Lease car 1st service. HOW MUCH?

[scott_johnson]

Chaps,

I have a 2018 (67) 8V S3 that is coming up for 12 months old and is due an oil change in less than 30 days.

Two things.

Firstly, I called for quotes at Bradford and Leeds Audi (evidently all my local Audi centres are under the Sytner brand) so all of their prices were the same..

The quote was £286 for an oil change!! Are they for real? When I started complaining they brought this down to £256.

Secondly, I spoke to VW for a quote (bearing in mind the car is leased and is owned by VW financial services) and quoted me £135 for the exact same service!! By all accounts, my car would still be getting done by a main dealer.... But it gets better.

Because my lease dictates the car needs to be serviced to the ‘manufacturers’ guidelines, it has to be done at Audi!

So, my question is this..

Can they really make me use Audi when VW will do the exact same job? How would VW complain if it was them that serviced the vehicle?

Does anyone know any Audi centres that are not part of the Sytner group that will carry this out cheaper? I was told Manchester isn’t part of this group so maybe worth a call?

Anyone had the same experience? How can they justify £286 just for an oil change with no filters?

Thanks in advance!

SJ

 

[Adam14]

There's plenty of threads here in this topic (cost, alternatives etc). A quick search, may give you some ideas on alternatives near yourself, a high quality independent would be your best bet if the lease company are happy with that, if they use the same parts. Some dealers will price match independent mechanics. £250 is around the ballpark for most dealers, you will pay a premium for it, it's the way it is.

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[AlS3BE]

Serviced to manufacturers guidelines does not mean serviced at franchise dealers. Can be independent.
Manufacturers guidelines means it’s all the necessary had to be done like oil change, filters, brake fluid at 3 years, gearbox at 38k etc etc. There’s no condition where you do it. Think block exemption pretty much covers it

 

[scott_johnson]

Adam, thanks for your reply. By the sounds of it, an independent garage is totally out of the question as per my terms and conditions. I appreciate dealers are more expensive due to their labour costs etc, but I can’t see how Audi want to charge £286 when a VW main dealer (the company that owns Audi) wanted £135!!

 

[Jassyo06]

£250 sounds about right l just got my 1st service/inspection done in November up her in Glasgow....was quoted this price,check the small print in your leasing contract, and am sure you'll need to get the car serviced by a Audi dealer

 

[Flying Scotsman]

I do not know if the UK costs for this alternative or even if it is offered. In Canada I paid about 550 quid for a 4 year annual service contact as per Audi service requirements including brake flush and Haldex service. You had up to 1 year from delivery date to buy this service contract from Audi and the annual services could be done by any Audi dealer. That is a considerable savings over normal dealership pricing. Audi Canada offer 3 and 4 year contracts.
UK dealership service pricing has come up many times on this site and IMO you get screwed in the UK for any scheduled servicing.

 

[-Ju-]

I was getting the same quotes from Bradford and leeds (wakefield and Huddersfield are the same group too), they even tried to tell me the oil was £160 on it's own lol.
I ended up having a run out to york Audi on a Saturday morning, which is jct600 and got it done for £170

 

[Adam14]

I do not know the UK costs for this alternative or even if it is offered. In Canada I paid about 550 quid for a 4 year annual service contact as per Audi service requirements including brake flush and Haldex service. You had up to 1 year to buy this service contract from Audi and the annual services could be done by any Audi dealer. That is a considerable savings over normal dealership pricing. Audi Canada offer 3 and 4 year contracts.
UK dealership service pricing has come up many times on this site and IMO you get screwed in the UK for any scheduled servicing.

Pretty much! I got 2 free services with my car, got one left which will be later this year. Will go independent afterwards, will coincide with the s tronic service and haldex for the '17 S3. But agreed, servicing costs are extortionate.

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[scott_johnson]

Thanks Ju! Exactly the answer I was looking for. I’ll make sure to give York Audi a call.

By the looks of my terms and conditions, it actually states ‘Audi centre’ or ‘approved Audi repairer’... Need to look further into this.

Just for the record, I’m happy to take it to a main dealer. I’m not trying to cut corners here or be tight, I just hate being ripped off!

Thanks for your input guys!

SJ

 

[Jassyo06]

I was getting the same quotes from Bradford and leeds (wakefield and Huddersfield are the same group too), they even tried to tell me the oil was £160 on it's own lol.
I ended up having a run out to york Audi on a Saturday morning, which is jct600 and got it done for £170

Was that recently for a first service........Not..............

 

[-Ju-]

Was that recently for a first service........Not..............

