Would you pay less for an older S3 that someone had serviced themselves?

[Muzza80]

I've a March 2010 Audi S3 Sportback so nearly 4 years old.

It's only had two services as it's on "long life servicing", last having been done just about a year ago and it's coming up for 27,000 miles, I've put 5k on it since the end of October.

I'll be keeping the car for at least 5 years so when I do come to sell it it will be nearly 9 years old and probably have somewhere in the region of 100,000 miles on it.

Audi are wanting silly money to change oil and an oil filter, I shudder to think what they will want when you add in plugs, haldex oils and so on.

I'm seriously considering doing my own servicing on the car and to hell with the dealers, I'm a pretty capable DIY mechanic having done most jobs over the years like brakes, suspension and so on, even stripped down a Subaru 5 speed transfer box while on the car, replaced the full set of bearings and rebuilt last year on my own and it's still running well despite the new owner liking to drag it at crail raceway regularly. For bigger jobs like timing belts, pulleys and pumps I'm happy to pay a respected Audi specialist independant to do this for me as and when required.

I'm not convinced at all with this long life servicing I'd be more inclined to change the engine oil and filter at least twice annually anyway. I also get trade prices from TPS on VAG parts.

So lets fast forward 5 years, you are in the market for a used S3 Sportback and mine comes up in good condition and average mileage.

Would you pay less for the car if the last 5 years the car had had oil, filters, plugs, brakes and other minor bits changed by the owner, of course all within keeping with the service schedule, fully documented on the service book & receipted. In fact the oil and filters would have been change far more regularly than an Audi serviced car.

Personally it wouldn't bother me one bit given the car is older and higher mileage. I'd actually have respect for the guy having taken pride in his own car provided everything had been done as and when required. I suspect not everyone would view it this way though.

Your thoughts....?

P.S before anyone jumps on the "you shouldn't have bought an Audi if you cant afford the servicing" bandwagon, don't, I can more than afford to pay for dealer servicing but just because I can does not mean I have to. Plus I actually really enjoy working on my own cars anyway.

 

[leegsi]

It will be harder to get stuff done under warranty without dealer history and people like to see main dealer history.

I would buy a car with dealer history over a car without

 

[Muzza80]

It will be harder to get stuff done under warranty without dealer history and people like to see main dealer history.

I would buy a car with dealer history over a car without

The car has no warranty other than bodywork anti-corrosion, it's 4 years old.

 

[Taroni]

It would not bother me that much as long as you had all the paperwork and bills for parts that you had changed on the car and I could see your work was up to standard

 

[Marshy]

As above really.
I'd buy a car that had been maintained by the owner as long as genuine parts were used and receipts were there to back it up.
I think dealer servicing is over rated, if bought a 3 year old S3 with 53k on and only serviced 3 times!!!!
If that was an enthusiast servicing their own car it would have had 6 or more services,
Dealer hadn't even changed the fuel filter or cam follower!!
As long as there evidence of the work being carried out and correctly that's good enough for me.
If your keeping it 5 years I don't think the difference on resale (if any) will be as much as what it'll cost you on dealer prices.

 

[Doogie...]

It might be worth considering Audi/Vag specialists garages. I get my S3 serviced and all work carried out by a garage in Edinburgh called Autohaus. They have done 3 of the last services as well as all the modification work and general maintenance my car has under gone. Not only are they all fully qualified ex-audi/VW technicians with years of knowledge and skill under their belt but there prices are incredibly reasonable as well as there customer service. Might be worth considering this as a lot of people shy away from self-servicing regardless of proof or receipts etc as they have no knowledge of your abilities.

 

[MrLapou]

I agree. If you keep all records receipts etc, by time car reaches that age and mileage it will be judged more on the TLC it has been given. Besides IMHO the variable servicing is way too long before oil changes. I've done most of the servicing on my cars , exception is if specialist tools etc are required. Every car sold privately, the buyer was thrilled with meticulously keep records. They even bought some un- used spares and oil.

It would not bother me that much as long as you had all the paperwork and bills for parts that you had changed on the car and I could see your work was up to standard

 

[br20vt]

I would never pay for Audi to do any work on my car, i remember them quoting me £120 for 4wheel alignment
I always use an independent specialist and keep all receipts for labour & parts so i dont think it should affect the resale.

