I have had my 2015 Fabia III for almost a year, bought from a main dealer, during this time I have done less than 3,000 miles. It is telling me I neeed an oil change. My local dealer also sent me a text to say the same. I texted them back asking the cost of an oil change, they said £222. 

I have a service book but no history. I would not change the oil after 3k miles I’d do it at 5k but when was it last changed? I have no idea. 

The cost seems excessive to me, would you find an independent to do the work or do it yourself? 

 

 

Welcome.

 

Can you do it yourself?, then maybe just do that!

 

If your car is on Fixed Servicing or even variable then an Oil & Filter service is sensible, and due.

372 days / 9,400 miles,  or 24 months/ 18,500 miles.

*Check what servicing record it has with Skoda on their system'.

 

Up to you if you want to ignore Servicing Schedules but that is not such a good idea if you are keeping a car.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes 

 

Skoda Servicing can be £159, or £279 or what ever. 

(rip off major servicing, simply taking the Michael.) You will not get new spark plugs or air filter.)

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

That is at participating dealers, cars 3-10 years old, Fixed Servicing etc. 

You can get cheaper or more expensive obviously.

 

You want the Brake Fluid changed at 3 years, that is £52.

You need servicing by someone before your warranty expires, as it is your car seems to be over the Variable Servicing schedule if you have never had it done.

 

Go to an independent if you want for the Oil & Filter change, Pollen Filter, inspection etc.

?

What engine do you have? 

There could be 'Service Campaign' work or Software Updates due, check with a Skoda Main Dealer or Skoda UK Customer services, 

and get the Service Record for your car if there is any.  ie 1.4TDI & Coolant change.

http://skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us 

Edited 9 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

It’s a 1.2 Tsi 90 petrol

 

I’m on a Flexible Service Schedule 2 years or 20k which ever is first.

 

First reg was March 2015.

 

Skoda have told me the next service is March 2019 but the car says I have 26 days left for a oil change.

 

Has the service been set wrong on the car?

Yes it was set wrong.

 

But do you really want to leave the Oil & Filter a long period of time if doing such a low annual mileage.

Check the Filler cap to see you do not have condensation (h2o) in the oil if you do short runs. 

 

Are you checking the Tyres, inside and outside walls, the Brakes & Steering etc, because leaving a car un-serviced or not inspected underneath for 2 winters is not a great idea.

Yes, I agree. 

It’s almost ready for two front tyres.

I will change oil and filter and have a look underneath.

i was just taken aback by the charges.

 

Thanks for your help.

You will void the Warranty if any left and maybe any goodwill, but if the car is OK no need for Dealership ripoffs.

 

How many miles on the car now?

 

5w 30 FS Oil  Long Life VW504 00, (must be for Variable servicing)

or go to 5w 40 FS VW 502 00.  (fine for fixed servicing, not because cheaper, just because not long life oil, short life TSI engine)

  New Sump Plug and Filter. 

 Suck out the oil if you want, and maybe still change the sump plug. 

Pollen Filter, Inspect the Air Filter. 

& check coolant and maybe even the brake fluid level.

Cheers.

 

15,000 miles.

 

Skoda have told me they have it wrong.

 

1st MoT next month.

Be sure there is nothing you need done that could be a Warranty item and sorted now, 

The car has Full Main Dealer Servicing History as it is/

 

You can get a 13 month MOT, do not go to a Skoda DEalership for it.

so Mot's before the 3 years, and that means you have a pass & maybe any Advisories, and faults picked up on.  Then go to Skoda Dealership to get done.

Just had a quote for 2nd 2year 20,000 mile service from my local dealer. £299.96.

 

22 miles away at another Skoda dealer £189 Inc vat.

 

It's worth shopping around and travelling a little further to save money in my opinion.

^^^ Both prices are ridiculous @ 20,000 miles.

There are no new spark plugs going in, no air filter,  so just basically a Minor / Inspection service and a Pollen Filter', 

Charging the same price at 2 years as at 4 years yet parts not replaced.

Are the spark plugs checked/cleaned? Is the air filter checked?

No, the cost to remove and look, then refit the old plugs would not make that worthwhile, same for the air filter.

Oh dear,rip off then.

They will look at the brakes, just to check that it is safe for them to drive your car, ie check that brakes are still fitted - and give the car a quick hoover out and wash.

 

What I was meaning about the plugs and air filter is, both these items, on the majority of cars, will have been given a "safe" service life, and so will get ignored unless there is an issue, until it is time for them to be replaced, which is fair enough, now if we all wanted to pay for a mini engine strip down and inspection at each service they would do that and charge for that, but that has been deemed unnecessary and we would not like these extra charges.

It used to be, 

Minor Service (Inspection Service) @ 12 months / 9,400 miles,  and Major Service next 12 months / 9,400 miles.

 

Now Fixed Service or Variable.

 

The thing is after 1 year it is not the Pollen Filter change interval,

& @ 2 years there is no Service Replacement items like Spark Plugs, Air Filter. 

 

So Pollen filter is at 2 years,  Brake Fluid @ 3 years.    Spark Plugs, 40,000 miles / 4 Years.   Airfilter 40,000 miles / 4 years, some say 60,000  miles.

 

That means the 1st Service Fixed & the 2nd service fixed or variable is taking money for old rope if it is £279 the same as after 3 years.

