Where do you go for service - dealer or not?

[DarkyUK]

Hi Guys,

Interested to know where you all go for services. I had an A7 before and oil changes were an a chain, ATS was the last I think but stuck to the dealers for inspections and service. Then switched to Land Rover and only used dealers.

Got an S5 now and interested to know if I should bother with the dealers or not? Will it affect the resale value? The car is only 9 months old. I understand in the UK that as long as its serviced within manufacturers guidelines and by a VAT registered garage the warranty is maintained?

Whats your thoughts?

Andy

 

[V6_Man]

Hi Guys,

Interested to know where you all go for services. I had an A7 before and oil changes were an a chain, ATS was the last I think but stuck to the dealers for inspections and service. Then switched to Land Rover and only used dealers.

Got an S5 now and interested to know if I should bother with the dealers or not? Will it affect the resale value? The car is only 9 months old. I understand in the UK that as long as its serviced within manufacturers guidelines and by a VAT registered garage the warranty is maintained?

Whats your thoughts?

Andy

No dealership - simples! I am not sure where you are based but I can recommend MDM Technik in Marlow - top bloke and excellent service. He was recommended to me by a notable forum member and I have now used him couple of times on my S4.

Oxford Audi ARE NOT touching my car ever again especially after the recent episode of them screwing the car. I don't trust them at all, incompetent staff, and pathetic and below par customer service (you can clearly tell I am ****** off )


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[Scotty75]

Went to the local Audi dealer ( Portsmouth ) for cam belt. I was more than happy with the service, though asked them not to wash the car.

From a buyers perspective full Audi service history is going to bed attractive as it gives a sense of trust in quality parts etc but in all honesty a fully serviced vehicle using oem quality parts, along with all receipts of completed work would be just as good in reality.

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[DarkyUK]

No dealership - simples! I am not sure where you are based but I can recommend MDM Technik in Marlow - top bloke and excellent service. He was recommended to me by a notable forum member and I have now used him couple of times on my S4.

Oxford Audi ARE NOT touching my car ever again especially after the recent episode of them screwing the car. I don't trust them at all, incompetent staff, and pathetic and below par customer service (you can clearly tell I am ****** off )


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I've had problems with Derby Audi once before which is one of the reasons I started this. I had been warned about some tyre damage before by one of the local tyre dealers on the inside of one of the tyres, when it went in to Derby Audi for an inspection and service it came out with a clean bill of health so I assumed the tyre dealer had said it was worse than it was to try to get another tyre sale, then the tyre exploded a couple of days later, thankfully on a slow residential stretch of road.

 

[V6_Man]

For an S1/2/3/4 or a performance car like RS or an AMG etc doing an MoT via dealership I would see it as value add as it would give me the confidence that the advisories and their susbequent 'fixes' are genuine. MoT certificates with advisories fixed/resolved can be easily bought these days.

For services or any repairs unless the car is under warranty I wouldn't go near my dealership. My S4 will not be going back to the dealership but A3 will as it came with 2 free ones and the car is still under warranty. Once both offers finish then bye-bye Oxford Audi


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[DarkyUK]

For an S1/2/3/4 or a performance car like RS or an AMG etc doing an MoT via dealership I would see it as value add as it would give me the confidence that the advisories and their susbequent 'fixes' are genuine. MoT certificates with advisories fixed/resolved can be easily bought these days.

For services or any repairs unless the car is under warranty I wouldn't go near my dealership.

I've not considered the MOT yet as the car is only 9 months old, my old Land Rover at 3 years old ended up at Halfords for the MOT but I do see what your saying about the MOT via the dealership and I think they have a max cost anyway don't they.

Why do you suggest staying with the dealership while in warranty?

 

[V6_Man]

I've not considered the MOT yet as the car is only 9 months old, my old Land Rover at 3 years old ended up at Halfords for the MOT but I do see what your saying about the MOT via the dealership and I think they have a max cost anyway don't they.

They do indeed and I believe it is around £700-ish that they cover towards the costs.

Why do you suggest staying with the dealership while in warranty?

Warranty work and free services. I got 2 free with my S4 (I had to fight hard to get them as they don't do them on S/RS) and 2 with the A3.

Both S4 and A3 have been in for some warranty work and I believe it was a peace of mind knowing I won't have to pay anything for the fixes.


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[DarkyUK]

They do indeed and I believe it is around £700-ish that they cover towards the costs.



Warranty work and free services. I got 2 free with my S4 (I had to fight hard to get them as they don't do them on S/RS) and 2 with the A3.

Both S4 and A3 have been in for some warranty work and I believe it was a peace of mind knowing I won't have to pay anything for the fixes.


