Service costs - Independant v Dealer

[Jase_31]

How much are people paying for servicing, cambelt change and dsg oil at independant v dealers.

 

Dealers publish the prices on the skoda site, £184 for basic oil change, 59 (for additonal scope), £199 for DSG, £594 for Cambelt.

 

 

[DB72]

I've just booked in my 2018/ 3 year old/ 21000 miles 1.4 TSi for "Oil Service and Inspection" at DM Keith Leeds at a cost of £279.  Or should I say that's what I thought they said but your figures are now making me wonder if I misheard. 

[Ootohere]

The Skoda UK Fixed Price Service & Maintenance prices published are on cars.

3-10 years old, & at Participating Dealers, and Dealers can charge less, and can charge more.

 

Now Oil & Inspection Service and extended Scope each 3 years.

But

some still quote on Minor / Interim Services and Major Services.    https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance-fixed-price

 

Best ask what is actually getting done, and what parts will be replaced and that you will be paying for. 

Are wheels really coming off?

Only visible belts are being inspected.

Is the Haldex actually having the screen cleaned?

Is that Body Inspection all that Skoda UK require for the Corrosion Warranty?    (The warranty T&C.s do not say Body Inspections required in the 10 years.)

 

 

Edited 24 December, 2020 by e-Roottoot

[LordTyrion]

I had an oil service 3 weeks ago, same garage changed my winter tyres, I supplied them, at the same time. Total cost, £120.

 

The joy of an independent and even better they are located 50 metres opposite my work. I spoke to them beforehand, I've used them to swap my tyres and for other cars for years. They know the skoda schedule, know what has to be done, the correct oils to be used etc. Once out of warranty it is a no brainer against official skoda servicing and pricing. 

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

The vast majority of the time an independent will be cheaper than a dealer, I've seen some instances where that isn't the case. 

 

The argument might point towards quality of workmanship, "an independent garage might produce a higher standard of work" you might say. I've seen stark levels of incompetence and terribly bad practice performed by private garages, then again I've seen things go on in dealers that have made my **** boil. The best technicians I've had the pleasure of working with over the years have all been from a dealer background, it's the people who don't let the corporate crap turn them into a droid, who don't believe in bonus schemes and time save incentives. They just do the job correctly and often suffer financially as a result.

 

At the end of the day, in 2020 a decent vehicle repairer is difficult to come by. Even more difficult to come by is your hard-earned cash. 

 

If you value the virtual skoda service book stamp and a strong fighting point for brand support should you suffer a serious issue outside the warranty period then the dealer is for you. Give them a call and have a chat with them. You might just get through to a real person who's happy to price match another garage or to knock a few quid off to win your custom? 

 

Or a good independent might be your preferred choice. There's some excellent garages out there that generally give a damn and have their own plus points for choosing them. 

 

Sadly I have no choice but to maintain my own fleet 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[KeteCantek]

I have serviced with Skoda for the 2 years I have owned the car but took it to 4rings Dartford for haldex oil change (+filter clean) and DSG service. 

 

I read that 4rings are cheaper than dealer prices and highly recommended including by someone I know. 

 

Alas the prices are similar to Skoda dealer but I took it in anyway. Good service, they know what they are doing. I also realised they are in fact cheaper than dealers if you compare to Audi dealers, not Skoda!😂

 

 

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

Our newly opened Audi dealer is £60 an hour plus VAT dearer than we are and charges double what we do for service work, for the same job 🤯

[ocddetailer]

Having dealt with james and francesca from the Rochdale branch at the begining of the month i can honestly say that this young man knows his stuff and cares,he sorted my couple of issues perfectly and knew from a human being point of view what i required,not perhaps what skoda would want but due to his knowledge and great customer service i would whole heartedly reccommend  this particular branch for service.Very rare to find this level of friendly service these days and the very reason i moved from the 4 rings back to skoda.Keep it going james your a genuine guy 

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

1 hour ago, ocddetailer said:

Having dealt with james and francesca from the Rochdale branch at the begining of the month i can honestly say that this young man knows his stuff and cares,he sorted my couple of issues perfectly and knew from a human being point of view what i required,not perhaps what skoda would want but due to his knowledge and great customer service i would whole heartedly reccommend  this particular branch for service.Very rare to find this level of friendly service these days and the very reason i moved from the 4 rings back to skoda.Keep it going james your a genuine guy 

 

And a pleasure it was too. 

 

We don't always get it right but we do always try our best 🙂

[Jase_31]

What quite surprised when looking at costs, that the dealers was no more expensive (or maybe cheaper) than an independent. 

 

Having said that the service does appear to be an "inspection" and and "oil change" - so not much is actually done routinely. Is it better to follow this schedule? or something else?

 

 

 

 

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

I'd like to think that a great deal of research was conducted over the entire span of the country to find an average price to charge for service work throughout the dealer network 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

Obviously parts are supplied at a preferential rate to dealers and they are typically bound by the conditions of the fixed price servicing scheme should they sign up to it.

 

The information they give on their own UK based website doesn't correlate with what their service sheets populate when they're printed off from their own internal dealer portal 🙄

 

That said we have adapted what we do and how we do it. We offer everything on the fixed price scheme and extras. For instance the filter basket cleaning on a haldex oil change - not part of the actual operation according to the manual but we will carry out the task for an additional small fee to cover the extra labour and parts cost of the seals. 

