S3 - First Oil Change Cost

[Rob2k68]

OK, think I will go down the route of getting my own oil but paying their crazy price for the work.

Is it worth getting the filter too?

What oil, how much of it, and where is best to get it??

Should I tell the Stealer what Im up to, or just book it in and then hand over the stuff??

Cheers
Goldie

Supposed to be 6 US quarts which is 5.7 litres but got just over 6 litres out of mine yesterday although not sure how accurate the extractor scale is ....

It can't be far off as the full 6 litres of new oil went it and it was just under max after running for 5 minutes and checking 10 minutes later to let it all drain into the sump.

The Audi filter is made by Mann but you can buy from Amazon or elsewhere if cheaper you need Mann HU 6002 Z.

 

[deanshaw24]

...and that is still far too expensive!

Parts are less than £50. £150 for about 30 minutes work. Are their technicians plastic surgeons or something?

These myths about resale etc need to be killed off. The sooner owners pull together (and stop getting ripped off) the better.

This is the one thing I will miss after leaving MINI. A sensibly priced service pack that is usually thrown in for free.

Correct, the book time for an oil change is .5 , so you pay for 30 mins labour at £105 and hour,

£52.50 labour
Oil is no more than £30 and an oil filter £5.

So anything over £100 should require some justification.

 

[traindweller]

You make a sound argument and you're probably right, but I still would probably take it to them again.....!
I'm trying to work out why that is...! Maybe because I don't know a local specialist I trust?

Dr Eskimo, I can recommend a good indy in Hitchin (Top Marques) I have no affiliation to them but as a family we have take our Audi's to them for many years and they are first class, and I have to say far better IMO than any Audi service I have ever had in Herts or Bedfordshire. Courtesy car if needed and all part numbers detailed on the invoices so a sufficient record for any warranty queries if it should be required.

 

[DrEskimo]

Dr Eskimo, I can recommend a good indy in Hitchin (Top Marques) I have no affiliation to them but as a family we have take our Audi's to them for many years and they are first class, and I have to say far better IMO than any Audi service I have ever had in Herts or Bedfordshire. Courtesy car if needed and all part numbers detailed on the invoices so a sufficient record for any warranty queries if it should be required.

Awesome thank you! Will keep them in mind for future.

 

[steeve]

I

I put the words, 'oil' 'service' in. It's not a first service, that's in 5 thousand more miles... and will be I'm sure another 4 hundred odd quid

Its a service, if it's not been done before its the first one?

 

[Neil C]

Was charged £80.50 labour for my oil change, £7.66 for a filter, £2.47 for a screw, and £4.26 for cleaner. Add on £8.33 for the loan car, and the obligatory VAT, and the total came to £123.86.

 

[richinsoton]

Look at any car from any dealer and then look at the auction price, guaranteed to be less.

Well that's obvious isn't it one is trade price & one is retail. What I'm saying is the PX (trade) price you are offered should be the same whether the retailer you selling to is going to retail the car or sell it onwards via auction. Saying that they will offer you less because the service history hasn't all been carried out within the manufacturers network is nonsense as they would have to justify why a service carried out via an independant to the manufacturers recommendations has devalued the car compared to staying within the network. It's not like they can even use the excuse of 'well our customers like to see a row of audi stamps within the service book' as you don't even have a physical service book to stamp!. At the end of the day FSH is FSH whether it's carried out within the Audi retail network or not.

 

[Gugne]

I'm on flexible servicing so it'll probably go to about 16k miles. With the Golf R there was an inspection service about this time then at 2 years a main service. The dealer agreed to do a main service at 16k miles for slightly more than the inspection service and I was covered until I gave the car back at 24k.
Would this work with AUDI?

 

[S32B]

Well that's obvious isn't it one is trade price & one is retail. What I'm saying is the PX (trade) price you are offered should be the same whether the retailer you selling to is going to retail the car or sell it onwards via auction. Saying that they will offer you less because the service history hasn't all been carried out within the manufacturers network is nonsense as they would have to justify why a service carried out via an independant to the manufacturers recommendations has devalued the car compared to staying within the network. It's not like they can even use the excuse of 'well our customers like to see a row of audi stamps within the service book' as you don't even have a physical service book to stamp!. At the end of the day FSH is FSH whether it's carried out within the Audi retail network or not.

Well yeah I thought it was obvious! At the end of the day as a main dealership if a car hasn't got a full main dealership history it won’t be eligible for their approved scheme, so they have to send it to auction = less for them and you!

It's always going to be easier for anyone to sell a car which has a main dealer service history over an independent service history. When I sold my last car the first thing they asked was "Has it got main dealer service history?".

 

[richinsoton]

Well yeah I thought it was obvious! At the end of the day as a main dealership if a car hasn't got a full main dealership history it won’t be eligible for their approved scheme, so they have to send it to auction = less for them and you!