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Ah, I don't get any free services with the S5 as it was a Approved Used, so if I go to them for service it costs a lot more. With the A7 I used to have the oil changes done by a local garage and just the inspection by the dealership, was still a lot more expensive though and I don't think they did any warranty work.

 

[V6_Man]

Ah, I don't get any free services with the S5 as it was a Approved Used, so if I go to them for service it costs a lot more. With the A7 I used to have the oil changes done by a local garage and just the inspection by the dealership, was still a lot more expensive though and I don't think they did any warranty work.

Your S5 is a B9, right?

Mine was approved as well . MDM charge almost the same as a stealership and so do MRC (Newbury). So, I won't be saving a lot for an Indy service however, by using them I will always have the peace of mind in that both only deal with performance/modified cars and therefore would use stuff the car should have rather than what the manual says.



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[DarkyUK]

Your S5 is a B9, right?

Mine was approved as well . MDM charge almost the same as a stealership and so do MRC (Newbury). So, I won't be saving a lot for an Indy service however, by using them I will always have the peace of mind in that both only deal with performance/modified cars and therefore would use stuff the car should have rather than what the manual says.



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Yeah, mine is a S5 B9, before that 2 years in a Land Rover Discovery Sport (Family) and before that an A7 4G. Even the wife missed the A7 so we ended up somehow in an S5 and love it!

 

[jdp1962]

M ine is a B8.5 S4, had it from new, it’s now just out of warranty. My plan was to have one scheduled AVS service done at the supplying dealer during the warranty period, with everything else (interim engine oil changes, brake fluid change, aircon service and DSG oil change) done by my trusted indie.

Even that one visit to the dealer was unsatisfactory, as one of the parking jockeys bashed the door edge of the car he was parking into mine.

 

[V6_Man]

M ine is a B8.5 S4, had it from new, it’s now just out of warranty. My plan was to have one scheduled AVS service done at the supplying dealer during the warranty period, with everything else (interim engine oil changes, brake fluid change, aircon service and DSG oil change) done by my trusted indie.

Even that one visit to the dealer was unsatisfactory, as one of the parking jockeys bashed the door edge of the car he was parking into mine.

And despite my reminders and a note inside reading, "do not wash" they washed mine ... And God knows how but they managed to change the colour of the boot ... It's gone dull now full of swirl marks. Rest of the car has swirl marks all over it as well...

Luckily for me, they are paying for the correction but are adamant they didn't cause the paint change to the car. I have now escalated the matter to Head of Oxford Audi ... And they are definitely not getting any business from me, ever again.

I have two services on Mrs' A3 and I might take it to Aylesbury or Milton Keynes Audi ...


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[45bvtc]

Stafford Audi every 2-years, then me for each and every one of the 729 days in-between.

And, once I have the car back home, I double check Stafford Audi's work.

Stafford Audi knowing I check everything they do make sure I don't get service problems.

Build a +TVE relationship with your Audi dealer, makes running an Audi soooo much easier.

 

[Jimbob76]

I’ve been pondering exactly the same question @DarkyUK

My S3 is just over a year old, and I took ownership of it 4 months ago. It is obviously still under warranty, but I have a deep mis-trust of main dealers. We know our cars are special, but to a dealership they are just a product which they see day in day out. There’s also often a snooty arrogance at ‘luxury’ dealerships as well which makes me quite cross.

Prior to my S3 I had my old SEAT Leon for 10 years, and always took it to a local independent VAG specialist. I’ve built up a great relationship with the owner and head mechanic over the years and I trust them implicitly to look after my car with the same care and attention I do. They have all the VAG diagnostic kit, are honest and always do a great job for me. They don’t wash/valet it - but I don’t want them to, that’s my job. If you’re anywhere near Kenilworth in the Midlands - check out GDT Autos, A decade of great service allows me to recommend them without any reservation.

I’m not intending to use An Audi dealership to service my car even though it is still under warranty - stories like @Tashfeen ’s above horrify me (sorry to hear about your experience mate - I know how much effort you put into your detailing, can’t imagine how p1ssed off you must have been/still are).

I will of course be asking GDT to follow all the rules (e.g. using exactly the right spec of engine oil etc and OEM servicing guidelines) to ensure the warranty isn’t affected, and the only way my car will ever be going anywhere near a dealership is for a warranty claim.

Hope this helps - a good independent garage with an honest owner and a mechanic who appreciates your pride and joy is, in my experience, a hands-down better option than the majority of dealerships out there.

Am I concerned about not keeping up a full Audi service history? Not in the ****** slightest. I keep my cars longer term, so I care more about proper workmanship, care and honesty.