£500 for 1st service (plus extras) WTF?!

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blackb9er

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The onboard computer is telling me I have an oil change an inspection due on 20th. Just got a quote back from Bolton Audi and they want £490.

Knew it was gonna be pricey but close to £500 is taking the ****! Wasn't expecting that.

Does the price vary at different dealerships?

Would it affect warranty or the conditions of the lease if i were to find an independent Audi specialist to do the work?

Also if anyone can recommend a good one in the North west (Manchester/Bolton) area that'd be great.
 
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If it’s vat registered you maintain your warranty. They can’t do anything about that. You can price match within a 10 mile radius.

£500 is taking the proverbial. Get a quote for like for like genuine parts and Audi should match.

I use a independent family run garage and I got a gearbox replaces under warranty. Can you imagine the cost of that.
 
If it's leased read your Ts & Cs, I'm 90% sure you must take it direct to audi, if it was pcp you could do independent
 
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WesT-gefül said:
Good point about the t&c’s. How are you financing the car?
Click to expand...
I know when I collected my s4 a month or so ago, the sales women showed me my lease T&C's and it did state I would need to get it serviced directly at audi, was also the same on my Leon cupra I leased, what would happen if you still took it to an independent garage I'm not sure, they wouldn't refuse warrenty work so long as genuine parts were used, but they would probably charge you the cost of the service again when returning the car
 
Presumably you could still get an independent quote for lower and then get them to price match. It's still being serviced directly, just pretend that you will go somewhere else if they don't match.
 
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I'm going through a similar thing. However few things to note...

1) If your vehicle is on Audi Finance then you must use an Audi approved garage - that is, any garage listed on the Motor Ombudsman website. I have phoned the finance company and have been told this today. Similarly it must use genuine parts.

2) Price match is only on written estimates from VAT registered garages which itemise the part numbers within a 15 mile radius. That's easier said than done as you can't tell the garage WHY you need that (i.e. to just go elsewhere) - else they'll tell you to swivel.

3) You likely won't get an electronic service book record from an indy. Or courtesy car, etc.



To put it in perspective, I have just been quoted £470 for the 40k service (discounted), which also includes the gearbox oil change (that is £225). I phoned a local guy and he said £350. However having looked into it, I can't use him as he's not approved. However - he's only £120 cheaper - which given I'll get a courtesy car, valet, service book stamp etc from Audi - it's not that huge a difference. I might give them a ring asking if they can drop the price a little bit more, however will probably just pay the £100 or so extra and go with them to save the hassle.
 
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Mine was £350 for first service / oil change!

TX.

Sent from my BBB100-2 using Tapatalk
 
@/dev/null that’s a really good quote. Luckily I’m not going to be snagged with my gearbox service as I just got a new one put in. It’s definitely a must to stay on top of the oil changes. Also although I do our more regularly. Recently had a look at the air and pollen and they were filthy but not due yet. Changing the oil every 6 months now (your mileage may vary) as the genuine oil is cheap.
 
/dev/null said:
I'm going through a similar thing. However few things to note...

1) If your vehicle is on Audi Finance then you must use an Audi approved garage - that is, any garage listed on the Motor Ombudsman website. I have phoned the finance company and have been told this today. Similarly it must use genuine parts.

2) Price match is only on written estimates from VAT registered garages which itemise the part numbers within a 15 mile radius. That's easier said than done as you can't tell the garage WHY you need that (i.e. to just go elsewhere) - else they'll tell you to swivel.

3) You likely won't get an electronic service book record from an indy. Or courtesy car, etc.



To put it in perspective, I have just been quoted £470 for the 40k service (discounted), which also includes the gearbox oil change (that is £225). I phoned a local guy and he said £350. However having looked into it, I can't use him as he's not approved. However - he's only £120 cheaper - which given I'll get a courtesy car, valet, service book stamp etc from Audi - it's not that huge a difference. I might give them a ring asking if they can drop the price a little bit more, however will probably just pay the £100 or so extra and go with them to save the hassle.
Click to expand...

Just got off the Phone with Audi again and they've said pretty much the same thing you have.

The car is being financed via Audi finance I spoke to my lease company and they say using an approved Audi dealer is fine. Only problem is you lose the free Audi roadside assistance as Audi only update it after each scheduled service.

Service price is standard across all dealers

£402 for the service (oil change and 26pt inspection)
£88 pollen filter change
£156 air conditioning service
£15 for a courtesy car

The pollen filter and aircon are optional needless to say I wont be getting them done at Audi

They're also going to be looking into my speaker rattle. The Lady I spoke to at Bolton Audi told me that it wont be covered under warranty but after kicking up a right fuss and then speaking to someone at Audi driverline they're telling me its covered not only that I'll get a car for the day free of charge during the service and longer if they need to keep it in to fix the speaker rattle.

