Hi guys

 

So, I bought an Superb MkII 1.8 TSI Estate (2011-reg, 61k mileage, partial Skoda service history, purchased from third-part dealer) earlier in the month (Nov), and am kicking myself for not reading up properly before making the purchase, as it looks like the car has got massive oil consumption problems as widely written about here*. Oil warning light came on a day after driving it home, and after checking the dipstick, topped up 1L of 504.00 (its currently on variable servicing) and thought nothing of it. Today, the warning light came on again and I've had to top it up again. I've done 850 miles between top-ups, which equates to circa 730ml per 1000km, well over the 500ml/1000km stated in the manual.

 

I've now spend the afternoon reading the various threads on these problems, and am gutted that this otherwise superb (pun intended) car is probably going to cost me another £1.5k - £2k to put right, assuming new pistons and con-rods are in order, not to mention it probably has the old tensioner fitted as well.

 

Anyway, my ask of you guys is how should I go about maximising my chances, slim as they are, of getting any costs reimbursed by the main Skoda dealer or Skoda UK? My thoughts as follows:

1. Contact dealer and get an oil consumption test done (dealer may charge if results do not show excessive consumption).
2. Dealer is likely to recommend changing the piston and con-rods. Dealer likely to quote full price for the job.
3. At this point do I raise a case with Skoda UK, quoting that its a manufacturing defect? What is the best tactic? Should I let on that I know this is a known issue?

 

On a separate note, the car is still under a third-party dealer warranty (Warranty First), but there's a clause the excludes cover for "inherent faults ... that existed at the time of purchase" so I assume this is a non-starter.

 

Any advice is appreciated ... may well be saving me some money 

 

* Relevant posts are here, here, here, and here.

 

What about the trader you bought it from. The car is obviously not fit for purpose and you are within the 30 days from when you bought it. (I am presuming the 30 days quality then return to sender if not fit for purpose etc.) As you say the Warranty First if it excludes that item then it is not much use for this problem. Me I would take it back to the dealer it is his problem that he is trying to of load on to you. I would be surprised if he did not know about it.

Give it back under 30 day consumer rights act. Make sure its under 30 days. Reject it as major fault existing at point of sale, refer to the 1.8tsi known issue sources. Do not be fobbed off, do not accept any investigation which will stall the process and push you over 30 days.

Edited 24 November, 20187 yr by xman

52 minutes ago, xman said:

Give it back under 30 day consumer rights act. Make sure its under 30 days. Reject it as major fault existing at point of sale, refer to the 1.8tsi known issue sources. Do not be fobbed off, do not accept any investigation which will stall the process and push you over 30 days.

 

That was going to be my follow-up question. If they counter-offer to investigate with a promise to repair, then it pushes it past 30 days at which point they are only obliged to repair or replace (though as a small third-party dealer I'm not sure how the latter can be achieved).

 

How about if they just stall and don't respond until past the 30 days? Where do I stand? Would be good to understand if anyone else has been through this before. Whilst they were perfectly professional during the sale, as a small independent dealer (as opposed to a bigger chain-dealers) I am anticipating a bigger pushback if I attempt to reject. They don't even have an email on their website ... all my dealings with them were over the phone!

I am not able to advise you legally.

 

If it were me, I would take the car back tomorrow with all the paperwork and refuse to leave until they refund you. Print some selected examples showing Skoda limits of consumption and a written calculation showing your oil consumption, how much and what oil you added, with receipts etc.

 

You must get something in writing, signed and dated by the most senior exec.

Edited 24 November, 20187 yr by xman

If they fail to comply and not sign anything then simply record on your phone, using the video with a witness what has been described above. firstly take as above the appropriate paperwork, from this site to include what xman has noted. Be polite but be VERY firm and controlled.

I doubt you will get anywhere with Skoda UK mine was purchased from a dealership so they have fixed it under their own 3 month warranty. It’s probably cost them as much as I paid for it.

 

 

1 hour ago, Nuclear_Jules said:

I doubt you will get anywhere with Skoda UK mine was purchased from a dealership so they have fixed it under their own 3 month warranty. It’s probably cost them as much as I paid for it.

 

 

 

For the avoidance of doubt, is that a Skoda dealer or third party / independent dealer?

Skoda dealer Sparshatts in Botley.

 

Mine had been run on the variable service schedule is that the problem? 

 

Is the oil not not up to the job or is it just that it gets old and contaminated?

 

i would be interested to see if there’s s correlation between ring blockage and variable service schedule.

Doesn't matter what caused the problem, or what dealer it is. This is a known design issue, and the engine is toast or will be in a matter of weeks.

 

It is seven years old, forget about Skoda and goodwill, that stops at six years sharp and even if less than six years old, only in exceptional circumstances with immaculate full skoda service record plus the original supplying and servicing dealer willing to stump 50% of the repair costs according to the Skoda goodwill matrix.

 

Don't bother getting involved with an engine rebuild. You didn't buy the car for that and too many risks.

 

Get your refund ASAP.

Thanks @xman, @Danny 57, some good solid advice there. Gonna ring the dealer tomorrow. Unfortunately they aren't a large dealership, just a small independent dealer operating out of an industrial unit. I can't even find a company registration for them - its probably a one-man band operating as a sole trader, which makes the likelihood of pushback greater, IMO. With a larger company there's always an escalation route, but if its the "owner" I'm dealing with then the only escalation route available is the small claims court!

 

We'll see how I get on.

 

On a related note, I had a look at my exhaust pipe today and its caked in burnt oil / soot. Hindsight is a great thing ...

Edited 25 November, 20187 yr by tiching99

10 hours ago, Nuclear_Jules said:

Skoda dealer Sparshatts in Botley.

 

Mine had been run on the variable service schedule is that the problem? 

 

Is the oil not not up to the job or is it just that it gets old and contaminated?

 

i would be interested to see if there’s s correlation between ring blockage and variable service schedule.

 

From everything I've read it is a design/engineering flaw in the piston oil scraper ring which fails prematurely. I've not read anything about it being linked to variable servicing. It really has put me off VAG group vehicles now.

Variable / Flexible Servicing is not really the issue with TSI's in general, but Long Life Oil so VW 504 / 5w 30 FS Long Life,  Castrol Crap might well contribute.

Contribute to the early demise of 'some' lemons that are a 1.2, 1.4, 1.8 or 2,0 Euro 5 TSI. 

Many are still going strong.

 

So VW Recommended Spec and Manufacturers Oil, be that Quantum LL or Mobile or any. 

 

Many have no Component, Software or Consumables issues or failings, but then if they have VW were not admitting or saying so.

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