Would this put you off?

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Mandala

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I have the opportunity to purchase a manual 3.2 Quattro, first registered Feb 2004. It has 8K miles on the clock but here's the problem, it has NEVER been serviced.

The current owner has done so little mileage in it he has waited for the service indicator to tell him it needs a service rather than going on time or mileage covered.

It's on long life servicing and needs the first service plus a Haldex oil change (I'm guessing) the question is would this put you off buying considering the low mileage? It's a year late- having only covered a small number of miles since it should have been serviced.
 
Why not get the seller to service it before you buy (maybe offer to pay for the service if you do decide to buy)?
 
If the service indicator has only just come on, then it's probably okay. I would however check the oil; if it's extremely black, and there's lots of sludge around the filler neck, then I would consider getting it flushed if I purchased it.

However, I doubt it would put me off if the rest of the car was well-looked after. And remember, you can use the missing first service as a bargaining chip to get the seller to lower his price.
 
Don't suppose it really matters as it is out of warranty anyway, so if the oil isn't sludgy or really black and the price is OK go for it.

What is the price ? The lack of service could give you good bargaining power.
 
The seller wants 14K for it, personally I think that's overpriced and he's playing on the low mileage as a plus point- I view it the opposite way. I haven't been to inspect the car yet as it's a fair distance but it has a few of the toys I'd like such as multi function steering wheel (I presume this isn't standard) and Xenons.
It is also supposed to have Sat Nav but from what I can see this isn't the large format Sat Nav but what looks to be a normal monochrome and fairly narrow display. Does anyone know what this Navigation system is?
 
If the service indicator has genuinely never come on then I spose the car doesn't think it needs a service. I was, however, under the impression that the service indicator would come on after two years maximum so not having it serviced for three does sound a bit odd.

As for the Satnav, it sounds like the CD-based nav from your description. Someone on here has it and could probably tell you more.
 
Vertigo1 said:
As for the Satnav, it sounds like the CD-based nav from your description. Someone on here has it and could probably tell you more.
Click to expand...
Yes, it does sound like the CD-based sat nav. Next to the handbrake, you have a couple of buttons and a small knob to control it. I assume (but am not certain) that the destination selection and navigation information is shown in DIS.
 
Fussy lot ain't ya ?
Three year old motor with ultra low mileage ?
Wouldn't put me off,quite the opposite.
 
Mandala said:
I have the opportunity to purchase a manual 3.2 Quattro, first registered Feb 2004. It has 8K miles on the clock but here's the problem, it has NEVER been serviced.
It's a year late- having only covered a small number of miles since it should have been serviced.
Click to expand...
I bought a Navara that had missed a service but made sure I got it cheap because, unless I run it into the ground (which I probably will), when it comes to selling it, I will take a hit as I can't say it has a full service history.
 
It has not got full service history, it is as simple as that, it was meant to have been serviced when teh light came up or after 2 years, which ever comes first.

Now forget the mileage as when you try to sell it on it will only get bottom book price, which at the moment is £12500 with Glasses guide.
I bet the main dealer has told him either they don't want it or they have offered him a fair bit less than that.

I would not buy one with that sat nav system either, if you wanted to add the DVD nav system for £400 it becomes a real pain with that system already in, so for me that nav system would be a real negative too.

You will no longer be able to get an Audi extended warranty either, as the service has been missed you are no longer eligible.


You have cars like this on autotrader....

2005 AUDI A3 3.2 V6 Quattro S Line 5dr DSG Sportback
Price:
£14,000




Features: 8,000 miles BLACK Petrol Hatchback 05 reg (2005) Full Description: Glossary of Terms
Automatic, 8,000 miles, Superb Drivers Car, Combination of 3.2 V6 and DSG is amazing 250 BHP, Once you've tried it you'll never look back! No previous owners, Immaculate as new condition, Ebony Black, Aluminium Roof Bars, Cruise Control, Full Black Leather, S-Line, 3point rear seat belts, ABS, Alarm, 18inch Alloy wheels, Climate control, Sport seats, Memory seats, Heated seats, 6CD Changer, Xenons. HPI clear, genuine reason for sale. £14,000

Private Seller:
Email address: Email Advertiser

Contact number: 02086 803945
Click to expand...

