Booked for MOT, dealer says some other work is due

[QTom]

Just booked my car in with the dealer for MOT and they've emailed me saying some other work is due. They aren't saying it has to be done just asking if I want it done:

Brake Fluid change - £69
Air Con Service - £139
Front diff lock oil change - £94.20

The car is a 2017 Leon Cupra, just about 4 years old, so the above may just be standard but want to check I'm not being taken for a ride?

I'm happy to have important stuff done when required, brake fluid and diff oil sound important but I'm not so sure about the AC (which works fine)?

Car also just had the minor service with them a couple of months ago so wasn't expecting to need more done yet. It's pretty low miles (~22k) and not being driven much due to WFH so not sure if it's OK to leave this stuff till later?

Some people on here were saying they don't go to the dealer for MOT, maybe this is why?

 

[BigJase88]

Worth getting them all done

Yeah A/C service is a thing, i think the gas forms part of the seal of the system so new gas / less chance of failure in the future.

 

[martin j.]

Don’t know about the diff oil but the other charges seem high to me, I’d check around elsewhere.

 

[R3k1355]

Definitely worth doing the brake fluid and diff oil.

Ask whats being done on the AC service, are they just replacing the gas or do they swap out the dryer as well?

 

[CupraGeezer]

Diff oil is due at 30k miles / 3 years. My car took 4 years to get to 30k miles so I deferred it til then. Up to you whether you want to push this out until you get to 30k miles. Probably won't do any harm.

The price you've been quoted for that is in the ball park for a dealer but some people advise going to an indy as they'll clean the strainer which the dealers won't do (even if you ask them to).

 

[martin j.]

Gas isn’t actually replaced as such when the machine is coupled, the machine empties the system then refills it again using the correct quantity required, it may have to top up if you have lost some, it will add the required amount of lubricant into the system which is important for the compressor. So really the car is not filled with fresh gas and the old disposed of, it’s important to ensure the correct grade of pac oil is used in the refill.

 

[QTom]

Decided to just get the lot done, still not really sure if the AC is needed especially with how little I've used it but better safe than sorry I guess.

Did have a quick look for if there's an independent specialist near me but the only one I could see had pretty much the same prices as the dealer.

Diff oil is due at 30k miles / 3 years. My car took 4 years to get to 30k miles so I deferred it til then. Up to you whether you want to push this out until you get to 30k miles. Probably won't do any harm.

Working from home now and probably for a while yet so with the mileage I'm doing it will be quite a while till 30k miles I expect, so might as well just get it done.

 

[RUM4MO]

Gas isn’t actually replaced as such when the machine is coupled, the machine empties the system then refills it again using the correct quantity required, it may have to top up if you have lost some, it will add the required amount of lubricant into the system which is important for the compressor. So really the car is not filled with fresh gas and the old disposed of, it’s important to ensure the correct grade of pac oil is used in the refill.

Just to keep things correct the fridge oils are PAG not PAC, the G is for Glycol.

 

[martin j.]

Left the garage 2 years ago, thought I was remembering well, maybe not, ah well close. Ta.

 

[Walone]

If your car has the later R1234yf refrigerant found in most new vehicles then the price quoted is about right, if it has the R134a refrigerant then you are being overcharged, think it should be around £80 at Seat dealers.

 

[SRGTD]

If your car has the later R1234yf refrigerant found in most new vehicles then the price quoted is about right, if it has the R134a refrigerant then you are being overcharged, think it should be around £80 at Seat dealers.

I see that VW are now showing the same price (£139) for the air-con service on their website, irrespective of whether the air-con gas the later RF1234yf or R134a found in older cars.

So maybe it’s a VAG thing to have a single air-con service price these days.

 

[BigJase88]

I see that VW are now showing the same price (£139) for the air-con service on their website, irrespective of whether the air-con gas the later RF1234yf or R134a found in older cars.

So maybe it’s a VAG thing to have a single air-con service price these days.

They change to the new gas now don’t they?

 

[QTom]

If your car has the later R1234yf refrigerant found in most new vehicles then the price quoted is about right, if it has the R134a refrigerant then you are being overcharged, think it should be around £80 at Seat dealers.

Yeah dealer mentioned it is a newer more expensive one.

 

[Walone]

They change to the new gas now don’t they?

I don't think the new gas is backwards compatible, the reason given for the price difference was because it's more costly to produce the R1234yf gas.

 

[martin j.]

Different gas, different systems, different fittings, not compatible to mix types. Older gas was becoming more expensive and new type cheaper as production shifts.

 

[RUM4MO]

Historically when newer and so less efficient but greener in emissions when leaking, fridge gases appear, they start off being very expensive and as said as production ramps up they can be dropped down in price, conversely the older gases should by then have a production ban in developed countries and demand starts to exceed supply of "cleaned up" reclaimed gas, so you get driven to wanting to change for the compatible newer gas, trouble is who bothers to make older cars fit to accept these newer gases, so the systems leak the gas out and stop getting used - job done, unless someone starts cunningly importing newly produced gas from naughty countries, or less developed countries that are still allowed to manufacture it!

 

[Dr.Dash]

That a/c service price is really high.
Had mine done last Summer (4 year old car), cost £35. The system holds about 500 g of refridgerant, mine had 400 remaining, so 100g added, plus the lubricant and UV dye. Done in 20minutes.

If you are in the Derby area give this chap a try Staykool AC.

He has a van with all the gear in for mobile service or drop around to his home and get it done there. Good online booking and very professional.

 

[Leon FR 184]

Did they also inject the UV dye into the air con system so it makes the process of finding a leak if it ever happens significantly easier to find

 

[Dr.Dash]

Did they also inject the UV dye into the air con system so it makes the process of finding a leak if it ever happens significantly easier to find

If that was for me, then yes UV dye was added, along with the correct spec/quantity of oil and refridgerant top up.