Second service: unwelcome surprise.

[BeagleKCH]

I reckon I have probably done more miles than most, so I thought I would share this.

I am coming up for my second service at 36,000 miles. My local Audi dealership quoted me £328, which was about what I paid for the first one. They then rang me and explained that at 37,000 miles i'd need the automatic gearbox oil changing and wanted £140 on top for that. I've gone to an independent local (Audi specialist) garage, and their price comes in at only about £40 cheaper. I'm pretty phlegmatic about it all, but it's not the sort of thing that the dealers ever tell you about.

 

[maui]

Mine is about to have its second service at about the same mileage next week - will let you know if I get an gearbox oil change too.

I would push back / hard on them. At the end of the day, if you told them the mileage at the time of booking, they should know what the service schedule is, and it should include thing like gearbox oil changes. It’s not really a ‘Wear and tear’ component failure, so I would expect at least they discount you or some goodwill for screwing up the quotation!


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[BeagleKCH]

Well the problem is, the guy caught me at a bad moment at work. I said exactly that to him. Why ask me the mileage in the first place? I thought he was trying it on but I was so busy it was easier just to say "forget the whole thing i'll go somewhere else." It's all a bit of a pain, because I need the heating element on my passenger wing mirror replaced under warranty, which the local garage can't do. So i'll need to go back to a dealer anyway. Honestly, when you look at the over-staffing at the main dealers, i'd rather they cut down on the flunkies and free coffee and lowered their prices. What really annoyed me is that the guy said he would price match if I went elsewhere. You would rather hope that they would give you the best price to begin with. I won't now be going to them for my next car. So short-sighted.

 

[cuke2u]

I reckon I have probably done more miles than most, so I thought I would share this.

I am coming up for my second service at 36,000 miles. My local Audi dealership quoted me £328, which was about what I paid for the first one. They then rang me and explained that at 37,000 miles i'd need the automatic gearbox oil changing and wanted £140 on top for that. I've gone to an independent local (Audi specialist) garage, and their price comes in at only about £40 cheaper. I'm pretty phlegmatic about it all, but it's not the sort of thing that the dealers ever tell you about.

Strangly the service price seems to high and the stronic oil change too low. Even for cars over three years old they quote £225 for the gearbox in their fixed price regime..

 

[JG220]

For £40 I’d keep the Full Dealer history, especially given that you need warranty work done. By the time you’ve driven there a second time, it will be less than £40 more expensive.

I’d also negotiate with main Dealer. In my experience (4 current cars, all dealer serviced) they will match independs

 

[Mario]

S-Tronic servicing at 38,000 miles is the norm on these gearboxes. To be honest I would be happy that they at least called to try and fix their mistake before doing work rather than after they started the work and left you with no choice but to complete the work with them. Honestly don't see the issue here.

Sure they made a mistake, but they did the right thing by calling you to clear up the issue before commencing work on the car. Bear in mind that these gearboxes are fussy and a missed service will result in no warranty and potentially a £12,000 bill for a new gearbox if it fails, all for the sake of £140, which is frankly cheap! Their fixed price cost for cars over 3 years old is £225 and Crewe Audi on here (official forum sponsors) sell the oil, filter & crush washers for £145 inc forum discount....RRP is £170, so your dealer supplying and doing the work for £140 is a good deal!

 

[maui]

FYI - I just got mine back from Audi Worthing (at 35k service) and no mention of gearbox oil change? They had it overnight so the heater display panel could be replaced for the line fault.

I don’t get an itemised bill as it’s a fleet car


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[Mario]

FYI - I just got mine back from Audi Worthing (at 35k service) and no mention of gearbox oil change? They had it overnight so the heater display panel could be replaced for the line fault.

I don’t get an itemised bill as it’s a fleet car


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If it's an S-Tronic gearbox (7-speed automatic) it will need a service at 38k and not doing it will void the warranty. A lot of dealers are not very good at telling their customers about it and the car does not warn you when it needs it either.

Half way down this page on the Audi site.... https://beta.audi.co.uk/owners-area/servicing.html

Transmission oil

Your transmission oil plays a vital role as both a lubricant and coolant. As it’s subjected to more and more gear changes, it gradually becomes thinner and needs to be replaced. Your Service Schedule recommends this at 38,000 miles and it’s a service that Audi Trained Technicians are happy to provide. Applicable to S tronic and multitronic transmissions only.

