Call me tight but....

[MattyW]

£189 for a 2 year/20k service on my fr diesel. Looked at the invoice and as far as I can see all it included was an oil and filter change, screenwash top up (which I filled up 3 days before the service) and brake cleaner.

I know labour apparantly costs a bit, but on top of this they tried selling me an engine flush for £24, replace the antifreeze and coolant for £40 and change the brake fluid for £40, all of which I refused. They made a big song and dance about the brake fluid being a Seat recommended safety fix because it can absorb water and decrease braking efficiency etc. I know brake fluid does degenerate over time but surely if it was that much of an issue after 2 years it would be on the service schedule anyway, and it is likely that an independent garage can carry out these things alot cheaper than the stealers

Do you think any of the above are necessary at this time? The car drives fine and is the dealer engine flush any different than me just firing a bottle of Miller's or Redex in the tank at fill up time?

Sorry for the rant, just feel a bit stung, but you have to take a little sting at service time to avoid the "you have not got full Seat service history" bum raping at part exchange time.

 

[Beazy]

I had a second year service earlier in the week too, as far as I'm concerned I'm paying that for a SEAT stamp that saves me any hassle should a warranty issue arise. Suppose it helps with selling it on as well.


I could quite easily do that service myself as could any independent garage but what happens if I lose the invoice and I need to make a warranty claim? I'm up the creek without a paddle and I just can't take that chance with this engine.

 

[wilkwan]

I will be having my 5 year sercice in July, car is from September 2008, its only about 23,000 miles right now and I only owed it since July 2012. Guess how much I need to pay for the next service anyone?

 

[beastgtir]

Seems alright compared to merc,

friend wanted his spark plugs changed (v6 so 12 plugs)
that was £445 plus vat for labour only..

Large service. £345 parts and labour.
oil filter change
air filter change
new oil
screen wash top up
brake fluid top up
and they inspect the brake pad wear and tyre wear..

add on another £220 for transmission fluid change - labour and parts.

He was looking at over a grand,

The cars only worth 5-6k now, so he just got it done using a normal mechanic.
cost him £120 parts and labour (did not change sparks/transmission fluid)

 

[Big-Pete]

Seems alright compared to merc,

friend wanted his spark plugs changed (v6 so 12 plugs)
that was £445 plus vat for labour only..

Large service. £345 parts and labour.
oil filter change
air filter change
new oil
screen wash top up
brake fluid top up
and they inspect the brake pad wear and tyre wear..

add on another £220 for transmission fluid change - labour and parts.

He was looking at over a grand,

The cars only worth 5-6k now, so he just got it done using a normal mechanic.
cost him £120 parts and labour (did not change sparks/transmission fluid)

v6-6 plugs mate
depends on how hard they are o change.

tranny fluid is **** job to do but 100000% worthwhile

but yeah still sems retarded.

 

[nightflight]

iirc brake fluid change is 4 years according to the service schedule, not 2 years

 

[Big-Pete]

iirc brake fluid change is 4 years according to the service schedule, not 2 years

ATE blue FTW.

 

[mk4 cupra]

Omg I wouldn't pay that for a service when the parts alone only come to about £65 so that's about £120 labor when it would only take about 30mins of those fitters on bonus

 

[beastgtir]

v6-6 plugs mate
depends on how hard they are o change.

tranny fluid is **** job to do but 100000% worthwhile

but yeah still sems retarded.

its a V6 c32 amg - six plugs per side. I think a straight 6 might only have 6 plugs.
We took of the airboxes to see them under the coil pack.

Aluminium head, was a nightmare and being iridium plugs definately didnt want to break one in the head! Decided to leave it as they looked fairly fresh as we got one out.

 

[NetworkMan]

iirc brake fluid change is 4 years according to the service schedule, not 2 years

It's first time after three years then every two. That's a pain if you are on longlife service and do low miles since it doesn't match up with the normal service intervals but has to be done in the intervening years.

My local non-SEAT place used to do my old car and said that they could test the brake fluid. Because of that they didn't always replace it each time it was due. I may take my Ibiza there in future.....

My recent 2 year longlife service (petrol not diesel) cost £169 by the way.

 

[Deleted member 67732]

regarding brake fluid replacement on a 2 year old car, take it to any garage and them to do a "boil test" this will determine if the fluid need replacement or not

 

[Damoegan]

its a V6 c32 amg - six plugs per side. I think a straight 6 might only have 6 plugs.
We took of the airboxes to see them under the coil pack.

Aluminium head, was a nightmare and being iridium plugs definately didnt want to break one in the head! Decided to leave it as they looked fairly fresh as we got one out.

All V6 engines only have 6 plugs, the clue is in the name....

 

[Big-Pete]

All V6 engines only have 6 plugs, the clue is in the name....

the only engine i can think of that had more plugs then pistons are the twinspark alfas.

 

[m0rk]

All V6 engines only have 6 plugs, the clue is in the name....

the only engine i can think of that had more plugs then pistons are the twinspark alfas.

Not true

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M112_engine

To answer the OP I tend to use JKM as the yardstick for pricing, to either justify or deny dealer uplift http://www.jkm.org.uk/performance/service.htm

 

[Byers080]

the only engine i can think of that had more plugs then pistons are the twinspark alfas.

I was of the understanding that the twin spark, was that the spark plug 'sparked' twice, as opposed to there being 2 spark plugs.

 

[TDI ste]

When I bought my Ibiza the salesman offered me a service package which I turned down and opted not to buy.... What Im wondering now is, would all of these top ups they charge extra for have been included in the service package I was offered or would they have charged extra ?

 

[beastgtir]

Not true

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M112_engine

To answer the OP I tend to use JKM as the yardstick for pricing, to either justify or deny dealer uplift http://www.jkm.org.uk/performance/service.htm

That is correct. From reading on the mb forums we knew it needed 12.
Also the guy at eurocarparts told us.

That's not too bad, the v8s needs 16. At £12 a pop. It's not a cheap job lol

 

[skeat12]

Your car can be serviced at any VAT registered garage, and it won't/shouldn't affect your warranty, as long as they use genuine VAG parts. Come resale time though, I don't know how this would affect the sale price?

Because of the DPF, the oil they use on Diesels is more expensive, I can't remember the type, but definitely more money.

 

[m0rk]

Don't expect any leniency post warranty if you go outside of the network, also be prepared to fight your corner when they reject the warranty claim if serviced by 'others' as the onus will be on you to prove that the service was conducted correctly