Audi A4 3 litre Quattro first service at 2 years and 12000 miles. Informed by Cambridgeshire main franchised dealer that the Audi fixed price service was oil and filter change, pollen filter change(!) and inspection- £458!!!! While still in shock asked for more details and told 2 to 3 hours labour!! Thought I would get a price from another franchise and Robinsons in Norfolk quoted £418! This must truly be a good old fashion rip off but, to keep the warranty valid and have support if any problems, feel I have no choice but to pay the money. Where does the problem lie. Is it with Audi UK allowing such charges or with the lack of competition due to large dealer franchises able to charge what they like?
Technically you don't need to maintain a dealer service record in order to maintain the warranty, just so that you can prove the work has been done using OEM filters and in-spec oil.
Take it to an independant Audi specialist, as long as they use genuine Audi parts/oils for the service, the warranty remains valid. I got a quote recently of £1200 for an A7 service, my independant guy who has full VAG computers and diag was less than half that and even updated the MMI for me.
@spanish Try Audi Hitchin if that is not too far from you. I used them for several years and found them to be reasonable. They were always more expensive than the local independents I checked with but usually by around 20% which I felt was fair bearing in mind the free courtesy car and (with luck) slightly better residual value. It has been 2 or 3 years since I used them so things may have changed though.
I had an S3 once. Took it in for an oil service, which was about £200 back then iirc. I got a phone call for "recommended works" totalling a further £1,200. Leaking shocks, new engine under tray etc, etc which I politely declined. The thing was out of the box new even at 3 years old. I sold it soon after and have never owned another Audi.
Ridiculous. And I rant on about all of the 'one-eyed' cars on the road. would it not be cheaper to put in a complete head lamp...
Good point. I think that they do - or charge a tenner or something when I had a Yaris bulb done years ago..
After removing the front bumper on a Modus 3 times to fit new bulbs I eventually took it to Halford's - they refused (they have a black list of cars they don't touch) but suggested I ask the service center next door - I asked and they did it for a tenner in their coffee fund - good guy's but they were from York of course , but they did say it was 90 minutes labor normally.
Excellent post, as usual you have cut straight to the heart of the matter and explained it all in layman`s terms. Good work !
All these men getting nicked for trying to pick up underage girls... anyone thought they just need to borrow them for their skinny arms to change out a headlight bulb I hated doing our old car. One side was a 2 minute job and the other was a bumper off
Paid £470 for an Independent BMW 60,000 service in Huddersfield 2 months ago on my 7 year old beemer. Doesn't need another for at least 10k miles (gulp) ....
