Is this is a good cost for a 'major' service?

[Ben Mason]

Hey guys,

I contacted my local Seat dealership to request the cost for a service to be done on my car as its due one and I was quoted £249. This will be the first service I would of carried out on it since I've got it and my first service ever actually as this is my second car and I didn't have my first one long enough to warrant a service.

What I want to ask really, as I'm 'new' to the whole servicing thing... is this a good price? It seems a little steep to me...

This is what I was quoted:
-----------------------------
The full 'Major' service on your Ibiza costs £249 inc VAT. With this you
also get Free SEAT Roadside Assistance (Provided by the AA) for 12 months.

The earliest date we can do this for you is this coming Saturday morning
(14th), or any day next week. We can provide a courtesy car if required, or
we can collect the vehicle and deliver it back to you if you are local.
-----------------------------

I'm not sure if engine size makes a difference but if it helps in you knowing, I have an Ibiza 1.9TDi Sport PD 130.

Thank you.

 

[Martin_FR]

What mileage / age is your car?

Seems cheap to me for a major service, oil and filter change is usually around that.
Major service your looking at the above plus timing belt and water pump, fuel filter also and brake fluid change depending when it was last done

 

[Ben Mason]

It's a 53 plate and it's done 128,100 miles.

Hmm, maybe I don't need a major service then if a major service includes timing belt and water pump etc, the timing belt and water pump were changed a week before I bought it.

 

[Martin_FR]

If the timing belt and water pump were done, with receipts to prove it then I would forget about the major service. Wasnt the oil and filters changed when it had the timing belt done? Generally oil and filter change is every 10k, fuel filter is every 20k I think and timing belt is 4 years (but my local specialist told me their good for 60k)

 

[gti_jones]

That sounds just right, seat are doing fixed price deals at the moment with 'major' and 'minor' servicing. It includes an air filter, fuel filter, and a pollen filter. And pretty much every level and serviceable item is checked over.

Good value if you ask me

 

[gti_jones]

oh and the 'Major service' doesn't include timing belt and water pump

 

[DScape]

I got a couple of quotes in December;

40k Service - £231.95 @ Garage1
40k Service - £234.19 @ Garage2

Timing Belt & Water Pump - £377.89 @ Garage1
Timing Belt & Water Pump - £298.00 @ Garage2

As said above, major service doesn't include belt/pump but usually by the time you have a major service, the belt/pump is due.

Both garages above are VAG specialists. Your Seat dealer price is about right IMO.

 

[Martin_FR]

So what is the difference between a minor service and a major? The fuel filter and pollen filter?
As a minor is an oil and filter change right?
Only other changes on top of that is fuel filter, and timing belt and water pump (which you say isnt part of a major)

 

[gti_jones]

Here is a link that should explain to all you guys who are unsure on Seats ''Its Fixed Service'' Offer for Seats 3-10 Years old.

http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/special-offers/service/it-s-fixed-service.html

Hope this helps guys.

*edit*

There is also a link on that page that will take you to a 'Whats Included' sheet (You will need a .pdf reader to view it)

http://www.seat.co.uk/content/media....download_attachment.file/what-s-included.pdf

 

[krussel]

Sounds about right for an intermediate service. I think a major service is around £350 as it includes brake fluid.

The 4 yr service with timing belt and water pump on my 1.9 FR comes to around £800 from Seat.

I got the extended service plan running so it should be about half that when it goes in.

 

[Ben Mason]

Here is a link that should explain to all you guys who are unsure on Seats ''Its Fixed Service'' Offer for Seats 3-10 Years old.

http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/special-offers/service/it-s-fixed-service.html

Hope this helps guys.

*edit*

There is also a link on that page that will take you to a 'Whats Included' sheet (You will need a .pdf reader to view it)

http://www.seat.co.uk/content/media....download_attachment.file/what-s-included.pdf

That was extremely helpful, thanks for that mate!

Looking at the "What's Included" sheet, the only differences between the minor and major services are:

1. Check heating/air conditioning operation
2. Check manual/auto gearbox oil level and replenish (if required)
3. Check final drive condition and oil level (replenish if required) excl. DSG
4. Clean engine air filter housing and replace filter element
5. Adjust aux. drive belts (if required)
6. Replace fuel filter (diesel engine only)
7. Replace spark plugs (petrol engines only)
8. Visual check of suspension system (shocks and springs)
9. Remove all wheels for full inspection of braking system

So for an extra £120 you get 9 additional checks, less really as obviously you wouldn't replace the spark plugs and the fuel filter on the same car due to being either a diesel or a petrol.

That seems, to me, VERY good? £129 for a service from a Seat dealer! Presumably they give you a print out/check list afterwards to say they have checked each of those things? Anyone had any experiences?

 

[touge]

just an FYI,

Seat are doing the belt for £299 at the moment with this fixed price thing. If yours is due soon might be worth getting it done now!!

 

[Ben Mason]

I was lucky enough to have my timing belt and water pump changed with the service the car had before I picked it up.

Good price at £299 though if that's parts and labour!

 

[touge]

i should hope it's not parts only =D

 

[gti_jones]

Presumably they give you a print out/check list afterwards to say they have checked each of those things? Anyone had any experiences?

Working at a seat dealer myself, yes you do get a service checklist.

 

[Ben Mason]

Ah brilliant, definitely going to get that booked in then!

Out of curiosity, do you know what courtesy car I'll be provided with or is it dependant on the dealer themselves? I don't want to be stuck with some ugly Ford Ka. Maybe they'll give me a new Leon ;-) not.

 

[Phil_JJ]

Completely dependant on what the dealer has. We have diesel ibizas at work.

 

[gti_jones]

Ah brilliant, definitely going to get that booked in then!

Out of curiosity, do you know what courtesy car I'll be provided with or is it dependant on the dealer themselves? I don't want to be stuck with some ugly Ford Ka. Maybe they'll give me a new Leon ;-) not.

It tends to be a like-for-like car, or the closet available car they can offer - example, you book a leon in, they give you a leon courtesy car

 

[Martin_FR]

My belts due in 2k so might look into it if its cheaper than elsewhere.

How thorough are the checks though, and will some garages not just end up giving you a list of things they want you to think you need an some scaremongering
Anyhow, you usually find out what parts are worn and need replacing suspensions, bush and brake wise when it comes to MOT time, obviously yearly aswell. And how much people do mot and service at same time, so if so then some of that time at the major service is done in the mot anyway

 

[Blanco92]

When you consider a minor service from Mercedes on an A160 CDI (so we're not exactly talking flash AMGs and the like!) is £500 and that doesn't include an air filter change and they then charge an extra £30 to adjust the handbrake (by 1 click) then I'd say yes that price sounds good for a main dealer.

Never ever buy a Merc, the dealer's are shocking!