First Service as an Owner

[banshee]

Greetings all. Just joined the forum, hope everyone's lockdown is going well.

So I've had my 2017 A4 for a year now and will be due it's service this summer (first under my ownership) and I think it's had maybe one or two Audi services previous to me owning it.

Now my question is the car is three years old and out of Audi warranty. So should I continue (at least for a another 2 or 3) with Audi dealer servicing or go for independent Audi specialist? Also, since there's no physical service book, how would getting it "stamped" work if servicing from outside of Audi?

Apologies if some (or all) of this seems like dumb questions. Thanks

[Magnet]

Hello Manjit, 

Thanks for being in touch with the forum, and there really isn’t need to apologise - your questions are very valid. 

Others may have different opinions, but as I see it you are indeed able to choose between servicing at an Audi main dealer, an independent specialist, or indeed a trusted local garage. With the first two, the car will be serviced using genuine VAG parts, whereas the local garage may use aftermarket parts, unless you specify you only want Audi parts to be used, or even talk with them about you buying the parts and they do the servicing on a labour only basis. Only you can choose which one suits you best, but the following may help:- 

How long are you intending to keep the car, and what is your annual mileage? Do you consider that full - dealer - service history is likely to enhance any trade in value to the extent that it will cover the extra cost of having it serviced at the dealer? 

No service book to stamp, and recording the servicing on the Audi system? Independents should have the facility to input into the Audi system, but you will need to double check, and be assured that they actually can/will. Local garage won’t be able to, but in all cases of servicing then always have a comprehensive receipt outlining what has been done,  and file that with the car’s information. 

Costs at Audi?? We don’t know what region of the U.K. you are in, but rates vary, even within the same region, so always check around dealers, but make sure you are talking like for like, e.g. renewing air and pollen filters. You might find your brake fluid may now be scheduled to be changed ( if not already done) so again question this. 

Last thing - service intervals? Is yours set to a Longlife schedule, or an annual one? Longlife normally means the car covers average annual mileage or above, and services are likely to come around at c18K mile intervals. Annual - means what it says.

What mileage are you covering, compared with previous owners? 

Hope some of this helps Manjit, but please let us know if there is anything in doubt.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Pepper]

Hello and welcome.

I was in this position recently, needing a service and wanting an s tronic fluid change.

I researched a local independent and compared to Audi.

In my opinion, the independents have had their day....they had a very long waiting time to get booked in and and the Audi main dealer was actually cheaper for both items.

I guess it all depends on individual areas/garages but my advice is don't discount your main dealer until you've checked.

Mines going in tomorrow for brake pads and tyres.....(Yes - tyres, same price at Audi as a quote from Kwik fit !)

I may be old fashioned, but you can't beat a genuine full dealer service record.

Regards

David

 

[Magnet]

Hello David,

Many thanks indeed for sharing your experiences at your Audi dealer. Most interesting, helpful, and paints a clear picture from a different angle. There’s a lot of dealer - often referred to as stealers by some posters - bashing on here, and grizzles that dealers won’t give part numbers so they can buy the correct  aftermarket parts, and so on, so it’s refreshing to have an alternative point of view. 

Competitive prices on tyres in relation to Kwik Fit is indeed interesting since KF seem to be far more competitive - even cheapest - than they were. 

Let’s hope that your post may help the original poster to come to a decision that suits him. From my standpoint, it frustrates that posters join the forum, post a question, and don’t return to look at the responses which people compile at the (considerable) expense of their time. Still, there might be valid reasons why this frequently happens! Grizzle over! 

As a matter of interest David, do you come south to Cardiff for your main dealer, or is there one nearer to you? Cardiff Audi as was, now seems to trade under Mon Motors, so just interested in the Monmouthshire/Mon Motors connection. 

Many thanks again and kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Pepper]

Hi.

Yes, I don't really understand the mon motors connection.

No, Cardiff is slightly nearer but I now use Hereford Audi.

Still retains many of its original family run business values.

Regards

David

[Pepper]

Hi.

Very pleased again with service received from main dealer today.

Two front tyres fitted...Bridgestone Potenza S001, £309 all in incl valves balancing and asked to check tracking which they did...PLUS...

sorted my rear cargo area cover not powering up and down - my fault, I refitted it incorrectly after removing...free of charge.

