Oil Service price
- Thread starter GeoffT
- Start date
I spoke to my local garage but they said the rules about Indies doing service work when a car is still under warranty have changed and are no longer clear cut. He said if it was his car he would "suck it up" just to avoid potential warranty issues in the future.
AFAIK it is illegal for Audi to insist that you go to an official dealer for servicing. As long as you can prove that Audi materials (or equivalent) are used, you should be fine.
Just looking at the extended warranty wording which states as a General Condition:
Just looking at the extended warranty wording which states as a General Condition:
- Servicing must be carried out in accordance with vehicle manufacturer recommendations. Genuine Audi components, oils and other fluids or components, oils and other fluids of equivalent specification and matching quality must be used. Failure to comply with this condition will result in a warranty claim being rejected.
- Failure to keep your vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s service schedule will void the warranty. You must keep all servicing receipts and invoices. We will be entitled to check that your vehicle has been serviced regularly and may ask to see these in the unlikely event that the condition of your vehicle does not appear to correspond with your vehicle service schedule.
Funnily enough though, Audi said to my friend that 'if she doesn't go to an official dealer for servicing, the gearbox won't be covered after the 3 year manufacturer warranty ends'. This sounds like non-sense to me.
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Subaru stuffed a guy for a new dpf & cat £3k because he couldn’t prove his indi garage used the exact correct oil , just look at all the ranges c2 ,c3 etc for 10w40 , I’m old enough( to remember mk1 Astras & Cavaliers chewing camshafts because the oil in the factory was different (thinner) from what they supplied their own dealers
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I would expect to pay a bit of a premium to get it serviced at a Main Dealer, but to me that is just a ridiculous figure for probably well less than an hour's work. I've asked an Indy for an email quote and will decide what to do when I get that. Even if the dealer will price match, it leaves a bad taste that having bought the car from them with my own hard-earned, the first chance they get, they try to rip me off. Do they think I won't remember that when it comes time to change the car?
Unfortunately always the way with dealers. They know dealer servicing has a value so can charge what they want.
I am also of the belief that they can no longer demand dealer servicing for warranty cover, I do and would probably stick to an Audi specialist though, someone who has access to the online service log.
Tbh, whilst I appreciate the value of dealer maintained if there was a major issue, I actually trust dealers less than good indies to do what they’re meant to do and provide good service.
Apart from when I bought my A3 from Audi Coventry new, I cant say I’ve ever had a positive interaction with any person from Audi.
I’ve seen prices closer to £300 for that service at Audi vs £160 or less from indie.
I am also of the belief that they can no longer demand dealer servicing for warranty cover, I do and would probably stick to an Audi specialist though, someone who has access to the online service log.
Tbh, whilst I appreciate the value of dealer maintained if there was a major issue, I actually trust dealers less than good indies to do what they’re meant to do and provide good service.
Apart from when I bought my A3 from Audi Coventry new, I cant say I’ve ever had a positive interaction with any person from Audi.
I’ve seen prices closer to £300 for that service at Audi vs £160 or less from indie.
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Flying Scotsman
Registered User
I am still at a loss that Audi UK do not offer Audi car care which can be purchased at new car signing and rolled into financing schedules , or purchased within the first year. My 2017 S3 Canadian Audi car care plan for all 4 year scheduled services cost about 500 quid. That is a substantial savings over normal servicing costs. Plus if you flog the car prior to the 4 years, that service agreement stays with the car and is a bonus to a potential buyer. Also any Audi dealer can perform the serving, as the plan is with Audi, not the selling dealer. Plus the North American warranty is 4 years, not 3 years.
I am still kind of shocked that new buyers do not find out what the service costs are prior to shopping/buying, especially if this is your first purchase of a German manufactured car or so called luxury brands.
Check our Ferrari etc. servicing and repair costs, that is a sobering moment.
I am still kind of shocked that new buyers do not find out what the service costs are prior to shopping/buying, especially if this is your first purchase of a German manufactured car or so called luxury brands.
Check our Ferrari etc. servicing and repair costs, that is a sobering moment.
I'm not new to German cars, I've had a run of VWs recently and a couple of BMWs back in the day, but this is the most I would have ever been charged for an oil change, if I do decide to pay it.
