First Inspection (19k) - 65 S3

[thebluefox]

Morning all,

Quick one - how much have you all been paying for your first inspection (not oil change & inspection) at 19k miles?

Dealer has quoted me about £230 - which seemed high? Even though they're kindly fitting a new pollen filter for me

Especially considering my first Oil Change and Inspection was about £270?

Cheers all!

 

[Bitzieee]

Morning all,

Quick one - how much have you all been paying for your first inspection (not oil change & inspection) at 19k miles?

Dealer has quoted me about £230 - which seemed high? Even though they're kindly fitting a new pollen filter for me

Especially considering my first Oil Change and Inspection was about £270?

Cheers all!

I take it you are on fixed servicing (serviced every year) It should have oil and filter as well as the pollen. Although prices don't seem unreasonable.

VW set prices charge £164 for oil and filter, and £220 for oil, filter, and pollen filter on second year inspection service.

These are set prices by the brand but can be higher for performance models.

If you've on flexible longlife servicing (every 2 years) it all changes and becomes a bit more 'complicated'

 

[thebluefox]

I take it you are on fixed servicing (serviced every year) It should have oil and filter as well as the pollen. Although prices don't seem unreasonable.

VW set prices charge £164 for oil and filter, and £220 for oil, filter, and pollen filter on second year inspection service.

These are set prices by the brand but can be higher for performance models.

If you've on flexible longlife servicing (every 2 years) it all changes and becomes a bit more 'complicated'

I'm not sure what service plan I'm on. This is just an Inspection with Pollen Filter change though - no oil or oil filter change as that was done at the tail end of last year.

 

[BRISTOL86]

As a new A3 owner I'm interested in servicing info if anyone can enlighten me?

It's done 14k and never had a service to my knowledge. The dealer suggested it was due every 19k but the car would tell me when it is due - is that correct?

My current car is an 08 Focus so I'm not used to this kind of tech on a car! Is it literally a case of wait for when the car tells you it wants servicing?

 

[Phutters]

I'm not sure what service plan I'm on. This is just an Inspection with Pollen Filter change though - no oil or oil filter change as that was done at the tail end of last year.

Could you not change the pollen filter yourself?

It's a five minute job at most, and you can get one - a Mahle one - from Amazon for sixteen quid or eBay for even less. They're twenty three quid at the parts counter, plus a proportion of £120 an hour labour to fit it...

It'd save you a few quid, that's for sure, and if you didn't want to miss out on the dealership experience you could always make yourself a fancy cup of coffee to have when you're done.

Better still, write 'Audi' on the side of a paper cup with a felt pen and drink it out of that.

.

 

[Vertigo1]

I'm all for saving a few quid if you can do so easily by shopping round a few dealers but are people really so bothered that they start doing the servicing themselves? If you're that tight then maybe you should have bought a Ford or Vauxhall, or did every last penny go on the Audi and you have nothing left?

 

[Phutters]

I'm all for saving a few quid if you can do so easily by shopping round a few dealers but are people really so bothered that they start doing the servicing themselves? If you're that tight then maybe you should have bought a Ford or Vauxhall, or did every last penny go on the Audi and you have nothing left?

I didn't suggest he did the servicing himself. I suggested that he might consider saving what is probably more than 'a few quid' by doing an extremely simple job himself.

Jeez - if you can open the glovebox you're more than halfway there.

I'm sorry if I've upset your sensibilities, but I'm disinclined to pay someone else to do a job which I'm perfectly capable of doing.

If you want to do that, knock yourself out. I've got better things to spend my money on.

.

 

[Bitzieee]

I'm not sure what service plan I'm on. This is just an Inspection with Pollen Filter change though - no oil or oil filter change as that was done at the tail end of last year.

It's nearly the tail end of this year, and will soon come round. An inspection service on the quiet is a load of ..... Ask them for the 20K inspection service, which is oil, oil filter, pollen filter and an inspection of the vehicle. Which will have lights reset, keep the car in optimal service condition and well within its warranty requirements.

