My 2013 40,000 mile Elegance Estate 2.0 TDI lost a little (700cc) coolant last October, but has not lost any more. I asked the dealer to investigae at the 40,000 mile service yesterday and he found a slight weep from the water pump. The car is 6 months out of warranty, but Skoda has agreed to pay 50% of the cost for the water pump (£195), which seems reasonable. Of course it wold be absurd not to change the cam belt at the same time as that job will be due in 18 months anyway. The cost of the cam belt kit is £203 (that sounds rather expensive for the parts, but I'm guessing that must be a Skoda thing), making a total of £398 to get the belt and water pump fixed at the same time.

 

Does this sound a reasonable cost, and a sensible thing to do?

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by Othen
Typo

It's £485 on fixed price scheme from Skoda. It would have expected it to cost you less if Skoda are offering £195. 

 

I would do as you suggest though as it's got to come off. 

Many thanks for that Nathanio, I've just found the Skoda fixed price page and can see it is £485. I might have some leverage to argue it should be a bit cheaper in that case - something like £290.

 

Alan

Check with independent before you book with Skoda.

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by jafo

7 hours ago, Nathanio said:

It's £485 on fixed price scheme from Skoda. It would have expected it to cost you less if Skoda are offering £195. 

 

I would do as you suggest though as it's got to come off. 

I've put that argument to the dealer, we'll see what he comes back with.

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by Othen
Typo.

So fixed price for cambelt and water pump replacement is £485 and they're charging £390 (at full price) for waterpump only, suggesting the additional cost of the timing belt parts is £95. Given the extra labour needed on the belt, offer to split the difference: £345 or so.

19 minutes ago, chimaera said:

So fixed price for cambelt and water pump replacement is £485 and they're charging £390 (at full price) for waterpump only, suggesting the additional cost of the timing belt parts is £95. Given the extra labour needed on the belt, offer to split the difference: £345 or so.

The dealer claims the cost of the additional parts is £203, but concedes there would not be any more labour involved in changing the belt at the same time. I could buy the parts for about £140 and fit them myself, or get the local VW specialist to do the whole job for 'about £300' (not a firm quote, but that was what he said). I'd rather keep the servicing and repairs with the supplying dealer as I'll probably keep this car for some time. I've left it with the dealer to respond, if he comes back with a fair compromise (a bit like you have suggested) then that will be fine. We'll see what he says...

...the dealer has come back with an email and an offer of £370, which I think is close enough as I really don't want to quibble over a few quid here and there.

I like the car and will probably keep it for quite a while, so I'd rather have the supplying dealer look after it and will have to accept it will cost a small premium to do so.

I'll get the car booked in for the work in the next couple of weeks, may I thank those who contributed and gave some good advice.

Alan

So you've still got to pay £370? Despite the fact they're getting £190 fro Skoda? So the total price is £560? Seems a bit for still. They're making an additional £80 from it, on something they've already got to take apart?

12 minutes ago, Nathanio said:

So you've still got to pay £370? Despite the fact they're getting £190 fro Skoda? So the total price is £560? Seems a bit for still. They're making an additional £80 from it, on something they've already got to take apart?

 

... reading between the lines, I suspect the dealer's issue is that the £190 invoice to Skoda would not result in a payment that large.

 

I suppose if I had dug my heels in I might have got the bill down to say £350, but I was not really inclined to argue over tu'pence ha'penny. At the end of the day I'm getting the immediate problem (the water pump) and the cam belt changed for £370. I'd have to get the cam belt changed anyway in 18 months time, and I've already decided to keep the car for the longer term (unless I win the lotto of course) - so in effect that bit is only costing me £185.

 

Many thanks for your input - it is so helpful to get another opinion.

 

Alan

Edited 10 February, 20179 yr by Othen
Typo.

11 minutes ago, Othen said:

 

... reading between the lines, I suspect the dealer's issue is that the £190 invoice to Skoda would not result in a payment that large.

 

I suppose if I had dug my heels in I might have got the bill down to say £350, but I was not really inclined to argue over tu'pence ha'penny. At the end of the day I'm getting the immediate problem (the water pump) and the cam belt changed for £370. I'd have to get the cam belt changed anyway in 18 months time, and I've already decided to keep the car for the longer term (unless I win the lotto of course) - so in effect that bit is only costing me £185.

 

Many thanks for your input - it is so helpful to get another opinion.

 

Alan

 

So are you paying £185 or the £370? Sorry not sure which one. If it's the later I think your dealer is still being cheeky considering they're getting a nice wedge from Skoda. 

3 minutes ago, Nathanio said:

 

So are you paying £185 or the £370? Sorry not sure which one. If it's the later I think your dealer is still being cheeky considering they're getting a nice wedge from Skoda. 

£370 (from me), maybe you are right!

 

Alan

1 hour ago, Othen said:

[...] I like the car and will probably keep it for quite a while, so I'd rather have the supplying dealer look after it and will have to accept it will cost a small premium to do so.[...]

What is the point, when it doesn't matter what was the source of invoices when you sell it ??

3 hours ago, jafo said:

What is the point, when it doesn't matter what was the source of invoices when you sell it ??

There will be a point when I move maintenance from the dealer to an independent, but not just yet (the dealer can still get contributions from Skoda, and has a very pretty blond receptionist lady).

Is it worth overpaying ??

you should get 2 years parts and labour warranty getting job done at dealer

9 hours ago, Othen said:

... has a very pretty blond receptionist lady).

 

9 hours ago, jafo said:

Is it worth overpaying ??

 

Well, IMHO, we need some naked pictures to make any sufficiently informed judgement on this. Anything else is pure conjecture. 

2 hours ago, TheRobinK said:

 

 

Well, IMHO, we need some naked pictures to make any sufficiently informed judgement on this. Anything else is pure conjecture. 

 

... whilst she is very helpful, I don't think she would go that far!

:-)

Edited 11 February, 20179 yr by Othen
Spelling error.

11 hours ago, jafo said:

Is it worth overpaying ??

 

... well, having weighed this one up I think the decision is just with the dealer. The car is only 3 1/2 years old so I'm getting a contribution from Skoda that the independant would not have been able to manage, I'll get a warranty on the work, maintain the FSSH and get a free loan car for the day. It is probably costing me about £60 more than if I had the work done by the VW independant, but this time round I think it is worth that much.

 

Will I leave maintenance with the dealer? Perhaps not as the car gets older.

Edited 11 February, 20179 yr by Othen
Spelling mistake.