Main Dealer Trust Issues

[dragon]

12 months ago I took my A3 to a Main Dealer after a suspension spring snapped. It was fixed FOC but following the visit the car developed a secondary headlight levelling issue which cost me £50 to resolve and a return visit to Dealer. Last month I had an engine management light on which was resolved by replacing a £60 sensor. On returning home I discovered that the central locking system had now mysteriously developed a fault!! This cost me the best part of £150 to sort and another visit to the Dealers. Coincidence or shall I change my name to Mug?

 

[sabers]

always try a strongly worded e-mail , that where i normally start, its worth a go. just explain your situation and don't talk to and of the mechanics speak to someone higher up as they are normally more polite and willing to ask around and higher on what they can do for you.

 

[voorhees]

Take it elsewhere for another opinion,I believe no dealership would knowingly sabotage a car for work.

 

[dragon]

Think I've just been unlucky!! Although saying that following the last visit I developed a knocking noise at the base of one of the wipers. On closer inspection I was rewarded with a shiny 10mm ring spanner! Just glad it didn't fly out on a roundabout.

 

[DriverN00B]

Maybe they just have crap mechanics rather than that they're intentionally sabotaging stuff. Cause and effect kinda thing.

 

[Dan-Jnr]

From my experience at Audi dealerships they are worse than the monkeys in the local zoo. Prefer to use independent specialists.

 

[warren_S5]

I am the first person to condemn Audi service based on the prices they charge.

I do however have a vein of sympathy for them in respect of the way they're system works.

1) They have to overcharge to pay for 'the system': Some state it's because they have to have 'all the gear' - I'd argue it's because they have a nice showroom and a huge corporate payroll to fulfill rather than all the tools. Do they have a Beissbarth 4 wheel alignment system, No - how do I know? I had to send my car to an indy to get this done
2) They are timeboxed on jobs - every job is timeboxed whether warrantied or serviced. If a mechanic regularly spend excess time on a job they will ultimately be penalised
3) There is no incentive to go the extra mile as they have set it into the public conscience that 'main dealer' service means more - I'd argue these people are no more Audi than any of the rest of us. The sign over the door is a sign, it's a franchise, it's not Audi AG. They represent.
4) Most of them probably worked on some other brand up until they joined Audi, they're mechanics - it's a day job, not a passion. They get suckered by the corporate system and just do what is needed to get by
5) They are probably incentivised to upsell (washer fluid / wipers / tyres etc.) - every time my car has ever been in they want to sell me tyres so there must be so incentivisation

I'm not saying any of the above makes it right, it just contributes to the misery for consumers.

 

[Dan-Jnr]

They are definitely pushed to sell tyres and brakes.

I took my S3 8L in to Audi Manchester for an MOT and it passed but they recommended I needed new pads and discs. I told them that's funny, I only had them replaced the month before.
A second time I took my car in for wheel alignment and they said I was due new tyres. I told the service agent he was taking the ****, they were only replaced a few months before and had 4mm+.
I have to admit every time I take my car somewhere I always say "I know nothing about cars".
I think they try and judge how much you know about cars.

 

[s5joe]

Here is a good one I took mine into Liverpool Audi and they snapped a clip and I found it wedged in the aux belt and they said it was like that when I took the car into them

 

[Gazwould]

Sounds like a normal modern Audi to me.

Main stealer grease monkeys are always against the clock and rush things which should not be rushed.