 

[Andy1608]

Yeah I'm in agreement too, personally wouldn't bother me but people who don't know cars maybe would look out for it.
When i go to buy a car or look at one you know generally from the owner and the passion he has by the condition of the car and how he/she talks about it

 

[Wallm0nkey]

Same as above really I service my own cars and just keep receipts with the mileage jotted on which tends to be oil and filter every 5k. For people who don't touch their own cars it might look iffy but other people will see the reality that it's been treated better then the potential longlife service history a fash car has. I figure at 10 years old you won't create as much of an issue as you would doing it to a 5 year old car.

 

[prt57]

On our recent hunt for another car we noticed that some of the preowned on long life services looked a bit crusty in the oil filler hole and I wonder about oil changes every 2 years.
I often do an intermediate oil change in between the annual service.
I think this pays off as yesterday I sold a Clio with 109,000 on the clock. I listed my comprehensive DIY service schedule on the Autotrader advert. I must have had 20 calls and so I do not think DIY oil changes are a problem and in my case it was a bonus.

 

[Andy1608]

most people now know main dealers are expensive, i think the main people that use them are rich, old or don't know someone to steer them in the direction of a good indy garage or a family member in the motor trade lol

 

[@udi A3]

If its 9 years old, reasonably priced, and I can see you have taken care of it from new, Id not be worried. If it has 4 more owners and a sketchy paper trail id probably be more cautious.

 

[Muzza80]

That's that then, I'll be doing it myself from now on in.

I have a nice new blank Audi service book where I'll fill in all the details of what exactly I've changed and when.

For the price of Audi's engine oil and filter change due in the next 2500 miles I can change the engine oil & filter spark plugs & pollen filter and still have change to get the local indy to change the haldex oil/filter.

I'd be inclined to change all of the above (with the exception of the Haldex) once a year with just an engine oil and filter change in between.

Cheers for all the replies.

P.S I assume I can change the service notification messages with VCDS?

 

[Marshy]

I wanted my cambelt and water pump changed along with an oil and filter change.
Audi cost £693
I bought genuine parts and done it myself, took me 4 hours and cost £190 for genuine parts including antifreeze and aux belt
At least I know it's done right, with the money I saved I bought myself a Loba fuel pump.

yeah I changed mine to fixed intervals using vcds.

 

[@udi A3]

VCDS should clear the service reminder and should be able to change to fixed interval.

 

[the_cueball]

I would never buy a car with full main dealer history...

I service all my cars, and never once had anyone question them. I take far more care and attention on my own cars than any main dealer ever will.

I've also had no issues with any warranty work - that's BS that the dealers try to scare you with.

 

[S3_Jacko]

Good question this Muzza.... I'm gonna get my car serviced very soon and was in 2 minds about taking it to the dealer or the local Audi specialist.... As long as it has some paperwork and a detailed explanation from anyone loved their cars then I doubt it would put me off buying it off someone like that... Infact be more inclined to buy a car off someone who knows it inside out

 

[manor13]

When I had my modded VW ED30 the main dealers would not service it - Western VW and the then Sloans wouldn't touch it I had to go to an Independent VW place for my first service. never had an issue selling it later on.

 

[s3_trev]

Id say you wont have a problem if you can show the work you have carried out and prove it has been done to a high standard. My personal experience with dealerships is that they are ****ing useless. When I was new to Audi I got a couple of services with them and in that short space of time they didn't impress me in the slightest. Ordering wrong parts and servicing things that shouldn't have been serviced etc, bunch of muppets.

I now use a VAG specialist. They stamp my book and I am happy with the service and standard.

 

[warren_S5]

I've had my brand new S3 serviced at APS from 1st service. I think the 'old skool' have come to believe a dealer stamp is worth more than it is over the years, and has become one of those things people like to say a car has either when they're trying to justify a purchase or a sale.

I've had 3 issues with my S3s over the years that dealer couldn't resolve. Attitude was when the car fails bring it back to us (or, and I'm not joking here, put some new tyres on it....).

It became clear to me you are paying a premium for surroundings and for computer assisted module fitters to work on your car. At least in an Indy specialist they're usually driven by passion for that brand, at Audi the poor sods are just part of a well oiled corporate machine driven by targets and time slots.

Therefore I would happily buy from someone who could prove they had clear service record, but I'd want evidence/receipts etc.

 

[smurfworth]

Think of it the other way round, do you trust the main dealers to do the work properly? How many times have you seen "fuel filter" on the paperwork and when you come to look at it it's never been changed in its life.

Just because it's a main dealer doesn't mean it's the best.