The onboard computer in my Audi A4 Avant is telling me I need a service. It’s done just over 50,000 miles. Last service was at 40,000 and it has always been serviced by an official Audi dealer (all the stamps). My options are spend 150 quid to get the oil change done at an official dealer or 90 quid at Halfords. Is it really worth spending 60 quid just to have the stamp from the official dealer? Am planning on selling it in next 6 months. Appreciate any advice. Cheers.

I would say it depends on the age of the car,
If the car is under 5 years old then I would stick with Audi just incase anything major gives up the ghost, then that way you have a bit of comeback and can get a bit of contribution towards a repair from Audi as you have a full Audi service history.

If the car is knocking on then I would say just go for a cheap service as it won't really matter.

100% main dealer cheapest service possible if your selling it. A much much much more desirable car to sell with full main dealership stamped service history. For another 60 quid its a no brainer, plus it will get a wash and vac included. Halfords cant even reset service lights, never mind set it properly to longlife servicing.

Get your Audi dealer to price match Halfords. I have done this several times with my Golf the. The dealer has got within £5 of the Halfords price, plus they picked up the car, washed and vac'd it and delivered it back.

Pp

If the car is in very good condition and you're looking to move it on, what does a Halfords stamp in the service book tell a prospective buyer about the seller?
Believe me, I'm no fan of main dealers, but as you're looking to sell it, I would have thought that the extra £60 would have been worth it. Would you lose more than £60 on the selling price due to taking the 'cheap' option in any case?

Given it currently has a full Audi Service History and the difference in price is so little, I'd get it serviced at the main dealer. It will help at resale.

If the rest of the car checked out ok and more importantly the price is right then the name of a stamp in the book wouldn’t worry me at all. I think even Halfords are capable of changing the oil correctly.

I sold a motorbike and car recently and most of the people who came to view didn’t even bother looking in the service book at all and still made offers.

It makes sod all difference in my experience.

I would think twice about buying a car with a halfords stamp. It would read to me that the owner doesn't care much about the car and does the bare minimum to save a few quid.

At least the audi stamp will come across to me as 'owners stupid and has TOO much money, but obviously cares enough about the car to pay over the odds for servicing'

I vote main dealer. I wouldn't trust halfords with making a brew let alone service a car. Our company cars go to Kwick fit and Halfords for routine servicing (fleet companies decision and not ours). We've had everything come back including a car where the oil cap hasn't been replaced and another where they changed one brake disc and forgot to do the other.

Main dealer isn't cheap but haggle and be assured that your car will be advertised with a full Audi history and its been done properly.

This is what I normally do I have used VW main dealers in the past and they couldn’t even diagnose a faulty track rod end on a Polo I used to own.

I usually get my local indie to change the oil so I get a stamp in the book and I change the filters/spark plugs/brakes etc etc myself so I know it’s been done properly rather than paying over the odds for a main dealer stamp.