All in one service/warranty plan advice

[Fridgeguy]

Good evening all

i don’t know if I am doing this correctly but hope i am, I have a November 2016 A4 (B9), Sline Stronic Avant which I have had from new and am over the moon with (kiss of death but it is the best car I have ever had !) being now retired and only doing around 8,000 miles per year I would really like to keep it, it has now covered circa 70,000 miles and has always been serviced by an Audi main dealer in line with the schedule, I am aware that it is nearing requiring the following

an

oil and filter service (circa £200/£250)

stronic gearbox oil and filter change (quoted £287.82)

cam belt replacement with water pump (quoted £852.56)

i have noticed the “all in one” 2 year warranty/service plan at £719.76 which covers 2 services, 2 mot’s, 2 years breakdown cover and most importantly of all “2 years warranty” this appears to cover most things (but cynic that I am don’t necessarily believe that) it really seems too good to be true as the old saying goes as if you take off 2 services, 2 mot’s, 2 years breakdown cover the 2 years warranty would be “free”, I am something of a worrier and must admit that the “2 years warranty” whether free or not is a major attraction to me.

My question really is has anyone taken this out and actually used the warranty as if everything is an argument and non acceptance of the claims I would rather not do it, but as I see it I could get all my servicing, mot’s done, breakdown cover and peace of mind with the warranty for 2 years for around £1,860. 

Sorry for the long ramble but hoped that someone may have experience of the warranty and wish to advise.

sincere kind regards

Mike

[jdragon]

In my opinion, once a car is outside the manufacturers standard warranty period, spending obscene amounts on keeping up dealership service history is a waste of money.

The VAG specialist I take our cars to charge £130 for an oil and filter change, and £490 for the cambelt, water pump and auxiliary belt (A5 B9) which included a loan car for the duration.

I only pay for whichever of 18,600 miles or 2 years is sooner because the VAG specialist updates the digital service record, so I'll typically be doing an oil change myself (or take them to a trusted garage) at the 9,300 miles and 1 year interval  because of relative mileage/usage difference of both cars.

When the cars reach 100k miles I generally care less about the digital record but still keep up with the proper service schedule because in my experience, anyone buying a car with >100k miles cares less about full dealership service history.

[Fridgeguy]

3 minutes ago, jdragon said:

In my opinion, once a car is outside the manufacturers standard warranty period, spending obscene amounts on keeping up dealership service history is a waste of money.

The VAG specialist I take our cars to charge £130 for an oil and filter change, and £490 for the cambelt, water pump and auxiliary belt (A5 B9) which included a loan car for the duration.

I only pay for whichever of 18,600 miles or 2 years is sooner because the VAG specialist updates the digital service record, so I'll typically be doing an oil change myself (or take them to a trusted garage) at the 9,300 miles and 1 year interval  because of relative mileage/usage difference of both cars.

When the cars reach 100k miles I generally care less about the digital record but still keep up with the proper service schedule because in my experience, anyone buying a car with >100k miles cares less about full dealership service history.

Thank you Jon

i really appreciate your response and sentiment as it makes a lot of sense, but have been struggling to find a VAG specialist (with good reviews) local that is significantly cheaper than Audi dealer, the prices you have been charged are very impressive I have actually been quoted around £750 for cam belt etc and around £340 for Stronic service against £287 from main dealer standard oil change service around the same price, my concern I suppose is if the Stronic box packs in or the engine goes kaput if I haven’t done anything silly the warranty should kick in and cover it I would hope as I dread to think of the cost. 

Perhaps I worry too much !

[jdragon]

16 hours ago, Fridgeguy said:

Thank you Jon

i really appreciate your response and sentiment as it makes a lot of sense, but have been struggling to find a VAG specialist (with good reviews) local that is significantly cheaper than Audi dealer, the prices you have been charged are very impressive I have actually been quoted around £750 for cam belt etc and around £340 for Stronic service against £287 from main dealer standard oil change service around the same price, my concern I suppose is if the Stronic box packs in or the engine goes kaput if I haven’t done anything silly the warranty should kick in and cover it I would hope as I dread to think of the cost. 