Should be around £220-£300 on an S3 really. Although they will price match with Audi approved service stations

 

[thebluefox]

Phutters; I could change the pollen filter myself - having changed engines before I'm sure I'd manage. But, if you noticed, I'm asking whether the price I've been quoted for this inspection is similar to what others have paid given the fact it seems a little steep - not if I could do it myself.

Regardless, I need the stamp and the Inspection message removing, so just switching a pollen filter will do sod all to solve that.

It's nearly the tail end of this year, and will soon come round. An inspection service on the quiet is a load of ..... Ask them for the 20K inspection service, which is oil, oil filter, pollen filter and an inspection of the vehicle. Which will have lights reset, keep the car in optimal service condition and well within its warranty requirements.

Should be around £220-£300 on an S3 really. Although they will price match with Audi approved service stations

Interesting Bitz - I'm going to give Audi a call in a bit and see what the schedule is. There surely can't be a 19k inspection and a 20k inspection...?

 

[Bitzieee]

As a new A3 owner I'm interested in servicing info if anyone can enlighten me?

It's done 14k and never had a service to my knowledge. The dealer suggested it was due every 19k but the car would tell me when it is due - is that correct?

My current car is an 08 Focus so I'm not used to this kind of tech on a car! Is it literally a case of wait for when the car tells you it wants servicing?

The car will tell you, it's 18-20k miles inspection and oil change service with longlife oil. Or two years if you hit that first. But they are right, your car will tell you.

 

[Phutters]

Phutters; I could change the pollen filter myself - having changed engines before I'm sure I'd manage. But, if you noticed, I'm asking whether the price I've been quoted for this inspection is similar to what others have paid given the fact it seems a little steep - not if I could do it myself.

I apologise if I got hold of the wrong end of the stick, and I don't doubt your ability to change a pollen filter for a second.

Honest.

It was not my intention to imply a level of incompetence, and clearly one which is manifestly not the case, M'Lud.

I do admit to getting a little... erm... uncomfortable when I see people - and in view of your explanation, this does not. include you - paying through the nose for something they could do themselves.

And I realise it's their money, and that it's absolutely none of my business how they spend it and all that, but I just can't help coming over all Victorian Dad about it.

Anyway, I'm off down the greenhouse to polish my prize marrow, so I won't be troubling you again.

 

[BRISTOL86]

The car will tell you, it's 18-20k miles inspection and oil change service with longlife oil. Or two years if you hit that first. But they are right, your car will tell you.

Thank you, that's great. Expect it'll be within the first 6 months of owning then as it's already done 14k

 

[Bitzieee]

Thank you, that's great. Expect it'll be within the first 6 months of owning then as it's already done 14k

And that's why longlife servicing was invented, stops you visiting dealer 4 times a year

 

[Bitzieee]

I apologise if I got hold of the wrong end of the stick, and I don't doubt your ability to change a pollen filter for a second.

Honest.

It was not my intention to imply a level of incompetence, and clearly one which is manifestly not the case, M'Lud.

I do admit to getting a little... erm... uncomfortable when I see people - and in view of your explanation, this does not. include you - paying through the nose for something they could do themselves.

And I realise it's their money, and that it's absolutely none of my business how they spend it and all that, but I just can't help coming over all Victorian Dad about it.

Anyway, I'm off down the greenhouse to polish my prize marrow, so I won't be troubling you again.

I equally love watching people mess it up doing it themselves, or trying to find a cheaper alternative. Then coming to the dealer and paying full whack with their hands in there hands of shame.

 

[BRISTOL86]

Out of interest (sorry to hijack your thread!!) what's the general consensus with regards servicing. Avoid main dealer and find a reliable independent? Or are main dealers ok?

The google reviews of Bristol Audi are far from favourable. I've always taken the focus to a fleet servicing place round the corner from where I work based on it being cheap and not really caring too much about the car.

Now I'm inclined to seek a service more befitting the quality of the vehicle.

