More of a rant than a question but also a heads up to others.....

I have just received a phone call from DM Keith (Leeds) which as I anticipated was informing me that my car is approaching three years old and therefore due it's first MOT. Whilst informing me that my MOT was due, I was also informed that my brake fluid should be changed at three years old. My car had been in the dealership for a "Major Service" less than two months ago and it seems they did not change the brake fluid in the "Major Service" which cost £279.

Why on earth they wouldn't advise me about this when booking the car in for the "Major Service" I really don't understand, especially considering they were very quick to sell me an air con service for an extra £139 because that was recommended at three years.

Personally I would consider brake fluid servicing more important than air con servicing but DM Keith seem to think differently.

And main dealers wonder why they get bad press.

My dissatisfaction has been communicated to DM Keith directly so I'll see what they say but I'm not holding my breath for a positive response.

Incompetence.   It is basic common sense that if a car is being serviced at 34 months  then the owner should be asked if he wishes the brake fluid change done.

 

As for the extended service at 3 years old?  Looks like it is an extra £60 or so for lubricating the door hinges, a wheels off brake check and visual inspections.   As I am paying for an MOT at 3 years old which includes checks of the car  do I need to pay seperately for extended checks as part of the service?

 

I'm thinking at 3 years old I'll get a standard oil and inspection service, brake fluid change, and MOT.  Any flaws with this approach as the car is out of warranty at 3 years old anyway? 

Edited 4 March, 20215 yr by irc

It is a surprise as brake fluid that needs to be changed, is dealt with as an add on. If the change is part of the service schedule, then it should be included IMHO.

 

I suppose it makes the service look cheaper, and they can make more money with the add on.

 

Re MOT. I used our local council facility this year and paid £40. Fair test as they have nothing to sell/trade up!

I totally agree.

 

The service manager has now come back to me slightly defensively but offered to knock £20 off the cost of the brake fluid change (£39 MOT+£39 brake fluid) and pick the car up and drop it off plus a wash, or I can take it myself and have free courtesy car.

 

My original plan was to take the car to my local well regarded garage for the MOT so I may still do that but the main reason I opted for main dealer servicing in the first place was because I may trade the car in soon so maybe I should still use the dealer for MOT and brake fluid change just for slightly better service record...?

Skoda service prices are quite clear to see, there shouldn’t be any “ surprises “

 

37 minutes ago, Kenny R said:

Skoda service prices are quite clear to see, there shouldn’t be any “ surprises “

 

"Skoda" weren't servicing my car though.  DM Keith were and they don't give a clear list of what will and won't be done.  Yes, I could have specifically asked what was included but the fact is that I wanted everything doing that was due.  I didn't imagine for one minute that they would suggest one specific item but not another more important item when both were due in another two months.  One of the main reasons anyone takes their car to a main dealer is for their "expertise" in knowing what needs to be done and when, so that I don't need to try to become an expert in Skoda servicing recommendations.

Forgive me but D M Keith are a Skoda dealer that should adhere to the Skoda National Price servicing shown in my post above. If they don’t find a dealer that does.

'Actually'   It is @ participating dealers. 

 

Then,

Cars on Fixed Service Regimes from 3-10 years old.    The small print of Fixed Pricing & Maintenance is available to check on the Skoda Website.

 

Best go to the Original of the Green Menu,  

or to the Skoda UK page.

 

Edited 4 March, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

I think if a customer presents their vehicle for its third service, then all items due should be included. The fact that the brake fluid is an 'add on' isn't great. Mind, I think all manufacturers do it and £59 seems about average cost.

Edited 4 March, 20215 yr by Westbury63
Spelling

The 'Skoda Fixed Price & Maintenance price' at the time of a Service is now £65.

 

Places can do cheaper if not 'Participating',  or p!ss taking.

 

The Brake Fluid is not included in 'Service Plans' unless one of the new tiered Service Plans.

As the DSG or Haldex is not, or the front diff on the cars requiring that serviced.

 

A car with a Full Dealer Service History, can just be the Full History of things not done to the Manufacturers Recommendations as they are not a Schedule according to Skoda UK in the T&C's of the Warranty with a New car or the Extended Warranty.

I used DM Keith in Hull for my first few years of my car's life for servicing and found them very good and transparent. The brake fluid change is due after the first three years so surely the first MOT is the best time to do this as it will always be at three years old?

 

After three years old for a few years I negotiated a cheaper service plan which was a lower cost for cars older than three years old and included MOT's, brake fluid changes and air conditioning servicing. They always did a good job and there was always evidence of more than an oil change and clean going on - when I was swapping to/from winter wheels you could see evidence of copper slip where brakes had been serviced etc.

 

OK more expensive than my local independent, but I still found the costs pretty ok.

 

Now my Superb II has got to the age(2014 - 91k miles) that things may need replacing more often I've moved my servicing back to my local Indy. Saying that it's not needed that much thus far.

 

Edited 4 March, 20215 yr by bigjohn

i dont buy this brake fluid needs to be changed at 3 years old,  my car was 3 year old a couple of days ago, i took a sample out the master cylinder and tested with a £4 tester from ebay, there was  not a drop of water in it,  so i thought i'll test the pen, i put 1 tiny drop of water in the sample and the tester pen registers 1% water. i then put another drop of water in it and the reading jumped to danger zone 3%, so tester pen working ok. needless to say, i wont be changing any brake fluid  

When ever I've changed the brake fluid in my cars it's come out nearly black. So I think there are other contaminants other than just water.

 

Whether these have Ann affect on the braking performance etc I don't know.

 

But it certainly didn't look healthy.

 

I noticed a sticker inside the driver's door of my car the other day. Brake fluid is apparently due to be done again this year.

 

In two mind whether to bother. It's obviously been done before so most likely still ok.

On the basis that many cars probably never get brake fluid changed out of warranty, my car isn't high miles, and schedules are probably conservative, I think I will go with change at 3,6,9 years.

 

Plus it moves an item away from the big 5 year service when the cambelt gets done.