Service time, advice please.

[MattH]

I got my SE on 1/10/12, and it has now come time to get her serviced.

My question is, as my SE currently has full dealer service history, would it be worth me paying extra to maintain that?

The mechanic I usually use for my cars can do it for £100 using genuine parts. Now I'm not sure how much a dealer service is so unsure how much cheaper that actually is.

Dealer service reminder sticker on my windscreen says car is on time/distance service regime, don't know if that makes any difference lol.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Ta.

[Brianpilman]

I priced a Cambelt service if or my se 4 months ago at the dealers was £740 give or take a fiver. A local garage was £550 and mates rate was £360 with gen vag parts used. Service book stamped. Other than free servicing on the bosses Monte Carlo it won't be going to the dealers after that as for what they do its not worth it.

We found with mine the oil had never been out the sump plug as it was almost seized in place. Soo must have been suctioned out on previous services.

[MattH]

My car is on 65,500 and has had belts done at around 55k all work carried out at the dealer. I think it also had a service not 100% on the service though.

If it did have a service aswell that would have been the last service.

[eric87]

Try independent vw specialists they are usually miles cheaper than dealer.

[Avalon]

The independent specialist who serviced my car prior to me buying it didn't change the brake fluid for 7? years, same with the plugs (in fairness it only did 2k a year).

Either way use someone you trust and check the work they intend to do. MDSH isn't the be all and end all.

[Seanl]

I wouldn't bother with the dealer. Your car is nearly six years old now and has average mileage for the year. This imo means its at a period in its life that means price you would get from a sale by staying with main dealer, would be more than its worth than by switching to independent. In my experience the customer service, attention to detail, and standard of work is generally far greater when done by specialists anyway. I never take much notice of dealer history on anything but a new(ish) car.

[MattH]

Ok so my next question is;

Does anybody know of/has used any specialist in Manchester that they would recommend.

[wilsy7]

I wouldn't trust a main dealer at all tbh. Much better doing the workyourself and saving money and keeping the Reciepts. Main dealer history doesn't add value to a car, not one that I'm buying anyway.

[stuart vrs]

basic servicing straight forward, buy all parts from tps, you will need a 32mm socket to remove the oil filter, most difficult bolt to get to is the sump one, unless you got ramps or drive to the edge of a kerb or where the road drops away from the car so you can drop the oil, i've got a k+n air filter on, lifetime guarantee, serviced mine last week.

[spencer88]

I was in Skoda on Wednesday.

There price for a general service (Oil + filter, fuel filter, air filter + checks) and MOT was £195.

I get an MOT normally for about £40, so that is £155 for a service.

All the parts can be had for about £50 I do believe. I recently did my own, marked the receipts with the mileage.

Ok some people may say 'Well you may not have done it or made the mileage up', that is fine, but I know it has been taken care of.

No way would i pay an extra £100 for a stamp.

[eric87]

how easy is it to change the fuel filter on a BLT engine?

[wilsy7]

how easy is it to change the fuel filter on a BLT engine?

Very, remove the pipes from the existing one and replace them on the new. Job done!

[eric87]

Is there a guide anywhere? I tried searching but not much luck

[hutchysrs50]

The garage I work at charges between £70 - £100 for a service and £40 for mots.

a service isn't just changing the oil and filters though... It's basically a pre-mot check as well, checking everything that gets checked on an mot, all four wheels taken off, brakes stripped down and greased up, rear drums taken off to check the cylinders and clean up the drums, oil put on the handbrake cables, door handles and hinges get cleaned up and oiled etc..

[Almal]

skoda are doing fixed price servicing so you might find its not as much as you think. plus they are meant to do a health check on every car so even if you have just an oil change in theory the whole car should get checked over

[wilsonian]

Have you tried Hobins? theres not bad but I haven't a clue on prices. I know Awesome are a VAG specialist and their based in Irlam.