Realistic Service Costs ??

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alanmclean1974

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Guys,

I just got my car back from a 48,000 mile long life service at the local main Audi dealer. They gave me a list of faults/work requiring addressing, with the cost for parts and labour.

I'm wondering if any of you guys have had similar work done and what I could expect to pay at a VW/Audi specialist rather than the main dealer.

The car is 2000 W plate 1.8 T Sport Quattro.

1. "Slight leak at water pump" £453.

2. "Leaking seal at rear diff" £430

3. "Brake fluid service" £69

4. "Rear exhaust mounting bracket is broken" £420 (didn't say whether its on the body or the exhaust but it looks to be beside the rear diff)

5. "Timing belt recommended due to age of vehicle" £480 (is this 60,000 miles or 5 years?)

My thoughts were to get the diff seal fixed and change the brake fluid, and possibly see what can be done about the exhaust bracket, i.e. weld it back on to the body or the exhaust. What would you pay and what would you say is priority (e.g. is the water pump about to go)?

Cheers

Alan
 
It'll be about half the price at a good specialist as the bulk of the work is mostly labour which a dealer will be charging over £80 per hour for.
Timing belt is 80k, there is no sell by date.
The water pump needs to be sorted as if it is leaking then it maybe getting coroded internally which can cause it to seize which'll strip the timing belt.
Personally I'd get the timing belt done now and the water pump at the same time will only cost an additional £40.
The rear diff seal leak really depends on how bad it is.
Mine has been weaping for 3 years and it hasn't got any worse, so the independent I use say it's not worth doing.
 
Find yourself a good Independent and save yourself a packet.
They rely on you coming back so they are always competative.
The money you save you can spend it on goodies for the car.
Someone on here will know of a good independant local (ish) to you.

Good Luck
 
Cali, can you recommend an independent in the north west - especially in/around Manchester? Or can anyone else? I've asked the question before on the Dealer Discussion forum but no response! From what I've heard Lancaster Audi should be avoided ...

Thanks,
Nick
 
Alan's post raises an interesting point; I wonder how many owners have received a similar quote and paid £453 for the water pump + £480 for the timing belt?

Dealers should recommend both jobs are carried out at the same time but do they? I've always had both replaced at the same time on my cars, the relatively small extra cost is worth it.

I don't use main dealerships for servicing, are they really charging £80 an hour?!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't use main dealerships for servicing, are they really charging £80 an hour?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not all of them. Where I am in North Kent/South East London borders, it's £90 an hour, plus VAT.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't use main dealerships for servicing, are they really charging £80 an hour?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not all of them. Where I am in North Kent/South East London borders, it's £90 an hour, plus VAT.

[/ QUOTE ]

£90 + an hour..... I'm looking at an invoice from my local independent, two hours at £34.50 + an hour.

It would be worth your while making a day trip to Somerset to get your servicing done. Even better (so I'm told) go to France for the day and have it done there, the saving would pay for a boot load of booze!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't use main dealerships for servicing, are they really charging £80 an hour?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not all of them. Where I am in North Kent/South East London borders, it's £90 an hour, plus VAT.

[/ QUOTE ]

£90 + an hour..... I'm looking at an invoice from my local independent, two hours at £34.50 + an hour.

It would be worth your while making a day trip to Somerset to get your servicing done. Even better (so I'm told) go to France for the day and have it done there, the saving would pay for a boot load of booze!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's OK, Tubs. Just because my local Audi dealer charges £90 + VAT doesn't mean I pay it. Like you, I use an indie. They charge £45+VAT, which is very reasonably for this part of the country, taking into account the higher fixed costs of running a business in London (rent, land etc.)
 
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