So £402 with a car for the day. Still expensive but I can live with that. Gonna ring around first though before I get anything booked in
 
That pollen filter change is a rip!!! The part is £40. My god that’s crazy. On the first service you don’t need to do the air con. They’re up selling you. Especially on a lease car. I wouldn’t bother.
 
blackb9er said:
Thats the kind of figure I was expecting!
Click to expand...

But presumably TX was just an oil change rather than oil change + inspection service. Yours must be at 24 months.

I've used Bolton Audi for the inspection service but did the oil change myself. Didn't find the price to be an issue, they are friendly enough and nothing fell off the car afterwards. I didn't get the pollen filter changed and wasn't offered the air con service - not sure why that would be part of their quote to you unless you asked for it to be cleaned out as it isn't in the service schedule.
 
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As above, that’s why the title of the thread is misleading. It has included optional extras. Including stuff the OP himself isn’t even going to get.
 
WesT-gefül said:
As above, that’s why the title of the thread is misleading. It has included optional extras.
Click to expand...

I didn't know at the time the price included the optional pollen filter change. Suppose anyone new reading this can learn from my initial mistake of not asking exactly what you're getting for your money.
 
Clearly upselling the service is well within the standard operating manual for main Audi dealerships! When my service was due at 34K they told me I needed to additionally get the gearbox oil and spark plugs changed which was an additional £340 + vat. Honestly, when I saw the whole service quote at £802, I literally fell off my chair!

I actually got the service done by a local independent Audi specialist who said that the gearbox oil and spark plugs aren't due until 40K, so didn't need to be done if I didn't want them to be. Note that I asked the independent specifically about the digital service record and they said they can update the record just like any main dealer. However there is an "Authorised Audi Dealer" section on the digital record which shows "No" for this service.
 
blackb9er said:
I didn't know at the time the price included the optional pollen filter change. Suppose anyone new reading this can learn from my initial mistake of not asking exactly what you're getting for your money.
Click to expand...

Well, at least the pollen filter is listed in the service schedule as requiring change every 2 years unlike the air-con service. Obviously up to you if you want it changing or not - I haven't had mine done. 400 doesn't seem too bad if that is all you have paid for 24 months and if you get rid before the next service is due in another 24 months time (which will be even more expensive as it will probably include a few other essentials).
 
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blackb9er said:
Just got off the Phone with Audi again and they've said pretty much the same thing you have.

The car is being financed via Audi finance I spoke to my lease company and they say using an approved Audi dealer is fine. Only problem is you lose the free Audi roadside assistance as Audi only update it after each scheduled service.

Service price is standard across all dealers

£402 for the service (oil change and 26pt inspection)
£88 pollen filter change
£156 air conditioning service
£15 for a courtesy car

The pollen filter and aircon are optional needless to say I wont be getting them done at Audi

They're also going to be looking into my speaker rattle. The Lady I spoke to at Bolton Audi told me that it wont be covered under warranty but after kicking up a right fuss and then speaking to someone at Audi driverline they're telling me its covered not only that I'll get a car for the day free of charge during the service and longer if they need to keep it in to fix the speaker rattle.

So £402 with a car for the day. Still expensive but I can live with that. Gonna ring around first though before I get anything booked in
Click to expand...
Why are you having an air con service after only one year when it isn't due until two. I had my a/c serviced in october at the two year service interval and it cost me £65. As for servicing, I don't wish to make you ill but I pay just £9.56 per month for three years...
 
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cuke2u said:
Why are you having an air con service after only one year when it isn't due until two. I had my a/c serviced in october at the two year service interval and it cost me £65. As for servicing, I don't wish to make you ill but I pay just £9.56 per month for three years...
Click to expand...

Is air-con service an item in your service book? I can't see anything in mine for it so assumed it was just up-sell.

I'm guessing the OP is at 24 months rather than 1 year if the MMI is showing oil + inspection due
 
The op was stating first service. Two years is normal for a a/c service, but you aren't forced to have it. Anyway at £156 compared to the £62 I paid for a dealership to do it is wrong. The climate in the op's car is no different to mine...
 
cuke2u said:
..Two years is normal for a a/c service, but you aren't forced to have it....
Click to expand...

also, what do you mean by a/c service? Are you having a re-gas done or an air vent disinfect/deodorise? Either way, I've not got a/c service as an item required at the 2 year service in my service book and have never had any kind of service done nor been offered it on the a/c in any car I've ever owned
 
pagenotfound said:
also, what do you mean by a/c service? Are you having a re-gas done or an air vent disinfect/deodorise? Either way, I've not got a/c service as an item required at the 2 year service in my service book and have never had any kind of service done nor been offered it on the a/c in any car I've ever owned
Click to expand...

