I have a kodiaq which is on variable servicing. It got its first service at 20 months old last November. Had call from dealer today saying service is due. Car hasn't indicated service is due. Been a year since last service. Checked the service information on the infotainment and says inspection due in 39 days. Oil service not due for another 300 days. I presume the dealer is just calling me as its been a year and they think its on yearly servicing. I presume I don't need to get it serviced until the car tells me to?

There are two parts, a time (in days) and a mileage

It is the earlier of the two.

 

Without knowing your mileage it appears the inspection part is coming up (but most people could inspect their own car : tyre pressures, check oil and fluids etc).   You will get warnings on dashboard on startup from 30 days

 

There are some rubbish dealers around, that seem to book up many weeks in advance, especially if you want a courtesy car, and some now charge for the car too so more a hire car than a courtesy car.

 

 

17 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

There are two parts, a time (in days) and a mileage

It is the earlier of the two.

 

Without knowing your mileage it appears the inspection part is coming up (but most people could inspect their own car : tyre pressures, check oil and fluids etc).   You will get warnings on dashboard on startup from 30 days

 

There are some rubbish dealers around, that seem to book up many weeks in advance, especially if you want a courtesy car, and some now charge for the car too so more a hire car than a courtesy car.

 

 

What I mean is its showing an inspection due in just 39 days but not an oil service for 300 days as its on variable servicing. So should I just tell the dealer to not bother booking me in just now, wait until the car tells me it's due then book it in? Or do skoda just do an "inspection" service and not need to do the oil?

I

4 hours ago, Carkus said:

What I mean is its showing an inspection due in just 39 days but not an oil service for 300 days as its on variable servicing. So should I just tell the dealer to not bother booking me in just now, wait until the car tells me it's due then book it in? Or do skoda just do an "inspection" service and not need to do the oil?

 

It's so confusing isn't it. The best thing to do is ask that question to your dealer.

 

But you're right, it's best ignored - the message really shouldn't be coming up if you're on the variable service regime - it's only asking for checks that you can do yourself. ( the checks people should be doing themselves every month ).

 

Think of it like this, servicing is commonly refered to as minor and major services. The service + inspection is Skoda's speak for that minor service, whilst the service + inspection + extended scope is their speak for a major service.  If you are on the variable service regime, then minor services aren't relevant - your car only needs major services. ( or as near as damn it. They're actually called 'variable' services ).

 

There is no need for your car to be 'inspected'.  In fact I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but Skoda don't even give a price for 'inspection only'.   The garage can reset that notification message for you or there's instructions on YouTube if you want to do it yourself.

 

I wouldn't even pay any attention to that service screen if you're on the variable service program. The clue is in the word 'variable' ( the screen is giving out 'fixed' information). Your car will NOT require an oil change service in 7900mi or 300days, it will require what's called it's "2nd variable service".  And after that it'll reqire it's 3rd variable service.

 

It's a question asked many times over the years - why do the whole VW goup make such a meal out of servicing? 

 

 

I'm on variable service but the car is coming up to 3 years old and the first MOT is due. Obviously want that done at a main dealer before the warranty expires just in case.

Dealer says a regular service not needed but brake fluid change and Haldex oil change are, as they are based on age not mileage. Brake fluid I get, but why Haldex? It's barely done 13k miles.

 

(They also said the first MOT cannot be dated on but I'm sure that's wrong unless the rules have changed in the last 10 years or so).

20 minutes ago, Nimby said:

Dealer says a regular service not needed but brake fluid change and Haldex oil change are, as they are based on age not mileage. Brake fluid I get, but why Haldex? It's barely done 13k miles.

 

 

Because after 3 years your Haldex pump filter will look like this regardless of mileage. The dealer will only change the Haldex oil, when in reality the pump needs removed and the mesh filter cleaned. Ask if they will do the job properly or find a local indi who will remove pump clean filter and change Haldex oil probably cheaper than dealer will charge for only changing oil.

Edited 21 October, 20223 yr by Kenny R

1 hour ago, Nimby said:

I'm on variable service but the car is coming up to 3 years old and the first MOT is due. Obviously want that done at a main dealer before the warranty expires just in case.

Dealer says a regular service not needed but brake fluid change and Haldex oil change are, as they are based on age not mileage. Brake fluid I get, but why Haldex? It's barely done 13k miles.

 

(They also said the first MOT cannot be dated on but I'm sure that's wrong unless the rules have changed in the last 10 years or so).

 

Is there anything checked on an MOT that isn't wear and tear? Not sure a warranty would cover any potential MOT failure on a 3yr old car.

