Hi all

 

Im looking at buying a 2015 MK3 Skoda Octavia L&K 1.8TSI . The one Im looking at has less that 25k miles so Im hoping that itll be in good condition mechanically speaking

 

Do you have any advice as to what to look out for? Common problems/faults?

How has your ownership experience been? 

Would you recommend remapping it? 

 

 

All advice welcome, thanks 

 

 

Good car - lots of toys - you should be happy.

 

Check the service history to make sure it has been serviced by a Skoda Dealer on time.  Check the car servicing against the timescales that Skoda recommend.

A low mileage car like that should have had an annual service (ideally 4 services) to keep it sweet.

https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/8b70c541-726b-4996-9999-66ebc7ca520b

 

So - at five years, you should have had done:

 

1) Extended Scope Service (Oil, Filter, Air Filter, Cabin Air Filter, brake fluid, coolant, and if we are sticking by the book - a cambelt change/5 years)

2) If it is a DSG gearbox, I would recommend getting the gearbox oil changed (it will be a DQ250 6 speed box if it is an automatic).  You might want to check / replace the windscreen wipers front and rear.

3) There are niggles, but nothing terrible.  Lack of maintainance is the biggest problems with Skodas.

 

Niggles I've experienced:

 

a) Batteries dying - the EFM+ batteries are rubbish and get flaky after 4 years.

b) Remove the Silica bag from the coolant header tank (cos they have a tendancy to split and knacker up your heater matrix)

c) 1.8TSI engines are good; make sure you keep the oil changed regularly.

 

Thank you so much Varaderoguy! Ill make sure to carry out these checks

Welcome.

 

EDIT.

Doh, sorry my stupidity.

is it a 4x4 so with Haldex which should have been serviced even if only 25,000 miles and will have a DSG that needs Oil Changes @ 40,000 miles.

 

or,

Is it not a DQ200 DSG so a 7 Speed Twin Dry Clutch DSG, so no Oil Changes as recommended or shown as scheduled at 40,000 miles or anytime.

 

A 2015 DQ200 DSG might be part of the Service Campaign (not Recall or Recall Action) which covers ones from 2013-2015. '34H5'. 

That was / is a Software Undate.  A preventative measure because of possible Pressure / Heat issues and the premature demise of the MCU / leaks / cracks.

(In the UK that started in 2017 so if the car / dsg is part of that it should have been done between then and now.)

 

?

What is the service history, as in has it been on Fixed Annual Servicing or Variable and had 2 Services maybe even though only 25,000 miles done?

Has it had the pollen filter changed recently, was the brake fluid changed at 3 years or 4 or even 5 years?

What actually has it had done even with such a low mileage?

 

?

Are the 4 tyres matching or at least matching pairs?

What are the brake discs looking like, slight corrosion or more than slight?

 

Prices are up from this on the Skoda Dealers Fixed Price Servicing and maintenance on 3-10 year old cars on Fixed Servicing at Participating Dealers.

 

EDIT 2.

I see @varaderoguy's link has the latest prices. 

 

Edited 13 September, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

The 1.8TSI has a timing chain and the spark plugs should be changed every 90k km (56k miles). The engine is indeed great, there's no doubt about this (I'm a happy owner of one 2016 Octavia III 1.8 TSI). From personal experience, I can confirm that the EFB battery (mine was MOLL) is prone to "sudden death". Mine just died (literally) overnight, with no previous signs or warnings, after just 5 years of almost ideal usage pattern (replaced it with a VARTA AGM a few months ago).