£150 vs £420

RobinA3

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Just had the A3 serviced at a VAG specialist Votex in Congleton, 33k mile service inc brake fluid change, total cost was £150.

Popped into Audi on the way back to see what they charge and got quoted £420 inc brake fluid change, although that price did include spark plugs as they need changing at 40k miles but i am sure plugs are not £67.50 each!!!!

Won't be using Audi dealerships again as their prices are just stupid.
 
Did Votex change the plugs anyway.
 
Does going to anyone apart from the stealers for the 20k service void your warranty?
 
It doesnt void the warranty as long as genuine parts are used (I've been told)

I use spcialists too - Under £400 for everything changed in cambelt kit (bar brake fluid and globies).

i'm sure Audi would want around £1k :D

Specialists the way forward!
 
I'd rather pay the extra and get my local Audi to service it which would be £190 for service plus how ever much the brake fluid change would be.

Personally if I was buying a newish Audi I wouldn't touch one without the Audi stamps in the service book even though I acknowledge some of the specialists do just as good a job.
 
It doesnt void the warranty as long as genuine parts are used (I've been told)

I use spcialists too - Under £400 for everything changed in cambelt kit (bar brake fluid and globies).

i'm sure Audi would want around £1k :D

Specialists the way forward!

The warranty will stand as long as genuine parts (or parts of an equal quality) are used and the garage that fit them is VAT registered.

:)
 
id say the specialists do a better job of taking care of your car than Audi.
 
I'd rather pay the extra and get my local Audi to service it which would be £190 for service plus how ever much the brake fluid change would be.

Personally if I was buying a newish Audi I wouldn't touch one without the Audi stamps in the service book even though I acknowledge some of the specialists do just as good a job.

Have to agree here.
You get 100% traceability on the work carried out, and if you dont know seller/previous owner personally, it gives the impression the car has been maintained `on the cheap`.

Not suggesting yours has Robin, but that would be my worry and I think many others.

Look at it this way.

If your car is worth say 15K, and you save £500 in using specialists in lieu of dealers, I reckon the resale value of the car will be affected by significantly more than whats been saved.

Obviously this becomes less significant if the car is work a lot less and/or you are keeping it long term.

my 2p anyway.

cheers
Paul
 
I just picked up a 1 year old A3 2.0D SE SprtBk S-Tronic and the deal clincher was .......... free labour on all servicing for the life time ownership of the vehicle. As we plan to keep the car a looooonnnnnnggggg time (wifes runabout) I think that's something worth having, easpecially as local deal charges £105/hr labour :wtf:

Paul
 
Oil changes and simple jobs are left to the monkeys and trainees at dealerships, then the 'testdrive' is carried out so that you are left with 0miles left on the DIS.

Yes a Audi stamp is nice to have but for me as long as the car has reciepts and the book stamped with a garage stamp then i ain't bothered when i buy a car.

Just because its got a Audi stamp doesn't mean its been serviced properly but at the end of the day its personal preference and wallet size i guess.

NHN they didn't change the plugs, i am going to do them myself although getting the engine plastic cover off was a right git last time i tried to take it off, ended up giving up!
 
Christ I would of done the service myself then if you're doing the plugs, lazy sod :moa:

I did my oil change few weeks back, ok 1st time on the 8P but its a no brainer now I know where everything is, air, pollen isnt hard, I mean not alot more they'd do, oh yeah you mentioned brake fluid, saying that, maybe was best to get them to do as its a pain in **** lifting up & doing any brake work huh, lol
 
To be honest I would agree with Robin here in that specialists do as good of a job if not better. I recently had to have a service and went to a specialist rather than audi based on previous experience with my local audi garage and obviously price. On another note I don't think that you would lose money on the resale of the car based on this and even if you did it would not equate to the saving thus you would be better off!

Just my 2p though.
 
Robin do you now if Votex are authorised service agents for Audi ? Wonder if I can use their price to beat down Bolton or Stockport Audi on the cost of a 1st (interim service - 12k mile one - oil & filter change only I think )

And I do agree with the comment re some specalists / independants doing a better service than the main dealers

Richard
 
To be honest I would agree with Robin here in that specialists do as good of a job if not better. I recently had to have a service and went to a specialist rather than audi based on previous experience with my local audi garage and obviously price. On another note I don't think that you would lose money on the resale of the car based on this and even if you did it would not equate to the saving thus you would be better off!

