Bent over ready

TripleD

TripleD

Audi S4 Avant Owner
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Took my S4 in for a 35K mile service this morning, quoted £750 so I asked what that actually includes, and was surprised:
* Oil Changed
* Spark Plugs Changed
* Pollen Filter Changed
* Visual Health Check
* Front facing camera has a software update

WOW!
The brake pad warning light was on too, so they said they'll let me know the costs once they find out if it's back or front and also measure the discs to see if they are 'within tolerance'.

So my guess is another £200 off for front pads or more than likely £600 for discs and pads.

It's daylight robbery, might tell them to FO on the discs and pads and get a local garage to do them, anyone know some decent replacement pads as the Audi ones give off soooooooo must brake dust i'm not surprises they only lasted 35k!
 
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Crazy that they charge £750 for what is probably a few hours work... Typical stealers!
 
Seems like the fully maintained option on my lease of £35/month, including all tyres, servicing, replacement parts, is a bargain!
 
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cptjay said:
Seems like the fully maintained option on my lease of £35/month, including all tyres, servicing, replacement parts, is a bargain!
Click to expand...

Given mine is 2 years old, had 2 services @ £500 and £750 Plus potential £600 for discs and pads, and 1 set of tyres so far, 1 set due prob summer this year I think £35 a month is a absolute bargain!
What's the lease company you use?
 
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Broker was FleetPrices, who actually quoted £45 or so, so didn't take it initially. Then, just before delivery, I saw some of the service prices on this forum, so gave VW Finance a call and they offered it for £35, so took it.

Only downside is that I don't get to choose the replacement tyres, they only guarantee "premium" brand... which could mean anything.

VWFS do some great deals on fully maintained. Had a 2014 Golf R and they wanted £8, yes eight pounds a month, for fully maintained. Unreal. I had 5 tyres and one service in two years with that.
 
Ouch on your £750 quote though, that does seem excessively high.
 
TripleD said:
Took my S4 in for a 35K mile service this morning, quoted £750 so I asked what that actually includes, and was surprised:
* Oil Changed
* Spark Plugs Changed
* Pollen Filter Changed
* Visual Health Check
* Front facing camera has a software update

WOW!
The brake pad warning light was on too, so they said they'll let me know the costs once they find out if it's back or front and also measure the discs to see if they are 'within tolerance'.

So my guess is another £200 off for front pads or more than likely £600 for discs and pads.

It's daylight robbery, might tell them to FO on the discs and pads and get a local garage to do them, anyone know some decent replacement pads as the Audi ones give off soooooooo must brake dust i'm not surprises they only lasted 35k!
Click to expand...
Firstly there should be no charges for updating the camera software, as it is subject to a TSB. As for the rest I am surprised you let them go ahead at that and didn't get some independent quotes so they would be forced into price matching them.
 
cptjay said:
Broker was FleetPrices, who actually quoted £45 or so, so didn't take it initially. Then, just before delivery, I saw some of the service prices on this forum, so gave VW Finance a call and they offered it for £35, so took it.

Only downside is that I don't get to choose the replacement tyres, they only guarantee "premium" brand... which could mean anything.

VWFS do some great deals on fully maintained. Had a 2014 Golf R and they wanted £8, yes eight pounds a month, for fully maintained. Unreal. I had 5 tyres and one service in two years with that.
Click to expand...

Im with fleetprices too and saw that £35 per month on my VWFS papers but was told they'd need to credit check me again to do that. Was buying a house at the time so declined :(
 
cuke2u said:
Firstly there should be no charges for updating the camera software, as it is subject to a TSB. As for the rest I am surprised you let them go ahead at that and didn't get some independent quotes so they would be forced into price matching them.
Click to expand...

That's the problem, if you want / need full Main Dealer service history, you are limited to the main dealer, or travel outside the area to another main dealer. Independants will be cheaper, but my Audi deal doesn't seem to compromise!
 
No you are not required, or forced, to use a main dealership under EU ruling, you can use independent Audi service centres and they should be able to keep your service history up to date. Although I believe some leasing deals ask of this...
 
The reason being that if major repairs are required outside of the 1st three years Warranty Audi UK tend to be sympathetic, go independent for scheduled servicing and then all bets are off.
 
cosmicblue said:
The reason being that if major repairs are required outside of the 1st three years Warranty Audi UK tend to be sympathetic, go independent for scheduled servicing and then all bets are off.
Click to expand...
Exactly this, I have a trusted garage that I can use for servicing, but for warranty purposes the blame game comes into play, so its easier to have main dealer history.
If the plan is to keep the car for a good while, then it's possible to use an independant, but changing every few years means the expensive bills :sorrow:
 
Other owners have not had an issue and with price matching dealerships are forced to match independent Audi specialists anyway.
This is about the EU ruling https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/service-repair/right-to-repair-campaign

Right to choose without affecting warranty:
http://www.accukltd.co.uk/right-to-choose

Audi Price match:
Audi Service Price Match
The way it works is simple. Get a quote from any provider for a service, repairs, maintenance or new tyres. If it includes Audi Genuine Parts, we guarantee you won’t pay a penny more for the same job at Audi. All the extra passion and expertise of Audi, without any extra cost.*
 
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Update: Fuming to say the least!

