Hi everyone, thanks for the add.

 

I'm moving from London to Salisbury, and need a cheap family estate.  A 90+k mileage Skoda Superb Estate, probs diesel automatic, looks good value, but I want to be able to do the routine servicing myself...

 

I used to service my own cars back in the 90s (!!) so I'm not a complete novice, but it would be good to know what people's experience is. My brother has an equivalent Mondeo and services that with no issues. Is the Superb as easy to work on?

 

Thanks!

Jack

The Octavia or that age had a top mounted oil filter, so changes were very easy if you were willing to use a pela pump or similar.

DSG servicing should have been done at 40,000 and 80,000 so next at 120,000. 

I have the 2l. Diesel automatic estate. Standard servicing oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and cabin filter are all very easy to acess and work on. The DSG service is best left to a professional with a lift and the required equipment. 

Perfect - thanks! 

On 29/07/2024 at 21:23, volcane said:

I have the 2l. Diesel automatic estate. Standard servicing oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and cabin filter are all very easy to acess and work on. The DSG service is best left to a professional with a lift and the required equipment. 

This...

 

I've found it very easy to work on and the only things I haven't messed about with, as I don't have a four post lift, are the timing belt and water pump (as for £80 labour they can have all the fun), the DSG and Haldex Oil changes.

 

They may be getting the oil leak to deal with though soon, as we think it may be from 1 of 2 places and both need to be on a lift job...1 repair location is going to be a hell of a lot of work so the workshop can earn their money for that one, if it happens!

Very easy to service. It is basically lile any other VW mk5/6 with either petrol or diesel engine. I do all servi e and repairs at home. Haldex service is extremely easy, same with dsg as well. Oil, brakes, fluids and all other filters etc is like walk in the park on these cars. Should mention that I have gearbox filler to do dsg service. Vacuum filler for coolant, timing belt locking tool, gearbox jack and engine jack, pressurepump for brake fluid and a scissor lift. Some special tools are required. But ones you have them, I would argue that Skoda is extremely easy to maintain. Use a couple of thousand quid to buy what you need and it is self earned almost immediately after your first major service+timing belt and dualmass flywheel job. And it is fun doing to 😀

On 12/08/2024 at 20:49, G1980 said:

This...

 

I've found it very easy to work on and the only things I haven't messed about with, as I don't have a four post lift, are the timing belt and water pump (as for £80 labour they can have all the fun), the DSG and Haldex Oil changes.

 

They may be getting the oil leak to deal with though soon, as we think it may be from 1 of 2 places and both need to be on a lift job...1 repair location is going to be a hell of a lot of work so the workshop can earn their money for that one, if it happens!

Let me guess: rear main crank shaft seal on the gearbox side??? Will need to lower gearbox and subframe if 4x4 and also putting the engine to tdc....8-12 hour labour for a 30minute job 80GBP seal....when all other factors are disassembled and ready for the seal...

Just now, rbhelle said:

Let me guess: rear main crank shaft seal on the gearbox side??? Will need to lower gearbox and subframe if 4x4 and also putting the engine to tdc....8-12 hour labour for a 30minute job 80GBP seal....when all other factors are disassembled and ready for the seal...

Oh dear, now after posting I notice that it is you G1980 😄 Well, we have discussed that job before 🤣

6 hours ago, rbhelle said:

Let me guess: rear main crank shaft seal on the gearbox side??? Will need to lower gearbox and subframe if 4x4 and also putting the engine to tdc....8-12 hour labour for a 30minute job 80GBP seal....when all other factors are disassembled and ready for the seal...

Some would say with hindsight, that you nearly guessed the job pricing and times right...🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣

 

The rear main seal is 1/10th of the cost for the actual labour of doing the job at an Indy VAG Specialist...That says it all.

 

If you're keeping them for a long time then some investment in specialised tools will pay off for themselves in the long run Vs labour charges and VAT costs etc, however I do completely understand that not everyone has the space or the spare capital or even the time to do it in a lot of cases.

However a lot of the basic repetitive servicing is very easy to access and do yourself and will save you money and some cases time e.g. by not breaking down etc.

 

On a side note though some of the maintenance schedules are very long on some items in my opinion and have been decreased by myself to shorter intervals, so doing these items myself will save a lot of money...Especially where I go, an oil and oil filter is £179 all in!  After parts and taxes, my labour and overhead costs are not that much as an actual business and what they have to pay, so doing them myself is more cost effective if I'm reducing service intervals.

 

I just wish like rbhelle that I had a scissor lift to undertake some of the other jobs I listed above or even a post lift would be the absolute dream, however a pre-fabricated W-Truss roof structure would prevent me from realistically changing this situation and I whilst I have the skills to change and rebuild roofs...I iust don't have the inclination to do so at my property for free! 🤣🤣🤣 I like my wife but not that much!

14 hours ago, G1980 said:

Some would say with hindsight, that you nearly guessed the job pricing and times right...🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣

 

The rear main seal is 1/10th of the cost for the actual labour of doing the job at an Indy VAG Specialist...That says it all.

 

If you're keeping them for a long time then some investment in specialised tools will pay off for themselves in the long run Vs labour charges and VAT costs etc, however I do completely understand that not everyone has the space or the spare capital or even the time to do it in a lot of cases.

However a lot of the basic repetitive servicing is very easy to access and do yourself and will save you money and some cases time e.g. by not breaking down etc.

 

On a side note though some of the maintenance schedules are very long on some items in my opinion and have been decreased by myself to shorter intervals, so doing these items myself will save a lot of money...Especially where I go, an oil and oil filter is £179 all in!  After parts and taxes, my labour and overhead costs are not that much as an actual business and what they have to pay, so doing them myself is more cost effective if I'm reducing service intervals.

 

I just wish like rbhelle that I had a scissor lift to undertake some of the other jobs I listed above or even a post lift would be the absolute dream, however a pre-fabricated W-Truss roof structure would prevent me from realistically changing this situation and I whilst I have the skills to change and rebuild roofs...I iust don't have the inclination to do so at my property for free! 🤣🤣🤣 I like my wife but not that much!

Happy wife, happy life! I concur G1980 😉

 

11 minutes ago, rbhelle said:

Happy wife, happy life! I concur G1980 😉

 

Yeah as much as we enjoyed fully rebuilding 2 rentals...I ain't pulling the poor classic mini garage roof off and amending it, ready for retiling for anybody, she'll get cold...🤔🤔🤔

 

That's what independent skoda specialists and other manufacturers garages are for...😍😍😍 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

Happy Dan, not having to rebuild anything, Happy entire World 🥳🥳🥳🤩🤩🤩

Edited 23 August, 20241 yr by G1980