Perhaps I worry too much !

I can empathise with finding a trustworthy garage. I don't have much experience with the B9 models having owned one for not much more than 5 months but my research suggests the catastrophic failure you're concerned about is very very unlikely.

And if you did extend the warranty, how much of the cost would Audi actually cover? You might be better off keeping the money in your bank for the what if 🙂

Perhaps you could get Audi to do the servicing you mention, and leave it there. At least you have some go back if the unlikely happens.

The cambelt is however a year overdue (it's whichever comes first of 5 years or 75k miles), so don't leave it much longer 

 

[Magnet]

Hello Mike,

I do understand your dilemma, and it’s probably just me, but an instant off-put to me is the ‘including MOT’. I think Audi did have a promotion some time back where they ‘gave’ a free MOT with cambelt renewals. Sounds good, but they have the opportunity to recoupe funds via. ‘ your brake pads need changing sir’ etc. 
I wouldn’t be for me, but we are all different. 

If £1,800 buys you peace of mind (and you can afford it) then peace of mind is priceless. 

If, like most of us, you are from the school of ‘exactly what do I get for my £1,800’, then unfortunately you will need to read the small print, since the devil is in the detail there - with phrases such as ‘wear and tear’ etc. etc. 
My feeling is you are hankering towards the ‘peace of mind’ option - simply because that’s what it provides. The experienced downside is that it may not provide what you think it will when needed, so just be prepared that it may not. Also, will it put you in total reliance with main dealers? 
Apologies Mike, since I don’t think this will help. 
The car is now 6 years old and ageing, and if it were mine, I would be concentrating my efforts on trying to find a trusted garage who can carry on doing the necessary work on your car and putting the £1,800 away for a rainy day - but I could be wrong.

It might be worth asking for a take -away-to-study copy of the warranty agreement and see what reaction you get to that request. That may turn out to be a decider for you.

Good luck and kind regards,

Gareth. 

[dalswinton]

Good Morning,

I too, have been considering( Audi all in) with an upfront

price of £719,76. but after reading the above post, I am

not so sure, my local Audi dealer have quoted me £509.00.

for a cam belt change with free mot for life. it does seem

 too good to be true, regarding the warranty.

My car has only covered 26,000. miles since new, in the

past 5 years. it does make you think, as when the car was

new, it was covered by 3 years/60,000. mile warranty, anyway,

this is my 12th Audi in a row, and up till now, they have all

been trouble free. makes you think about spending that

kind of money!

Brian.

[Magnet]

Hello Brian,

Thanks for the post. 
Apologies for being a little confused but:- 

Your Audi dealer are quoting you £719 for the same 2 year plan as the original poster’s dealer is offering him for £1,800? 
 

Your £719 cost includes (in caps) renewing the cambelt - which would  cost you £509 to get done as an individual item?? 
 

They are indeed still doing their ‘free MOT for life’ offer with cambelt changes then. Personally, I would avoid that like the plague. They will find things ‘wrong’! Somewhere back in time on here, you will find a post about someone with reported expensive resultant ‘headlight issue’ and a big bill. 
Can you come back to us on the above points?

Many thanks and kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[jdragon]

A guy I work with got the free MOT thing with an extended Warranty (in Cambridge I think) and they said he needed a tyre. They wanted something like £290 which was almost double what he could've got it for independently, but Audi wouldn't let him take the car on the grounds it was illegal to drive. And they refused to take it out of the workshop to accommodate him getting a mobile tyre fitter to change it.

[dalswinton]

Hi Gareth,

Just to clarify things.

1. The £509.00 relates to a cambelt change plus

    mot's for life only.

2. The £719,76. price relates to the upfront price

     regarding (Audi all in)

  (  Details can be found on the Audi website regarding this)

     Hope this helps

    Kind Regards

    Brian.

[Fridgeguy]

3 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Brian,

Thanks for the post. 
Apologies for being a little confused but:- 

Your Audi dealer are quoting you £719 for the same 2 year plan as the original poster’s dealer is offering him for £1,800? 
 

