Service pricing

[Rs'd]

Just created my account to make this post. Quoted for an oil change, which admittedly included some dam expensive oil, oil filter and sump plug. Labour at £190 per hour (+ VAT) for a full hour comes to a total charge of £358!

The Porsche UK main dealer "only" charges £172 per hour for labour (this may vary depending upon vehicle, although I haven't enquired).

I won't describe how I feel however suffice to say it doesn't improve my feelings towards the brand!

Has anyone else got a service price horror story (or labour rates) as bad as this? I'd be interested to read your posts.

[Callum929]

£190 plus vat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that's outrageous. Knew there was a reason I stay away from stealerships 

[Trevor]

Hi Carl...welcome to the Forum

Wow!  that's a huge amount of money....would be tempted to go to a specialist VW/Audi repairer who will probably be ex-dealer techie anyway and do the same job for a quarter of the price

Let us know where you end up getting the job done

Cheers  Trevor

[Magnet]

Hello Carl,

£190 per hour plus VAT equates to £228. Has anyone else got some up to date comparison with average labour rates at Audi dealerships? Appreciating I'm probably out of touch, but I think that is most certainly on the high side of high! Oil at £130 - OK I realise you car is a bit special.

I think I would be asking if you have sought alternative quotes from other Audi dealers. You list your location as "UK", and no doubt you will be aware that rates are likely to be more expensive around the large cities.

It might help to know where you are, since someone on here may be able to recommend an alternative main dealer or a respected independent. Appreciating your car is still under warranty and the need to ensure you don't compromise that with the necessary servicing. 

Very enlightening, or at least frightening! 

Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Rs'd]

Update:

After some discussions with the dealer I managed to get some small concessions, so as I was getting the 96E1 update done anyway I went ahead with Audi. I have to consider the time cost of taking the car to a second service centre too. When I mentioned the "Price match" promotion, as advertised on the Audi UK website, they only seemed to recognise the price match on tyres. I had the pollen filter fitted at the same time as that too was due within a couple of months. 1 hours labour was charged at £169 plus VAT, total bill £404.40.

The staff were friendly, the car was clean upon return and they send a 2 minute video during the service of the tech talking through the components on the underside of the car (more informative than you would think). You also get the usual check list of items done during service. Overall they seem to do a good job but I would try to haggle the labour charge and definitely supply your own oil - I was charged a quite astonishing £142.80 for that liquid gold!

[Magnet]

Thanks for the update Carl.

Now if my maths serves me well after all these years, you paid an extra £46 to get a pollen filter changed -  plus whatever the nogatioated discount you managed on the original oil and filter change. 

Re taking your own oil next time:- well you could try, but there is a well quoted tale of the restaurant owner who often did the same thing at his local garage, until the garage owner visited the restaurant with his own steak, and asked to simply be charged for cooking it! 

Still, you've had it all done now.

Kind regards, 

Gareth.

[Rs'd]

1 hour ago, Magnet said:

Thanks for the update Carl.

Now if my maths serves me well after all these years, you paid an extra £46 to get a pollen filter changed -  plus whatever the nogatioated discount you managed on the original oil and filter change. 

Re taking your own oil next time:- well you could try, but there is a well quoted tale of the restaurant owner who often did the same thing at his local garage, until the garage owner visited the restaurant with his own steak, and asked to simply be charged for cooking it! 

Still, you've had it all done now.

Kind regards, 

Gareth.

The price quoted changed by the time I arrived for service due to the mileage apparently (15k). For fitting the pollen filter fitting on its own they wanted to charge £217, or £36 when done with the service.

My advice would be to find a centre that price matches (as per Audi UK website) and get a good quote from your friendly independent to base it upon. I try to keep my cars in the main dealer network if possible mainly for the service history. Alternatively, use that independent.