Today, I played Motor Factor Roulette and lost.......again.

[ArunAlec]

How should it be removed? Is there some form of special tool?

I've not come across one like that before. All the paper filters that I've changed before have just lifted out.

The paper filter insert has a cylindrical inner which clips into place onto v shaped tabs. You need to slide something tubular into the cylindrical inner that will push the tabs aside to allow the filter to be freed! There’s a German chap on YouTube who used a loo roll tube but I use force and a bit of plumbing pipe.

 

[Borris]

The paper filter insert has a cylindrical inner which clips into place onto v shaped tabs. You need to slide something tubular into the cylindrical inner that will push the tabs aside to allow the filter to be freed! There’s a German chap on YouTube who used a loo roll tube but I use force and a bit of plumbing pipe.

Struth, I can see what you mean now. What a stupid arrangement! I agree, I can see no reason for that design other than to prevent anyone other than the dealership network from changing the filter. As far as I am aware all VW based vehicles have a similar arrangement but without the need for a specialist tool. Just unscrew the top and lift out the filter.

Mind you they are all at it. The move to electronic servicing with no service booklet is another nail in the coffin of self servicing. I recently asked for a servicing booklet for my wife's 2014 Skoda that's always been on electronic servicing. I was told they don't do them any more. As you know those booklets used to contain both the service intervals and regime and were very useful for planning and recording a service. When I asked for this information they refused to give it. They also refused to reset the service indicator after I had completed the service even though I offered to pay. They said they hadn't done the service so, no. I argued that as they hadn't done the servicing, there were no records or liability on there part. The answer was still no. They wouldn't tell me how to do it either. That information has since appeared on YouTube. All this is clearly aimed at forcing the customer into using thier workshops. In the end I slipped a mechanic who works there a drink and he printed it all off for me!

Most business users, those leasing and on PCPs, and some private owners are probably happy to hand their vehicles over to the dealerships for servicing but not everyone is that keen. What's next sealed bonnets?

 

[ArunAlec]

Struth, I can see what you mean now. What a stupid arrangement! I agree, I can see no reason for that design other than to prevent anyone other than the dealership network from changing the filter. As far as I am aware all VW based vehicles have a similar arrangement but without the need for a specialist tool. Just unscrew the top and lift out the filter.

Mind you they are all at it. The move to electronic servicing with no service booklet is another nail in the coffin of self servicing. I recently asked for a servicing booklet for my wife's 2014 Skoda that's always been on electronic servicing. I was told they don't do them any more. As you know those booklets used to contain both the service intervals and regime and were very useful for planning and recording a service. When I asked for this information they refused to give it. They also refused to reset the service indicator after I had completed the service even though I offered to pay. They said they hadn't done the service so, no. I argued that as they hadn't done the servicing, there were no records or liability on there part. The answer was still no. They wouldn't tell me how to do it either. That information has since appeared on YouTube. All this is clearly aimed at forcing the customer into using thier workshops. In the end I slipped a mechanic who works there a drink and he printed it all off for me!

Most business users, those leasing and on PCPs, and some private owners are probably happy to hand their vehicles over to the dealerships for servicing but not everyone is that keen. What's next sealed bonnets?

Not mention VW keeping fuse layouts a secret!

 

[MrP]

Struth, I can see what you mean now. What a stupid arrangement! I agree, I can see no reason for that design other than to prevent anyone other than the dealership network from changing the filter. As far as I am aware all VW based vehicles have a similar arrangement but without the need for a specialist tool. Just unscrew the top and lift out the filter.

Mind you they are all at it. The move to electronic servicing with no service booklet is another nail in the coffin of self servicing. I recently asked for a servicing booklet for my wife's 2014 Skoda that's always been on electronic servicing. I was told they don't do them any more. As you know those booklets used to contain both the service intervals and regime and were very useful for planning and recording a service. When I asked for this information they refused to give it. They also refused to reset the service indicator after I had completed the service even though I offered to pay. They said they hadn't done the service so, no. I argued that as they hadn't done the servicing, there were no records or liability on there part. The answer was still no. They wouldn't tell me how to do it either. That information has since appeared on YouTube. All this is clearly aimed at forcing the customer into using thier workshops. In the end I slipped a mechanic who works there a drink and he printed it all off for me!

Most business users, those leasing and on PCPs, and some private owners are probably happy to hand their vehicles over to the dealerships for servicing but not everyone is that keen. What's next sealed bonnets?

Not totally related to this thread but still an interesting one when it comes to servicing...

Our MB GLC needs a service. 4 years old now so going to a specialist but thought I would get an MB quote.
I went online as you can do it through the app. It tells me I need a B service + £470. It then tells me I need a fuel filter, air filter in brake fluid change and couple of other things. It now totals £680!!!
So, I dig the service manual out and service print out (that I demand but you don't normally get). Looking through I didn't need any of the "extras" apart from brake fluid change as the others were done last service. You can deselect the "extras" but a massive warning appears scaring you off stating you could be invalidating the warranty, what BS. So after sitting down with the books and print out the app was saying I needed more work than I did at over £160 more.
I contacted an MB specialist who can update the MB database as they are approved, they looked into it for me and agreed with me and then quoted me £200 less than MB (even though they are probably expensive).

Therefore, if I booked through the app and trusted it I would have spent £160 more than I should have at MB and £360 difference between app and approved specialist.

How many people use the app for convenience and trust it??? Is this another good earner for the dealers....

Rant over...

 

[Vagophile]

We're well of topic now, apologies.
When I had a MB Sprinter based MH, on one occasion I lost the anti-roll bar fixings (pothole in Bulgaria) and eventually found a repair garage in Corfu. Although he wasn't a MB franchise, the very helpful proprietor ran off all the MB records of the van for me. When I asked how he could do that, he just smiled and tapped the side of his nose.
A group of American farmers are running a class action against John Deere to get them to release servicing/maintenance software, complaining that they are being held to ransom by the company over repairs and servicing.

 

[B J G]

The buggers try to make DIY difficult though. Cartridge oil filters are a pain to extract without a special tool!

With you there, slipped and broke air horn trumpet connection requiring a new set of horns. Small consolation was selling the air horn compressor.