Your £719 cost includes (in caps) renewing the cambelt - which would  cost you £509 to get done as an individual item?? 
 

They are indeed still doing their ‘free MOT for life’ offer with cambelt changes then. Personally, I would avoid that like the plague. They will find things ‘wrong’! Somewhere back in time on here, you will find a post about someone with reported expensive resultant ‘headlight issue’ and a big bill. 
Can you come back to us on the above points?

Many thanks and kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

Hi Gareth and all

i am the original poster and would just wish it clarify, the £1800 was a combination of

1) “all in one plan” @ £717 (2 services, 2 years b/down and 2 years warranty)

2) Stronic gearbox service @ £288

3) cam belt and water pump replacement @ £852

making a total of circa £1800 for 2 standard services, 1 Stronic gearbox service, a cam belt and water pump replacement and 2 years warranty cover 

The “all in one” policy @ £717 includes 2 off services ( 1 oil, filter service and 1 oil, filter and pollen filter service) worth £450 ish, this leaves £267 which includes 2 MOTs (which I wouldn’t use as I believe as others have said that this is a revenue generating stream for  further work) 2 years breakdown cover and most importantly “2 years warranty”, a point of note is that this is an “Audi” warranty provided by Audi not an insurance backed one, I fully understand that they may not always rollover upon a claim (do they ever ! even on a new car) but having read their documentation and having spoken to their helpline I feel that most of the things covered on a new car are potentially covered, I also feel that if the car is serviced in line with the Audi service regime and not abused they would be hard pressed to deny the claim, another point of note is that there is no excess to pay.

Taking in to account the above I tended to feel that £267 for 2 years warranty and breakdown cover was a pretty good deal as that’s probably only 2 to 3 hours labour for an Audi engineer.

i really do appreciate all of you kind people taking the trouble to read and respond to my post, and am always open to others thoughts/interpretation and suggestions as I may be kissing something.

thank you all

regards

mike

 

 

[Magnet]

Great Mike, 

No disrespects, but your clarification puts this into a completely different light, and yes we now under that the guarantee  ‘extra’ above the cost of the jobs is relatively small, so indeed - why not.

Being a cynical old so and so, it wouldn’t surprise me that the AA breakdown cover may only be Roadside Assistance, and not a ‘get you and the car home’ cover, but worth clarifying, and if Roadside only, can you upgrade it? 
Couldn’t agree with you more about dipping out of their kind offer! of the free MOTs for life. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Fridgeguy]

5 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Great Mike, 

No disrespects, but your clarification puts this into a completely different light, and yes we now under that the guarantee  ‘extra’ above the cost of the jobs is relatively small, so indeed - why not.

Being a cynical old so and so, it wouldn’t surprise me that the AA breakdown cover may only be Roadside Assistance, and not a ‘get you and the car home’ cover, but worth clarifying, and if Roadside only, can you upgrade it? 
Couldn’t agree with you more about dipping out of their kind offer! of the free MOTs for life. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Hi Gareth

To be honest it is the “warranty” that draws me like a magnet I am inherently a worrier (Stronic/engine/mmi problems etc) and looking for some sort of peace of mind, I have had this car from new, initially as a company car I then bought it when I retired so know the full history of the car and must say it really is the best car I have ever had and absolutely love it !, I initially started to look for a replacement car but as I would only have the same again but with less miles and younger could not get my head around paying around another 20k for what would be effectively the same car and not knowing it’s history, I do know that saying all that may be the kiss of death but sincerely hope not, it really does seem a steal and 2 years peace of mind (sort of !) for £267 and for me at least is a no brainer, please see below for warranty terms and conditions as I really cannot see any major stitch up in them and hopefully this may be something others of our group may wish to take advantage of.

https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/content/dam/bluelabel/valid/www-vwfs-co-uk/documents/Audi_Warranty–Terms_and_Conditions.pdf

i will hopefully get around to responding to all contributors but wish to thank you all for your input.

kind regards

Mike

[Fridgeguy]

12 hours ago, dalswinton said:

Good Morning,

I too, have been considering( Audi all in) with an upfront

price of £719,76. but after reading the above post, I am

not so sure, my local Audi dealer have quoted me £509.00.

for a cam belt change with free mot for life. it does seem

 too good to be true, regarding the warranty.