My last car was a Golf R. I've just looked it up and the first service on that was £141.36 and the second £208.85. That was essentially the same running gear as my current car. Mind you, the Audi showroom has much shinier chrome and more glass than the VW one over the road!!
Flying Scotsman
Registered User
If you think this is expensive, the 3 year service will leave you in tears.
I'll be trading it in at 3 years, so someone else can pay it! It's part of the man maths to justify changing every 3 years!
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Here's a link to Audi Uk' price match advert.......
https://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/...0p7wPCAVz3U9R2lmtwvEDq5drSGNbA4AaAkcZEALw_wcB
https://www.audi.co.uk/owners-area/...0p7wPCAVz3U9R2lmtwvEDq5drSGNbA4AaAkcZEALw_wcB
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No probs buddy.Just my 2 pence worth... I took the decision after two years of dealer servicing to go indy on servicing due to the high price of the third year service.Used VAG approved parts and requested a service booklet from the indy to prove all's been done to VAG spec.(appart from price haha)... Was impressed with my local garage so much I did the same on the wife's Q3 on it's first service.
I was quoted a similar price with my nearest dealer but ended up paying £170 at my next closest dealer, which was oil and inspection.
Well now that my local Audi garage is trying to blame an Indy (who is actually a friend so I know he's trustworthy) for the problem I've got and charge me close to £4k for the privilege, I'd say get main dealer to price match and go with them for peace of mind.
I've got extended warranty but they obviously want to get more money out of me personally so have gone down this route.
Funnily enough they actually inspected my car after the indie service and told me that the Haldex was fine, so I'm not going to roll over and take this. Going to march over there tomorrow to get a copy of the paperwork from when they last had it, as I only have the card payment receipt
I've got extended warranty but they obviously want to get more money out of me personally so have gone down this route.
Funnily enough they actually inspected my car after the indie service and told me that the Haldex was fine, so I'm not going to roll over and take this. Going to march over there tomorrow to get a copy of the paperwork from when they last had it, as I only have the card payment receipt
I think you may have misunderstood. This was my local village non-Audi garage telling me this. They service my wife's car so I was asking them about doing mine.
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Speak to your main dealer service department direct (not a central booking service that the receptionist at my local dealer will put you through to if you ask for a service price). Negotiate the price. Aim for the + three year old fixed price cost - £195.
Why would they turn you down?
No issues arguing about warranty work and incorrect servicing if the main dealer is the only outfit to have fiddled with your car.
Why would they turn you down?
No issues arguing about warranty work and incorrect servicing if the main dealer is the only outfit to have fiddled with your car.
Have just paid £174 inc VAT at my local indi for oil change and inspection.
Stuff Audi and their ridiculous labour rates.
I decided to take the surprise out of guess the cost and went for a 3yr with 2 services Audi service plane. It costs me £468 payable over 24 months. This was not initially available when I bought the car new but was a couple of months later, so I signed up.
Colin
Colin
@eribaMotters . Better to know that you are being shafted in advance...
The Indy quote came in at £205. Still seems expensive to me and they also can't access the digital service record to update it, so I've got back to Audi asking them to price match and I'll just have to try to drink £50 worth of free coffee while I'm there to make it seem better value!
IMO it shouldn't be legal to have purely digital service records that only a dealer can access. It effectively rules out like for like Indy servicing, which is presumably why it was introduced.
IMO it shouldn't be legal to have purely digital service records that only a dealer can access. It effectively rules out like for like Indy servicing, which is presumably why it was introduced.
Just had my 2nd service done by an Indy using genuine Audi parts and keeping the warranty in place, it cost me £198, Audi stealer wanted over £400!!! Before I did it I checked with Audi finance as I'll be handing the car back next year, this was their answer:
Good afternoon Mr X
Thank you for contacting Audi Financial Services.
In regards to having your vehicle serviced, the servicing does not need to take place at an Audi garage, we would always recommend using an Audi approved garage and genuine Audi approved parts are required.
If Audi approved parts are used this should not result in additional charges when handing the vehicle back.
Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.
