Service cheating

[tj1978]

I had a major service for £1500 on my Audi a couple of months ago..

New roll bars
New rear shock
New Water Pump
New cambelt

AVS service etc...

When I got it back it said Next service in 17,000 miles... I thought great.. done for a while... Now last week it dropped to 5900 miles and today 3600 miles !!!! I havent even done 2000 miles in the car since I got it back...

I know this AVS variable servicing means the car adjusts the interval according to driving style and distance but THIS cant be right...

Is it a money making scheme for the fat dealerships !!

 

[S3 Dave]

The money making scheme is already done by the sounds of things!
£1500 Did they line your door cards with gold and put a 16 yr old virgin in the boot.

People why take a 5-6-7 year old car to the main dealer............

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

Maybe change it to fixed service? Personally I'd change the oil regularly on your own then get major services done at dealers if your inclined?

 

[Jacko4130]

£1500, you must have more money then sense!

Why not buy yourself some tools and save your self a lot of cash.

 

[AndyMac]

You went to a main dealer with a car that's only worth about £5k??
Ouch! Find yourself a VAG specialist, although it's a bit late now.
The money making scheme is the £100 per hour Audi charge in labour, but I guess you know that already.

 

[tj1978]

I Know... Damage to my wallet already done.. Not taking it to main dealer again apart meybe for the alarm battery....

Is it much hasle changing from variable to fixed servicing ?

Regards

Tim

 

[alijames]

I'm just about to change my alarm battery now. I'll let you know how I get on. £12 for the batteries from Maplin...

Cheers,

 

[alijames]

Done mine this morning...

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showpost.php?p=589895&postcount=8

Cheers,

 

[Leon]

I used to run my S3 on the AVS schedule and the indicator generally flagged up at around 16 months / 18000 miles (and I drive my car hard). There is no way it should flag up within a couple of months unless you have covered over 15000 miles. I would ring them up and complain and see what they have to say for themselves. But for gods sake don't pay them any more money!

A local specialist told me to go on the yearly servicing scheme as I now only cover about 5K - 6K. Apparently, the thicker oil used in the AVS isn't good for short journeys. My plan is to do a major every 2 years, and just an oil/filter once a year. All done at a specialist.

If I was you - I would reset the service indicator and then in 10 months time, get a basic service done at a specialist. Stick to a yearly one instead of AVS (but just do haldex/brake fluid every 2 as normal).

 

[jesters3]

Ouch that is a lot. On the AVS I think it takes a while to calibrate it self. However if it is getting progressivley lower defnitley call the dealer and make them aware.

AVS was designed for businesses to help put the Fleet Manager in servicing costs and this filtered down to consumers. At the end of the day have the same oil churning arounnd for two years or so ain't going to be good for the car so change it every 10k or so to get the best from your engine as well as helping it out. Opie Oils do good pricing for oil kits so would be worth checking out.

I agree with Jacko and do what you can youself. I have saved a lot by doing this and all of it is very very straightforward to do and I ain't no mechanic.

Check out this check list for what to do; I follow this when doing my own stuff. http://www.discountvwaudicentre.co.uk/pdf/service_check_list.pdf

Also get a Haynes Manual and download the info from here http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/macnee/home.htm.