Service cost and parts....

[MiT]

So today my car went in for a service (Audi dealer), they called back not so long ago, saying that the following needs changing;

Break fluid: £76
Rear break pads: £132
Front wiper £47.82
Pollen Filter £30.55
Front passenger tyre £193

Thats £480 + service cost of £300(long life service)!!!

My uncle is a mechanic so told them that i will do them my self.

Why is it so expensive??? £76 for break fluid? Is that because its something special?

Sorry but its my first Audi.

How much would the cost price be, i.e. with out labour?

Were is the best place i can get the above from? so i can get it done by someone else.

Thanks guys.

 

[normski]

So today my car went in for a service (Audi dealer), they called back not so long ago, saying that the following needs changing;

Break fluid: £76
Rear break pads: £132
Front wiper £47.82
Pollen Filter £30.55
Front passenger tyre £193

Thats £480 + service cost of £300(long life service)!!!

My uncle is a mechanic so told them that i will do them my self.

Why is it so expensive??? £76 for break fluid? Is that because its something special?

Sorry but its my first Audi.

How much would the cost price be, i.e. with out labour?

Were is the best place i can get the above from? so i can get it done by someone else.

Thanks guys.

It is so expensive because they are taking the ****.

You could buy most of the bits at a fraction of the price from the service counter, make sure you ask for a trade price tough. I have yet to be turned down at any VAG parts counter when asking for a trade price. eg. pair of A3/golf blades cost me £19 the other day from Audi service counter, two minutes to fit.

Usually cheaper this way than Halfords etc, but that is just from my experience.

As for tyres, I have never had one from a dealer yet. Usually too expensive and little choice.

 

[newbiecrg]

the Audi mechanics make a better hourly rate than most dentists! Especially the ones on NHS contracts... £90 quid an hour!! Probably the mechanics don't make that money but £90 quid per hour is too much, unless they are all mechanical engineers with post graduate studies...

Pedro

P.S.: Yes, they take the ****...

 

[MiT]

Thanks for the advice, will ask them for the trade prices.

 

[Dandle]

Volvo also charge £90ph for service labour. My A3 went in for its first service last week and that set me back £154 which I was pretty happy with considering ford charge about the same for the first service on a focus.

 

[h5djr]

The dealership may charge £90-100 per hour as a labour rate but that not only covers the wage they pay their technicians but also things like the premises, the service staff, the admin staff, the equipment and tools, diagnostic equipment, insurance, sick pay tax etc etc etc. I don't suppose much of it end up in the technicians pockets.

The last full time job I did, my employer charged my time to a customer at around £400-500 per day but not a all of that came my way!

 

[h5djr]

the Audi mechanics make a better hourly rate than most dentists!

I've just had a nose on the internet and it seems that the current salary for a Audi technician with 4-5 years experience in the South of England is around £20,000 - £25,000. Not quite up to Dentist's stardards.

 

[OutLore]

I totally agree. Comparing Audi Dealer prices with your local garage is like comparing a loaf of bread to a 5 course meal in the Ritz. They both fill you up, but one is definately better than the other. End result? You'll poop them both out. Pays your money and takes your choice.

Things like brake pads I would rather have the Audi tech do. Wipers I would do myself and tyres - KwikFit or another tyre specialist. I would not use a back street tyre place - if they damage your alloys there is little chance that they have insurance to cover the damage, at least a major chain will (or you would think so anyway -worth checking first)

As has been said, the £90 does not go to the tech directly it has to also cover the service advisor, the workshop costs (tooling, cleaning, equipment etc), drivers, insurance to drive, insurance in case they screw up etc.

I am charged out at £1500/day Mon-Fri. I do not get ANY percentage of that, I am a salaried employee so while it seems expensive, it's not going to the staff directly. Trust me they don't make fortunes....

 

[marriedblonde]

My agent charges me out at around £800 a day Doesn't mean I actually get that!

£20-25K is that what a mechanic gets paid? God I must be out of touch!

J.

 

[MiT]

I totally agree. Comparing Audi Dealer prices with your local garage is like comparing a loaf of bread to a 5 course meal in the Ritz. They both fill you up, but one is definately better than the other. End result? You'll poop them both out. Pays your money and takes your choice.
....

lol. thats a good way of putting it. Well its all done now. I mean just the service. Forgot to ask them about trade price, will have to ring them up.

Now i got to source some parts.

£90hr, that sure is a lot.

At least i got it checked, only bought it 2 weeks ago. Now i know whats wrong, i can go fix it!! :icon_thumright:

More money oout of my pocket then.

Oh yeah service cost me £250. For washing my car, cleaning it, oil change, and filter change. mmmmmmmmm.....

 

[newbiecrg]

I know the mechanics do no get that but still £90/h labour to fix your car seems excessive for me, even considering that part of it goes to admin and running costs... Don't you forget that they have a profit margin in the parts as well...

Pedro

P.S.: well although £90 is not a lot of money I think it is expensive...

 

[OutLore]

My agent charges me out at around £800 a day Doesn't mean I actually get that!

Erm... agent? What exactly do you do MB?

 

[marriedblonde]

Erm... agent? What exactly do you do MB?

Whatever I am asked