2005, same mileage and still got a years warranty with Audi. You may get that for £13k. Well worth a drive at that price.
 
bowfer said:
Fussy lot ain't ya ?
Three year old motor with ultra low mileage ?
Wouldn't put me off,quite the opposite.
Click to expand...

My worry is that the type of owner who has done such a low mileage and never bothered having it serviced probably drove it very short distances and didn't care for it much. No servicing and short journeys doesn't sound like a good mix to me, thus the concern.
Also worried that any problems it may have had haven't been adressed under warranty as it's obviously never seen the inside of a stealer. Mind you that cuts both ways and perhaps this is a problem free example. Either that or it hasn't done enough miles for them to show.

On balance it's going to be a hard one to call when I go and see it.
 
Mandala said:
I have the opportunity to purchase a manual 3.2 Quattro, first registered Feb 2004. It has 8K miles on the clock but here's the problem, it has NEVER been serviced.

The current owner has done so little mileage in it he has waited for the service indicator to tell him it needs a service rather than going on time or mileage covered.

It's on long life servicing and needs the first service plus a Haldex oil change (I'm guessing) the question is would this put you off buying considering the low mileage? It's a year late- having only covered a small number of miles since it should have been serviced.
Click to expand...
When you say it's a year late, has the car been saying "Service Now" for the last year?

If not, then its not past its service. Thats the whole point of AVS, the car does not feel it need a service, so it dosn't.

The mileage and time are variables, so provided the car only now want's a service its fine.

Haldex oil change is based on mileage, 20K or 40K dependent on production date, so a 8K car is way off this.

The only thing I can think of is a brake fluid change, and this would not matter if the fluid was 10 years old and way past is best, because once its change all the oil stuff is gone.

The problem for you is to find out how long the car has been saying "Service Now", I think this can be done via VAGCOM, or a small trip to the local dealer, and paying for 1/4 hour labour, which I think is a small price to pay for such a car. The dealer will tell you what the service bill will be and thats your real bargining point.

Chris.
 
From the Audi site....

With AVS, on-board sensors continuously monitor the condition of the engine oil in terms of temperature, level & oil degradation.
The monitoring systems also check mileage covered, brake pad wear, battery condition and mileage covered. Using this information, the car’s on-board computer calculates its own maintenance interval, providing the driver with ample warning of a service due via the ‘distance to service’ display.

In practice, this means that each Audi gets the maintenance it needs, when it needs it. Audi owners don’t have to fit their working lives around traditional fixed service intervals, because there is no predetermined mileage for a service. Depending on how – and where - the individual drives, the interval can be up to 19,000 miles/24 months for petrol engines, up to 22,000 miles/24 months for the V6 TDI diesel and up to 30,000 miles/24 months for 3 and 4 cylinder TDI diesel engines.


It is up to 24 months, that does not change.
 
I'm guessing a dealer wouldn't touch that car so he is trying his arm at getting shot of it privately.

If the cars supposed to be serviced every 2 years and he hasn;t bothered what else hasn;t been done to it?

Personally I would look around at other options, it's not that cheap in my eyes.

J.
 
marriedblonde said:
If the cars supposed to be serviced every 2 years and he hasn;t bothered what else hasn;t been done to it?
Click to expand...

Did not think of that angle

Chris.
 
It's perfectly possible for it just to be a genuine low-mileage weekend toy,rather than a neglected piece of crap.
Bloke here just bought a 51 plate BMW318Ci with only 19K on the clock.
Bloke worked in the centre of town and only used it at the weekends.
It's like new and the lack of mileage will always be in it's favour,as my colleague isn't going to add to it significantly.
 
According to the vendor the car has not indicated that it needs a service at all. Despite being 3 years old and requiring it's first MOT. Until I see it I won't know of course but that does sound fishy as Audi UK have told me that the car will require a service every 2 years regardless of mileage covered.
 
gizze said:
I would not buy one with that sat nav system either, if you wanted to add the DVD nav system for £400 it becomes a real pain with that system already in, so for me that nav system would be a real negative too.
Click to expand...

The bad sat nav doesn't really bother me as long as I can take it out. What I'd ideally like to do is install my Becker Grand Prix/Ipod link in there and use my TOMTOM which I prefer in any case to even the good OEM Audi system. My worry is that it won't be possible to do that. Any ideas if that's easily done? If it isn't that would put me off more than the servicing issue.
 