The Mrs had hers done on the qashqai (40k) it was needed as the car was taking an age heat the car up. cost £35

Clearly Audi were trying to upsell me something that isnt required at this stage.
 
pagenotfound said:
also, what do you mean by a/c service? Are you having a re-gas done or an air vent disinfect/deodorise? Either way, I've not got a/c service as an item required at the 2 year service in my service book and have never had any kind of service done nor been offered it on the a/c in any car I've ever owned
Click to expand...
Did I say it was part of the service, however it is recommended you have the a/c serviced every two years. Yes all of the above but if you wait until the air con starts blowing warm air instead of cold, or it stinks when you turn it on, then it could be beyond servicable as the refrigerant also contains lubricants for the compressor.
https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/air-conditioning
For £62 I take the decision to err on the side of caution...
 
blackb9er said:
The Mrs had hers done on the qashqai (40k) it was needed as the car was taking an age heat the car up. cost £35

Clearly Audi were trying to upsell me something that isnt required at this stage.
Click to expand...
Ford charged me £45 a few years ago when I had my mk4 mondeo. Included was an update to the firmware and noticably improved the performance of the climate...
 
I’ve been phoning around for quotes from indies and it’s foming in around £200 inc VAT and that includes updating the digital service record.

You only need to use an Audi garage if your car is leased and it’s specified in your lease agreement as the car is owned by the lessor not the driver. However if you’re on Audi Finance they can not enforce a requirement to have the car serviced at a dealer. The finance is secured on the car but you are the owner. There’s a technical distinction between the two scenarios.

Audi’s price match is a total joke. What garage is going to go to the hassle of giving you a written quote with part numbers just so you can go somewhere else?
 
cuke2u said:
Did I say it was part of the service, however it is recommended you have the a/c serviced every two years. Yes all of the above but if you wait until the air con starts blowing warm air instead of cold, or it stinks when you turn it on, then it could be beyond servicable as the refrigerant also contains lubricants for the compressor.
https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/air-conditioning
For £62 I take the decision to err on the side of caution...
Click to expand...

No you didn't, that's why I was asking. What do they do for your 62 quid though? I'm aware that the refrigerant contains lubrication to prevent seals drying out. My climate control is on auto so will always be circulating but the point is I've never had a service and never felt the need for one. If you do that's fine but just wanted to be clear if it was specifically mentioned in your service schedule and you've now confirmed it isn't.
 
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I'm lucky in that I have a local indie who is an Audi specialist, they can certainly update the electronic service record, they can remove component protection and even re-calibrated my side assist this week. They can do ACC and front camera calibrations too.

They had Audi spec a custom workshop/garage just for the kit, its spotless unlike the rest of their work areas but not surprising considering what the kit must have cost them!
 
pagenotfound said:
No you didn't, that's why I was asking. What do they do for your 62 quid though? I'm aware that the refrigerant contains lubrication to prevent seals drying out. My climate control is on auto so will always be circulating but the point is I've never had a service and never felt the need for one. If you do that's fine but just wanted to be clear if it was specifically mentioned in your service schedule and you've now confirmed it isn't.
Click to expand...
As I stated before, they replace the refridgerant, check for leaks and perform a ultrasonic treatment that clears microbial, fungal and bacterial particles in the vents And yes always good to have the cc on auto as it prevents the seals from drying out..
 
After being quoted a similar amount for my first service and around 550 for the second, I was given the option of buying a two-service plan for 620 ish, jumped at it. Not sure if all dealers offer it but worth asking...
 
If it's leased then the fully maintained packages are well worthwhile.

Mine is £35/month... includes everything - servicing, tyres, consumables... And that's for an S4.
 
Wouldn’t be £35 per month on 25k a year mileage lease!
 
scobie140 said:
£500 to change oil & filter then have a nosey round the car :tearsofjoy:
Click to expand...
£402 actually, still alot though. But then my partner was paying £22 a month for her fiesta over three years making a total of £792 for three services...
 
I’ve just had my S4 B9 serviced for the first time (2yrs @ 15k miles) - and chose an Indie rattler than Audi.

I supplied my own oil - Castrol Titan Pro LL IV - and the first service cost me £397 inc (though the oil was about another £70).

But for that I got:

- oil change
- oil filter
- air filter
- pollen filter
- spark plugs
- brake fluid

...not bad I think.

Will be switching to annual servicing from now also.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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