2nd Service - What's stopping me doing it myself?

[Silky-S3]

Hi guys,

My 2006 3.2 is due its second long life service (the car has done around 32,000 miles) in around 30 days and I've just been looking at the service book and its seems to me all they pretty much do is change the oil and filter and check a few things. Stuff like the quatro and DSG fluid change is not till 40,000 miles.

I'm pretty good with the spanners so what’s stopping me from change the oil and filter my self and then resetting the service counter?

The car is out of warranty this month (and out of the Audi used warranty in Feb) so is that the only thing I could end up losing? I intend to keep the car for at least 3 years.

I've got Vagcom which i take it is needed for resetting the service counter?

Maybe I should pay it for it this time and then do it myself starting next year, its just that the servicing prices look so expensive!

Cheers
Matt

 

[mnoble]

Get some quotes from Audi, and find out exactly what the service includes, there may be a few more bits that need doing that are not in the book.

 

[MintyS3]

Ugh I'd take it off the long life service for a start. Needs it atleast every 10k miles.

 

[NHN]

No reason at all, given oil, air, pollen etc etc are easy enough to do, I know someone who did there dsg oil aswell & I've read the guide & doesnt seem that difficult as he made the tool for it.

I've done my services & were simple enough

 

[Monsoon]

Have had the same thoughts myself. If you're capable of doing it yourself then I say go for it - you'll save lots and won't have the hassle of taking the car in. The only real argument for going to a stealer is that they check the car for any new/outstanding recalls.

 

[Silky-S3]

NHN - so have you had any problems that needed warranty help, and I take it your not bothered about having the service booked stamped?

How much value do people put on a dealer stamped service book? I'd keep all the receipts etc if I do it my self, would that satisfy you if you were a buyer?

Cheers
Matt

 

[Sparky28]

tbh i'm pretty sure a dealer stamped book wont be worth as much when you come to sell your car as you spent getting the main dealer to do it and not having done it yourself mate

 

[Boydie]

I would service my cars myself - oil change is easy peasy along with filters and stuff - no point paying an over priced dealer to do a job you could learn from and do in half the time quoted!

 

[Silky-S3]

I would service my cars myself - oil change is easy peasy along with filters and stuff - no point paying an over priced dealer to do a job you could learn from and do in half the time quoted!

Yep, totally agree with you mate. I'm just a bit concered about any warrenty issues.

Sparky - I like your thinking :icon_thumright:

 

[Silky-S3]

Des anyone have detailed service spec that they can post (with my old Fiat, i used to have the specific service checklists that the dealers used)?

Cheers

 

[PaulAr]

You need to compare the difference in price of AUDI doing it and a DIY job.
If its a couple of hundred £ then IMO its not worth it as it WILL affect resale.
Also it will affect any post warranty `goodwill` contributions if its been DIY serviced.
Could be a false economy.

Personaly I wouldnt buy a premium performance car that had been DIY maintained, regardless of the apparent ineptitude of some dealerships.

However if you plan to keep it long term and run it into the ground then its probably worth going the DIY route.

my 2p anyway.

cheers
Paul

 

[NHN]

NHN - so have you had any problems that needed warranty help, and I take it your not bothered about having the service booked stamped?

How much value do people put on a dealer stamped service book? I'd keep all the receipts etc if I do it my self, would that satisfy you if you were a buyer?

Cheers
Matt

Well I've done my own servicing for many years now & just wrote in my booklet when they've been done & what was done, anything I cant do is done by either my mechanic mate or at last resort Audi, namely things like immo, cluster etc that I would prefer they do & I have a very good relationship with my local dealer aswell & there techy's.

Havnt had issues with resale tbh, there is some worth in dealer stamps but for me it hasnt been an issue, saves me few bucks & you learn at the same time.

If you have receipts etc to backup the service books notes then I dont think they'd worry, just say your mechanically & technically minded & always done your own servicing, if they have a problem then fine let them walk, but I dont see an issue when selling privately.

my 2p anyway.

cheers
Paul

You fitted that RNS yet, I cant remember if you had.

 

[PaulAr]

Well I've done my own servicing for many years now & just wrote in my booklet when they've been done & what was done, anything I cant do is done by either my mechanic mate or at last resort Audi, namely things like immo, cluster etc that I would prefer they do & I have a very good relationship with my local dealer aswell & there techy's.

Havnt had issues with resale tbh, there is some worth in dealer stamps but for me it hasnt been an issue, saves me few bucks & you learn at the same time.

If you have receipts etc to backup the service books notes then I dont think they'd worry, just say your mechanically & technically minded & always done your own servicing, if they have a problem then fine let them walk, but I dont see an issue when selling privately.



You fitted that RNS yet, I cant remember if you had.

Yes mate, got it fitted, L6ON fitted it there and then, the unit is a minter too. Couple of things still to sort though.

Call register function doesnt seem to work, also I have no radio stations ???

Havent got around to getting it sorted and TBH I dont have anyone local with VAGCom and RNSE expertise that I know of.
Probably needs some one who knows his onionst o give it the once over and tell me what needs set up.

Apart from that its excellent and chuffed with it. An essential mod.

Cheers
Paul

 

[NHN]

Call register, could you be more specific mate?

Radio stations could be you either need to swap out your antenna system for the rns one (cue JohnS3) as yours probably had concert 2+ that used different antenna's so you get either very crap signal or none at all, I assume the antenna is plugged into the rear properly, got radio keys to check?

Remind me which radio you had before again?

Another reason to buy vagcom, hint hint nudge nudge, lol

 

[Staz]

I agree with PaulAr. I used to do all my own work on my old Fiestas and whoever did the work before me I didn't really care about, but on a newer premium (or "premium" for the cynics) car I would want a FASH.

Audi will give the car a once over while it's in too.

BUT if you plan to keep the car for a loooong time then the only person you have to please is yourself.

 

[PaulAr]

Call register, could you be more specific mate?

Radio stations could be you either need to swap out your antenna system for the rns one (cue JohnS3) as yours probably had concert 2+ that used different antenna's so you get either very crap signal or none at all, I assume the antenna is plugged into the rear properly, got radio keys to check?

Remind me which radio you had before again?

Another reason to buy vagcom, hint hint nudge nudge, lol

Call Register - It doesnt remember the previous number called (should it?) no matter anyway, its the Radio Im more interested in.

Previous head unit was concert I think.
Not sure on how secure the antena is, Im assuming its fitted ok as you can get a very `ropey` signal.

John did give me some advice on the antenna but Im am distinctly lacking in /tools/expertise/interest to be able to fix it myself.

What I need is some kind person to do it me me in exchange for Beer tokens.

cheers
Paul

 

[NHN]

Call Register - It doesnt remember the previous number called (should it?) no matter anyway, its the Radio Im more interested in.

Previous head unit was concert I think.
Not sure on how secure the antena is

John did give me some advice on the antenna but Im am distinctly lacking in /tools/expertise/interest to be able to fix it myself.

I'd say age of your car its a concert 2+, it was already a double din wasnt it so just swapped radio out I assume?

Radio stations will only be normal with antenna system swap tbh & call register, if its coded correctly then yes, but if someone just stuck radio in without coding then it might not function properly, so you press telephone, then top left button around the big selector dial & should have list of options for Dialled, Missed, Received calls etc, whne you go into that it shows your last calls relevant to each section, if not then I'd be inclined to get it onto vagcom & check codings.

Which phone is it?

Might have an option in phone bluetooth for remote sim, could try turning this on aswell.

Does it show your phone phonebook in the RNS when its connected?