Put my RS in for a service last weekend (variable, 18500 miles on the clock) and am extremely unhappy at the outcome. In fact, at the time I struggled to control my anger, I was that f****d off. The service manager certainly knew how I felt bigtime.

I thought I was quite savvy when it comes to these things, and was only using the Skoda dealership (Merritts of Aylesbury) for warranty purposes (the sheer naivety of it all). Made one big mistake. Didn't ask about labour charges and how many hours basic servicing takes. What a fool. If I'd known, I would not have bothered with the main dealer, I'd have bought the longlife oil and changed it myself in 15 minutes for NOTHING!

Right here goes, I can just about bear to type it.

Longlife oil

That's a hefty bill for oil and filter changes! :shock:

I always thought there was more stuff that was done at a 20k mile

service - usually things like wipers and that changed too? Had mine

booked in today for the 20k (non-variable), but the courtesy cars hadn't

been brought back :roll:

In the handful of Skoda dealerships I've been to, they always have a

board up with a list of servicing costs, to show they're no-nonsense what-

you-see-you-pay no-hidden-charges, etc. Does your dealership not

have one of these? On the one I was in this morning, it quoted a

20k for a 2.0 as 195 quid, so it looks like your dealer is being a bit

cheeky to say the least!

Rob.

Mark

Sounds expensive, but the 18k variable service should have included more items, well mine did anyway. Pollen filter, rotation of wheels front/back, lubrication of door hinges etc... This is what mine cost last year

5 Litres of Castrol SLX Longlife @

Agreed, I'm on 10k servicing but my "minor" service (oil change mainly + a few other bits) is around

I asked my dealer how much it would cost for a 10k service and to use the long life oil.

Maybe it's a north-south thing? :cat:

Rob.

My first service on variable at 19,000 miles was

Cheers fellas, I'm feeling a bit better about it, I think having a rant and getting off me chest has worked a treat!

So, it appears that I've been charged a little 'unreasonably', but some of the numbers you guys are indicating are not too far behind.

Sorry, but I have to say, a dealer changing a pollen filter or wiper as well as oil wouldn't make it feel any more reasonable at all I'm afraid. They cost pennies and are fitted in minutes, I don't need to pay

I agree. I don't think they can justify

I'll have to check about set pricing, I would have thought this was standard also. But, if a couple of you have had a first service for less than

I wouldn't let it lie Mark. Get a female friend to phone and get a price for a standard service for the RS and sit back with interest to see what they say.

Not sure if being female has anything to do with it - my mother-in-law (to

be) was recently charged 600 pounds ( :shock: ) for a full service,

including "a cam belt change and everything" according to the mechanic.

Which seems reasonable, what with it being a 5 year old 1.2 Clio with

about 30k on the clock... :roll:

Rob.

I have noticed that Skoda servicing costs are climbing uo to VW dealer prices, you only have to look at the fixed price chart they all have.

Personally I think it sucks, I know for a fact that every job done on my VW Transporter is classed exactly as that,with timings and portions of hours labour per job.

I for one will only be charged silly money once with my car. So far my Octy has been resonable (just), but I shall wait to see what the Superb costs once up and running.

Cheers

Marlborough Skoda's servicing price list is here:

http://www.skodawestlondon.uk.com/interface/2001_1/WebPage.asp?OwnerId=7845&WebPageId=5519

This dealership is in Isleworth, Middlesex, so I guess the prices reflect London labour rates.

The Special Offers section of Marlborough's site is worth a look for the Fabia and Octabia styling kits listed there. Eg Roof spoiler for Octavia saloon/estate at

Check out those service costs at Marlborough. How can any garage claim a 40k service is worth

and thats only cos they have to change the fluids in the haldex, which is a pig of a job. [/quote:685f2f62ea]

Ian, IIRC you mentioned some time ago the problem your dealer had draining and filling the Haldex through the bottom - a technical impossibility without using sophisticated Heath Robinson gadgetry! I asked my local dealer recently if it is a straightforward job and, after checking the workshop manual, he confirmed that it is. There are 2 plugs in the Haldex - a magnetic oil drain plug in the bottom and a filler plug on the side. I have had a look at ETKA and it shows both of those parts on a 2000 Octavia - although it confuses matters by rotating the Haldex through 90

OOPS Denis :!: ,Think you have your Tavias mixed up there :oops:

Thanks for the heads-up, mellowyellow. I've now covered my tracks, apart from this and your post of course... :shock: Fancy confusing a 4x4 with an RS - owners, that is. :oops:

My 1.6 Octavia has just been in for its 40k service at local dealer in the Midlands. Total was just over

Sorry guy's been away from the forum for a while but feel i have to reply to this one.

My TDi went in for it's first service@ 28.5K cost

He said they will replace all four coils if one fails, but not as a general part of a service[/quote:3153c1d829]

I detect a new market here

Dead coils for sale! Dead coils for sale![/size:3153c1d829]

I have 2 or 3 "dead" coils lying around, anyone want one?

Hmm...I feel an entry to next year's Turner Prize coming on...

Rob.