First service prices

Casterina · 25 Aug 2021 at 00:42

Hi,

I have a 2018 Leon FR 1.4 TSI DSG bought from SEAT Approved Used in September 2020 (currently at 22.5k miles, only done 3-4k miles due to working from home) and the first service is due soon with the service warning message coming up every time I start the car.

Had a look on the SEAT website and the first service is oil/filter change and pollen filter for £189 (minor service) and I don’t think the brake fluid has been changed when I bought the car and is recommended to change every 2 years and that is £49, is the price fair or should I go to a independent VAG specialist to get it done?

chroniclard · 25 Aug 2021 at 00:59

Seems fine.

dlockers · 25 Aug 2021 at 08:26

I crossed a similar bridge on an Ibiza FR. I plan to run the car to the ground so went independent as resale wasn't important to me.

Finglonga · 25 Aug 2021 at 09:12

Brake fluid change is a money maker anyway, it does not "need" changing every two years unless you are tracking it regularly.

tom_e · 25 Aug 2021 at 09:15

Finglonga said:
Brake fluid change is a money maker anyway, it does not "need" changing every two years unless you are tracking it regularly.

It's hardly braking... the bank at under £50 every two years though.

dlockers · 25 Aug 2021 at 09:25

tom_e said:
It's hardly braking... the bank at under £50 every two years though.

Give me £50 every 2 years unnecessarily if that's your thinking :cool:

tom_e · 25 Aug 2021 at 09:53

dLockers said:
Give me £50 every 2 years unnecessarily if that's your thinking

Will you change my brake fluid?

dlockers · 25 Aug 2021 at 09:54

tom_e said:
Will you change my brake fluid?

You wouldn't even notice if I did, so I'll go with yeah maybe.

tom_e · 25 Aug 2021 at 09:56

dLockers said:
You wouldn't even notice if I did, so I'll go with yeah maybe.

Of course I will, fresh fluid looks totally different to two year old fluid.

dave28 · 25 Aug 2021 at 10:02

Get yourself a heynes manual and a few tools, changing oil, oil filer, air filter and pollen filter is easy.
I do 2 cars and a van and i would drop dead before paying £567 for what takes me about 45 minutes.

BUDFORCE · 25 Aug 2021 at 11:11

Changing brake fluid is easy.

You can get a non-return valve on a rubber hose on eBay about £5 delivered. Take the cap off the brake fluid reservoir.

Go round each wheel, open the bleed nipple, pump the brakes, push fluid through and top it up as you go.

Go round all wheels, I normally pump through a litre or so but you'll see it go clear as it pumps out.

Easier with 2 people as you have one one topping up as you go, but even a kid can do this.

Just be careful with brake fluid it'll strip paint off in seconds.

Maundie · 25 Aug 2021 at 11:44

On a 2018 car why are you waiting until 2021 for the 1st service?

Meatball · 25 Aug 2021 at 12:04

Maundie said:
On a 2018 car why are you waiting until 2021 for the 1st service?

This was my thinking. Surely it’s overdue as servicing is based on time or mileage - whichever is first.

Joe T · 25 Aug 2021 at 12:06

I wonder if he means "its first service in my ownership" rather than "the car's first ever service"

Siliconslave · 25 Aug 2021 at 12:18

I use Seat for my 7 year old leon servicing, they are a little more than an indy but include breakdown cover (see the 'Extending cover' bit) if you book online which more than makes up for it - used it a few times for flats as 100$% of the time the tyre foam thing doesn't work!
https://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/warranty-roadside-assistance/roadside-assistance.html

robj20 · 25 Aug 2021 at 12:40

Surely you change brake fluid when required not based on time. Isn't that why they make brake fluid testers.
A lot of modern cars have an automated function on mine you run a program then go round the car and open the valves and it pushes the fluid through itself. Not needed to though as it's still well within spec after 5 years, judging by the readings it will never need doing.

Casterina · 25 Aug 2021 at 22:35

chroniclard said:
Seems fine.

dLockers said:
I crossed a similar bridge on an Ibiza FR. I plan to run the car to the ground so went independent as resale wasn't important to me.

Rang my local independent VAG specialist which my friend recommended and has used them for a few years, they are quoting £260 for minor service and brake fluid change and will update the digital service record whereas it's £258 with SEAT (£189 for minor service and £69 for brake fluid) and includes 12 months roadside assistance so I'm leaning towards getting it done by SEAT.

Finglonga said:
Brake fluid change is a money maker anyway, it does not "need" changing every two years unless you are tracking it regularly.

tom_e said:
It's hardly braking... the bank at under £50 every two years though.

Had a look on the SEAT website again and the brake fluid change is £69 and not £49, must have overlooked it being late last night but for £34.50 a year for peace of mind, looks good in the service record and following their routine service maintenance.

Maundie said:
On a 2018 car why are you waiting until 2021 for the 1st service?

Joe T said:
I wonder if he means "its first service in my ownership" rather than "the car's first ever service"

Yeah, I mean first service in my ownership, didn't reread what I typed yesterday as was quite late.

Siliconslave said:
I use Seat for my 7 year old leon servicing, they are a little more than an indy but include breakdown cover (see the 'Extending cover' bit) if you book online which more than makes up for it - used it a few times for flats as 100$% of the time the tyre foam thing doesn't work!
https://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/warranty-roadside-assistance/roadside-assistance.html

Thanks, looks like I'm leaning towards getting it done by SEAT as I didn't notice it includes a year complimentary roadside assistance and it's the same price quoted by my local independent VAG specialist.

Lither · 25 Aug 2021 at 22:40

I'm in a similar situation with being working from home, will only be doing 3-5k miles a year and was wondering would it be best to switch to long life service so it's 20k miles/2 years for each service?

The Running Man · 25 Aug 2021 at 23:01

dave28 said:
Get yourself a heynes manual and a few tools, changing oil, oil filer, air filter and pollen filter is easy.
I do 2 cars and a van and i would drop dead before paying £567 for what takes me about 45 minutes.

On a 3 year old car ?

Bear · 26 Aug 2021 at 06:02

robj20 said:
Surely you change brake fluid when required not based on time. Isn't that why they make brake fluid testers.
A lot of modern cars have an automated function on mine you run a program then go round the car and open the valves and it pushes the fluid through itself. Not needed to though as it's still well within spec after 5 years, judging by the readings it will never need doing.

Not on either my BMW640d, Mercedes E43 or E63s. All were changed every two years and they charge about £100