My car has only covered 26,000. miles since new, in the

past 5 years. it does make you think, as when the car was

new, it was covered by 3 years/60,000. mile warranty, anyway,

this is my 12th Audi in a row, and up till now, they have all

been trouble free. makes you think about spending that

kind of money!

Brian.

Hi Brian

thank you for responding to my post and have responded to Gareth with a detailed breakdown of my quoted costs and details on the Warranty terms and conditions a link for which is attached, just a point the cam belt change price seems cheap for an Audi dealer and wonder if it includes the water pump and if you don’t mind I wouldn’t mind knowing the dealer that quoted you and if too far from me I could at least get a quote and use that with my local Audi dealer for a price match

1) “all in one plan” @ £717 (2 services, 2 years b/down and 2 years warranty)

2) Stronic gearbox service @ £288

3) cam belt and water pump replacement @ £852

making a total of circa £1800 for 2 standard services, 1 Stronic gearbox service, a cam belt and water pump replacement and 2 years warranty cover 

The “all in one” policy @ £717 includes 2 off services ( 1 oil, filter service and 1 oil, filter and pollen filter service) worth £450 ish, this leaves £267 which includes 2 MOTs (which I wouldn’t use as I believe as others have said that this is a revenue generating stream for  further work) 2 years breakdown cover and most importantly “2 years warranty”, a point of note is that this is an “Audi” warranty provided by Audi not an insurance backed one, I fully understand that they may not always rollover upon a claim (do they ever ! even on a new car) but having read their documentation and having spoken to their helpline I feel that most of the things covered on a new car are potentially covered, I also feel that if the car is serviced in line with the Audi service regime and not abused they would be hard pressed to deny the claim, another point of note is that there is no excess to pay.

Taking in to account the above I tended to feel that £267 for 2 years warranty and breakdown cover was a pretty good deal as that’s probably only 2 to 3 hours labour for an Audi engineer.

i really do appreciate all of you kind people taking the trouble to read and respond to my post, and am always open to others thoughts/interpretation and suggestions as I may be missing something.

To be honest it is the “warranty” that draws me like a magnet I am inherently a worrier (Stronic/engine/mmi problems etc) and looking for some sort of peace of mind, I have had this car from new, initially as a company car I then bought it when I retired so know the full history of the car and must say it really is the best car I have ever had and absolutely love it !, I initially started to look for a replacement car but as I would only have the same again but with less miles and younger could not get my head around paying around another 20k for what would be effectively the same car and not knowing it’s history, I do know that saying all that may be the kiss of death but sincerely hope not, it really does seem a steal and 2 years peace of mind (sort of !) for £267 and for me at least is a no brainer, please see below for warranty terms and conditions as I really cannot see any major stitch up in them and hopefully this may be something others of our group may wish to take advantage of.

https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/content/dam/bluelabel/valid/www-vwfs-co-uk/documents/Audi_Warranty–Terms_and_Conditions.pdf

i will hopefully get around to responding to all contributors but wish to thank you all for your input.

kind regards

Mike

 

 

[Magnet]

Many thanks Mike,

As far as the Terms and Conditions link your posted, It could be me, but it’s a bit of a (usual!) trawl to go through this, and to me, it appears to be what it say it is - Terms and Conditions, which concentrates on explaining what the terms used means, but seems to give very little detail about what is and ( most importantly) what isn’t covered. 
As I say, I may be missing something, but it wouldn’t surprise me that this statement is aimed at being an explanatory statement to cover another main document. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[dalswinton]

Hi,

I have just been quoted £930,00.  to have the cam belt &

water pump changed by my local Audi dealer.

A local vw audi specialist, quoted me £550,00. for the same

work, using genuine parts. guess where I'm going.

Brian.