It was for....as the op said....an oil change

 

[-Ju-]

Thanks Ju! Exactly the answer I was looking for.

SJ

The original quote was for £230 but being a yorkshireman that was way too much lol

 

[Evil Derboy]

Thanks Ju! Exactly the answer I was looking for. I’ll make sure to give York Audi a call.

By the looks of my terms and conditions, it actually states ‘Audi centre’ or ‘approved Audi repairer’... Need to look further into this.

Just for the record, I’m happy to take it to a main dealer. I’m not trying to cut corners here or be tight, I just hate being ripped off!

Thanks for your input guys!

SJ

A lot of VW dealers are also “Audi Authorised Service Centres”. Would be worth checking this with the VW dealer you mentioned.

Downside of leasing is that your Ts & Cs trumps the Block Exemption rules. It’s not your car so needs to serviced in line with the owners’ wishes.

I had a Maserati Ghibli TDI leased a wee while back. First service was £600!

 

[AlS3BE]

Thanks Ju! Exactly the answer I was looking for. I’ll make sure to give York Audi a call.

By the looks of my terms and conditions, it actually states ‘Audi centre’ or ‘approved Audi repairer’... Need to look further into this.

Just for the record, I’m happy to take it to a main dealer. I’m not trying to cut corners here or be tight, I just hate being ripped off!

Thanks for your input guys!

SJ

Plenty of independent are audi approved repairers and can update your electronic service record with audi. In Glasgow area there’s A for Audi for example. Know a few guys that’s used them and service is pretty good and price is good too. Must be one similar in your area.

 

[Evil Derboy]

Plenty of independent are audi approved repairers and can update your electronic service record with audi. In Glasgow area there’s A for Audi for example. Know a few guys that’s used them and service is pretty good and price is good too. Must be one similar in your area.

Difference between being an Audi specialist and an Audi approved repairer which A for Audi are not.

 

[Matt Titanium]

I found that when I phoned all my local Audi dealers to ask for a service price, the receptionists always put me through to the same central group function which gave a stupid price and would only knock 10% off when pushed.
Ask the receptionist to put you through to their own service dept on some pretext and you'll probably get a much better price as they want your custom.
I got two year inspection service over £100 cheaper than central function wanted to charge - and it was only £30 more than the quote from a local independent.

 

[Mikeso51]

A lot of VW dealers are also “Audi Authorised Service Centres”

Check this carefully. I bought my car secondhand from a VW main dealer. They carried out the 2 year service prior to collection, assuring me that since they were part of VAG they would update the Audi digital service record. It later transpired that the salesman had been “mistaken”, and they were unable to record the service with Audi.

 

[Neil C]

Supply your own oil. As long as it's the same as Audi would use, they can't stop you.
Dealers charge a premium for parts, etc, so try Ebay or TPS and save a packet.

 

[Phutters]

Supply your own oil. As long as it's the same as Audi would use, they can't stop you.

They can't stop you supplying it, but they aren't obliged to use it.

I've asked this very question of a nearby dealership (one which is part of a large group), and they wouldn't do it.

It's like the servicing price match nonsense. 'Participating dealerships' only.

In some respects it's not hard to see why. Dealerships typically charge around £130 for their servicing consumables (oil, filter, sump plug and screenwash). Strip out the plug, filter and screenwash and they are charging the oil at over a hundred quid. If they use oil you've bought, I reckon they're probably giving away the thick end of seventy or eighty quid, if not more. That's a big dent in their profits.

If they're desperate to keep your custom they might be more accommodating, but more and more businesses simply don't reciprocate your. loyalty any more.





.

 

[Evil Derboy]

Check this carefully. I bought my car secondhand from a VW main dealer. They carried out the 2 year service prior to collection, assuring me that since they were part of VAG they would update the Audi digital service record. It later transpired that the salesman had been “mistaken”, and they were unable to record the service with Audi.

Yeah. You need to confirm this with Audi Uk. Not the dealer!

 

[S32B]

Serviced to manufacturers guidelines does not mean serviced at franchise dealers. Can be independent.
Manufacturers guidelines means it’s all the necessary had to be done like oil change, filters, brake fluid at 3 years, gearbox at 38k etc etc. There’s no condition where you do it. Think block exemption pretty much covers it

I know what you are saying and you are correct when it comes to still keeping the warranty etc. BUT be very careful if your car is on PCP or lease. A pcp's GFV could be based on the car "being serviced at a main Audi dealership". If it's not, when you take it back they could hit you with a bill for the price difference between a non Audi dealership serviced car vs an Audi dealership serviced car!!! How many of us read all the small print when we go to sign the paperwork?!?