When I had my S3 I had an Indy service that, sold it to a sports car specialist for £1,500 more than Audi were offering px, I asked "If it had a main dealer history would you have given me more for it?", he said "No"
He was happy just to see the paperwork I had been given listing what had been done and when.PS: The Indy I use also updates the record online!
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I agree with you on the digital records servicing. It's extortion in my mind.
I thought long and hard about this when my three year service was due. It's all about whether you have to make any warranty claim and to be honest if you can prove your car has been serviced to VAG standard then I think they can't argue?? I have kept all receipts of parts and I have a service booklet provided by my indie garage stamped correctly with all relative info. I am just not willing to be ripped off by main dealers again.
My eyes were opened when I took my 'at the time' just under 2 year old S3 in for a possible px, at that point I'd 1) Bought the S3 from them, 2) Had it serviced by them, 3) Taking it back to them to buy another Audi. I was shocked when they gave me the lowest px price of anyone/anywhere and that was before we even started to look at the price/model etc of the new car. After that I thought I'd just save a fortune and have it looked after elsewhere for half the price.
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'Ditto' mate.
Paid off the car with a month left on contract and went into dealers for a chat.. They tried to get me into another contract for another S3 saloon or RS3 saloon...From what they offered me for my car (which was more than balloon payment but way less than current market price) and deposit I was willing to put down I would have to have gone from paying £273 a month to over £400 for the S3 and Over £500 for an RS3. Just not worth it trading in a perfectly decent car with 22k on the clock. So going indie for servicing was a 'no brainer'. As for the wife's Q3 we will be looking at voluntary termination after 50% has been paid off. Will be servicing that with indie also.
Audi are too expensive with their servicing costs full stop!
I just don't get Audi's thinking on this. This service might well be my only interaction with Audi during the 3 year warranty period and my normal timespan of car ownership. It is their chance to give me a warm feeling towards Audi to increase the likelihood of me buying another one. Instead they won't pick the car up as we are "outside the area" (We are 20 minutes away and the VW dealer next door to Audi offered that service from the same address), and charge £15 insurance if we want a courtesy car. Then they charge an outrageous amount for an oil change unless you battle with them to price match. Way to impress Audi.
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This is not my experience of our local Audi dealership.
They aren't perfect but far better any Ford or VW dealership I've used in the recent past. Leaving me "extremely" happy actually seems to matter to them.
lol talking of VW! I nipped into the VW Chester showroom this morning, they had a red Polo GTi in there, the SALES guy came over and started chatting. I said "Am I correct in thinking that you can select a black roof which also gives you black mirrors on the Polo GTi?" he replied with "Not as far as I know, I've never seen one".
As I drove out of the car park look at what was on the end to the right, less than 100 foot away from the showroom entrance!!!
Nothing like knowing what you sell is there???
Yep I learned a long time ago to take with a pinch of salt what dealer salesmen know and say about the cars they sell.Nothing like knowing what you sell is there???
It's much better to find out all you need/want to know from the Internet then you can tell the salesman exactly what you want.
I remember once when ordering a new Focus ST I wanted a particular option which normally could only be specified in conjunction with another option, so the salesman initially said he didn't think I could specify it in the way I wanted.....but I had already done my homework and knew that I could.
The salesman I dealt with at the same dealer was actually pretty good, he seemed to know his stuff even on something that had very recently changed in the spec. If the service dept don't get back to me I might give him a call and see if he can kick some butt.
Don't be stupid just go to 3rd party garage and they will change oil cheap like mine max £100 ... if u will go with full service..
Audi will NEVER EVER know u changed engine oil somewhere else.. just don't be stupid pay such ridiculous price.. !
Just buy genuine parts from TPS.
Genuine parts, cheap price.
Get car serviced at a local Indy.
But keep all reciepts in case you do need to make a warranty claim.
Simples
That's what I do, and I even claimed a free new engine because I had supporting evidence I used genuine stuff thanks to my car failing the oil consumption test.
But that's a way different topic.
Genuine parts, cheap price.
Get car serviced at a local Indy.
But keep all reciepts in case you do need to make a warranty claim.
Simples
That's what I do, and I even claimed a free new engine because I had supporting evidence I used genuine stuff thanks to my car failing the oil consumption test.
But that's a way different topic.
