AVS - now having doubts

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Scott

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I have an 09 A3 2.0 TDI, registered in March 2009. It hasn't had a service yet and it's on 13,000 miles. Still says another 4,700 until oil change and around 7,000 until service. I was meaning to get it done at 10,000 really, but knowing it's on the variable servicing, I couldn't bring myself to spend money getting it serviced at Audi for "no reason"

Chances are I'll probably get rid of the car after 3-4 years, maybe sooner, maybe keep it, should I really care about the AVS?

I would suggest that around half the miles have been motorway, and the other half town, although a lot isn't really stop/start but rather constant 30-40 and the engine is usually fully warm, apart from in the cold mornings when I drive to the train station.

Should I wait? Should I get an oil change?

Opinions please! For what it's worth, car is remapped & sometimes driven hard when warm & always "warmed down" ie: left to idle for a min before switching off when fully warm
 
My last four A3s have all been on AVS and I've never done any intermediate oil changes or anything and I've not had any problems. The first AVS service has always been between 18k and 19k miles and I do a varied type of driving. Some local journeys and some motorway, including a round trip to Austria nearly every year.
 
Dave,

Are you recommending to delay it till the full service is due?
I'm on the same boat. I have about 6k till full service.

Alisdair
 
drnutta said:
Dave,

Are you recommending to delay it till the full service is due?
I'm on the same boat. I have about 6k till full service.

Alisdair
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Not sure what you mean. Mine have always had the AVS service when the car has said it's due at around 18-19k miles.
 
The first service on my old 2.0T came up at around 10k miles. The car did mainly do my wifes short work journeys most of the time so I think it was about right. AVS service does seem to work out pretty well when its service time.
 
Sorry.

My car is on 20k service but the oil service is due but the full service is due in about 6k or less.

Is it jus worth waiting to just get the full service which is perhaps in a few more months.
 
TBH with the samll relative cost of a std oil change service it cannot hurt to at least change it early.

The problems with AVS on the earlier cars didnt seem to show until the car was on its second or 3rd owner.

Your choice, but for the sake of a few quid is it worth wondering????

In summary, oil service now and proper service in 7 k or whatever would be my choice
 
The car monitors the oil quality and decides itself when it wants a service so i would wait untill then, i've never heard of avs causing any problems but it seems to me a long time before anything is checked on a car.
 
Kunit said:
The car monitors the oil quality and decides itself when it wants a service so i would wait untill then, i've never heard of avs causing any problems but it seems to me a long time before anything is checked on a car.
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A lot of the issues on the A3 3.2 / R32 are potentially due to long-life servicing. Mine will be getting an intermediate oil change in the future. Seems a small price to play compared to the cost of major engine repairs once the car comes out of warranty.
 
Depends to some extent how long you keep a car. Personally I have always changed mine around 3 years old so the car is always under warranty. I therefore tend to follow Audi's advice and have mine serviced when the AVS says it's necessary.

Once the car passes to the next owner it's up to them.
 
h5djr said:
Depends to some extent how long you keep a car. Personally I have always changed mine around 3 years old so the car is always under warranty. I therefore tend to follow Audi's advice and have mine serviced when the AVS says it's necessary.

Once the car passes to the next owner it's up to them.
Click to expand...

I hear you, no point in paying out on additional oil changes in the first 3 years unless you hold onto the car for longer or want it to be reliable for the person you sell it to.
 
Well if you are not keeping it then do whatever.

To me and anyone who cant afford a newer car will; know to stay away from AVS cars anyway.

20 K is a long time to run around on the same oil. The sensor is supposed to moniter oil quality.. lets leave it at that .

All IMHO and experience so far. I personaly would not think spending an extra £99 on a near £20k car is too much for longevity of a car
 
Both my last two A3 2.0TDIs, a 2004-140 and a 2007-170 were both purchased new by me and traded-in to the suppliing dealer around 3 years old and 36,700 and 30,600 respectively. Both cars had their first and only AVS service at the same dealer at 18,200 and 18,600 miles. Both cars are still taken to the same dealer for their servicing by their new owners and neither has suffered any engine problems.
 