Unblocked rear wash wiper jets...free of charge.

Updated ECU recall ...done while there.

And ....wash and vacuum, which was well needed.

Regards

David

[banshee]

On 1/18/2021 at 6:25 PM, Magnet said:

Hello Manjit, 

Thanks for being in touch with the forum, and there really isn’t need to apologise - your questions are very valid. 

Others may have different opinions, but as I see it you are indeed able to choose between servicing at an Audi main dealer, an independent specialist, or indeed a trusted local garage. With the first two, the car will be serviced using genuine VAG parts, whereas the local garage may use aftermarket parts, unless you specify you only want Audi parts to be used, or even talk with them about you buying the parts and they do the servicing on a labour only basis. Only you can choose which one suits you best, but the following may help:- 

How long are you intending to keep the car, and what is your annual mileage? Do you consider that full - dealer - service history is likely to enhance any trade in value to the extent that it will cover the extra cost of having it serviced at the dealer? 

No service book to stamp, and recording the servicing on the Audi system? Independents should have the facility to input into the Audi system, but you will need to double check, and be assured that they actually can/will. Local garage won’t be able to, but in all cases of servicing then always have a comprehensive receipt outlining what has been done,  and file that with the car’s information. 

Costs at Audi?? We don’t know what region of the U.K. you are in, but rates vary, even within the same region, so always check around dealers, but make sure you are talking like for like, e.g. renewing air and pollen filters. You might find your brake fluid may now be scheduled to be changed ( if not already done) so again question this. 

Last thing - service intervals? Is yours set to a Longlife schedule, or an annual one? Longlife normally means the car covers average annual mileage or above, and services are likely to come around at c18K mile intervals. Annual - means what it says.

What mileage are you covering, compared with previous owners? 

Hope some of this helps Manjit, but please let us know if there is anything in doubt.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Thanks very much for coming back to me. I guess I should have given more details.

So, I'm going to answer your very valid questions.

1) My last car was Vauxhall Vectra, which I kept for 9 years and had it just like my A4, at two years old. So since I've paid for in full for A4, my intention is to keep it again for at least 10 years if not longer. When the show is on the other foot (looking to buy a car), I'm looking for full service history and preferably dealers. So in a way I guess I'm under the assumption that dealer service enhances the car's value over time?

2) Going back to my Vectra, I had it serviced from main dealer for the first 3 or so years and then went to a local garage for the remainder. But with the difference in value between the two cars and the fact this one doesn't come with a service book, I'm slightly more conscience of where to get it serviced.

3) I'm from Wolverhampton - West Midlands and did buy my A4 from my local dealer. I also looked at their two year service plan, costing £20 a month over 24 months. From a brief look, the main dealers do very basic service, oil/filter change. The mention of air/pollen filter is if needed. With my Vectra I used to buy the parts/all three filters myself and get it serviced at my local garage. Incidentally I had a reminder a few months back from Audi to say the brake fluid needs changing, so got it changed form them, should be good for 3 years I believe.

4) Service interval. I'm not sure what's it's set it but my mileage is very local, even for work. My total weekly mileage is probably around 150. I guess mine should come under the annual interval?

5) As mentioned my mileage is very local. I purchased the car at 4300k on the clock and I'm not at 11898, so annual mileage would be anything between 6k-10k.

Again I appreciate all the input that everyone is sharing. Many Thanks

[Magnet]

Hello Manjit,

Many thanks for the additional helpful information. 

To try to keep this as simple as possible - If it were mine, I would do exactly the same same as you did with the Vectra. The relationship between you and your garage, worked for you then, and I see no reason to deviate from it just because it’s an Audi. 

In effect, it seems you have a concern regarding  difference in the value of the Audi when it reaches 10 years old if it has full Audi service history or the same level of service (with maintained receipts) if it is serviced at your local garage. As I see it, at ten years old the difference -if any-  will be marginal, and certainly will not be accountable in terms of the extra spend at Audi. 

Others may have alternative opinion, but my recommendation would be to follow your experience, but ensure that whatever parts you buy are genuine VAG (at discount), or a limited number of aftermarket brands. 

Kind regards,

Gareth