 

[DarGri]

Just been on My Audi site and it states 40k interval for the ATF

Company car on the flexi plan, better book it in I guess, I'm on 39.5k

 

[scotty76]

Definitely get the gearbox oil done. Have a look at:

RS4 owner

and

RS4 owner

I believe @Robbe got his money back and now has an S4 but you don't really want to end up there.

 

[BeagleKCH]

Definitely get the gearbox oil done. Have a look at:

RS4 owner

and

RS4 owner

I believe @Robbe got his money back and now has an S4 but you don't really want to end up there.

There is no question that I am getting it done (this Saturday in fact). My beef was with the failure of the dealership to quote me properly in the first place.

 

[Robbe]

Definitely get the gearbox oil done. Have a look at:

RS4 owner

and

RS4 owner

I believe @Robbe got his money back and now has an S4 but you don't really want to end up there.

That is correct. what was worse was the dealership did the oil change themselves late by over 10k miles and never told me!!!

 

[scotty76]

There is no question that I am getting it done (this Saturday in fact). My beef was with the failure of the dealership to quote me properly in the first place.

Most dealerships are useless in my experience. I have to tell them what needs doing. Good customer service does not mean free coffee. *sigh* Roll on the end of warranty and back to people that know what they are doing.

 

[maui]

Well my last service was done by independent, which was selected by fleet company. Only this time they chose dealership as I mentioned the heater display fault. I’ll put a reminder in for 40k gearbox oil and tell them when it comes around and see what they say...


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[cuke2u]

If it's only mileage dependant then it's going to take me six years before mine will need doing. I won't have the car...

 

[Mario]

If it's only mileage dependant then it's going to take me six years before mine will need doing. I won't have the car...

I personally would be changing it every 4 years or 38k (whatever comes first) even if Audi say it's mileage dependant only. Oil degrades with time, it is exposed to heat and cold every day and it will break down as a result. Audi love to under service components. A bit like "lifetime" fluid for power steering, manual gearboxes (and MTF fluid in S-Tronic boxes) and rear diffs, etc.

Sure it will get through warranty periods without those bits being serviced, but long term it will not do the car / components any favours. Our B8.5 A4 is now 4 years with 18k on the clocks and will be getting an S-Tronic service. After all, they are very fussy gearboxes when it comes to the quality of their oil, and oil degradation can cause all sorts of funny issues with them that a simple oil change can fix or even prevent.

Obviously doesn't apply to you if you don't plan to keep the car long term.

 

[cuke2u]

You're correct I still won't have the car, but, being a ex-mechanic, if I did keep I would have probably changed it after three years.
However this is one of the reasons I change my cars...

 

[DarGri]

You're correct I still won't have the car, but, being a ex-mechanic, if I did keep I would have probably changed it after three years.
However this is one of the reasons I change my cars...

Need to keep that manicure in tip top condition now it's grown on you

 

[cuke2u]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=m.....69i57j0l5.3919j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[BeagleKCH]

Well some might say "That'll teach you to stick with an Audi dealer." Took the car in today for it's service (now done 37,000 miles) and for the gearbox oil change. Turns out that when my car was manufactured (collected 4/9/16), Audi were using a plastic sump plug for the gearbox oil. They have subsequently realised that such a part can only be used once. They now use a metal sump plug. Because that metal one is a special order, it wasn't supplied by Audi when they sent the oil to my garage. Anyway, there's no problem getting one, just not today. You might have thought that Audi having designed countless vehicles, would have realised the limitations of the original part. I have no idea when it was that they changed it on newer cars than mine.

 

[maui]

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[Mario]

Well some might say "That'll teach you to stick with an Audi dealer." Took the car in today for it's service (now done 37,000 miles) and for the gearbox oil change. Turns out that when my car was manufactured (collected 4/9/16), Audi were using a plastic sump plug for the gearbox oil. They have subsequently realised that such a part can only be used once. They now use a metal sump plug. Because that metal one is a special order, it wasn't supplied by Audi when they sent the oil to my garage. Anyway, there's no problem getting one, just not today. You might have thought that Audi having designed countless vehicles, would have realised the limitations of the original part. I have no idea when it was that they changed it on newer cars than mine.

The B8 & B8.5 had metal drain plugs. Must have changed it to plastic to cut costs then realised it was poor design, so changed it back to metal.