 

[Evil Derboy]

I know what you are saying and you are correct when it comes to still keeping the warranty etc. BUT be very careful if your car is on PCP or lease. A pcp's GFV could be based on the car "being serviced at a main Audi dealership". If it's not, when you take it back they could hit you with a bill for the price difference between a non Audi dealership serviced car vs an Audi dealership serviced car!!! How many of us read all the small print when we go to sign the paperwork?!?

You’re half-right. On a PCP, the car belongs to you under a finance agreement. You can do with it what you like. There is no GFV. There’s only an optional final payment to keep the car at the end of the term.

On a lease it’s different and you are correct.

 

[AllanG]

You’re half-right. On a PCP, the car belongs to you under a finance agreement. You can do with it what you like. There is no GFV. There’s only an optional final payment to keep the car at the end of the term.

On a lease it’s different and you are correct.

Under a PCP the lending company remains the owner of the car until the balance is paid in full, so you can’t do what you like with it.

 

[Ron240]

The above is also my understanding of a PCP agreement.....the car does not legally belong to you until the final payment is made.

 

[Evil Derboy]

Under a PCP the lending company remains the owner of the car until the balance is paid in full, so you can’t do what you like with it.

LOL! There's always one pedant that totally disregards the context of the thread... My point is in regards to what is being discussed here in relation to servicing and maintenance options between a hire purchase agreement versus a lease. "Owned under a finance agreement" does not mean the same as "Owned" and I'm pretty sure most people understand that under any hire purchase agreement for any item, that the assest remains technically the property of the finance company. However under a leasing agreement there are fewer freedoms for the leasee in relation to how the vehicle is kept and maintained.

 

[AllanG]

Calm down, Evil Derboy......I’m afraid I’m just one of those people that like the facts being right.......haha!!!

 

[Phutters]

LOL! There's always one pedant that totally disregards the context of the thread...

No, there's more than one - context notwithstanding, that's the way I read it too.

While I'm in nitpickers' corner, I've got a one-word pedantry voucher I'd like to use, if I could:

...leasee...

It's lessee.

.

 

[S32B]

You’re half-right. On a PCP, the car belongs to you under a finance agreement. You can do with it what you like. There is no GFV. There’s only an optional final payment to keep the car at the end of the term.

You do have a GFV! it can also be called balloon payment, final payment etc. On a PCP you have 3 options: At the end of the term you can choose to trade your car in for a new one, pay the final figure and keep it, or give it back.

If you take option 3 and want to give it back you need to look carefully into the small print in your agreement first, the value could be based on a car with no damage, limited mileage and a full manufacturer service history. If you do not have a full manufacturer service history (on time, every time, by an official dealership), then the finance company can either refuse to honour the GFV or charge you a hefty penalty fee before they take the car back.

 

[Evil Derboy]

You do have a GFV! it can also be called balloon payment, final payment etc. On a PCP you have 3 options: At the end of the term you can choose to trade your car in for a new one, pay the final figure and keep it, or give it back.

If you take option 3 and want to give it back you need to look carefully into the small print in your agreement first, the value could be based on a car with no damage, limited mileage and a full manufacturer service history. If you do not have a full manufacturer service history (on time, every time, by an official dealership), then the finance company can either refuse to honour the GFV or charge you a hefty penalty fee before they take the car back.

Have a look at your paperwork and tell me where it makes any mention of guarranteed future value or makes any reference to what they say the car must be worth if you hand it back. You’re going to struggle....

The finance houses specifically dropped the term “GFV” in favour of “optional final payment” so that they’re no longer locked in to having to give you equity at the end if changes in the market mean that the car is actually worth less at the end of the term.

 

[S32B]

Have a look at your paperwork and tell me where it makes any mention of guarranteed future value or makes any reference to what they say the car must be worth if you hand it back. You’re going to struggle....

The finance houses specifically dropped the term “GFV” in favour of “optional final payment” so that they’re no longer locked in to having to give you equity at the end if changes in the market mean that the car is actually worth less at the end of the term.

I know what you are saying and no it doesn't specifically say GFV on the paperwork, but it does say a final payment. If I want to buy the car at the end and it says £18k on the paperwork but the car is only worth £17k at the time, they aren't going to let me have it for £17k as I signed on that final price. Likewise if it says £18k on the paperwork and at the time the car is worth £19k I'm still only going to have to pay £18k to buy it, so the price to a degree is guaranteed if I wish to buy it.