How can you go charge for more labour time than is spent, parts not used, then put 20% VAT onto that. 

Con left right and centre. Defrauding actually if VAT is charged on service and parts not done.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/444782-how-do-dealers-get-away-with-this 

Page 2,

a member works in a dealership that seems to do things as they should be done.

Edited 10 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

I thought the way things worked nowadays was, there was a fixed sum for service type A and a fixed sum for service type B, for the extra parts at certain service times, you got charged extra for parts only, which still makes it sound like you have been maybe already charged a couple of times for that labour (at year 2 and year 4) when it did not take place.  

 

What was wrong with listing Minor and Major prices and also listing Major at 6 years etc etc, clear and honest.

 

As far as SEAT and maybe VW dealers used to go, after cars were 3 or 4 cars old, there was another service regime and that was higher priced (same) service type A and (same) service type B - pollen filter got changed every year and plugs air filter and maybe even fuel filter every other year - oh and maybe no hoover and wash, though I'd doubt if they would miss that essential part of the service out.

 

You see, if you hand your VW Group car into a main dealer, a car needs its pollen filter replaced every year and plugs and air filter and maybe fuel filter every other year - but only if you did not buy that car new from a main dealer - it is the price you pay for not spending all your money on a new car, ie payback time, quite simple and easy to understand?

This is no longer what suits many, as they use cars differently, drive in different places and might own them for a long time, 

not just change every 3 or 4 years.

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

 

People need advice on Brake Fluid, A/C, DSG, Haldex, Water Pumps, Timing Chains or Belts, Alarm Sirens etc and Service Desk Employees do not always know.

This is the bill for my 20,000, 2 year service. They wanted to charge the £279 but after discussion and a quote from Progress at Northampton it came down somewhat. Progress Suzuki Kettering are also Skoda authorised service agents. Take from this whatsoever you wish, I personally don't think it is totally unreasonable.

  

25 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

This is no longer what suits many, as they use cars differently, drive in different places and might own them for a long time, 

not just change every 3 or 4 years.

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

 

People need advice on Brake Fluid, A/C, DSG, Haldex, Water Pumps, Timing Chains or Belts, Alarm Sirens etc and Service Desk Employees do not always know.

 

Yes, I agree in that though I've always been warned/asked about brake fluid change and A/C clean recharge. 

 

Belts, this goes back a long time, and I've posted this before, but, a neighbour of our's who knew nothing about running cars and always uses his local Ford agent (that was in the days when a small dealer could exist and trade as a new/old Ford seller and service supplier), bought a brand new Ford Escort MK3 ie first of the front wheel drive ones with a 1.3 CVH engine, which was belt driven. So far so good, it got serviced by that place every year, then in year 4 or 5, he was driving home when "bang" dead engine, AA called and said "cambelt broken" - now this neighbour was no fool and when he got the car back to his local agent/dealer, he questioned why this had happened, and the answer was "you should have got that replaced at ??K miles or ?years and you didn't - that is all, £??? please to fix this as the head needs to come off"!  The garages really do need to start telling owners about this and reporting it on paper on the service receipt the year before the change is due, that way owners have only got themselves to blame if things go bad, as it stands, too many people are ignorant to what/when things need to get done to keep a car running, so their support agent, ie their garage should be keeping them up to date with what needs doing when as that works for both parties?

 

It is hardy rocket science as most biggish garages tend to use the same, or similar business management packages, so it must be able to use that car's history and that car type's requirements?

The New Cam belts still have a service life, and that is not a Global thing, the different World Regions are showing different KM's, 

seldom Miles.  And by years.

Then there are not just 'Timing chains' or 'Cam belts',  there are still auxiliary belts and that is something that is still lost in confusion when VW Group 

show Service Schedules and Guidelines, but then people should know they require inspection and do not last a lifetime of a car, 

or might, as long as service checks are done.

True, my S4 handbook does include advice on when the supercharger belt should be changed and the smart money for me has always been to replace the auxiliary belt either at 6,7,8 years as my usage is low, or when the belt shows signs of cracking, which ever comes first.

 

Edit:- I don't think a lot people understand how much damage potentially a breaking up or escaping auxiliary belt can do to the end of the engine, especially if that engine only has a light weight plastic cam belt cover.

Edited 10 February, 20188 yr by rum4mo

Nothing with the Mk2 Fabia vRS on replacing the 2 belts or the Water Pump / Supercharger Magnetic Clutch but some are going 

from 35,000 miles or so and by 6 years old.

I enquired at Progress Hitchin about replacing the Timing belt + waterpump on my wife's 64 plate MK3. They informed me that it should be replaced at 5 years or 120k miles which ever comes first.  I asked can I have this in writing, because if the belt failed the repairs would cost a small fortune, this drew a blank. I have seen various comments on when to  replace them can anyone give me a true answer that Skoda will honour.   thanks.

Skoda maintenance manual says inspect 1.2 TSI camshaft and water pump belt after 240000 km. It does not mention age at all. 

 

240000 km for a cambelt seems a lot to me.

Some cars will never get to 150,000 miles if they do 5-10,000 miles a year.

I would like to see a 12,000 miles a year 1.0 / 1.2 engine going 12 1/2 years without a water pump needing replaced.

 

So as for that service schedule that needs taking with a pinch of salt.

Edited 14 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki