Hi all,

My little fabia has just been in for it's 2nd service.

The issue is the service was for an 'oil change service' but when I check the paperwork they have performed the 'inspection service' almost 4000 miles too early and have change the brake fluid without even asking me before it's due at 3 years old.

Before I go balistic with them. Anyone got some tips or info on servicing, other than what is in the owners manual.

Thanks

 

Just to add, the car was on variable servicing.

On variable 1st service is a basic oil change followed by the inspection service which is just a glorified oil change plus air/pollen filters. They should have asked you if you wanted the brake fluid changing unless they deemed with your current mileage that the next oil service would have been well after the 3 year period. What mileage are you at currently and when was your car first registered?

I had brake fluid changed as an "offer"

Car is 2 years 8 months old. Mileage is 25300. First service at ~13000, 18 months ago.

 

Just now, gumdrop said:

I had brake fluid changed as an "offer"

Define is that done for a lower price than normal or free combined with the normal service?

Not Over Serviced.  There is no Inspection and Major service for separate times. it is all just wrong terms used.

 

If you car was on Variable servicing then that is a 'Major service' as they call it, only difference from an 'Inspection; or 1 year fixed service is the pollen filter.

 

So how much are you paying and is the brake fluid being charged @£60.  ?

Does it have a new Air Filter and New Spark Plugs, if not do not pay £289 or anything like that.

 

If you were wanting it done in 4,000 miles or at 3 years they might have charged more than £60.

 

Mine MOT'd & Serviced yesterday. Lease up in 2 months. Car not 3 years old till November.

I never paid for the crappy cars MOT, or the Brake Fluid Change that was done, and if there had been a wiper that fitted it would have a new one on.

Crappy tyres are ones the car came with and Kwik Fit say do not need replaced. (For a year i had my own wheels and winter tyres on.)

I would not drive on the crap that they passed the MOT with and which someone will get as is when the car goes to auction.

Edited 17 September, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

I would ask them to explain the invoice and why they have carried out the work they have.

4 minutes ago, abaxas said:

Car is 2 years 8 months old. Mileage is 25300. First service at ~13000, 18 months ago.

 

So as it is only 4 months away then I think what the dealer did was reasonable to change it but they should have advised you by phone or text if you didn't wait at the dealer.

Edited 17 September, 20196 yr by shyVRS245
MISSING WORD

2 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

So as it is only 4 months away then I think what the dealer was reasonable to change it but they should have advised you by phone or text if you didn't wait at the dealer.

 

I actually waited at the dealer as I live 50 miles away in the middle of nowhere.

 

Just now, abaxas said:

 

I actually waited at the dealer as I live 50 miles away in the middle of nowhere.

 

No excuse from them not informing you then. Ask for a reduction in the bill or voucher off next service to compensate you as you live 50 miles away.

7 minutes ago, abaxas said:

Car is 2 years 8 months old. Mileage is 25300. First service at ~13000, 18 months ago.

 

 

4 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

So as it is only 4 months away then I think what the dealer did was reasonable to change it but they should have advised you by phone or text if you didn't wait at the dealer.

 

1 minute ago, abaxas said:

 

I actually waited at the dealer as I live 50 miles away in the middle of nowhere.

 

That seems like a reasonable move changing the brake fluid now, but if they didn't quote it up front they should have asked when you were on the premises.

??????????

Big question is.  How much are they wanting you to pay?

 

 

227.26 + vat = 272.712

 

What for?   Are they calling it an Interim Service and taking £179 & then the Brake Fluid change at £60.

Or should it be a 'Oil Service & £119, plus a Pollen filter & then the Brake Fluid change @ £60 ?

 

 

What has been done other than the Oil & Filter and look see.

What parts on the Invoice?

Oil & Filter.   £60 Max including VAT.

New Sump Plug.   £4 and that a rip off price.

Flush.  £5 

Pollen Filter. £16.

Visual Check, Road Test,  Reset Service Indicator. Free Wash & Vacuum.

Edited 17 September, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

This is for cars on Fixed Servicing which yours is not.    Yes participating dealers etc,  but not p!th taking Dealerships.  The car is not 3 years old, and it is just a 2nd service.