My main point is that you can't just do what you like with the car and you may not be able just to have have it serviced where you like, because potentially you are going to give them the car back and walk away at the end. If you take it back with a self serviced history and you have done what you like to it, it may be worth less to them than they anticipated (as they have factored in the option of you giving it back and walking away). If that is the case they could hit you with the bill for the car being worth less because it hasn't got a full Audi main dealer history and for any other things you have done to the car that need rectifying...hence why I said be careful and check the small print in your agreement.

Downside of leasing is that your Ts & Cs trumps the Block Exemption rules. It’s not your car so needs to serviced in line with the owners’ wishes.

You’re half-right. On a PCP, the car belongs to you under a finance agreement. You can do with it what you like.

My T&C's state they remain the owner of the car and I'm limited to what I can do to it, so their small print may include 'full dealer history is required' as they are the owners and that is their wishes, the same as a lease car would be:

I bet if you were handing a car back and walking away, they would soon pull out a document saying they required a full main dealers history on it and if it hasn't got one additional charges will be payable!

 

[Pook]

Who actually just hands the car back at the end anyway, I’ll bet not many. Most either just trade it in or keep it, or sell it privately. If it’s a trade in they’ll value it at whatever and that’s that. Can’t imagine this scenario often creating a problem.

 

[S32B]

Who actually just hands the car back at the end anyway, I’ll bet not many. Most either just trade it in or keep it, or sell it privately. If it’s a trade in they’ll value it at whatever and that’s that. Can’t imagine this scenario often creating a problem.

I agree but you have to cover your rear! People need to be aware of the potential downfalls if they don't keep up their end of the deal. It's bad advice to say you can do what you like with a car on a PCP, you can't!

If it’s a trade in they’ll value it at whatever and that’s that.

OK so just as an example: Car prices have bombed out and you are in negative equity, your final payments says £17k on your agreement, your BCA px price is showing £16k with a full main dealer history, not your problem if you've done everything as I agreed, Audi take the hit whilst you carry on with the next car, walk away etc.
The same again but this time you have done all the servicing yourself/non Audi main dealer. They now say the BCA price says you car is worth £15.6k £400 less than it would be if you had done the agreed main dealer servicing, they aren't going to cover that extra £400 loss! you will have to cover that £400 bill for the difference before you walk away or buy your next car.

My sister did a VT on a VW a few years back to buy another make of car, as the px price for the VW was way lower than what she owed on the car at the time and also lower than what the final figure on her pcp was 6 months before it was due to end! VW sent a guy to her house who checked everything had been done to to the letter, mileage, servicing on time at the main dealership, condition of the car etc. before he took it away.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say everyone should use the main dealership for servicing as they are better...they're not! I had my S3 serviced by a Audi specialist and I was going to do the same with this A5, but a mate of mine who works for Audi as a sales guy (not the same dealership I bought it from), gave me the heads up when we were talking about my deal and my final payment. My final payment amount dropped before I even collected the car! but I stayed on the original deal as the monthly payments jumped up over what i wanted to pay if I switched to the new deal with the lower final payment! So I'm pretty sure it will be worth less than my final figure at the end of the 36 months. So I'm giving them no excuses to hit me with a bill at the end, I'll do everything as I should and when they say the px price is less than what is owed to the finance company, I can just smile and say not my problem

 

[Evil Derboy]

I agree but you have to cover your rear! People need to be aware of the potential downfalls if they don't keep up their end of the deal. It's bad advice to say you can do what you like with a car on a PCP, you can't!

1. I never said that you can do what you like to your car on a PCP - I was referring to servicing. Though in the real world you actually can do what you like. As long as it's legal and insured. All you need to do is make sure it goes back in the same condition that you bought it. In the meantime fill your boots, you can do with it as you please as long as you keep paying for it. No one is going to come round and demand it back or ask to inspect it. They don't even see it at the end either. Either Mannheim or BCA deal with it and all they look for is damage, check the mileage and make sure nothing's missing. Ive sent back three cars with modifications that I couldnt be bothered removing (one car had different wheels on it) and no one batted an eyelid. They were more concerned with wear and tear. Once you sign off the report the car goes straight to auction.

They don't even have the facility to check the service history. That gets done later.

2. They can't just "whip out small print". If a clause isn't part of your agreeement it's not enforceable. There are many people with cars on PCP who dont do main dealer servicing. I'm not personally one of them but theres not consequence at the end. They don't stipulate on your paperwork shown that the car has to be dealer serviced. Therefore you can have it serviced wherever you like. Self-servicing isn't really an option because you can't demonstrate proof of a service history (unless you're a mechanic and shwo generate paperwork through your business)

Some of us are more avant garde, some of us are cautious. That's life. Enjoy!

