Advice on main dealer vs independent service/MOT needed!

[Steelster]

Hi everyone, long time since I've posted on here! Hope you're all doing well in these crazy times.

My 2017 S3 is due for its first MOT, and also because it is now 3 years old, due for a brake fluid change.
I called a couple of places to double check if that is all that is required, and I've been told it was 2 years since my last major service so that is due as well.

So I'm in need for an MOT, brake fluid change, and major service. If that is what is needed then I can't complain, after all I purchased a "performance vehicle" so need to make sure it's all running smoothly.

My question is this......

In order to maintain a solid service history, should I be looking to get this done at an audi main dealer, or these days does it not matter? Will having a book stamped by main dealers for all services/MOTs etc be worth ANYTHING AT ALL if/when it comes to selling on?
Am I being overly anal and naive in thinking that the extra costs of main dealer is worth it in that respect?

For reference I've been quoted : MOT £49.99 - Brake fluid change £70 - Major service £400

If main dealer absolutely is not worth it, is anyone here by any chance able to recommend somewhere in East London / Essex area that could be worth a visit?

Any help or advice would me much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[george forbes]

just about to have my 2015 s3 serviced by an audi /volkswagen independent this week. oil service plus inspection spark plugs and brake fluid £300 he also pays for the privilege of accessing Audi digital service history so all is recorded . honestly the fact you get servicing done by official Audi dealership counts for nothing really as long as you can find a good independent. As for having your book stamped by them then no it counts for nothing unless you are planning selling back to Audi .

 

[Adam14]

I personally prefer using a local indy. I know the work will be of a much higher standard, all OEM and cheaper!

For an average Joe Bloggs buying your car they might want FASH, but when I've sold my car's I've done it to garages and they've paid the same as if it was FASH. These days most places ACM independents do the same job using the same parts. So imo the extra you pay at Audi you won't see back.

Sent from my HD1913 using Tapatalk

 

[Mikeso51]

Topical subject because my MoT and major service is due at the end of the month. Audi main dealer wants £450. Reputable local VAG specialist who I used regularly for a previous VW, quoted £230. Specialist follows Audi schedule and uses Audi parts and and approved lubricants etc. Also updates digital service record (no service book for my car). No guesses who is getting my business.

 

[Ice Kay]

Indy all the way, i bought a service book from ebay and get that stamped every time i get my car serviced.
My Indy uses all Genuine Audi parts just like an Audi Main Dealer would.

 

[Steelster]

Thanks everybody for the advice. I was presuming the same thing myself about going indy, just having recently moved to the area I'm not sure where the best/nearest garage I can trust would be so essentially if I went with main dealer would be paying for the convenience.

Best get searching!

 

[Jassyo06]

I'll be using Audi for my 3rd service and MOT in October only because l will be selling privately next year

 

[The_Ironist]

2017 S3, 24k Miles.

I just had 3rd year service and inspection done inc MOT, haldex service, brake fluid change and pollen filter.

Indi:
Service £190
MOT £50
Haldex £120
Brake Fluid £45
Pollen Filter £20
Total £425

My car has always been done Indi, I don’t trust Audi and the gap in customer service is vast, it doesn’t mean much when selling really.

Most garages won’t be bothered and most private buyers of an S3 will know their stuff and unlikely to have an issue with indi either.

Indi will also properly service the haldex including the pump filter.

 

[Jassyo06]

2017 S3, 24k Miles.

I just had 3rd year service and inspection done inc MOT, haldex service, brake fluid change and pollen filter.

Indi:
Service £190
MOT £50
Haldex £120
Brake Fluid £45
Pollen Filter £20
Total £425

My car has always been done Indi, I don’t trust Audi and the gap in customer service is vast, it doesn’t mean much when selling really.

Most garages won’t be bothered and most private buyers of an S3 will know their stuff and unlikely to have an issue with indi either.

Indi will also properly service the haldex including the pump filter.