Just my 2p though.

A lot depends on how old your car is. If it's less than 3 years and any work is done by a non-authorised workshop then you're throughing away your warranty. If it's older than 3 years and no longer under warranty then it makes little difference.
 
Mate of mine worked at AUDI many moons ago, he reckons that the quality of work was comprimised by the bonus scheme they had.

There were incentives to get the job the done done under the standard times and the saved timed was reflected in their bonus.

It goes without saying that a lot of stuff was `missed` to improve the times and ultimately individual bonuses.

In fact I had a shed full of `unused` quantum stuff that was booked out for services and never used, such as screen wash, brake fluid etc.

Not sure how commoplace this is nowadays.

For me though, the potential problems at resale time makes me bite the bullet and get shafted at AUDI in the short term to safe guard in the long term.

cheers
Paul
 
A lot depends on how old your car is. If it's less than 3 years and any work is done by a non-authorised workshop then you're throughing away your warranty. If it's older than 3 years and no longer under warranty then it makes little difference.

As leighharris said though, as long as it meets Audi's criteria, you are not throwing away the warranty.
 
Richs Votex has no relation to Audi i don't think, they are just a normal small garage who specialises in VAG cars.

The last 2 times i got my car serviced at Audi they charged me £3 for screenwash even when it was full anyway!

NHN i would do the servicing myself as i am more than capable of it but i prefer to get the stamp in the book.
 
I must admit my car always gets serviced at it's suppling dealer. My current A3 is covered by a service agreement but the last service I paid for myself was on my previous 2.0TDI-140. It was the 1st AVS service and it cost me £184.00 but that was back in 2005. On that particular car the service was at 19,000 so the next service would have come around at around 38,000 by which time I'd traded the car in.

Several other forum members have used the same dealer and been pleased with the costs and service provided.

If you look in the 1st AVS Service 'sticky' you will see that most members are paying a lot less than £420. Generally nearer to £200-275 for AVS service, change pollen filter and brake fluid change and often with a free MOT voucher as well.
 
Got mine done at Votex a month or so ago and gave it a great write up on here somewhere (I hope my positive comments influenced you Robin). Better service, better standard of mechanic, cheaper price.
I'll never allow myself to get ripped off by a dealer again. I doubt they even change the oil or have the wheels off - let alone change the plugs.
And it does not, under law, invalidate any warranty at all - though a dealer will try and insinuate it does.
 
Didn't know you were local to Congleton Iggu! Didn't see your post about your experience. We took our old Mk4 Anni to them and recently our R32 for a big full service, not got a bad word about them!
 
I'd rather pay the extra and get my local Audi to service it which would be £190 for service plus how ever much the brake fluid change would be.

Personally if I was buying a newish Audi I wouldn't touch one without the Audi stamps in the service book even though I acknowledge some of the specialists do just as good a job.

I purchased an A3 2.0 TDI Quattro Sline last November with a full Audi service history. I recently had it in to my local VW/Audi specialst (JVW Haydock North West) as it seem to lack power. VAG com showed no faults. I was asked for the service book and the guy check through it as the owner took it for a test drive.
When it arrived back from the test drive the guys opened the bonnet got a screw driver and got the air filter out. I was black he looked at the service history and all the bills, which showed that in its Audi serviced lifetime it never had a new air filter fitted - even thought the last service was £1100+ for cambelt and water pump but NO air filter.
 
Even if I dont use Votex this time (its a 100 mile round trip), Will deffo remember them for future use.
I want to try and hit Bolton Audi in regards to my squeeking / creaking front window which they insisted they fixed last time, hopefully will be able to wangle some parts for free (ie the ambient lights parts & the lube for the window seal).
The only downside with using an independant as I see it and its really a minor one (and not really bothered about), is the loan car that get, Worse I had so far from Audi has been a A6 Sline diesel !