So apparently the spark plugs are not in stock so they are unable to change. Surely at point of booking and telling me this they would have known this information!
It's the rear pads that are causing the brake warning, being 80-90% worn, again no stock so would be tomorrow, said okay, then they quoted me £501.84, bit steep for pads I said, they said oh the discs are 'lipped'. At 35K miles?

Off to pick up a half serviced car, and taking it to a trusted place!
 
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I would do that too, absolutely and totally unprofessional, especially at those prices...
 
audi upgrades
Now have the car back and a £481.40 bill for basically an oil service, inspection, and pollen filter replacement.
So doing that maths that means if/when they get 6 spark plugs in stock it'll cost £260 to purchase and replace them :blink:

Lets see what an independent garage say! Have a quote for the genuine Audi parts already!
 
Well I would have thought, judging from other S4 owners, you have well and truely been ripped off..
 
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cuke2u said:
No you are not required, or forced, to use a main dealership under EU ruling, you can use independent Audi service centres and they should be able to keep your service history up to date. Although I believe some leasing deals ask of this...
Click to expand...

Yes, does not apply to leasing. It's their car so they can stipulate the terms, you are just renting it.
 
I wonder if anyone has challenged this, maybe it is their car, but you don't own a car on any finance anyway.
Funnily enough the car leasing companies appeared to happy with this block exemption ruling.
 
Last edited:
Leasing companies are less than amusing when it comes to end-of-lease and the terms of the contract haven't been adhered to - legally one is probably in breach as there is a signature on a dotted line to say you agreed.
 
When I owned a Mercedes briefly there was a clause in the PCP that said the car must have main dealer servicing.
 
I have mine going in for a full service this weekend at an indy for £260 Audi quoted me £508 jokers. Plus they get the young lads with not much experience doing it to make even more money and potentially messing it up.
 
TripleD said:
When I owned a Mercedes briefly there was a clause in the PCP that said the car must have main dealer servicing.
Click to expand...
Mine clearly states I can have it serviced wherever as long as audi parts are used as per the EU legislation, as it should do. But then my service plan for having it serviced at a main dealership is cheap...
 
Jeez!

I would be asking for a full breakdown of cost. I would also be looking to price match with a local like for like service/dealer garage.

As for pads and discs...absolutely no chance - highway robbery springs to mind.

£260 for spark plugs and fitting...absolute joke! I would be dressing up as a pirate and visiting on a particularly busy day to make a point :pirate:
 
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I went to local dealer yesterday to book in for inspection service. Inspection due now, oil in 8Kmiles.

“ you must do the oil and inspection, we don’t do inspection only sir”.
Replied
“ the car is telling me it’s only due inspection and oil not for another 8K”

“That can’t be right sir, all S models are fixed oil at 9K miles”

I showed the app clearly stating car was telling me 8K until oil, inspection now.

Cue lots of confusion. “ it must be wrong”...

I mentioned that alternative dealer told me the car is legitimately on flexible condition based service schedule . Again, told me that can’t be right for an S model.
Then the interesting one..

“I suggest sir you just ignore the inspection and wait till the oil is due and do them together “

I questioned “ won’t this invalidate the warranty?”

Cue no reply.

Great confidence here in our dealers knowledge and advice !
 
I had a surprisingly pleasant encounter with an Audi dealership this week.

I had originally booked my car in online for an oil change on 12 Feb with Walton Audi, and I called them afterwards to say that the car is almost 3 years old and it might need a brake fluid service too. Walton told me that they couldn't do the brake fluid service at the same time as the oil change because the car will only be 3 years old in April. They quoted me £283 for the oil change, or £160 if I supplied my own oil.

I then called Slough Audi (whom I have had very good experiences with in the past), and the service advisor went out of her way to work out the best way of getting everything done in the most convenient and cost-effective manner. She told me that if I delay the oil change until at least 07 March (it's due on 14 Feb), then she could give me the fixed price servicing option and it won't affect my MOT anniversary date. This means that for £289 I am getting an oil change, brake fluid service and an MOT. The only caveat is that I can't drive more than 1000 miles between 14 Feb and 07 March, which is no problem for me.

It's a ballache to find a good dealership, but when you do it makes a world of difference to your ownership experience.
 
cuke2u said:
Yes services can be delayed for up to 30 days...
Click to expand...

Whilst I always enjoy your over usage of ellipsis, that's not really the point I was trying to make.
 
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thewanted said:
I had a surprisingly pleasant encounter with an Audi dealership this week.

I had originally booked my car in online for an oil change on 12 Feb with Walton Audi, and I called them afterwards to say that the car is almost 3 years old and it might need a brake fluid service too. Walton told me that they couldn't do the brake fluid service at the same time as the oil change because the car will only be 3 years old in April. They quoted me £283 for the oil change, or £160 if I supplied my own oil.