Just your opinion about who cares....about a car being serviced outwith Audi or by someone else....when l was selling my last S3 first question l was asked was....Well ye can guess the rest....but hey l have nowt against folks going down the indy route....each to their own

 

[Flying Scotsman]

2017 S3, 24k Miles.

I just had 3rd year service and inspection done inc MOT, haldex service, brake fluid change and pollen filter.

Indi:
Service £190
MOT £50
Haldex £120
Brake Fluid £45
Pollen Filter £20
Total £425

My car has always been done Indi, I don’t trust Audi and the gap in customer service is vast, it doesn’t mean much when selling really.

Most garages won’t be bothered and most private buyers of an S3 will know their stuff and unlikely to have an issue with indi either.

Indi will also properly service the haldex including the pump filter.

That is about what I paid for 4 years of Audi annual service in Canada minus the MOT charge. and the service plan can be purchased any time in the first year. Yes it is an upfront purchase but I just look at as an option at purchase time and it is a bargain, compared to paying the cost of each annual service

 

[The_Ironist]

That is about what I paid for 4 years of Audi annual service in Canada minus the MOT charge. and the service plan can be purchased any time in the first year. Yes it is an upfront purchase but I just look at as an option at purchase time and it is a bargain, compared to paying the cost of each annual service

I didn’t have this option, perhaps a crazy deal would have tempted me, although I don’t think the packages here in the UK are quite as competitive.

 

[The_Ironist]

Just your opinion about who cares....about a car being serviced outwith Audi or by someone else....when l was selling my last S3 first question l was asked was....Well ye can guess the rest....but hey l have nowt against folks going down the indy route....each to their own

Do you think if you’d answered Indi it would have changed the result of the sale?

 

[j0hnst0n00]

I have a ’67 plate A3 1.5 TFSI; I am having it MOT’d and the brake fluid changed at my local Audi man dealer for £100; also having the air conditioning serviced for an additional £25, as the car is three years old Audi recommend it’s now due.

The reason for going to the main dealer is when it’s time to change I will have the extra option of p/xing with them; without it, it wouldn’t be a possibility, (in fact I was able to p/x my previous A3 with them for that very reason, and came away with a good deal including the first service included in the ‘cost to change’).

I’m just about to pull the trigger on 12 months Audi extended warranty; I want to make it as simple as possible to claim, if necessary, and think if the car has only been serviced by a main dealer this should make it easier.

Regarding cost, the £100 is comparable to what an indie would charge. Although not being serviced this time I was able to take advantage of the recent 20% discount on the Audi Service Plan (covers the next two services) which makes the cost comparable to an indie, and finally if the manufacturer’s warranty is extended before the current cover expires there are decent deals to be had.

I can appreciate though the costs for an S3 might vary more between main dealer and indie.

 

[Jassyo06]

Do you think if you’d answered Indi it would have changed the result of the sale?

yeah...l would have got less money for it...

 

[Steelster]

2017 S3, 24k Miles.

I just had 3rd year service and inspection done inc MOT, haldex service, brake fluid change and pollen filter.

Indi:
Service £190
MOT £50
Haldex £120
Brake Fluid £45
Pollen Filter £20
Total £425

My car has always been done Indi, I don’t trust Audi and the gap in customer service is vast, it doesn’t mean much when selling really.

Most garages won’t be bothered and most private buyers of an S3 will know their stuff and unlikely to have an issue with indi either.

Indi will also properly service the haldex including the pump filter.

I just called a highly respected independent, and they're coincidentally the first ones out of maybe 5 different garages I have spoken to that have mentioned a Haldex service.

I was just coming back to this thread to ask anyone if that's something my car would need??? (27k miles 2017 S3 facelift).

