Not part of any service to remove the wheels so dont panic about that.

Ok, how do you measure disc thickness on a car with steels and dust shields with the wheels on? I know it's possible with 5-spoke alloys.

probably look through gap and just make sure its not got a lip.

I hope not, because you'll get some sort of a lip of rust on any disc after a year or two.

Go back to the people who did the service. Tell them a ton of knowledgeable people have told you its to be done at each 40k and get them to show you the evidence which supports their view.

skoda HO maybe worth a go

For future reference the air filters can be had from GSF for under £10 and are made by MANN filter who make the VAG ones (same part number on it )

I would change the items every 10-20,000 miles which will be better for the engine, better for the MAF/turbo and also save you the at least the £10 in saved fuel over the 20k miles.

Many thanks for the plentiful advice

Supprisingly got a call from the dealers this morning, started with the words, 'A thousand apologies sir, one of our mechanics got it wrong and thought the car required a standard service and not a full one'.

Offered to do labour for free and me pay for parts

Bummer I still got to do a 50 mile round trip and loose 2 hours wages :(

Haynes all the way from now one methinks.

id make sure you mention the 50mile drive to them and missing time unpaid from work to sort this out.