Keeping a Full Audi Service or going Specialist?

[Ramayya]

My car is approaching its 3rd year and has 32K miles on the clock. As such it will require a Haldex Oil Change & a Brake Fluid Change.

Is it worth keeping the service history with Audi? How much do they usually cost? (got no clue about servicing)

Also, the car's computer shows 33 days for an inspection. What is this and should I do it??

I have looked around the forum but I am a bit lost with the different answers so any help would be much appreciated.

PS: I currently do between 10-12k Miles a year, am I looking for a fix term servicing?

 

[Scottyg]

The 33 days to inspection is your car simply telling you it's due to be serviced.
If you have full Audi service record already then I'd stick with them till you're out of warranty. Audi will price match any quote from a vat registered garage using OME parts within a certain distance.
Shop around. Only way to find the best price is to ask.
You can however take it to an independent and have the same service carried out by them. It will be cheaper.
My only concern is the goodwill you may require from Audi if anything goes wrong out of warranty. Having the full dealer history helps in these situations.

Ps you should be on fixed servicing if you are on your third at 33k.

 

[ACWKGYTO]

Ive found that some of the VAG independents near me arent much cheaper, and can be far less convenient in terms of getting the car serviced while you wait, loan car etc plus the surroundings are usually alright, drinks, schmooze etc The only issue is not really building a relationship with a mechanic and having a good chat about whats going on with the car as its usually the service department that deal with things.

It would be interesting to know exactly how much difference the value of a car is depending on where its serviced. Obviously servicing at correct intervals is important, although it would be an interesting test to see what would happen if you didnt touch a car from new and just kept driving it until something catostrophic happened or not as the case may be. When I was young and didnt know any better I didnt get cars serviced, or really check anything, and cylinder heads would go in the end with big bills !

 

[Ramayya]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I will phone a couple of indies around my area and get them to send me a Quote. Then I will ask Audi and ask them to price much. Ideally, I would like to extend my warranty past 3 years as I am intending to keep the car for a while and god forbid I don't want any issues out of warranty. With this is mind I take it might be of my best interest to stick with Audi.

 

[THQuattro]

Stick with Audi or use a big name specialist.

 

[davc]

Yeah stick with the dealer as long as you are prepared to. Audi tend to offer Goodwill on out of warranty issues if your car is serviced within the dealer network.

I found this out with my 8p which required a steering rack 1 yr out of warranty. As the previous owner had it serviced at non franchised garages they wouldn't entertain me.

Audi CS wrote to me stipulating this as the reason for no Goodwill contribution.

 

[Ramayya]

I decided to stick with the dealer for obvious reasons.

Haldex Oil + Drain Plug
Oil Change + Filter (Oil supplied by myself)
Brake Fluid Change
£260

Which funny enough was cheaper than what the local specialist quoted me for the works.

 

[THQuattro]

Sorted mate.

 

[Scottk]

The 33 days may also be the brake fluid reminder. Get an MOT while you're at it.

 

[Chris90]

genuine service parts are no more than £50 (not including haldex or brake fluid change) I paid £225 for a timing belt kit and full service parts (oil, air, oil fuel filters) and took me a hour or 2 to do the service.

I seriously cant understand people whole wont go anywhere else but a main dealer for service. At the end of the day, its only a kid/apprentice from college with a couple years experience doing the work. And a fancy shaped ink stamp in the book and expensive labour.

Timing belt + water pump and major service is probably £8-900 worth of work from a main dealer, yet parts are no more than £250 for the lot. You only have to look at Audi's pricing to see that a water pump on top of a belt change is £140 more for 3x 10mm bolts when the belt is off. not to mention the part is only £30 from the dealer/TPS.

At end of day, id rather see a nicely looked after car from a individual with plenty of receipts for parts/servicing than a ink stamp in a book ever 15,000miles or 1-2 years servicing intervals depending how you look at it.