Richard
 
Got mine done at Votex a month or so ago and gave it a great write up on here somewhere (I hope my positive comments influenced you Robin). Better service, better standard of mechanic, cheaper price.
I'll never allow myself to get ripped off by a dealer again. I doubt they even change the oil or have the wheels off - let alone change the plugs.
And it does not, under law, invalidate any warranty at all - though a dealer will try and insinuate it does.

May be not, but I'm sure any dealer could make life very difficult and put all sorts of obsticles in the way if they chose to do so.

On thing that these so called specialist do not provide is the 3rd year Roadside Assistance. The audi Warranty booklet states:

"This service is completely free and can continue for a 3rd year from the date of first registration.
To maintain cover after the second year, you must have your vehicle serviced by an authorised Audi Centre or Audi Authorised Repairer according to the Manufacturer's recommendations"

The Roadside Assistance means that I do not need any AA or RAC Breakdown cover and it now also covers me when I take my car to Europe, which I do at least once and often twice or three times each year.

The cost of purchasing multi-trip European Assistance alone for one year is around £95.00.

Again only relevant if your car is less than 3 years old.
 
Yes a Audi stamp is nice to have but for me as long as the car has reciepts and the book stamped with a garage stamp then i ain't bothered when i buy a car.

I agree with this. This is what I have done with all my previous cars. I tend to keep all the receipts for anything that has been done to my cars, from tyres, batteries, to servicing. Then I staple the receipts to the service book so that the new owner can see the history while I have had it.

I have even done this with all the items that Audi have changed on this one with the problems it has had.

Not sure what I will do Service wise with the Audi yet. Not sure if to go independent or main dealer. Will depend on the cost at the time it becomes due.
 
May be not, but I'm sure any dealer could make life very difficult and put all sorts of obsticles in the way if they chose to do so.

I'm sure they would try - and that's one of the reasons I want nothing to do with them. They are cynical profiteers with no interest in customer welfare, service or morality. Fortunately they wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on so would lose. Every time.

Didn't know you were local to Congleton Iggu! Didn't see your post about your experience. We took our old Mk4 Anni to them and recently our R32 for a big full service, not got a bad word about them!

Ah ok. My post was in some general thread about services and warranties but it was clear virtually nobody had heard of Votex so I wasn't sure if you'd seen it or not. I'm with you Robin - faultless service from genuine specialists. I'm about 25 miles away from them but would make the trip again in a shot rather than drive the 5 miles to my local dealer.
 
I'm sure they would try - and that's one of the reasons I want nothing to do with them. They are cynical profiteers with no interest in customer welfare, service or morality. Fortunately they wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on so would lose. Every time.

You have obviously used different dealers to the one I use. My dealer is very professional and always provides me with an excellent deal whenever I change my car. Their service team also provide an excellent customer service and look after me and my car very well. Others on this forum have also said the same about this particular dealer. I have been using this same dealer for 11 years and a branch of the same company since 1978. I have purchased 14 VW or Audi cars from them and all have been serviced by them. My experience of other dealers is limited to visting them for test drives and to obtain competitive quotes for new cars. I have never been treated badly by an Volkswagen or Audi dealer.
 
You have obviously used different dealers to the one I use. My dealer is very professional and always provides me with an excellent deal whenever I change my car. Their service team also provide an excellent customer service and look after me and my car very well. Others on this forum have also said the same about this particular dealer. I have been using this same dealer for 11 years and a branch of the same company since 1978. I have purchased 14 VW or Audi cars from them and all have been serviced by them. My experience of other dealers is limited to visting them for test drives and to obtain competitive quotes for new cars. I have never been treated badly by an Volkswagen or Audi dealer.

Yes but David it was you who said they would try to put "obstacles" in the way of customers' rights and "make life difficult" for them. I was taking you at your word.
And if that's the view of a SATISFIED customer it doesn't say a great deal for dealers generally does it ..... ?
 
I'm sure they would try - and that's one of the reasons I want nothing to do with them. They are cynical profiteers with no interest in customer welfare, service or morality. Fortunately they wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on so would lose. Every time.