I'm sure it's inadvertant,but some of you aren't half painting Audis as being fragile things that need to be pampered by the book....
It's not a 1972 Maserati for gowd's sake !
 
If you pay the book price and get him to service it 1st, then it's probably no worse than buying any out of warranty car - but don't assume anything - get it checked.
But also don't rush in thinking they'll never one as good as this - they'll always be others. It's not like the cars are one-off's.
 
Mandala said:
According to the vendor the car has not indicated that it needs a service at all. Despite being 3 years old and requiring it's first MOT. Until I see it I won't know of course but that does sound fishy as Audi UK have told me that the car will require a service every 2 years regardless of mileage covered.
Click to expand...
Frankly I don't believe him. I suspect he's had someone reset the service indicator with a VAG-COM.
 
That's a possibility.
I sold the wife's 206 when it was due a service and the little 'spanner' was lit up on the dash.
Quick search on the net showed me how to switch it off myself !
The car still wasn't what you'd call neglected though.
I just couldn't be ***** spending £150+ on a service when I was selling it.
 
I agree with Vertigo.

My March 2005 Sportback has done 8k in two years and is just coming up for 1st AVS service, it says 9200 miles or 25 days to service. The manual says every 2 yrs at most, so to me this means when AVS says so or 2yrs whichever is earliest - you can't do another 9200 miles!!! This is what the sticker says placed on the inside of the door shut "As indicated or during March 2007".

At 2 yrs you also need the brake fluid and pollen filter changed.

I'd find out whether he has used the air-con every trip too or you may find the seals have dried up which could be expensive.
 
Here's the most important question that's bugging me, I want to lose the sat nav. Looking at the photos it's a double din unit with the hazard warning switch beneath it.

Is it just a case of putting in a pocket and then sticking my single DIN Becker unit in place with some ISO adaptors? Or is it more complicated than that?
 
If it was a car I was looking to buy then I would work out a price with the seller to include a service ;)

I would ask the seller to take the car to a vag specialist OF YOUR CHOICE to get the service done(They can aslo check the car over)

Then subject to everything being ok a deal could be done :)
 
In my opinion the car is raising question marks so I'd walk away. Its not cheap and there others about so its not like you are particularly limited. As for the ultra low mileage being attractive, I think the lack of a service cancels that out really.
If you look at another one with single din, the Becker would be easier to fit too.
 
Mandala said:
Here's the most important question that's bugging me, I want to lose the sat nav. Looking at the photos it's a double din unit with the hazard warning switch beneath it.

Is it just a case of putting in a pocket and then sticking my single DIN Becker unit in place with some ISO adaptors? Or is it more complicated than that?
Click to expand...
Losing the CD sat nav wouldn't itself be too tricky, but you would need to buy some centre console plastics to cover the hole where the buttons and knob used to be. You would also have to hook the car up to VAG-COM to tell it that it no longer has sat nav too because I would imagine the car would throw up a fault in its diagnostics (i.e. when an Audi dealer or specialist checks it).

The good news is that, once you've removed all the CD sat nav parts, you might be able to sell the lot together (on eBay for example) and get some money back.

Be careful though - you're looking at a premium car, and these sell much better with sat nav. If you fit your Becker system, but then take it out at a later date to sell the car, it will have a lower specification than when you took delivery.

One final point - if the car already has a double-DIN stereo (the Symphony II 6CD system by the sound of it), then it is straightforward to retrofit the RNS-E widescreen sat nav. I know you said you weren't keen on the OEM model, but it truly is a fab piece of kit and again, will make your car a bit more desirable if you decide to sell.
 
I have all the parts needed to convert from double din back to single din if you go for it. That is climate unit, cage, switch facia and cup holder. I swapped it all out when I put in a navi unit. Let me know if you're interested in taking it off my hands.
 
PJLarge said:
I have all the parts needed to convert from double din back to single din if you go for it. That is climate unit, cage, switch facia and cup holder. I swapped it all out when I put in a navi unit. Let me know if you're interested in taking it off my hands.
Click to expand...

So it's not just a case of sticking a pocket in and slotting the single din in above it?

I wasn't planning on a full on OEM conversion as the original NAV would go back in when I come to sell it on.

It's starting to sound a bit too complicated.:lmfao:
 
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