Byzan A4 said:
Well if you are not keeping it then do whatever.

To me and anyone who cant afford a newer car will; know to stay away from AVS cars anyway.

20 K is a long time to run around on the same oil. The sensor is supposed to moniter oil quality.. lets leave it at that .

All IMHO and experience so far. I personaly would not think spending an extra £99 on a near £20k car is too much for longevity of a car
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The problem is it's hard to find a car not on the AVS. Audi dealers don't do a good job at explaining to buyers of their new cars whether AVS is right for the type of driving / mileage they do, and the benefits of an interim oil change.

I understand that for a rep doing 20-40k miles a year sat on motorways that it makes great sense - but what happens is people do 9-10k a year so the service is every 2 years. The fact you can buy a 6 year old car with nearly 60K on the clock only just due it's 3rd service seems crazy.
 
The current Audi Price and Specification brochure does give the following information to help customers determine which service system is best for them...

Fixed Inspection Service Schedule


Vehicle usage:
  • Mileage Less than 10,000 miles per annum
  • Type of journey Mainly city/town centre driving.
  • Short journeys
Conditions
  • Frequent cold starts.
  • High engine loading – e.g. frequent hill climbs, vehicle fully loaded, towing
Driving style
  • Uneconomical – e.g. heavy acceleration, heavy braking, constant changes in speed, constant use of high revs, ‘sporty’ driving
Service Intervals:
Oil-change Service Fixed to every 9,000* miles/1 year
Inspection Service Fixed to every 19,000* miles/2 years



Variable LongLife Service Schedule


Vehicle usage:
  • Mileage More than 10,000 miles per annum
  • Type of journey Motorway and main road driving. Mainly longer distance journeys. Constant speeds
Conditions
  • Normal engine loading – e.g. with little or no towing, with little or no hill climbs.
  • Normal vehicle loading
Driving style
  • Moderate acceleration, moderate braking, engine revs mainly below 3,000
Service Intervals:
  • Oil-change Service Variable to a maximum of every 19,000 miles/2 years
  • Inspection Service Fixed to every 19,000 miles /2 years
 
h5djr said:
The current Audi Price and Specification brochure does give the following information to help customers determine which service system is best for them...

Fixed Inspection Service Schedule


Vehicle usage:
  • Mileage Less than 10,000 miles per annum
  • Type of journey Mainly city/town centre driving.
  • Short journeys
Conditions
  • Frequent cold starts.
  • High engine loading – e.g. frequent hill climbs, vehicle fully loaded, towing
Driving style
  • Uneconomical – e.g. heavy acceleration, heavy braking, constant changes in speed, constant use of high revs, ‘sporty’ driving
Service Intervals:
Oil-change Service Fixed to every 9,000* miles/1 year
Inspection Service Fixed to every 19,000* miles/2 years



Variable LongLife Service Schedule


Vehicle usage:
  • Mileage More than 10,000 miles per annum
  • Type of journey Motorway and main road driving. Mainly longer distance journeys. Constant speeds
Conditions
  • Normal engine loading – e.g. with little or no towing, with little or no hill climbs.
  • Normal vehicle loading
Driving style
  • Moderate acceleration, moderate braking, engine revs mainly below 3,000
Service Intervals:
  • Oil-change Service Variable to a maximum of every 19,000 miles/2 years
  • Inspection Service Fixed to every 19,000 miles /2 years
Click to expand...

Good info Dave, but I'm confident 90% of buyers don't study the brochure in minute detail. And they shouldn't have to! This isn't small print, it's an essential part of maintaining your car correctly, and Audi should do a better job to assess this when handing over the car, and educating the customer accordingly.

Not that they give a toss, as the additional wear and tear due to poor maintenance will only become apparent when the car is over 3 years old and no longer under warranty.
 
The 3.2 engine problems are not caused by avs at all, that's hilarious. Avs is tested by a maufacturer before going to market, they don't give you the car to give it a try, the 3.2 is just a dated not very good, stretchy chained lump of metal. Audi also were not the first to do longer service intervals, it was around way before they tried it. Why don't you all take the missus out for a meal, get a bit drunk go home and have angry sex and quit ur moaning.
 