Ah ok. My post was in some general thread about services and warranties but it was clear virtually nobody had heard of Votex so I wasn't sure if you'd seen it or not. I'm with you Robin - faultless service from genuine specialists. I'm about 25 miles away from them but would make the trip again in a shot rather than drive the 5 miles to my local dealer.

I wouldn't have thought the dealer would kick up any fuss at all since warranty work is guaranteed money for them!

Especially in this climate, I think you'll find that dealers will bend over backwards to do as much work as can be done to the car under warranty as the customer will not object (they're not paying) and it means more revenue for them.

My dad got a call from Poole Audi the other day to let him know his extended warranty was ending in a month and would he like to bring it in for a free check to see if anything needed doing. To be honest, I don't know why all stealers don't do this since I'm sure they'd be able to find something they can put through under warranty and boost their revenue in a difficult time!

As for the debate about using Audi or specialist, personally I use a friend who is also a chief Audi tech. He charges a 3rd of the labour, isn't being pushed by the garage to turn it around in a set time for extra bonus, and it doesn't void my warranty so I'm happy.
 
Yes but David it was you who said they would try to put "obstacles" in the way of customers' rights and "make life difficult" for them. I was taking you at your word.
And if that's the view of a SATISFIED customer it doesn't say a great deal for dealers generally does it ..... ?

I didn't say they would, I said they could IF they wanted to be difficult. I have no idea if my dealer would be difficult as I've never been in that position. Personally, knowing the Service Manager very well, I don't think they would.

On a similar point I visited another dealer in the Midlands today to test drive a new 2.0TDI-170 S-tronic. Whilst I was out in the 170 for a couple of hours they worked out a trade-in figure on my car and some alternative cash and PCP deals for me. As my service book was not in the car they asked if my car had a full AUDI DEALER service record because, in the present climate, they were only interested in taking cars with the full dealer service history in part-exchange. If someone did bring in a good car they thought they might be able to sell quite quickly, but it did not have a full dealer history they would probably take it but offer a much lower trade-in value. Not something I personally have come across before. Maybe only this particular dealer but they are part of a large group.
 
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned (I'm too tired to read the whole thread ;) ) But anyone who gets there car serviced outside the network in the first 5 years of the cars life throws away any chance of goodwill after the warranty runs out. So if God forbid your engine goes bang at 5 years old and 40000 miles you'll be getting no contribution to the repairs verses 50% Audi would've paid. If you want to throw that away it's no skin off my nose, but no doubt you'll all be coming on here moaning that Audi won't contribute anything to your repair of course... :)

Robbing Pete to pay Paul as the saying goes...

Not to mention the usual Workshop Campaigns the car will miss out on, plus the dent on resale values.

Finally, I'll leave you with this one; A TT Owner decided to take his car to an Audi 'Specialist' in Cambridge last month and they filled his DSG Gearbox with Quantum Gearbox Oil. So now his gearbox has chewed itself up he's £5000 out of pocket, do you think he got a bargain and a hassle free experience?
 
Just had the A3 serviced at a VAG specialist Votex in Congleton, 33k mile service inc brake fluid change, total cost was £150.

Popped into Audi on the way back to see what they charge and got quoted £420 inc brake fluid change, although that price did include spark plugs as they need changing at 40k miles but i am sure plugs are not £67.50 each!!!!

Won't be using Audi dealerships again as their prices are just stupid.

I'd be curious about what they did for the money too, if it was a variable service then you've probably got at least £50 of oil, £8 for a filter, £15 for some brake fluid. Doesn't leave much for labour does it.

A service should be more than the fundemental oil change, it's an inspection too.

I agree with what's been said about using dealers for the first few years of the cars life. I wouldn't buy a car for the sort of money Audi's cost if it doesn't have a full Audi history - End of.

As Nelson rightly says, you are robbing Peter to pay Paul. You won't be advised of current updates, you won't recieve good will and you won't be getting the support of the network.

A friend of mine recently bought an 05 A3, whilst at the dealers buying an accessory he mentioned that his rear washer didn't work properly - Following week the car was in and fixed FOC even though it's out of warranty.
 
