Looking for some advice... I recently bought a mk3 octavia estate and was given 1 years' manufacturing warranty from the skoda dealer. I'd like to get my local independent VAG specialist to give it a service, new oil etc soon for peace of mind.

 

Question is, if they service it should they update the electronic service record? Would it affect the warranty?

 

 

1) Skoda UK tend to only offer goodwill warranty work if you have a full Skoda service history.

2) I doubt that an independent can update the electronic service record which is held on Skoda servers.

Full Service History is a history of stuff being done, with a Free Market get Service & Maintenance and not just Oil, filter , look see and a Wash & Vacuum.

Full Main Dealer Service Histories often shows just what FMDS's miss out. 

Like missing Brake Fluid Changes, DSG Oil Servicing and Haldex Servicing to Guidelines or Recommendation / Schedules but still saying FMDSH.

 

 

& Forget Goodwill.

That is over rated with Skoda / VW now.   It is a con.  Offers of 'goodwill' when there are fundamental faults in design, manufacturing and materials...

(Skoda knocking back paint and corrosion warranties because FMDSH cars have no records of the Body Inspections, yet they know that Main Dealership staff must be who never did that.)

 

A Warranty requires Servicing to Manufacturers Guideline, Recommendations /Schedules.   

No Serviced by Main Dealerships.

 

As it is a Skoda, VW, SEAT, Audi 'Approved Car' with a 12 Month Warranty from a Main Dealers and FMDSH might not be serviced up to now to 'Guidelines or Recommendations.

 

So get Serviced at a VAT Registered Garage using OEM parts or the parts as Main Dealers Use which is what the Independent Specialist will use, 

sourced from the same places as Main Dealerships.

 

Get the Invoices and a record,  and Independents with Licenced Equipment can update Records, get TPI's, Service Campaigns etc.

They will likely be better at changing Service Interval etc as usually they are Trained & Qualified ex Main Dealer Technicians, 

Difference is they have all the gear and more between the ears than those still at Main Dealerships.

Edited 25 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

8 minutes ago, Skoffski said:

Difference is they have all the gear and more between the ears than those still at Main Dealerships.

Which is why for the last 20+ years I have used independents once my cars are out of manufacturer warranty - VAG did a goodwill repair to the suspension on my previous car that would have cost nearly £2000, which other owners who had the same (inherent design) fault but no FMDSH had to pay in full with no contribution.

Skoda UK's last Brand Director was offski to the USA to deny on behalf of VW there.

 

In came Rod McLeod as the boss to be all hard ball. & Cheri Cornish as the Resolutions Manager is at Skoda UK who now seem to be taking the pith on Faults,. Known Faults and Fundamental Design & Manufacturing faults and Valid Warranty Claims.

 

So what went as 'Goodwill' when Alasdair Stewart was Skoda UK Brand Director is a thing of the past.   VW Group have Billions of losses and fines miney to find by screwing customers and owners.

 

Vorsprung Durch Technik,  if you have to give Warranties and honour them so be it, if you can get out of warranties then fantastic.  If you can inflate repair costs and then give Goodwill then mission achieved.

Interesting comments. It seems a bit like insurance - if there's a n excuse or loophole which means the warranty can be voided then they will do so. What's frustrating is that I'd trust the independent specialist more than the main dealer, especially given the way I was treated when buying the car from Skoda in the first place.

 

I suppose I can stick to main dealer service for 1 year and then decide to change after that period if needed.

 

Hopefully I won't have to call on the warranty anyway, but you never know!

Could you clarify please.

 

Did you buy a Used Car and get the remainder of the Manufacturers warranty and 12 months Approved Car Warranty or just 12 months?

 

When was the car serviced last and up to now, is the servicing up to date?  Is it actually to Manufacturers Guidelines now & Fixed Serviced or on Variable Servicing.

 

If on Variable and 24 months / 18,000-20,000 miles then maybe no Service is required in the next 12 months, depends when last serviced.

 

Then at the End of the 12 Months Warranty you can buy a Skoda Warranty.

http://insurewithskoda.co.uk/extended-warranty

 

Yep, sorry I was a bit vague in the first post. I bought an approved used car from a Skoda main dealer. It had ~6 months remaining on the original warranty from new when I bought it, but the dealer extended that 12 months from the date I purchased it.

 

It's been serviced according to manufacturer's guidelines as far as I can tell, but I only have the electronic record. I'm not sure if it's on fixed or variable but will check.

 

Thanks for clarifying the intervals, very helpful. Useful link to the extended warranty options too 

OK.

 

So a Skoda Approved Used Car with 12 months Warranty.

 

Email the Dealership or Skoda UK and get the Service and Warranty work Record sent to you.  Or call in and get them to print it.

You should have been offered or given that when they sold you the car. *Sorry if that is the electronic record you have then good.*

It should show when serviced, 9,400 miles / 372 days or sooner or @ 24 Months / 18,000 plus miles or sooner.

You need to know what set on now.

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

 

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

 

 

So see it has been Serviced to Manufacturers Guidelines so far. Plenty Skoda Approved Used cars have not been Serviced to Manufacturers Guidelines or Recommendations.  Odd that, yet Skoda Warranties are Valid when they sell them...

The Brake Fluid is due a change @ 3 years.

 

Best get a service done before the MOT or after it,

and the MOT one month early, get a 13 month MOT, and get any Warranty Work carried out.

 

On the car you can check when the Service is due.  Just scroll through to check.

Edited 25 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

Cheers Skoffski, great advice