I then called Slough Audi (whom I have had very good experiences with in the past), and the service advisor went out of her way to work out the best way of getting everything done in the most convenient and cost-effective manner. She told me that if I delay the oil change until at least 07 March (it's due on 14 Feb), then she could give me the fixed price servicing option and it won't affect my MOT anniversary date. This means that for £289 I am getting an oil change, brake fluid service and an MOT. The only caveat is that I can't drive more than 1000 miles between 14 Feb and 07 March, which is no problem for me.

It's a ballache to find a good dealership, but when you do it makes a world of difference to your ownership experience.
Click to expand...

I am booked in with Tetbury for 1st oil service in Feb. (Q5 on 8.8k miles currently and due in 600 miles from now) Quoted £185 all in which I think is ok.
 
q5man said:
I am booked in with Tetbury for 1st oil service in Feb. (Q5 on 8.8k miles currently and due in 600 miles from now) Quoted £185 all in which I think is ok.
Click to expand...

That's a really good price for a car under 3 years old, because the fixed price service would cost £170.
 
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thewanted said:
Whilst I always enjoy your over usage of ellipsis, that's not really the point I was trying to make.
Click to expand...
Your point came across very well and is extremely useful, but not everyone realises that services can be delayed for up to 30 days, thus, as you state, the three year service can go over to a fixed price service cost for cars over three years old.
It is very good of the dealership to actually work this out for you, many would not have done this....
 
thewanted said:
I had a surprisingly pleasant encounter with an Audi dealership this week.

I had originally booked my car in online for an oil change on 12 Feb with Walton Audi, and I called them afterwards to say that the car is almost 3 years old and it might need a brake fluid service too. Walton told me that they couldn't do the brake fluid service at the same time as the oil change because the car will only be 3 years old in April. They quoted me £283 for the oil change, or £160 if I supplied my own oil.

I then called Slough Audi (whom I have had very good experiences with in the past), and the service advisor went out of her way to work out the best way of getting everything done in the most convenient and cost-effective manner. She told me that if I delay the oil change until at least 07 March (it's due on 14 Feb), then she could give me the fixed price servicing option and it won't affect my MOT anniversary date. This means that for £289 I am getting an oil change, brake fluid service and an MOT. The only caveat is that I can't drive more than 1000 miles between 14 Feb and 07 March, which is no problem for me.

It's a ballache to find a good dealership, but when you do it makes a world of difference to your ownership experience.
Click to expand...
I find it interesting Walton Audi were happy for you to provide your own oil. My dealer refused point blank, ’it might be contaminated sir’. So I took my business elsewhere.
 
Fozzie1960 said:
I find it interesting Walton Audi were happy for you to provide your own oil. My dealer refused point blank, ’it might be contaminated sir’. So I took my business elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Me too. I managed to do it once before with Slough Audi so I guess some dealerships are more accommodating than others.
 
q5man said:
I am booked in with Tetbury for 1st oil service in Feb. (Q5 on 8.8k miles currently and due in 600 miles from now) Quoted £185 all in which I think is ok.
Click to expand...

Hope it goes well, that's my local dealer too.
 
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I got mine down from £600 to about £350 when I moaned big time about the increased cost over my previous Audi.
They also charge for collections and courtesy cars too.

The reality is they don't make much on the cars now so they have to try and make it up on the service side.
Trouble is they are booked up so far in advance I had to book about 2 months in advance.

Rubbish service really, this is probably my last Audi and I have bought quite a few over the past 20 years.
Loyalty counts for nothing, despite being loyal to them for a long time they quote higher prices to their loyal customers for new cars than they do on the likes of Carwow to people they have never heard of.
 
thewanted said:
That's a really good price for a car under 3 years old, because the fixed price service would cost £170.
Click to expand...

I would like to think I have a good relationship with them. Emailed the service manager asking for a service date, and to give me his best price. He said it is usually about £235.00, and as I said fairly comfortable paying that.
 
hmy7k said:
Rubbish service really, this is probably my last Audi and I have bought quite a few over the past 20 years.
Loyalty counts for nothing, despite being loyal to them for a long time they quote higher prices to their loyal customers for new cars than they do on the likes of Carwow to people they have never heard of.
Click to expand...

Afraid to say no matter the car dealer loyalty and good service accounts for nothing. BMW, Land Rover, Audi, Mercedes they are all exactly the same. I think maybe Porsche and Ferrari might be a little different, but any of the main stream dealers all couldn't give two flying f***s.
Sad state of affairs really.
 
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I had a similar problem with the 35000 mile service last year .... the spark plugs are not part of the service and are only required to be changed at 40000. That reduced my price by £330.
I finally got the spark plugs done for £220 after getting an independent quote and finding a service advisor who was interested in being helpful.
Fro what you’re saying about mileage I would think about holding off on changing them.
 
Look at EBC brakes. They released pads and disks for the S4. Have a look at their slotted disks and EBC Redstuff pads
 
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