 

[thebluefox]

I apologise if I got hold of the wrong end of the stick, and I don't doubt your ability to change a pollen filter for a second.

Honest.

It was not my intention to imply a level of incompetence, and clearly one which is manifestly not the case, M'Lud.

I do admit to getting a little... erm... uncomfortable when I see people - and in view of your explanation, this does not. include you - paying through the nose for something they could do themselves.

And I realise it's their money, and that it's absolutely none of my business how they spend it and all that, but I just can't help coming over all Victorian Dad about it.

Anyway, I'm off down the greenhouse to polish my prize marrow, so I won't be troubling you again.

Haha, "Victorian Dad" is about right

 

[thebluefox]

Out of interest (sorry to hijack your thread!!) what's the general consensus with regards servicing. Avoid main dealer and find a reliable independent? Or are main dealers ok?

The google reviews of Bristol Audi are far from favourable. I've always taken the focus to a fleet servicing place round the corner from where I work based on it being cheap and not really caring too much about the car.

Now I'm inclined to seek a service more befitting the quality of the vehicle.

End of the day it's up to you - for peace of mind over warranty and price when its sold/given back I'll always go with main dealer to get the scheduled things done.

Worth finding a main dealer with a good reputation though.

 

[Bitzieee]

Out of interest (sorry to hijack your thread!!) what's the general consensus with regards servicing. Avoid main dealer and find a reliable independent? Or are main dealers ok?

The google reviews of BrIistol Audi are far from favourable. I've always taken the focus to a fleet servicing place round the corner from where I work based on it being cheap and not really caring too much about the car.

Now I'm inclined to seek a service more befitting the quality of the vehicle.

Personal choice, it's a £30,000 plus car, is it really worth cutting corners? Not all dealers are unreasonable and uncaring. But be careful, not all dealers meet the standard you expect in the workshop. Luckily for me working at Volkswagen I'll just get the lads in the back to service it and reset the lights, a VW stamp in the book is good enough for warranty with invoices for the parts to prove it. Only costs me parts at cost + 10% and a few beers for the lads

 

[BRISTOL86]

Personal choice, it's a £30,000 plus car, is it really worth cutting corners? Not all dealers are unreasonable and uncaring. But be careful, not all dealers meet the standard you expect in the workshop. Luckily for me working at Volkswagen I'll just get the lads in the back to service it and reset the lights, a VW stamp in the book is good enough for warranty with invoices for the parts to prove it. Only costs me parts at cost + 10% and a few beers for the lads

Absolutely don't want to cut corners to save a few quid. I just want to know if the perceived 'know how' and quality of work at main dealers is real or a myth! I guess it varies massively by dealer. I've never had a car where I cared enough about it to think too much into where I get it serviced but we're in a different world now!

 

[Phutters]

...with their hands in there hands of shame.

Hands of shame isn't a phrase I recognise, but I think I get the gist of what you're trying to say.

.

 

[Bitzieee]

Hands of shame isn't a phrase I recognise, but I think I get the gist of what you're trying to say.

.

I've just had a stream of about 10 customers and my brains fried, it's not a phrase I recognise either to tell you the truth.

I do however like my new phrase

 

[Bitzieee]

Absolutely don't want to cut corners to save a few quid. I just want to know if the perceived 'know how' and quality of work at main dealers is real or a myth! I guess it varies massively by dealer. I've never had a car where I cared enough about it to think too much into where I get it serviced but we're in a different world now!

They're only dropping oil, any trained technician can do that. But if you want it done right you need an Audi/Volkswagen group trained tech to do it. The training is so thorough.

If you go to audi you know it's right parts (perfect straight swap fit), fitted properly with proper tools and correct oil and all the softwares up to date. There's often a list of non safety recalls they carry out on the vehicle.

