I have a 2018 plate VRS Diesel (registered March 2018) - it's on lease, only a 2yr one and it's my second 2 yr lease on the VRS.  The first lease I had, after 12 months I took it for an intrim service (without any message prompting) as I thought it had to be done every 12 months to stop and "missed service" charges.  When I was handing it back I spoke to someone at VWFS who said I didn't need to get the service done as it's 2 yrs or 20k which ever is soonest and on my next lease to not pay for anything until it hit those 2yrs or 20k and that I would get a service alert when it was coming close to those times.  He said as it was only a 2 year lease, in theory if I handed it back just before the 2yrs were up then I could "get away" without having to pay for a service at all.

 

I have had this current VRS since march 2018 new registration, it has done 11,300 miles (17 months old) and I have an alert on the Dash saying "Oil Change Service in 5100 miles or 29 Days" and when I drill down in to the Service Information on the display there is also a message "Inspection in 8700 miles or 122 Days"

 

Regarding the Oil Change Service message......why is this coming up now, well before the 20k / 2yr date and is it something that I have to get done at Skoda Dealer in order for it to show on the system as "done" so I don't get charged and fee's at the end of the lease (i.e missed service fee is nearly £500!!) - I don't like my local skoda dealer and would much prefer to use my local trusted mechanic but he obviously can only reset the oil warning message can't update the skoda systems??

 

Regarding the Inspection message......as 8700 miles take the car to 20k millage then I assume the 122 Days is just an estimate and that will adjust as the miles do, i.e If I don't drive the car for 3 months for example then check it, it would still show 8700 miles or 122 days and wouldn't have counted down saying now 8700 miles or 32days?

Meant to say as well the Days on the Oil Change Service message are definitely counting down, so I am assuming this has been set to 18months requirement rather than based on millage?

It might be the type of journeys the car is being used for, primarily short ones which is affecting the quality of the oil. If it had been set to 12 months or 9,400 mile oil service it would have told you to get it serviced months ago. It is a little odd however because the wife's Karoq petrol was bought in Jan 2018 and is only now after 17,900 miles that the oil service is due in 800 miles.

4 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

It might be the type of journeys the car is being used for, primarily short ones which is affecting the quality of the oil. If it had been set to 12 months or 9,400 mile oil service it would have told you to get it serviced months ago. It is a little odd however because the wife's Karoq petrol was bought in Jan 2018 and is only now after 17,900 miles that the oil service is due in 800 miles.

 

Yep I thought the timings / miles until message seemed at an "odd" time - it is used generally for short-ish journeys, daily work commute which is 10 miles each way (through standard traffic), weekend trips usually about 15 miles each way once or twice a weekend and only the long run out, probably a few hours each way on the motorway or country roads once a month.  However this is EXACTLY how the previous one was driven (which was also the VRS Diesel) and I didn't have a Oil Change message on that one......however I suppose they will have changed the oil on the 12 month interim service I got and reset the clock which may be why I was oblivious to it

Can I not just change the oil & filter myself (well not me, but a family member who used to do all of our cars) and re-set the indicator or will that flag up when I return it that it was "missed"? Or is it only the "inspection" that they require doing at a skoda dealership?

8 minutes ago, J1980 said:

Can I not just change the oil & filter myself (well not me, but a family member who used to do all of our cars) and re-set the indicator or will that flag up when I return it that it was "missed"? Or is it only the "inspection" that they require doing at a skoda dealership?

At minimum you need to use a VAT registered business to carry out the service with proof that genuine Skoda parts have been used to keep the warranty and probably the terms of your lease. Wifes car does 26 miles each way on her commute so 52 miles per day which is why it has gone 18,700 miles to the first service. My Vrs245 also 52 miles per day went 18,500 miles to its first service also for comparison.

Thanks for you reply - I think I am getting a little confused though between this "oil change" and "inspection" only one must be a service. No reputable company would expect you to pay for 2 services within (going by the indicators) a little over 3 months between them surely?  I am a little remis to pay over £100 for an intrim service now, to cover off the "oil change" alert and then again pay hundreds for a Service in another 8000 or 122 days?? That can not be right surely?

VW Group car servicing is a minefield, but there's a very simple answer to all your questions - have it serviced by Skoda within 29 days.

 

If you're looking to save money, then depending where you live, take the three or four nearest dealers and ask how much they charge for long-life servicing. Ask for the usual price then ask how much without the pollen filter change.

 

I think I paid around £170 for a long life service less £40 because I didn't have the filter changed. Simply order a filter yourself from a 3rd party - it shouldn't cost more than £10. (and keep the receipt). Dead easy to replace yourself, it's located behind the glovebox. So that worked out at £140 in total.

 

You'd be struggling to have the car serviced at a 3rd party garage for less than that.

 

PS - Variable servicing is determined by the oil degregation sensor - so timing depends on a number of factors - how the car is driven and environment, not how many miles you've driven.

 

 

Edited 8 August, 20196 yr by Guest

Ok thank you. 

 

Im not going to get it done in the now 26 days as I go on holiday on Monday for 3 weeks - I’ll have to sort it when I’m back.

 

to clarify, if I get the service done that you are talking about, that will cover off the oil change alert, will it also reset the inspection due alert in 122 days?? That is my concern, that I pay for this service now then get stung again in 3 months 

They should reset both counters 

12 minutes ago, Kenai said:

They should reset both counters 

Great thanks - I’ll make sure that they have before I leave the garage with it!