Do not pay for stuff not replaced, so if No Spark Plugs or Air Filter supplied and fitted do not pay for them.

 

Invoice shown at the bottom is another members from another thread with a very strange low price for the oil. 

 

Edited 17 September, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

I guess what is hacking me off is the car asked for an oil service but nothing else but the dealer has decided to move forward other things which I never asked for or had explained to me.

It feels like a 'bait and switch'.

 

?

So what price were you quoted for an Oil Service?

 

Your car was due a Service, that is if you want to keep it to recommended servicing.

?

Do you own the car and are you keeping it, and are you doing your own inspections / maintenance?

 

Someone needs to look stuff over, if you can do it yourself why not do your own Oil & Filter services, or use a Local Garage.

What I tend to do it go back to the main stealer until the MOT so any warrenty issues can be resolved before using the local VW specialist, who are much cheaper.

 

Good.

So how much were you quoted for the Oil Service?

Just pay that much and the Brake Fluid change as it was going to get done soon anyway, well where you are stick to guidelines.

5 hours ago, abaxas said:

I actually waited at the dealer as I live 50 miles away in the middle of nowhere.

 

Would you have minded driving 50 miles there and back for just the inspection in 4000 miles?

But they should have asked.

 

I tend to give them explicit instructions on what to do when mine goes in.

 

Thanks AG Falco

I think it was free with another

job or service

Define is that done for a lower price than normal or free combined with the normal service?

Edited 18 September, 20196 yr by gumdrop

Well of course most of us get "done" at the main dealers because we don't know enough and they know that we don't. Anyone can get the correct grade of oil on ebay for £16-18 for 5 litres (the car only needs 4 litres so you do the maths). Also modern synthetic oils are well made and usually good for at least 15k miles despite what the hand book might say (ask an expert and you will find out). It is quite important to change the brake fluid every two or three years because it slowly deteriorates although in the past I was ignorant of this fact and simply didn't bother on some of the old S/H cars that i used to own unless the brakes felt "spongy". Personally I believe that the best approach is to find a local garage or mobile mechanic who you can pretty well trust. I had such a man for several years (£90 for a full service) but have now moved house so am lookiing for another such gent. In the meantime the car is telling me to have an oil change because it's a year since the last one but I know that it is being stupid because I have only done 4 k miles since then and the oil is just fine so it will have to wait  until next  year. As far as filters are concerned, even dear old Skoda says that you don't need an air filter until you have done 40k miles and most of us don't need a pollen filter at all unless you suffer from hay fever.

@Eccles

The oil might be fine and maybe then there is water in that engine and condensation in there if the car gets short runs and oil and engine never up to temp.

(Some would rather buy a car that does 20,000 miles a year over one that does 4,000 miles a year.)

 

The Long Life oil is good for 20,000 miles in some circumstances according to VW Group, 

the VW502 for 10,000 and that can  be more.

 

No idea where you see the Air Filter change at 40,000 miles. as actually it can be said 60,000 miles, just it can be at a 2nd Major service it might get changed.

But then you look because depending on location location location they can be filthy in a year, or damp etc.

Spark plugs might be at 2nd Major Service for a change, especially if paying for that, yet others will say 60,000 miles. but then they are never checked for many years on low mileage cars.

 

Pollen filters can get damp, and dirty, and have bacteria.  You can check and clean them, or change them.

 

You can test Brake fluid for H20 content. you can check Coolant for strength, you can check tyres, tread and pressures.

Inspect wipers, check lights work etc.

 

There is so much you can do and so much that many never do so put it into someone that should be doing it if that is what they are paid to do.

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

 

Edited 22 September, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

Fair do's Rooty but my problem is that I know that main dealer mechanics cannot necessarily be trusted. How do I know this? 1. My best pal for many years, now passed away, worked for a main dealer for 20 years and he would tell me some of the doubtful things they would do. 2. My third brother was a service manager for a major and supposedly prestigeous main dealer until he retired recently. On his own admission his annual bonus was based on the value of the work that went through and he had all kinds of ways of boosting that value which were not necessarily "in the book". I have no reason to suppose that their behaviours were just isolated examples because when it comes down to it, they just ain't "professionals" in the true sense of that word.