Just take it to Audi, and press them for the price to squash it right down. I'm almost certain they will price match the service with any quotes using genuine parts at an approved service centre. You can probably get the labour down to £50hour +vat

Hope this helps

 

[S32B]

I'm all for saving a few quid if you can do so easily by shopping round a few dealers but are people really so bothered that they start doing the servicing themselves? If you're that tight then maybe you should have bought a Ford or Vauxhall, or did every last penny go on the Audi and you have nothing left?

My 2nd service quote from Audi was £440! I got it done via an Audi specialist using genuine Audi parts for £220. That's not being tight, that's just not being a mug

As for 'some...not all' VW service centres, don't they get paid to up sell and get bonuses if they do a job in less time than allocated? I heard a case of a bloke that was told he needed new brake pads, he refused and took his car to be checked at another garage, they said that his brakes were fine for at least another 12,000 mile!

Hand on heart though, if I were to buy a VW I would also buy the service pack and let them do it, as they are a lot cheaper than Audi.

 

[MrFlibble]

Morning all,

Quick one - how much have you all been paying for your first inspection (not oil change & inspection) at 19k miles?

Dealer has quoted me about £230 - which seemed high? Even though they're kindly fitting a new pollen filter for me

I was quoted about £250 (no parts) for the 19k inspection.
Oil change at 13k was £295.

 

[S32B]

End of the day it's up to you - for peace of mind over warranty and price when its sold/given back I'll always go with main dealer to get the scheduled things done.

Worth finding a main dealer with a good reputation though.

Don't be fooled by this mate!

I will not be selling my car to Audi even if I buy another Audi, they offer the lowest price from anyone. We Buy Any Car are offering £1,000 more!!! Mike Brewer £2,500 more and even a local car sales place £1,500 more....just to buy it from me.

I used to think the same about the warranty etc. so asked Audi UK and this was the reply:

 

[Bitzieee]

Don't be fooled by this mate!

I will not be selling my car to Audi even if I buy another Audi, they offer the lowest price from anyone. We Buy Any Car are offering £1,000 more!!! Mike Brewer £2,500 more and even a local car sales place £1,500 more....just to buy it from me.

I used to think the same about the warranty etc. so asked Audi UK and this was the reply:

Nope you're wrong.

The technicians are paid on 'upsell' and 'efficiency'

Techs get paid a very small percentage of any work they identify which is sold on the day. It will equate to about £40-100 a month. What they knock is reviewed by another tech, a quality controller, a parts advisor, a service advisor, and ultimately the customer. And jobs are quality checked by the brand themselves at random too. They also do a video of any work required to show you as well. And as much as it could be an old lady who you could rip off or someone who knows what they are doing, the 'techs' don't know that so they have to presume everyone knows about cars. It also goes against them if they knock work which isn't sold.

As for getting paid bonus for completing work early, that's wrong. They have 'efficiency' targets they need to meet. But it's easier to hit them if they take the full amount of time they have

 

[Spinstorm]

Don't be fooled by this mate!

I will not be selling my car to Audi even if I buy another Audi, they offer the lowest price from anyone. We Buy Any Car are offering £1,000 more!!! Mike Brewer £2,500 more and even a local car sales place £1,500 more....just to buy it from me.

I used to think the same about the warranty etc. so asked Audi UK and this was the reply:

So even on a PCP I could take it to a local garage? (having paid got a service plan just for maintenance and oil that isn’t helpful but it’s good to know).

 

[traindweller]

They're only dropping oil, any trained technician can do that. But if you want it done right you need an Audi/Volkswagen group trained tech to do it. The training is so thorough.

If you go to audi you know it's right parts (perfect straight swap fit), fitted properly with proper tools and correct oil and all the softwares up to date. There's often a list of non safety recalls they carry out on the vehicle.

Just take it to Audi, and press them for the price to squash it right down. I'm almost certain they will price match the service with any quotes using genuine parts at an approved service centre. You can probably get the labour down to £50hour +vat

Hope this helps

Well fought Bitzieee,
You are of course very biased to your employer though, many threads on this forum indicate a different level of satisfaction with main dealers and far better satisfaction with a reputable independent who use OEM parts and stamps or electronically logs the service data to protect the warranty.