Well it's a good way of driving down what you get as a p/x valuation if not actually true!. As per BMW's own AUC t&c's -

Where do you think all of the lease cars go at the end of their lease period even when they've been maintained by the lease companies own workshops?...

Serviced as per manufacturers recommendations is the only rule you can enforce otherwise you would be in breach of the block exemption regulations. You can't force customers to use the manufacturers retail network within the first 3yrs, therefore you can't then apply that rule to the used warranty product.

 

[S32B]

Dude my mate is a tech at a BMW main dealership, I'm only telling you what he told me "If it doesn't have a main BMW history they send it to auction"...or is he wrong?!?!?!

When they take in a PX they can do what they want with it, no law saying they have to sell it on their forecourt and give you more for it.

 

[richinsoton]

I'd say from my experience he is either wrong or they are the only BMW retailer not to AUC any cars that don't have a full BMW service history. Why would you as a retailer apply stricter rules than the manufacturer themselves does?. The maximum profit is going to be via a retail sale as you say so why would you sell for a lower price at auction it wouldn't make sense would it.

Any valuation guide (Glasses, CAP etc) isn't smart enough to differentiate beween manufacturers fsh or any other type of fsh. I've never had a sales man check the service book is present until after the deal is done / handover day. They check the car over, ask if it has service history / current MOT & that is that box ticked & p/x valuation given.

I'd agree with you it's seen as more desirable by some to have a full manufacturers service history, but as I've previously said now you don't have a physical service book you're not going to have a load of lovely rubber stamps to look at so you can't use that as an added seling tool to convince the next purchaser either. It sounds like the sort of tactic webuyanycar would say to knock the trade in price further by saying we will give you less because an indy has serviced it.

Going back to the original topic at the end of the day 'serviced to the manufacturers recommendations using manufacturers or equivilent quality parts at a VAT registered garage' is the only rule that is enforcable to keep a warranty valid.

 

[S32B]

Yeah he must be wrong, he's only worked there for 15 years!

I have just taken out a 2 year extended warranty with Belfast Audi on my S3 S-Tronic with 38000 on the clock. It cost &685 and is transferable to a new owner. Where they get me is the car MUST be serviced by Audi, not just with genuine parts.

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/audi-extended-warranty-wtf.307569/#post-2913558

From my local BMW dealership:

So if you don't have a FULL dealer history they don't want it. Obviously if you were doing a PX deal with no dealer history they would take it and send it to auction, as they're not going to lose a sale on a new car for the sake of sending your old one to auction. But again auction = lower PX as they can't sell it on their forecourt for a higher price.

 

[traindweller]

S32B,
are you suggesting then that there is two different trade in prices used by Audi and not the single Audi UK part ex price we can all use on line? I have yet to find any Audi dealer ask me what servicing regime I have used when I inquire about ordering a new car, nor had a cheaper part ex quote from Audi for using an Indy . All they are interested in is the sale, and all I am interested in is getting at least what the Audi book price is for my trade in.

Regarding the Belfast Audi warranty, I would walk away from that simply because they insist on that as a way of getting the service work. The law does not allow them to do that on a new car so it seems wrong they can force that on secondhand cars.

Regarding Halliwell Jones perhaps their turnover requires them to advertise this way to ensure they get enough cars for their forecourt. Sounds a good business model to me and if I was buying second hand I probably would want the dealer service history or at the very least assurance that any software updates and faults were dealt with.

Each to their own but IMO there is no consistency for trade in and service history is not really relevant when trading against a new car, but do agree with you that it is more relevant when sold on.

 

[Ormesome]

Regarding the Belfast Audi warranty, I would walk away from that simply because they insist on that as a way of getting the service work. The law does not allow them to do that on a new car so it seems wrong they can force that on secondhand cars.

Personally disagree with this, mostly because the person who posted that part of the thread got the price of the EXTENDED Warranty at over 3 quarters of the quoted warranty price provided by Audi on their website (read the whole thread which was started by Moi) so by paying a few £'s more, he is still better off.

I'm sure the law only applies to new cars so they can do what they want when your taking out extended warranty (when car is over 3yrs old) as the car has past the statutory 3 yr warranty that they include when bought new. When buying an extended warranty from Audi or from another company they could write in the T&C's that they want you to sing "i love Audi" outside their forecourt very Saturday & if not then the warranty is void! Of course I'm exaggerating but you get my point. Also, the person taking out the Belfast Audi warranty will have the car serviced by an authorised garage, ie main dealer which in turn will make his car a more appealing choice when selling. Dont forget after your car is over 3yrs old, Audi's servicing prices go down so it seems much more appealing.

