATES HIGHER THAN OTHER PLACES.

If the Customer reads the Rear Brake Drums will be cleaned, then they think the Rear Wheels are coming off, 

they do not think, the websites out of date, thats not done anymore.

 

Some Dealerships are taking money under false pretences, and that is no better than Cowboy Builders and roofers.

Major Motor Groups with Employees at it and the VW Group (SKODA UK) know it.

They are the ones that have the Adverts and Websites.

Edited 25 July, 20169 yr by GoneOffSKi

I am due to pick my Octavia diesel VRS -65 plate up next week.

It was registered on 4/12/2105 and has done 12,500 motorway miles mainly. It is on LOnglife service.

Shall I just leave it to December 2016 and change to fixed - get the oil change then or do it before?

The car has got to last a few years so want to get it right from the start!

If I DIY the oil change it will be genuine Skoda vag from TPS @

£7.66 filter

£2.47 sump plug

£39.19 Oil Quantum LOnglife 5w30

Equals £49.32.

If I used independent vat registered with genuine vag parts would be £130.00

If I use Skoda garage would be £178.00!!!

So now ive set the scene - a couple of questions.

How easy is it access wise to do oil change?

I know how to change oil and filter on previous cars but any particular advice for a Skoda? Can you load some oil on the filter before applying or is filter location horizontal so oil won't stay in?

If for some unknown reason something went wrong with the engine - essentially could the oil change dIY invalidate warranty for related engine parts using the oil?

Ultimately - is it worth being a tight arse or stumping up the cash??

Any advice and thoughts appreciated.

Ryan.

Why not just change the oil before the servicd yourself and not update the book etc. No one but you will know it's had fresh oil/filter and you will have the TPS receipt come resale time.

Registered in 2105? Should you even be driving it? Does it fly?

You guessed my favourite film. I've been rumbled McFly

When I took delivery of my new 1.4 tsi Superb in March the dealer quoted ~£130 for an early oil and filter change. I plan to keep the car a long time and do about 16k to 18k miles a year - so decided on the long life servicing, but will be doing a oil only change using an extractor myself every 6k or so (one done so far). The oil filter is a sod to get to (as have to jack car and remove under tray - so figured on more frequent oil only changes but leave the original filter on until the dealer changes it at ~18k - I'll be doing 2 oil changes in between. Plus they can't complain about diy servicing as none the wiser. I ensure I buy good quality long life oil to the 504 / 507 spec from euro car parts when it's on offer (generally down to about £20 for 4l which is enough for the change). And takes 20 mins with the extractor. My local dealer states they always drain from the sump and replace plug at the service so I figured not too bad to extract the oil in between... I got several quotes for fixed versus long life servicing - and long life only approx £20 more ( I found - so definitely cheaper for me on my mileage to stick to long life, with diy interim oil changes. Plus only 1 visit to dealer a year rather than twice

Why not just change the oil before the servicd yourself and not update the book etc. No one but you will know it's had fresh oil/filter and you will have the TPS receipt come resale time.

 

This would be my solution to the problem. Peace of mind, both of the knowledge of an extra oil change, and the safety net of an unaffected warranty too.

Fish Brothers in Swindon have just charged me £121 first for the first year service. While I was there I picked up a Skoda leaflet which listed the £149 and £269 prices for minor and major services.