Servicing Question

venomizer

Active Member
Apr 3, 2019
28
15
Hi all,

I've got a leased '19 Cupra 290. It's done ~6700 miles and is about 14 months old. Lease is 24 months duration with ALD. The oil service notification has just appeared.

Can someone explain the whole 'fixed interval' vs 'long-life' servicing regime please? Doing some searching here it looks like I should be able to request my dealer switches the car to the long-life regime which will remove the requirement for the oil service. I may just then need the one service before I hand the car back next year?

Obviously I need to ensure I meet the terms of my contract hire by following the recommended service regime.

Any help much appreciated.
 

nuvolablue

Active Member
May 1, 2017
118
14
Hi mate. Yeah just get the garage to switch to long life. I've done the same with my 2019 Cupra too.
Also my lease is also with ALD. I've leased with them before too, they are a reasonable bunch so you shouldn't have any problems.
Also they allow you to service at independent garages as long as you use Genuine/OEM spec parts.
Hope that helps.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

Rowan83

Active Member
Dec 5, 2017
241
82
Mine is having it's first service on Friday, it's only 12 months old with 3k miles on the clock. Oil service reminder has been on the dash since May :sneaky:
 

Tonezz

Active Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,038
75
Preston
By doing that you aren't following the service regime though, you're dodging it.

I would think if you were to change it you would still need that service, but then change it to fixed interval (Every year/10K) when its done.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,809
988
South Scotland
By doing that you aren't following the service regime though, you're dodging it.

I would think if you were to change it you would still need that service, but then change it to fixed interval (Every year/10K) when its done.

Exactly, unless the main dealer was willing to change to flexible servicing, then input the "run time" and "run miles" and suck out of the air the "flexible" part.
 

Glosphil

Active Member
Nov 10, 2004
415
178
Gloucestershire
If driving less than 10,000 miles a year the VAG recommendation is fixed annual servicing. You are covering less than 6,000/year.
It .appears all cars are delivered set to variable servicing.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,809
988
South Scotland
Yes the "what is your expected annual mileage?" is supposed to be asked prior to your new car being PDI'd at the dealership.

My wife's 2015 Polo 1.2TSI came with 3 years prepaid service plan, and set for fixed miles/time which suited us, but no questions had been asked during the buying phase.
My 2011 Audi S4, bought slightly used, came with an average mileage of less than 6K miles, but still set on variable servicing, that saved me some money as I carried out the "inbetween" oil changes during extended warranty period and got the dealer to carry out the flexible service at 24 months - as my annual mileage was also very low.
 

venomizer

Active Member
Apr 3, 2019
28
15
So it turns out the car was already set to long-life servicing and the oil service is a genuine requirement after 6k miles. Seat wanted to charge me £270 for the oil change only though! Will be taking my business elsewhere. Does anyone have any recommendations for reputable Seat servicing garages in MK?
 

martin j.

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
1,996
891
Fife
£270 for an oil change service, what kind of oil are they using? How much is there hourly rate, I know it varies between dealers but that must be horrific, can’t you get it done on the fixed price servicing system?
 

Tonezz

Active Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,038
75
Preston
If you book online on Seat website its only £179 for a minor service, it does say if you're on variable service contact them.. But if they've already told you its just an oil change then that is a minor service.

 
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black_sheep

Active Member
Mar 10, 2013
1,256
585
If you book online on Seat website its only £179 for a minor service, it does say if you're on variable service contact them.. But if they've already told you its just an oil change then that is a minor service.


Interesting - can only see the exclusions on fixed price maintenance (component replacement) for Cupra models.

For both of my services I’ve been charged extra as Cupra models were excluded from the fixed price servicing according to the dealer.
 

CupraGeezer

Active Member
May 11, 2018
357
163
I'm not on a long-life service plan but I've always been charged the published figures for my 280. Some dealers try it on, I think.
 

Tonezz

Active Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,038
75
Preston
Interesting - can only see the exclusions on fixed price maintenance (component replacement) for Cupra models.

For both of my services I’ve been charged extra as Cupra models were excluded from the fixed price servicing according to the dealer.

How much extra?

I've not had a service but I've had front pads and discs done at the same time, I got a quote off local Seat dealer and specialist I use, they were both about the same.
 

black_sheep

Active Member
Mar 10, 2013
1,256
585
Just had the 2nd year/20000 mile service completed for £220 after a bit of haggling on price. Dealer also wanted £130 for the air con service too, which I’ve skipped as apparently it needs to be completed every two years now - not sure if r1234 is more than an r134a regas, but the aircon is working fine, and I have mine switched on permanently to keep the system lubricated.

I did have the brake fluid changed and haldex 5 oil changed and filter removed/cleaned at 16,500 by the local specialist, as I knew the dealer wouldn’t have cleaned the filter. Whilst the haldex oil was fairly black, the filter wasn’t too bad.

Based in NE and have 3 dealers within 25 miles, plus a few VAG specialists, so prices always slightly lower than UK standard due to the competition.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
7,809
988
South Scotland
The R1234 will be currently dearer than the older R134A, but by rights that should end up being reversed with time as is the case with any other fridge gas that is being discontinued, or its use discontinued due to its effects on global warming.
 

martin j.

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
1,996
891
Fife
The R1234 will be currently dearer than the older R134A, but by rights that should end up being reversed with time as is the case with any other fridge gas that is being discontinued, or its use discontinued due to its effects on global warming.
When I left the trade the prices were stabilising and getting towards equal, but that was pitting suppliers against each other heavy haggling, the new gas is still dearer but if yours is R 1234 £130 is what I charged before I left the job.