Kunit said:
The 3.2 engine problems are not caused by avs at all, that's hilarious. Avs is tested by a maufacturer before going to market, they don't give you the car to give it a try, the 3.2 is just a dated not very good, stretchy chained lump of metal. Audi also were not the first to do longer service intervals, it was around way before they tried it. Why don't you all take the missus out for a meal, get a bit drunk go home and have angry sex and quit ur moaning.
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What a crock of sh*t.

The 3.2 lump is generally an awesome engine. Smooth, powerful and sweet sounding. Smaller turbocharged engines are now used due to economy, but unfortunately are boring.

When you say "tested" - 60,000 miles on the road over a period of several years? I think not. In theory they're fine, but in practice the engine is running on muckier oil than is ideal.

Tw@t.
 
I like it, straight to the name calling, how mature. If you like your overweight underpowered pretend v6 then that's your perogative but acting like a child......nice. Everyone is entitled to their opinion so grow up, and my comment was to help everyone quit moaning don't be so sensative and man up
 
Last edited:
Kunit said:
I like it, straight to the name calling, how mature. If you like your overweight underpowered pretend v6 then that's your perogative but acting like a child......nice
Click to expand...

It's ok, I never claim to be mature :nyah:
 
Kunit said:
The 3.2 engine problems are not caused by avs at all, that's hilarious. Avs is tested by a maufacturer before going to market, they don't give you the car to give it a try, the 3.2 is just a dated not very good, stretchy chained lump of metal. Audi also were not the first to do longer service intervals, it was around way before they tried it. Why don't you all take the missus out for a meal, get a bit drunk go home and have angry sex and quit ur moaning.
Click to expand...

While we are on suggestions, i suggest you be careful who you slag off.

Any more talk like this and i wil be forced to interceed.Simples

Onto the AVS both myself and Pete were expressing our own opinions and neither of us expected to get attacked for it.

AVS is the bane of the used car buyer, i am sure other manufacturers do it too,but i have no experience of them.
 
Slag off? I see nothing in my posts directed at anyone in partiular other than the 3.2 engine which is second to none for repairs. Intake air leaks, injectors, wiring, coils, sensors, chains, none of these are servicable items and will not wear quicker due to service intervals. I'm making an educated point about engines I work with not trying to pick a fight.
 
Kunit said:
Slag off? I see nothing in my posts directed at anyone in partiular other than the 3.2 engine which is second to none for repairs. Intake air leaks, injectors, wiring, coils, sensors, chains, none of these are servicable items and will not wear quicker due to service intervals. I'm making an educated point about engines I work with not trying to pick a fight.
Click to expand...
Why don't you all take the missus out for a meal, get a bit drunk go home and have angry sex and quit ur moaning.
Click to expand...

I take that as slagging off, I cant speak for Pete, but i don't need to ply my Mrs with food for sex, angry or otherwise.:blush:

Anyway, lets get back on topic. I understand the long and short of it is, in the short term it seems to have no difference and saves the 1st owner money, but will affect the later owners in years to come, which ever modle it is, TDi,Turbo or V6 ( or more rightly VR6)
 
Quote:
Why don't you all take the missus out for a meal, get a bit drunk go home and have angry sex and quit ur moaning.

Byzan A4 said:
I take that as slagging off, I cant speak for Pete, but i don't need to ply my Mrs with food for sex, angry or otherwise.:blush:
Click to expand...


That sounds like sound advice to me, not slagging off! :sex:

I have never owned one of the 3.2 V6 engines, have owned a fair few of the older Audi V6 engines, so can't really draw much comparison other than to say they are lovely engines to drive. I do however read the endless thread on this forum regarding the 3.2 issues that doesn't seem to me to have any bearing on the service intervals, rather caused by the design faults of the engine itself.

On the issue of AVS, I can't help feeling that this is all a little over the top, I really don't believe that service intervals and intermittent oil changes in the first 3 years or so of the cars life will have that much effect on an engine's life expectancy if we're talking using the same oil for an extra 5k miles....or will it?
 