 

Depends on dealer or if you have a particular service plan but MOT costs £45 at all Skoda dealers near me. I joined the Halfords car club ( free ) so their £40 MOT is reduced to £30 after using the £10 voucher you receive when signing up.  And then if you apply code VFONE-50MOT at checkout, you receive a further discount. My MOT cost £17.43 and was done by National tyres who're my nearest Halfords MOT centre.

 

Current MOT rules?  MOT is due 3yrs from first registration and thereafter, one year from the previous test date.

 

The Brake fluid and Haldex aren't strickly 'needed', they're recommended. Same here, local dealer mentioned the a brake fluid change and air con service, both of which I declined. I had the brake fluid tested and it was well within tolerance. Getting rid of the car in March so it'll be up to the next owner what they want to do with it. 

 

 

 

 

@Nimby

The Brake Fluid first change at 3 years and then each next is a Recommendation, even a Guideline or if called a scheduled item, then that.

 

But the Brake Fluid can be checked for H2o content and some technicians or mechanics will test it as then ask if you want it changed, or you are asked when the car is dropped off.

Maybe not with Skoda Main Dealer Oil & Filter Servicing and then the Extended Scope at 3 years and then each 2.

That is the Fixed Servicing regime. 

 

Current MOT rules are that a MOT is due at 3 years from the first registration.

It can be done in the month before and that keeps the date due.

 

They can be MOT'd anytime you want in the 3 years & you do not need to wait 3 years. 

But then the next MOT is due 1 year on from that if before the 36th month.

My query is expiry of the first MOT. We all know 2nd, 3rd etc tests can be done within a month of the current one's expiry and dated on (ie up to 13 months ahead).

But when is the expiry of the first test? Fourth anniversary of the car's registration (if done within a month of three years old), or a year from the test date?

 

I'll ask about testing the brake fluid and the Haldex filter - thanks!

 

 

The Government word it about the Expiry of a MOT Certificate and are not clear on First MOT.

 

Motability have cars MOT'd sometimes 2 months before 3 years old, then that brings forward by whatever the next one.

If they are done in the 36th month then the date is preserved for the 2nd MOT.

 

I would ensure the Haldex does get a correct service and not just the oil changed. 

4 hours ago, Nimby said:

My query is expiry of the first MOT.

 

You can do the first MOT up to a month early, minus 1 day of it's 3rd birthday, if you provide the V5 log book and it will run out on its 4 birthday.

So the expiry of the first MOT can depend on when you had it done and if you provided the V5 log book.

 

Thanks AG Falco

Edited 21 October, 20223 yr by AGFalco
further detail added.

It used to be that if you took your car in early for its first MOT the MOT would expire the day before the anniversary of the test.This changed several years ago to the day before the anniversary of first registration. There is no need to provide a V5 to give evidence as the information should already in be in the MOT database.

 

Interestingly, my car was first registered on 29th October last year, and I was concerned when I didn't receive a reminder during September as I thought my car was only taxed until 30th September. So I looked it up via 'is my car taxed' and it turned out it was taxed until 31st October. I wonder whether the DVLA charge the extra 2 or 3 days or whether it is essentially free.

Thanks - yes that's what I thought but the dealer said the first MOT cannot be dated on. Thanks for confirming they are wrong.

Anyway it doesn't matter now as I've changed the MOT date to the day before the car's third birthday.

I have just looked up info on MOTs on a particular company website. Unfortunately it seems to be full of half-truths and omissions. I'm not surprised an agent doesn't know the rules. Of course it may well depend on who in the agent you spoke to. Probably not the MOT tester.

 

On 21/10/2022 at 16:41, kodiaqsportline said:

 

Is there anything checked on an MOT that isn't wear and tear? Not sure a warranty would cover any potential MOT failure on a 3yr old car.

 

Depends on dealer or if you have a particular service plan but MOT costs £45 at all Skoda dealers near me. I joined the Halfords car club ( free ) so their £40 MOT is reduced to £30 after using the £10 voucher you receive when signing up.  And then if you apply code VFONE-50MOT at checkout, you receive a further discount. My MOT cost £17.43 and was done by National tyres who're my nearest Halfords MOT centre.

 

Current MOT rules?  MOT is due 3yrs from first registration and thereafter, one year from the previous test date.

 

The Brake fluid and Haldex aren't strickly 'needed', they're recommended. Same here, local dealer mentioned the a brake fluid change and air con service, both of which I declined. I had the brake fluid tested and it was well within tolerance. Getting rid of the car in March so it'll be up to the next owner what they want to do with it. 