 

[Pook]

I agree but you have to cover your rear! People need to be aware of the potential downfalls if they don't keep up their end of the deal. It's bad advice to say you can do what you like with a car on a PCP, you can't!


OK so just as an example: Car prices have bombed out and you are in negative equity, your final payments says £17k on your agreement, your BCA px price is showing £16k with a full main dealer history, not your problem if you've done everything as I agreed, Audi take the hit whilst you carry on with the next car, walk away etc.
The same again but this time you have done all the servicing yourself/non Audi main dealer. They now say the BCA price says you car is worth £15.6k £400 less than it would be if you had done the agreed main dealer servicing, they aren't going to cover that extra £400 loss! you will have to cover that £400 bill for the difference before you walk away or buy your next car.

My sister did a VT on a VW a few years back to buy another make of car, as the px price for the VW was way lower than what she owed on the car at the time and also lower than what the final figure on her pcp was 6 months before it was due to end! VW sent a guy to her house who checked everything had been done to to the letter, mileage, servicing on time at the main dealership, condition of the car etc. before he took it away.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say everyone should use the main dealership for servicing as they are better...they're not! I had my S3 serviced by a Audi specialist and I was going to do the same with this A5, but a mate of mine who works for Audi as a sales guy (not the same dealership I bought it from), gave me the heads up when we were talking about my deal and my final payment. My final payment amount dropped before I even collected the car! but I stayed on the original deal as the monthly payments jumped up over what i wanted to pay if I switched to the new deal with the lower final payment! So I'm pretty sure it will be worth less than my final figure at the end of the 36 months. So I'm giving them no excuses to hit me with a bill at the end, I'll do everything as I should and when they say the px price is less than what is owed to the finance company, I can just smile and say not my problem

I agree its important to cover all bases. Its got me interested as I never thought I needed to service at an AUDI dealer, so I am going to check my agreement thoroughly. If the agreement does not state "AUDI main dealer" though, they'd be on a sticky wicket in my opinion, what defines 'main dealer', it'll all come down to wording. Will check mine out and report back. I may even speak to my local branch aswell.

 

[Ron240]

what defines 'main dealer'

My understanding of this is a dealer that sells brand new cars supplied direct from the manufacturer, and is authorised to carry out warranty work.

 

[S32B]

2. They can't just "whip out small print". If a clause isn't part of your agreeement it's not enforceable.

Obviously not, but if it was in you original agreement and you hadn't seen it, I bet they'd soon find it for you if you were handing the car back and walking away. Hence why I said be careful and read the small print before deciding what you want to do with the car and where you want it serviced! But on the same note, if your car was in positive equity and you were buying another car off them, the chances are they'd just give you a slightly lower px price and never even mention it.

However, for me and my deal where the car will almost definitely be in negative equity at the end, do I trust a mate who works for Audi in a main dealership as a salesperson and take his advice or ignore him?!?

For everyone else I think we can all agree that the safest thing to say is "Service the vehicle as specified in your finance agreement."

 

[John Pilkington]

You’re half-right. On a PCP, the car belongs to you under a finance agreement. You can do with it what you like. There is no GFV. There’s only an optional final payment to keep the car at the end of the term.

On a lease it’s different and you are correct.

Hi mate,have ordered a new s3 on Pcp.can I use my own local garage for oil changes /services etc.am not looking to cut corners but I have a great local garage I can use,regards

 

[KenL]

As long as they follow the manufacturers schedule and you use the correct parts I don't see why not.

 

[frazzeld]

My previous car was due its first service (2 yrs) Audi Leeds originally quoted me £500 for service and the inspection which was due 88 days later, I said no just quote for the oil change which came back at £309 I asked them to price match and they offered 10%, i then went into the spares department just over the road and got them to print out a quote for all the required parts (oil, filter, sump plug, new seal etc ) around £45 inc vat, went back to the service desk and asked them to provide labour only quote, around £60 saving on the 10% offer.

 

[John Pilkington]

My previous car was due its first service (2 yrs) Audi Leeds originally quoted me £500 for service and the inspection which was due 88 days later, I said no just quote for the oil change which came back at £309 I asked them to price match and they offered 10%, i then went into the spares department just over the road and got them to print out a quote for all the required parts (oil, filter, sump plug, new seal etc ) around £45 inc vat, went back to the service desk and asked them to provide labour only quote, around £60 saving on the 10% offer.

Unbelievable prices them mate