Finally, I'll leave you with this one; A TT Owner decided to take his car to an Audi 'Specialist' in Cambridge last month and they filled his DSG Gearbox with Quantum Gearbox Oil. So now his gearbox has chewed itself up he's £5000 out of pocket, do you think he got a bargain and a hassle free experience?

No I'd say he got poor service, faulty workmanship and apathetic after-sales commitment from an organisation who breached all sorts of statutory quality standards.
But there are many many stories (on here and elsewhere) of exactly the same thing happening in dealerships. Have a look at L6ON's saga regarding his seats or KRZ's story about his damaged bodywork - just two examples I can think of from the top of my head. Both of which, incidentally, were eventually resolved by independent specialists at the dealers' expense.
 
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned (I'm too tired to read the whole thread ;) ) But anyone who gets there car serviced outside the network in the first 5 years of the cars life throws away any chance of goodwill after the warranty runs out. So if God forbid your engine goes bang at 5 years old and 40000 miles you'll be getting no contribution to the repairs verses 50% Audi would've paid. If you want to throw that away it's no skin off my nose, but no doubt you'll all be coming on here moaning that Audi won't contribute anything to your repair of course... :)

Robbing Pete to pay Paul as the saying goes...

Not to mention the usual Workshop Campaigns the car will miss out on, plus the dent on resale values.

Finally, I'll leave you with this one; A TT Owner decided to take his car to an Audi 'Specialist' in Cambridge last month and they filled his DSG Gearbox with Quantum Gearbox Oil. So now his gearbox has chewed itself up he's £5000 out of pocket, do you think he got a bargain and a hassle free experience?

Good point this.

Im sure you get good and bad Dealers, just like you get good bad Specialists.

The main difference is that you have the back up of a dealer network to finance any expensive mistakes AND AUDI UK in the event the dealer messes you about.

Im not knocking thise who decide to use specialists but for me the numbers dont add up.

Assuming the car is serviced every 12months (many are not because of the long life service regime), and you save £100-200 each time, you might save £500 in 3yrs ??

IMO you will lose at least that £500 at trade in, Dave has 1st hand experience of this with his dealer.

Then there are all the other factors to consider which you can only put a price on if you have a problem.

That said, if youve had crap experiences with your dealer then I guess its difficult to give them your money on principle.

cheer
Paul
 
Not sure if anyone else has mentioned (I'm too tired to read the whole thread ;) ) But anyone who gets there car serviced outside the network in the first 5 years of the cars life throws away any chance of goodwill after the warranty runs out. So if God forbid your engine goes bang at 5 years old and 40000 miles you'll be getting no contribution to the repairs verses 50% Audi would've paid. If you want to throw that away it's no skin off my nose, but no doubt you'll all be coming on here moaning that Audi won't contribute anything to your repair of course... :)

Robbing Pete to pay Paul as the saying goes...

Not to mention the usual Workshop Campaigns the car will miss out on, plus the dent on resale values.

Finally, I'll leave you with this one; A TT Owner decided to take his car to an Audi 'Specialist' in Cambridge last month and they filled his DSG Gearbox with Quantum Gearbox Oil. So now his gearbox has chewed itself up he's £5000 out of pocket, do you think he got a bargain and a hassle free experience?

Of course if you don't go to Audi, you still want to go to a decent shop that are well known for doing a good job. The TT owner should be able to reclaim whatever he has to spend to rectify their mistake.

I'm not saying don't use Audi, but a lot of people may not have a good Audi Stealer anywhere near them (they are few and far between).

It's a tricky topic, and one for each individual to consider on it's own merits.
 
I've got to get a diagnostic done on my car... £96.60 from Poole Audi vs £28.46 from a specialist.

As it's the DSG I think I'll have to opt for Audi to make sure it's diagnosed properly.

However, my warranty from "Customer Direct" will only pay £46 per hour for the labour and Audi charge £96.60 per hour :faint:... so I'd have to make up the difference if I choose to get them to repair it.

I bought it from an independent dealer in 2008 so it's now just over 3 years old but has a full Audi service history from another Audi dealer so maybe they would help me out with the costs :confused:
 

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