I'd like your thoughts on my service interval as I'm new to the minefield of Skoda servicing and don't want to get ripped off (I'm not on a service plan).
Having read through some posts it looks like my VRS is set to variable, which sounds common for new cars.

I took delivery in March 2019 and it's telling me the first oil service is due soon, which works out as after 574 days (about 19 months), or after 14727 miles.  I'm guessing these odd numbers are down to the car deciding when the oil needs changing.  Today the car is on 10600 miles.

It also says when my first inspection is due  - it works out as at 2yrs old or 20k miles, so next March.

 

Since my annual mileage is low (6-7000) and I want to keep the car for a good while yet, I reckon I need to switch to a fixed annual oil & inspection service.  I like the idea of the car knowing that my oil needs changing after 19 months instead of 12 - much cheaper that way - but I also do a lot of short journeys in between the occasional long journey so maybe 19 months is too long.  Plus telling me to just change the oil now, and then book in for just an inspection in five months time does not seem like a good use of my time and money.  Does anyone pay for just an inspection with no oil change?  Also I'd rather not have more visits than necessary since there's no service centre in my town.

 

Are there any warranty issues with getting an Oil and Inspection Service now instead, and asking them to change to fixed intervals?  Or should I try to start the annual regime so it's around the car's birthday, e.g. get the oil changed now, then do the proper 2nd service in March rather than just an inspection?  Seems odd to have my annual service seven months after its birthday, since Skoda base their plans on cars being x years old. 

 

And the prices! On the Skoda site I can see the Oil and Inspection Service for 3yo cars is £184 (used to be £149 didn't it?!) and I've read that dealers often price match for newer cars.  But if I go to book a service it doesn't recognise my reg, maybe because I bought it through a broker I don't know. If I add details manually and say it's 1 year old they want £199 for a 1st service plus £29 for an aircon cleanse, but I think that's optional.  Does that sound right?  I feel like I need to barter them down to £184, and forget the aircon.  How does a 1st service differ from an Oil and Inspection Service?

 

Sorry for all the questions but I feel like I need to choose carefully in case I end up on the wrong path. ta
 

Personally I would find a vag specialist nearby to you who uses genuine vag parts and has access to the online database to update your service. You will save a lot of money that way.

Annual oil and filter based on your mileage and usage all the way. Variable is made for fleet owners watching costs. 

 

12 hours ago, Ecomatt said:

Personally I would find a vag specialist nearby to you who uses genuine vag parts and has access to the online database to update your service. You will save a lot of money that way.

Good point.

 

 

1 hour ago, gav_is_con said:

Annual oil and filter based on your mileage and usage all the way. Variable is made for fleet owners watching costs. 

Thanks.  As it's 19 months old, I'm right in the middle of when the 1st and 2nd services are due.  What would you do right now?

I have my own system with any of my VAG group cars over the years still have 3 in the house. It’s been discussed here also. I only ask for an oil service becoming quite rare now at dealers. Thankfully my Skoda one and I convinced a Seat one to do just that, supplying my own oil and filter, genuine parts of course. They do that and also a free health check(as good as an inspection) and wash/vac for around £60-80. That’s included picking the car from my house and dropping it back. My book gets stamped too. 

 

Air and pollen filters I do myself, brake fluid and fuel filters I always pay whatever they ask all inc parts to replace. Just personal choice about how dirty I want to get my hands.

 

When you compare on paper the major and minor service I don’t see you get that much to justify the near double cost. Even always going for minor and then paying the extra for the odd filter may work out cheaper. 

 

Even with air filters I replace a lot more aggressively than the advised intervals. Pollen 2 years or 1 again your choice. 

To answer your question 19 months old. Book it in if you don’t want to leave it so long rather than waiting the full 24 months. 

18 minutes ago, CheersDrive said:

 

Good point.

 

 

Thanks.  As it's 19 months old, I'm right in the middle of when the 1st and 2nd services are due.  What would you do right now?

My Superb is 18 months old and just under 14,000 miles yet the first oil change is still 3 months away according to the onboard computer. It will get the Inspection service at around 42 months and whatever the mileage is then. I bought the car last December with 2 free services however.

Personally I wouldn't leave it 12 months for an oil change. I changed my car to variable service and did my own oil and filter change at 12 months. I might look for a VW specialist for the 2 year service because like so many I find the dealer charges excessive. Air filter wise I fitted a Pipercross because they're £40 and cleanable so I can do that myself, Pollen filter I cleaned by vac at 6 months and again at 12 months, but I will order a new one next time I'm ordering any car parts. For the oil change I used a Bosch filter and Manol oil. I doubt any dealer takes as much care as a proud owner. I will reluctantly have the 2 year service to keep the warrantee - and please don't tell me the garage will be inspecting the used oil filter and oil and determining it's been changed previously

I've phoned a couple of local(ish) VAG specialist garages and they charge about £150 inc VAT for an oil/oil filter/pollen filter change, so that beats Skoda whether or not they include pollen filter in their £199 asking price. One of the garages said they upgrade the filter to an anti-microbial one as well.

They reckon it's ok to start an annual regime now, so I could be having my 2nd service when it's over 2.5 years old.  Interestingly Skoda seemed cheaper for the 2nd service but I'm not sure of the exact breakdown of what they both do. 

 

 

 

The skoda service does very little, I thought about buying a service plan when they had an offer on, they don't do spark plugs on a full service for example. 

12 minutes ago, CheersDrive said:

I've phoned a couple of local(ish) VAG specialist garages and they charge about £150 inc VAT for an oil/oil filter/pollen filter change, so that beats Skoda whether or not they include pollen filter in their £199 asking price. One of the garages said they upgrade the filter to an anti-microbial one as well.

They reckon it's ok to start an annual regime now, so I could be having my 2nd service when it's over 2.5 years old.  Interestingly Skoda seemed cheaper for the 2nd service but I'm not sure of the exact breakdown of what they both do. 

 

 

 

You got me thinking after this post. I am the go to for family and friends with VAG cars. Brother in law had his Audi A5 TDI done with these guys, who I used to use about 20 years ago to service our Golfs. 

Juat as a bench mark the price of a full service is very good and they actually replace everything listed. Due to COVID they dropped the Pollen filter change and reduced the price by about £20, but compared to main dealer it’s an absolute bargain. Plus they update and provide a printout from the Audi computer/history system. 

A good independent really is worth finding. 

Edited 3 October, 20205 yr by gav_is_con
Additional photo

Just had a thought - if my car develops a fault at some point and I need to make use of the Skoda 3-year warranty, I had assumed I would have to go direct to Skoda.  I can imagine them refusing me because I'd used an independent garage for servicing.  But one of the garages I'm thinking of using describe themselves as approved suppliers of parts and able to carry out any warranty work.  Is that for real, I don't necessarily have to ever visit a Skoda site even for warranty stuff?