I would love to get £50 per hour from Audi! After several years of Audi servicing on A4 and A3 I now take my cars to to a Bosch indy who gives a full inspection once a year,with oil and filter and whatever the Audi recommended service addition is. I have to say that overall it is considerably cheaper than the Audi oil change and then separate inspection services whether fixed or long life and maintains the warranty. I understand that some of the indies are now offering the software updates as well, and never had a problem at trade in against a new order, most are not really bothered to even look at the log book just ask if full service or not.

Each to their own of course and I respect your views but there are other options out there who are a lot cheaper and better quality work than some of the main dealers.

 

[Phutters]

Well fought Bitzieee,
You are of course very biased to your employer though, many threads on this forum indicate a different level of satisfaction with main dealers and far better satisfaction with a reputable independent who use OEM parts and stamps or electronically logs the service data to protect the warranty.

I would love to get £50 per hour from Audi! After several years of Audi servicing on A4 and A3 I now take my cars to to a Bosch indy who gives a full inspection once a year,with oil and filter and whatever the Audi recommended service addition is. I have to say that overall it is considerably cheaper than the Audi oil change and then separate inspection services whether fixed or long life and maintains the warranty. I understand that some of the indies are now offering the software updates as well, and never had a problem at trade in against a new order, most are not really bothered to even look at the log book just ask if full service or not.

Each to their own of course and I respect your views but there are other options out there who are a lot cheaper and better quality work than some of the main dealers.

Well said.

I was going to add that I thought getting the labour down to fifty notes an hour was a bit fanciful too - especially if your starting point is a hundred and twenty - but I don't think Mr Bitzi holds me in particularly high regard at the moment, so I didn't.

I'll get over it in time.

.

 

[Bitzieee]

Well fought Bitzieee,
You are of course very biased to your employer though, many threads on this forum indicate a different level of satisfaction with main dealers and far better satisfaction with a reputable independent who use OEM parts and stamps or electronically logs the service data to protect the warranty.

I would love to get £50 per hour from Audi! After several years of Audi servicing on A4 and A3 I now take my cars to to a Bosch indy who gives a full inspection once a year,with oil and filter and whatever the Audi recommended service addition is. I have to say that overall it is considerably cheaper than the Audi oil change and then separate inspection services whether fixed or long life and maintains the warranty. I understand that some of the indies are now offering the software updates as well, and never had a problem at trade in against a new order, most are not really bothered to even look at the log book just ask if full service or not.

Each to their own of course and I respect your views but there are other options out there who are a lot cheaper and better quality work than some of the main dealers.

Slightly, but that's because I believe in my brand.

Ring your local Audi and ask them if they will match their price on an oil service if you have it on paper, with genuine parts ect. See what they say

 

[Bitzieee]

Well said.

I was going to add that I thought getting the labour down to fifty notes an hour was a bit fanciful too - especially if your starting point is a hundred and twenty - but I don't think Mr Bitzi holds me in particularly high regard at the moment, so I didn't.

I'll get over it in time.

.

We slash hours from £108inc to £50+vat just to compete with approved non dealers. Not sure what you're on about with the high regards thingy though

 

[S32B]

So even on a PCP I could take it to a local garage? (having paid got a service plan just for maintenance and oil that isn’t helpful but it’s good to know).

As long as they use genuine Audi parts and carry out what is recommended by Audi on each service.

 

[S32B]

Just take it to Audi, and press them for the price to squash it right down. I'm almost certain they will price match the service with any quotes using genuine parts at an approved service centre. You can probably get the labour down to £50hour +vat

Hope this helps

I took the quote from the Audi specialist to my local Audi dealership (where I bought the car from) the distance between to two places is a 15 min drive (max) and they just said no.

 

[Jassyo06]

£230 bangers is roughly ok.......from Audi,l only got it cheaper through my son,who use to sell them....last inspection was £189...