Servicing expensive!

[Jimrod]

Well that's interesting - just having a service done by the local SEAT dealer on my 170 ST and on paper looks good value at around £170 but just had the call to say that at 30k on the clock it should have the aircon and filters done, the DPF chemically cleaned, fluids in the engine done etc at an additional £350 or so! So not really a £170 service then is it??

 

[julianat57]

Well that's interesting - just having a service done by the local SEAT dealer on my 170 ST and on paper looks good value at around £170 but just had the call to say that at 30k on the clock it should have the aircon and filters done, the DPF chemically cleaned, fluids in the engine done etc at an additional £350 or so! So not really a £170 service then is it??

Hi, you don't say how old the car is or what servicing schedule it is on, my guess would be that they have found extra work to the quoted fixed price service, the chemical clean of the dpf sounds like regen problems in the past, to me. All my services in the past 5 years have been spot on the money quoted....Julian

 

[Jimrod]

Hi, you don't say how old the car is or what servicing schedule it is on, my guess would be that they have found extra work to the quoted fixed price service, the chemical clean of the dpf sounds like regen problems in the past, to me. All my services in the past 5 years have been spot on the money quoted....Julian

Cheers for the reply.

Well it's a 62 plate and seems to be on the 10k service interval, this being the third service - bang on 30k.

While I've only had the car for six months or so it has been serviced from new at this garage (I've had to pay £20 extra for the service book as the car didn't come with one as well, just luck it was bought from this garage as I bought the car in another town!). I declined the coolant change at £70 as they said this was good down to -17C, I'll probably be ok! The Aircon hasn't been done before (apparently) and I'm not aware of DPF problems - just that it's a "precautionary" measure to prolong the life.

 

[Jimrod]

It came to £433 in the end with Aircon re-gas and DPF chemical clean (£104!), not as bad as I was expecting but worse than I'd hoped for when I went in with an immaculate car with full history! Not far off my old Audi A3 service costs though and considering the car I guess fair enough...

 

[MJ]

sounds like they've a load of new equipment and they've up - sold you to death on their services that "need" doing.

 

[ajf3011]

Would like to know what the DPF chemical clean involved.
With my cynical hat on I'd guess they tipped a £15 bottle of Forte DPF cleaner into your fuel tank.

 

[MJ]

I'd hope that for £100 they'd at least terraclean it.

 

[ajf3011]

I'd hope that for £100 they'd at least terraclean it.

So would I but my faith in main dealer services is pretty much zero.
Maybe I'm just an old cynic

 

[MJ]

as sad as it may seem coming from a career dealer technician I think your opinion has a strong foundation.

 

[andycupra]

.................

 

[Flobadob]

It would be interesting to take it to another dealer and see what they say!

 

[LeonCR]

sounds like they got you good and proper

 

[Jimrod]

sounds like they got you good and proper

Yup, I've just checked the bill and it says "Carry out DPF regeneration = £105.50". :\

 

[JoeleonFR]

Hi Jimrod,

I'm a Service Advisor at the dealer in Crewe (Cheshire) it appears that different dealers are offering different products and services, the DPF chemical is not something that we are aware of or intend on using. If for instance your vehicle came into us (62 plate Exeo with 30k) the only thing that we would advise you of is the Brake fluid change & Air conditioning service for which the first would be due when the car celebrates it's third birthday at MOT date. I'd try and sell you a service plan don't get me wrong! But all dealers will proactively offer different products the one you mention is alien to me!!

Regards,

Joe @ Crewe SEAT

 

[Jimrod]

Hi Jimrod,

I'm a Service Advisor at the dealer in Crewe (Cheshire) it appears that different dealers are offering different products and services, the DPF chemical is not something that we are aware of or intend on using. If for instance your vehicle came into us (62 plate Exeo with 30k) the only thing that we would advise you of is the Brake fluid change & Air conditioning service for which the first would be due when the car celebrates it's third birthday at MOT date. I'd try and sell you a service plan don't get me wrong! But all dealers will proactively offer different products the one you mention is alien to me!!

Regards,

Joe @ Crewe SEAT

Thanks for the reply Joe!

Yeah it had the brake fluid and aircon done, I declined the coolant change as it's good to -17 apparently but I wasn't sure about the DPF as I know they can be problematic. As far as I can tell they're fine on the Exeo's for the most part though. I think I'll give them a call (Swindon Motorpark, is an official SEAT dealer) and find out what the forced DPF regen entailed...

Cheers,


Jim.

 

[MJ]

The best way to increase the protection by the coolant? add more in. max cost? About £10 for a bottle of g13

 

[JoeleonFR]

Hi Jim,

To simply define a 'Forced Regeneration' it's basically when the DPF reaches a certain soot loading it can not be carried out by a customer (driving in 4th gear 50mph for around 10-15min) so a forced regen is carried out by a dealer and specialist equipment in effect fooling the DPF so that a regeneration can be conducted. However this is only required when the DPF light is visible on the dash usually accompanied with a engine light and a loss of power... if you did not require a forced regeneration then it appears this may have been carried out even though not required. But I cant speak on behalf of the dealer and it may be something genuine, give them a call and see what's what

Joe

 

[Speed-FReek]

I'm afraid to say I think you well and truly "done" by the dealer with the forced DPF regen. Why would you even do that unless the car requested it by way of the DPF light in the instrument cluster? On top of that, the CR engine cars rarely need a DPF regen that isn't already getting done by just driving the car.

Some dealers seem to operate using the smoke and mirrors methodology whereby all you get is a vague description of what needs to be done or what was actually done, dressed up with some kind of terminology that makes it sound like they actually need to do (or have done) something important. I recently dumped a dealer I was previously using, one of the reasons being for exactly this. I suggest you do the same with the dealer you've been using and find another one for any future servicing or other work you need doing.

 

[Jimrod]

I'm afraid to say I think you well and truly "done" by the dealer with the forced DPF regen. Why would you even do that unless the car requested it by way of the DPF light in the instrument cluster? On top of that, the CR engine cars rarely need a DPF regen that isn't already getting done by just driving the car.

Some dealers seem to operate using the smoke and mirrors methodology whereby all you get is a vague description of what needs to be done or what was actually done, dressed up with some kind of terminology that makes it sound like they actually need to do (or have done) something important. I recently dumped a dealer I was previously using, one of the reasons being for exactly this. I suggest you do the same with the dealer you've been using and find another one for any future servicing or other work you need doing.

Yeah, I get the same feeling, I wanted to use them as I needed the history that was missing (I knew it had been serviced there) and having a main dealer looks better in the books. Realistically though I'll trade in when I move it on rather than go for a private sale so it doesn't really matter.

If I need anything done in future I think I'll go to the VW specialist around the corner from my office in Cirencester, good guy. I was in the middle of meetings when they called with the list of things so I was caught a little off guard sadly, given 5 minutes to think I'd have declined any extras. Live and learn I guess... I'll call them when I finish work today but not much I can do about it now expect!

 

[JoeleonFR]

Or make a day trip to up to Crewe

I hope you get the matter resolved!