Hi all,

I currently own a mk2 Superb 1.8TSi SE Plus, love it, but looking at upgrading to a mk3 1.4 plug in hybrid.

The car I'm looking at has done a fair few miles (60k+) it's a 2021 l&k model... I wondered if there are any specific things that I should be looking out for when I go to look at it? Service history intervals and things like that? Does the battery have any issues with holding charge?

I'd really appreciate any advice you can give. I'd be looking to keep the car for a considerable length of time, so I want to get it right...!

Any tips around spec would also be really useful...!

Thanks,

G.

Hi,

As a TDI-MK3 ex-owner, I won't be able to talk about the battery and hybrid parts. But I would recommend checking shock absorbers are not leaking or misting (at least). Several of us had to replace them.

I had to to it on my Mk3 Estate around 92000km, thus quite similar to 60K+ you're mentioning.

I think it's something to pay attention on an iV version since it's probably heavier due to its battery.

Sorry, I forgot to answer your point about spec tips.

L&K is quite well standard specced. Here are some options I got on my ex-Superb Mk3 Estate or currently have on my Kodiaq Mk1

IMHO

• Matrix LED headlight highly improves the night vision.

• DCC is a nice to have since it enables you having a '3-in-1' car (though risks of absorbers leak/mist). Sport mode makes the suspension firm, whereas comfort mode makes it a real flying carpet and smooths out almost everything on long motorway trips. It's like a "tiredness" saver...

• ACC is great especially if coupled with Side Assist, since it enables Trafic Jam Assist (very useful if you often struggle with such traffic situation in your neighborhood).

• Paddle shifters, I had specced them but I barely use them in the end...

• Blind spot detection: It's a safe option. Morevoer on the FL version with lights on the side mirrors shell. It's much more visible than the original version with icons on the mirror itself on non FL Mk3.

• Smart Light Assist: If you often drive at night, it's comfortable to have headlights continuously optimizing the lighting efficiency and maximizing the beam width

• Foldable trailer hook really depends on your needs. But thinking "it's not a big deal if It doesn't have it, I'll have it retrofitted" would be an expensive mistake. It's at least a €1500 ticket (in France) and up to €2800 if you want a real OEM version installed by an official dealer... Thus I would say: think twice about it! ;)

• Virtual pedal: interesting but not reliable enough... You often dance on a single leg for several seconds without succeeding opening/closing the boot...

• Panoramic sunroof: a possible cause of issues: I had a sunroof chassis crack on my forme Superb Mk2 Estate: a €2800 repair ticket (fortunately Skoda France covered 60% of the bill)? This seems to be rare but happend to me. However, the water drain hoses may disconnect from the sunroof chassis, leading to water ingress. It's not that rare (fortunately, i didn't face that too). I also had to replace the rear window seal on my former Superb Mk3 Estate. It tore off 4" long. There are also some cases reported here of cracks around front window on hatchbacks. I've no sunroof on my current Kodiaq and feel I have more peace of mind.

Hope it helps!

Hey Bap,

Thanks very much for that info. Really useful! I drove the car yesterday and loved it. As per usual with these things, you take it out for 20 mins, just start to get your head around everything and then have to go back... Not ideal. Also, the car isn't local to me, so not knowing the roads doesn't help...

The car has DCC, I was flicking between sport and comfort and not noticing much difference, maybe it's because the road I was on was a dual carriageway... I will ask the question about the dampers misting, that sounds like an expensive thing to go wrong...

Any other mechanical bits that I should be definitely checking given the mileage this car has done in 4 years... My current car has a chain for timing, rather than a belt, so I haven't had to worry about that... Not sure if the iv models have a belt or a chain?

Thanks,

G.

I've just found out that it has a belt, which should be changed at 43500miles... Have asked the seller if that has been done...

44 minutes ago, gr0m1t said:

I've just found out that it has a belt, which should be changed at 43500miles... Have asked the seller if that has been done...

I believe that you will find that the five year / XX mile cambelt change advice has been changed.

Hi , I emailed Skoda UK requesting the service intervals for my engine and gear box.

All I gave them was the car registration number.

I received a confirmation of my email and a reply appeared about a week later

Service intervals should read cambelt change , sorry about the slipup

So... Am I to understand that the intervals are custom? That's a bit confusing?!

Hi , on my car the service intervals are 12 Months or 9000 mile

However , depending on usage Skoda offer a 24 month or 18000 mile service.

Oil & Filter service interval is 12 months / 9,400 miles on a 1.4 TSI iV (PHEV).

As to the other service items as required, it is still pollen @ 2 years, then brake fluid, air filter, AC etc etc as per schedule / use and not an opportunity to be fleeced.

The spark plugs are still at 40,000 miles even though a car might run mainly on electric.

Or then again it might not.

The DQ400-e DSG is at 40,000 miles.

The cam belt never was at never at 43,500 miles and no longer at 50,000 5 years.

Edited 29 May, 20251 yr by Ootohere

Okay. So basically I need to be lead by my mechanic re timing belt changes?

Hi ,

As I stated previously email Skoda UK and ask for there recommendations re cambelt car.

Will do, thanks 👍🏻

I heard back from Skoda... They say that the timing belt is a "belt for life"... As a person who has driven a car when the timing belt failed 10k miles before it was supposed to I'm sceptical... But that was 20 years ago...

1 hour ago, gr0m1t said:

"belt for life"

IMHO, this does not make sense at all.

Wearing is something physical that you can't avoid. Thus sooner or later, belt change will be necessary.

Just to give an idea, on TDI190 Skoda recommends a belt change at 210000km.

The thing is to find the corresponding mileage for this iV engine. Could it be the same as for TSI150 (classic petrol engine) since this engine is the basis for iV version 🤔 ? Maybe I'm wrong, just guessing. 🤷‍♂️

Edited 1 June, 20251 yr by Bap33

It was only according to Skoda / VW UK that there was a 5 year / 50,000 miles recommendation up to 2023.

UK not a Dust-rich Country, just one were VW Group UK take the pith. Customers up-sold at every opportunity to keep Dealer workshops busy, yet try getting a service or warranty work done and you have weeks to wait.

Once Dealerships would need to being paying for Cam Belts on Skoda Approved Cars if to be Serviced to Manufacturers Recommendations and they were going to have to do 1.5 TSI ACT,s they changed things.

Edited 1 June, 20251 yr by Ootohere

Thanks all... Yeah the response from Skoda UK is attached.

It seems that skoda recommend it is a life time part - but I guess if you walked into your local dealer and asked them to do a timing belt change they are not going to turn down the business.. It just seems mad to me that it's not a recommended change...

They are on the ball.

The belt does last a lifetime. It's lifetime, so is it in dog years or human years.

Belt dies and wallet suffers as does the engine.

Associated components the belt runs on are also 'Lifetime' components, so how long is that lifetime.

Vorsprung Durch Technic, maybe they are good for as long as a 7 year manufacturers warranty in Australia.