 

Regarding the actual service schedule of oil change then oil change and inspection at pretty much every dealership you have a free vehicle health check carried out with any job that has a labour line created. Even if you only book in for an oil change service your vehicle will most likely be subjected to some form of tyre, brake and suspension check over with a report provided thereafter.

Edited 24 December, 2020 by James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale

[Jase_31]

Thanks James,

 

Only just coming over to Skoda - on a Superb 2018 2,0TDI, and have used independents for years (Mercedes / Citroen etc). Bought car from Skoda dealer, and always expected to find a local independant specialist, so  was surprised about servicing costs.

 

Moved to an independent with Mercedes, as the local dealer wanted a fortune for a job (engine out, book hours etc), which an independent did with engine in - at far lower cost) and never went back. 

 

Is there any info on the web - for a recommended service schedule for a Superb (2.0TSI, with 7 speed DSG). 

 

Is DSG service interval 80k - seems some dispute.

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

With that engine and gearbox combination you're looking at something like this:

 

-an oil change every year or 15000km (9400miles ish)

-pollen filter every 2 years

-plugs every 40k miles (a must)

-air filter every 60k miles (I'd do it with the plugs to be honest) 

-no fuel filter on the majority of MQB vehicles these days 

-brake fluid after the third year then every two years thereafter 

-air con every two years

 

The DSG oil is 40k miles. The fixed price on this service (for god knows what reason) doesn't include a filter!?! Worth having it done with a dealer for support further down the line. The main cost is the parts. The labour cost is minimal.

 

If you have an active front differential then the oil is due every 3 years.

 

If you have all wheel drive then the haldex is due at 3 years, personally I believe it should be every 25k miles but VWG have decided that it's now going off age 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Jase_31]

Thanks James, 

 

Great Stuff.

 

Is the oil change fixed interval  (or does it run variable depending on driving style) as some of the Mercedes did?

So you mean change glowplugs - as its a diesel no sparkplugs?

It is a 7 speed DSG - so I think it might be a DQ381? As you say, it seems to say fluid only no filter. Ive been told that it is 80k service interval recommended by Skoda?? but there is conflicting info around..

Dont think there is a active front diff, and I dont have all wheel drive. 

 

Should we have a cambelt in there somewhere? Does it need a waterpump

 

So looking at Skoda fixed servicing it seems to be £184 every year, and "extended scope" every other year -is this just more inspection/labour?

 

Then add on DSG/Pollen/Brakes/air filter/brake fluid as extras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

My apologies, it does say 2.0TSI in your last message, typo, worse things happen at sea. 

 

With it being a diesel there is no requirement for plugs (only replace them when they fail), it does have a fuel filter that I'd aim to replace at 40k miles.

 

Cam belt is due at 5 years or 80k + depending on engine, that's engine code and build time specific. Water pump is best replaced along with it unless it fails beforehand.

 

Diesel engines can be set to a variable regime whereby the time and distance has a maximum value of 18700 miles or 2 years. The vehicle will work out and count down to when it deams the service should be carried out. 

 

Yes you'll have the DQ381 transmission which VWG would have you believe will suffer no issues with the same oil slushing around for 80k, personally again I'd recommend it's changed at half that to prevent issues down the line. 

Edited 24 December, 2020 by James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale

[KeteCantek]

On 24/12/2020 at 16:21, James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale said:

Our newly opened Audi dealer is £60 an hour plus VAT dearer than we are and charges double what we do for service work, for the same job 🤯

That's why independent Audi specialist I went to was 'cheaper' hahaha

[KeteCantek]

21 hours ago, James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale said:

With that engine and gearbox combination you're looking at something like this:

 

-an oil change every year or 15000km (9400miles ish)

-pollen filter every 2 years

-plugs every 40k miles (a must)

-air filter every 60k miles (I'd do it with the plugs to be honest) 

-no fuel filter on the majority of MQB vehicles these days 

-brake fluid after the third year then every two years thereafter 

-air con every two years

 

The DSG oil is 40k miles. The fixed price on this service (for god knows what reason) doesn't include a filter!?! Worth having it done with a dealer for support further down the line. The main cost is the parts. The labour cost is minimal.

 

If you have an active front differential then the oil is due every 3 years.

 

If you have all wheel drive then the haldex is due at 3 years, personally I believe it should be every 25k miles but VWG have decided that it's now going off age 🤷🏼‍♂️

Not that I am near Rochdale but no filter change for the DSG service ? I always thought they have a filter that needs changing while at it. 

 

Do you do it at additional cost? 

 

The independent I did mine at charges the same price as Skoda fixed price for DSG service but includes a filter change. Mine is a dq200 6 speed. 

[Ootohere]

The OP has another thread running.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/488385-how-much-have-you-paid-for-dsg-service-dq380381-7-speed-wet-or-cambelt-change

 

 

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

18 hours ago, KeteCantek said:

Not that I am near Rochdale but no filter change for the DSG service ? I always thought they have a filter that needs changing while at it. 

 

Do you do it at additional cost? 

 

The independent I did mine at charges the same price as Skoda fixed price for DSG service but includes a filter change. Mine is a dq200 6 speed. 

 

The 6 speed filter is always changed with the oil during the service.

 

On the 7 speed the filter is not as easily accessible and requires additional time to replace. It could be done during the service but for an extra cost.