So, for someone who is used to service/repair other cars, is it possible to keep my Superb TDI running happy for many years if I service it myself, after the warranty expires? Excluding timing belt, as this seems too involved for my liking (only thing I never attempted in my other cars, really). The reason I ask is that paying Skoda some 300€ for an oil and filter change seems like a big premium when I can do it for ~70€ using good quality oil and filters. I've been servicing my 1.4 petrol Opel Astra for many years, it's now clocking 383.000 km and the engine purrs flawlessly (costs me about 25€ in filters and genuine GM oil). I change the oil 2x more frequently than supposedly needed and plan to do the same on the Superb. As per online videos/tutorials, seems simple enough... I got a 5y warranty extension but so far it's just been a way to "force" me to get the service done at the dealership to keep the warranty, since they almost never find the faults I complain about and, the ones they did, I had to arrive with a diagnosis myself (Aircon compressor, for example). It will be 5y in November and I'm taking it in friday for what I hope will be its last expensive oil exchange, hoping they will see the obvious oil leak that i reported, most likely coming from the crankshaft front seal.

Cheers!

Edited 26 July, 20223 yr by pcspinheiro

1 hour ago, pcspinheiro said:

is it possible to keep my Superb TDI running happy for many years if I service it myself

Absolutely, at least if you can find an independent specialist to handle the cambelt and electronics.

Yeah, there's a guy who used to be a VAG tech and now has his own shop. His work is highly praised but he's a bit of a "I know it all d i c k" As long as the work is done right I don't really care... That's 100km from me though... 

With a 120 mile round trip in prospect, it depends on the service cost differential between the dealer and indy I suppose. Personally, now the warranty is out on the 280, I’d never goto a main dealer again, as I’ve never had good service from them since I had our MKI. 

My TDI190 DSG6 4x4 is now out of warranty for 2,5 years. I've been doing all services by myself and it drives normally.

- Engine oil replacement

- Filters replacement (air / cabin / fuel)

- Haldex oil remplacement

- DSG6 oil replacement

- Brake fluid replacement

I take the time I need, and I know how it has been done and additionally I can check if everything is OK in engine bay.

 

I like it like that.  

 

7 hours ago, Bap33 said:

Mi TDI190 DSG6 4x4 ya no tiene garantía por 2,5 años. He estado haciendo todos los servicios por mi cuenta y se conduce normalmente.

- Cambio de aceite de motor

- Reemplazo de filtros (aire/cabina/combustible)

- Reemplazo de aceite Haldex

- Cambio de aceite DSG6

- Cambio de líquido de frenos

Me tomo el tiempo que necesito y sé cómo se ha hecho y, además, puedo comprobar si todo está bien en el compartimiento del motor.

 

Me gusta así. 

 

Have you changed the shock absorbers and springs? Do you know the part number for the springs?

17 hours ago, numskull said:

With a 120 mile round trip in prospect, it depends on the service cost differential between the dealer and indy I suppose. Personally, now the warranty is out on the 280, I’d never goto a main dealer again, as I’ve never had good service from them since I had our MKI. 

True... It was actually someone from Portugal that reached out to me here in this forum, when I was complaining about the mediocre service at the local Skoda dealership, who recommended this guy. He too makes a 200 km round trip to go to him. I'll see how i goes. I'm not sure if these guys are downright incompetent or just lazy to do more than exchange oil and filters (that's also probably the most profitable work when oil gets charged at about 50€/L ...). When I complained about the chirping noise in the cabin ventilation (which happens EVERY SINGLE DAY in the winter/cold weather), and even showed them a video, the guy said they had to see themselves and, guess what? The next morning it magically didn't do it when they tested. Plus the guy murmured something like "and the amount of work to exchange that..."  😠

13 hours ago, Gabrielem said:

Have you changed the shock absorbers and springs? Do you know the part number for the springs?

Sorry I haven't been needing to at this time. Only 77000 km on the clock and 95% done on motorways and 80% done alone. Absorbers and springs are far from being worn out.