Kunit said:
Slag off? I see nothing in my posts directed at anyone in partiular other than the 3.2 engine which is second to none for repairs. Intake air leaks, injectors, wiring, coils, sensors, chains, none of these are servicable items and will not wear quicker due to service intervals. I'm making an educated point about engines I work with not trying to pick a fight.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it's slagging off, but you came across with an attitude problem. I assumed you were intending to be a tw@t, so didn't see calling you that would be seen as name calling or a surprise to you.

beanoir said:
Quote:
Why don't you all take the missus out for a meal, get a bit drunk go home and have angry sex and quit ur moaning.




That sounds like sound advice to me, not slagging off! :sex:

I have never owned one of the 3.2 V6 engines, have owned a fair few of the older Audi V6 engines, so can't really draw much comparison other than to say they are lovely engines to drive. I do however read the endless thread on this forum regarding the 3.2 issues that doesn't seem to me to have any bearing on the service intervals, rather caused by the design faults of the engine itself.

On the issue of AVS, I can't help feeling that this is all a little over the top, I really don't believe that service intervals and intermittent oil changes in the first 3 years or so of the cars life will have that much effect on an engine's life expectancy if we're talking using the same oil for an extra 5k miles....or will it?
Click to expand...

There has been suggestion that the timing chain stretch is caused by a faulty oil pump, which gets gunked up due to old oil. As VW don't yet acknowledge this as an issue, there's no knowing if this is definitely the case, but on any parts that have oil flowing through them, the newer and cleaner the oil the better.

There's a fair difference between running oil for 10k miles and 18k. A lot of people would even suggest 10k / 12 months is too infrequent.

Don't forget, that with AVS and say 10,000 miles a year, a 3 year old Audi will only have been serviced once.
 
V6Pete said:
I don't know if it's slagging off, but you came across with an attitude problem. I assumed you were intending to be a tw@t, so didn't see calling you that would be seen as name calling or a surprise to you.



There has been suggestion that the timing chain stretch is caused by a faulty oil pump, which gets gunked up due to old oil. As VW don't yet acknowledge this as an issue, there's no knowing if this is definitely the case, but on any parts that have oil flowing through them, the newer and cleaner the oil the better.

There's a fair difference between running oil for 10k miles and 18k. A lot of people would even suggest 10k / 12 months is too infrequent.

Don't forget, that with AVS and say 10,000 miles a year, a 3 year old Audi will only have been serviced once.
Click to expand...


Maybe you're right and the newer engines are more delicate. I had a 1996 A4 2.6 Avant, I got rid of it at 126k miles (back in the day when I used to drive a lot), I never ever had that serviced properly, it probably went 20k between EVERY single service or more for it's entire life, and that car never cost me a penny or skipped a beat....god I miss the old girl.
 
Sorry for any offence caused and I wasn't implying anybody has to get their missis drunk, I merely said go out and get drunk. And as I previously posted I think the inteval is too long for a vehicle to not be checked.
 
V6Pete said:
There's a fair difference between running oil for 10k miles and 18k. A lot of people would even suggest 10k / 12 months is too infrequent.

Don't forget, that with AVS and say 10,000 miles a year, a 3 year old Audi will only have been serviced once.
Click to expand...

That's very true. Most of my A3s have only been serviced once in the three years I've owned them. The main thing though is that they are running with oil that has been designed to last 18k. A while ago even the best of oils was only good for 10k and before that 6k. Many of my early cars were serviced a 6k. The original VW Beetle had to have an oil change every 3k miles, but time and oil has moved on considerable.

I remember talking with one of the senior guides who was showing me round the Ingolstadt plant and asking him about oil. He said the oil that is put into a new Audi engine is designed for a new engine and should be left there until the 1st service. He said it is possible to harm the engine by changing this oil to soon.

10k miles a year is on the border line between fixed service intervals of 10k miles and AVS. As I'm in the 'over 10,000 miles year' and meet all of the requirements for the Variable service interval, this is the one I use. The only way to have a car serviced in the way you want it done from new is to buy a new car, otherwise you 'pays your money and takes your choice'
 
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