It's a tough one for me. I have always aired on the side of caution, something my father drilled into me about buying new, making sure to keep warranties etc. I'm just not in love with the service I've received from Audi in the past. Might only be a small thing but last time I went to Main Dealer they washed my car after being given CLEAR no wash instructions. Then they even lied to me about it saying they "caught the guy washing it just as he turned on the washer, so the water on the vehicle is just the pressure washer and nothing else". The soap residue and fact my car was now sparkling made me think they might have been mistaken :/

So far I'm looking at £385 with Audi Specialist indi (including Haldex service) or £520 main dealer (no haldex included).

Thanks to everyone for your input, it is much appreciated!

 

[AudiBoss]

My thoughts are if keeping the car long term i.e. 5+ years then probably best to go indie however if keeping the car for 1-3 years then go Audi as at higher price points buyers will tend to be more picky about servicing etc when shelling out over £20k in a private buy. Most people do not know that Indie typically offer a far better service than main dealer

 

[Damo S]

Definitely have the haldex oil change and the pump filter cleaned (which audi dont do). I have this done at my indi every 10k service now.

 

[EsS3x Audi]

Steelster,

VWAudiTech in Chelmsford, cant rate them high enough.

Used main dealer for first service on my 2016 S3 then used these guys ever since. www.vwauditec.co.uk

Great service, good knowledge and very good prices, they also have a branch in Bishop's Stortford.

 

[S32B]

When I sold my S3 the sports car specialist gave me more for it just to buy it off me than Audi had offered as a px on another new Audi! I then told the specialist that the service was done by an indy and not a main dealership, the price didn't change, as he was more than happy with what had been done and it was still showing on the Audi system as being done!

 

[EsS3x Audi]

Yea,

These guys in Chelmsford update all the online service info etc and will give you a print out if you ask for it.

I did venture into my local Audi for a mooch about a while back and ask for a service printout for my car. Gave up after half an hour and 2 cups of coffee as it proved to be more chew than it was worth. Someone had to speak to someone else who then had to speak to someone else.......

Still didn't come back with what I asked for so gave up!!

 

[S32B]

Yea,

These guys in Chelmsford update all the online service info etc and will give you a print out if you ask for it.

I did venture into my local Audi for a mooch about a while back and ask for a service printout for my car. Gave up after half an hour and 2 cups of coffee as it proved to be more chew than it was worth. Someone had to speak to someone else who then had to speak to someone else.......

Still didn't come back with what I asked for so gave up!!

You had it since new? You can see the service record online https://my.audi.com/

 

[EsS3x Audi]

Got it 3 months old from main dealer, ex managers car so fully loaded apart from sunroof.

Totally forgotten about that route, appreciate the reminder!

I do remember trying the myAudi before I ventured in but was not working at the time, everything showing now though so all good.

 

[S32B]

Got it 3 months old from main dealer, ex managers car so fully loaded apart from sunroof.

Totally forgotten about that route, appreciate the reminder!

I do remember trying the myAudi before I ventured in but was not working at the time, everything showing now though so all good.

Nice one

The reason I asked if you had it from new is that sometimes you need to have it moved over to your name if they already registered the car online. I can see my old S3 but when I try to click on the service I get:

 

[EsS3x Audi]

I used too get that up as well which is why I thought it was just ******?

Sooooo,

Maybe when I went to the main dealer and partook in my coffee flight the someone who had to go and speak to someone else actually spoke to someone else without my knowledge and I then had access?

 

[The_Ironist]

Nice one

The reason I asked if you had it from new is that sometimes you need to have it moved over to your name if they already registered the car online. I can see my old S3 but when I try to click on the service I get:

View attachment 208387

I get this too but my indi could pull it up. It was on the Erwin system.

I even logged the issue with my local Audi and got a call, they checked their system and said it showed no service history.

 

[S32B]

I get this too but my indi could pull it up. It was on the Erwin system.

I even logged the issue with my local Audi and got a call, they checked their system and said it showed no service history.

Yeah I know, but the full 'my Audi' on your car has your own personal details as well. The one indy/Audi use doesn't show that info...just the cars history.