For me, if i was a Dealer or a private buyer, Full "Dealer" SH is always the best. 9/10 you know it has been serviced to a standard. With an indy authorised dealer who knows. Would you buy an iPhone that was repaired by Apple or Dave down the road? Yes we have no stamps but everything iv had done at Audi i got a receipt and keep them in my document folder. For the sake of around £50 less i think its worth the piece of mind getting it done via Audi. Mine is a 1.6tdi and i just paid £360ish for a major service. Expensive as i also had the brake fluid done at £50 & MOT at £50 so bill was around £460ish. i won't need another service for 18k miles or so. My reasoning is just that. if i cant afford an extra £50-£100 to get it done by the dealer then maybe I'm in the wrong car.

 

[KenL]

Personally, I would be very happy to purchase a car serviced by an independent.

My feeling is that these places (if they come recommended) are staffed by experienced mechanics who do an honest job.

 

[S32B]

S32B,
are you suggesting then that there is two different trade in prices used by Audi and not the single Audi UK part ex price we can all use on line? I have yet to find any Audi dealer ask me what servicing regime I have used when I inquire about ordering a new car, nor had a cheaper part ex quote from Audi for using an Indy . All they are interested in is the sale, and all I am interested in is getting at least what the Audi book price is for my trade in.

Regarding the Belfast Audi warranty, I would walk away from that simply because they insist on that as a way of getting the service work. The law does not allow them to do that on a new car so it seems wrong they can force that on secondhand cars.

Regarding Halliwell Jones perhaps their turnover requires them to advertise this way to ensure they get enough cars for their forecourt. Sounds a good business model to me and if I was buying second hand I probably would want the dealer service history or at the very least assurance that any software updates and faults were dealt with.

Each to their own but IMO there is no consistency for trade in and service history is not really relevant when trading against a new car, but do agree with you that it is more relevant when sold on.

This stems from my post here and to be honest I wish I'd never mentioned it! http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/s3-first-oil-change-cost.306947/#post-2910459

On that note: I have a mate who is a tech at BMW, he said if any BMW comes in with a 'non main dealership service history' they don't sell it on their forecourt, they send it straight to auction! They only sell cars that have full main BMW dealership history. So obviously going on that you'd get less for a PX as they will get less via auction.

Do Audi do the same??? I don't know, but I'm not risking it to save £50.

End of.

 

[S-3]

I


Its a service, if it's not been done before its the first one?

No its an oil change. The info screen quite clearly says that 'first service is due in 4500 miles or 300 odd days' and oil change is due in 200 miles.

I can read, and I am not stupid.

Hence, when I called the dealer I asked for a quote for an oil change, and not a first service. I very much doubt that they will conduct the full first service when it is still over 6 months / 4500 miles away. However, the car is nagging for an oil change now.

 

[S-3]

Thanks to all for your input, apart from those who want to argue about whether this is a first service or an oil change I'm being quoted for (to be honest 260 quid for a first service including oil would be fine).

My worry is that in about 5 months time when Ive done the other 4500 miles and the first service is due... they will pull the oil and charge me again for it! (or more likely leave this lot of oil in there, but charge me for a new lot anyway!)

My biggest issue with Audi has always been their lack of decent service packs at purchase. My wife has had a Volvo followed by a BMW, the Volvo came with its servicing included for 4 years,, the BMW was 400 quid or something for 4 years. My last car was a JCW Mini, service pack was 50 quid or something... hate how Audi see you as a cash cow to be milked every 12 months or so,, and I am loving that the oil and service seem to have split up on the S3, hence meaning that they can rob me twice a year instead of just once.

Its not just the cost either, its the whole agg of having to drop it off,, drive some sh*tbox loaner (which never has any fuel in it - I swear they empty them out every night), go back to get it .... blah blah blah

 

[richinsoton]

Regarding the Belfast Audi warranty, I would walk away from that simply because they insist on that as a way of getting the service work. The law does not allow them to do that on a new car so it seems wrong they can force that on secondhand cars.

Who was the 2yr policy they wanted to put on the car supplied by out of interest because if you extend the 3rd yr policy to 4 or 5 yrs or purchase the annual extended policy after the 3rd year these are rules Audi apply e.g. the same as new car -

 

[richinsoton]

Yeah he must be wrong, he's only worked there for 15 years!


From my local BMW dealership:

View attachment 115194

So if you don't have a FULL dealer history they don't want it. Obviously if you were doing a PX deal with no dealer history they would take it and send it to auction, as they're not going to lose a sale on a new car for the sake of sending your old one to auction. But again auction = lower PX as they can't sell it on their forecourt for a higher price.

BER regulations have changed in the last 15 years, along with BMW guidelines. ;-)

Interesting that it says dealer history rather than specifically BMW / Mini history though isn't it.

 

[jbwm]

Gah. I got charged over £300 for my first oil change and 'power system update' by Northampton Audi (Vindis Group). Looks like I wouldn't even have got decent oil for that.

I used to have landys and did all my own servicing so you can imagine how much I wept at that...

 

[MikegS3]

Had first oil service yesterday at Bristol Audi a few little negotiations and got it for £176 inc oil and filter plus screen wash top up