 

 

 

 

 

My Lesson Learned in 2019 with our outgoing mint, low miles Octavia involved me getting an MOT fail at my nearby local garage and it cost me 2 new front struts due to oil leaking. 

 

Was I an unhappy bunny!

 

Obviously no chance of arguing “poor quality shocks” with the dealer as they didn’t have the car.

I reckon I could have negotiated some discounted new shocks if the car was sitting in a dealer’s workshop.

 

I didn’t want the hassle of visiting a distant dealer. Never want a dealer for basic things like MOT, wipers, lamps, etc.

 

So guess where our current cars will be getting MOTd in next few months.

 

 

BTW - it ain’t rocket science to work out MOT dates.

 

I think one post above explained it, but I also see a awful lot of confusing interpretations above.

 

Im glad I’ve got mine planned right.

14 minutes ago, BoxerBoy said:

 

My Lesson Learned in 2019 with our outgoing mint, low miles Octavia involved me getting an MOT fail at my nearby local garage and it cost me 2 new front struts due to oil leaking. 

 

Was I an unhappy bunny!

 

Obviously no chance of arguing “poor quality shocks” with the dealer as they didn’t have the car.

I reckon I could have negotiated some discounted new shocks if the car was sitting in a dealer’s workshop.

 

I didn’t want the hassle of visiting a distant dealer. Never want a dealer for basic things like MOT, wipers, lamps, etc.

 

So guess where our current cars will be getting MOTd in next few months.

 

 

 

Apologies but struggling to undrstand the point you're trying to make here:

 

Your local garage - are you talking about a local Skoda garage, a local Halfords or another retailer?

 

No chance of arguing 'poor quality shocks'?  Chance!  you're basing your decision on a chance?  Anyway, what's to stop you from keeping the failed shocks and arguing your case later at a later date?

 

Distant dealer?  Again who are you talking about - a distant Skoda dealer or a distant 3rd party?

 

I couldn't possibly guess because you've not provided any information.

 

"our outgoing mint, low miles Octavia involved me getting an MOT fail"  

 

Can anyone other than Arthur Daley really describe a car that fails an MOT as mint? 

 

 

 

18 hours ago, kodiaqsportline said:

 

Apologies but struggling to undrstand the point you're trying to make here:

 

Your local garage - are you talking about a local Skoda garage, a local Halfords or another retailer?

 

No chance of arguing 'poor quality shocks'?  Chance!  you're basing your decision on a chance?  Anyway, what's to stop you from keeping the failed shocks and arguing your case later at a later date?

 

Distant dealer?  Again who are you talking about - a distant Skoda dealer or a distant 3rd party?

 

I couldn't possibly guess because you've not provided any information.

 

"our outgoing mint, low miles Octavia involved me getting an MOT fail"  

 

Can anyone other than Arthur Daley really describe a car that fails an MOT as mint? 

 

 

 

I’m sorry you’re struggling.

 

I was simply suggesting that had I taken the Octavia all the way to a Skoda dealer for it’s 1st MOT, then had said Skoda dealer found minor leakage from a front strut and failed the MoT, then I would have argued that the OEM Skoda strut had not been fit for purpose.

 

Strut seal failure after a gentle 3 years with less than 21,000 miles is not acceptable to me.

 

I would have argued for new strut(s) under warranty.

 

But that conversation never happened.

 

The car was being tested a few hundred yards from home at a (trusted) popular chain of tyre, exhaust, servicing garages, so the MOT garage fitted new struts at full cost to me.

I was merely offering an example to your point “Not sure a warranty would cover any potential MOT failure on a 3yr old car.”

 

On 22/10/2022 at 10:19, Routemaster1461 said:

It used to be that if you took your car in early for its first MOT the MOT would expire the day before the anniversary of the test.This changed several years ago to the day before the anniversary of first registration. There is no need to provide a V5 to give evidence as the information should already in be in the MOT database.

 

Interestingly, my car was first registered on 29th October last year, and I was concerned when I didn't receive a reminder during September as I thought my car was only taxed until 30th September. So I looked it up via 'is my car taxed' and it turned out it was taxed until 31st October. I wonder whether the DVLA charge the extra 2 or 3 days or whether it is essentially free.

From memory the first tax is upto week before end of month (so upto 53 weeks).  It is a remnant of the days when someone in dealership had to physically go and buy tax discs, then put them in windscreen before handover.

 

No idea why it still exists as tax can be done online in minutes.