Service from Audi main dealer

[oldaudi]

Is this normal from an Audi Main Dealer.

I took my 2018 A4 for its first service and inspection. £408. Why I need to spend £408 on a 20 second video of a bloke telling me I have 4mm left on my front tyres, 5mm left in my rear tyres and I’ve only used 15% of my brake pads after 20k miles and an oil change is beyond me.

£289 for the labour
Drain plug
Oil filter
£34 for oil £339 plus vat
Anyway it’s a leased car so I follow the rule book and it’s all recorded and paid for. No bother.

Now 2 months later I’ve had 4 phone calls from Audi chasing me to get the tyres replaced and brake pads replaced because I refused the work on the days of the inspection. 2 years old, 20k miles and I’ve only just used 15% of my brake pads. 2 months later I’m getting calls chasing me to get the work done when I’ve only done another 800 miles.

Is that normal behaviour?

Edited by oldaudi on Friday 30th August 14:57

[Sheepshanks]

Seems to be a VAG thing - I stopped using our local VW dealer because of it. If you refuse stuff the staff hate you.

Apparently there's a European legal limit of 3mm on tyres so you have to change them at 4mm. And air conditioning services are "mandatory".

Then they wouldn't budge on list price for cambelt and waterpump - until I told them it was booked in with an indie, whereupon they could suddenly reduce the price by £200. I wouldn't go back there if they serviced the car free.

Oh, and I waited while they did the first service - took 20mins. As it was on a service contract they invoiced VWFS but accidentally gave me a copy - £68, inc parts labour and VAT.

[Tomo1971]

Try another Audi dealer on the next service - there was over £100 difference between my nearest two dealers (different companies owned the franchise).

Mines a lease too. I will get the servicing done at Audi but anything else, will go to a local VW,Seat or Skoda garage - the Skoda garage I used to use had a really low labour rate so wasn't much more expensive than a non franchised.

My next service is due in 3k miles (38k ish) and will be due the DSG service too..... so looking at around £500!

[Icehanger]

Unless your're doing the brakes/tyres yourself, ask them if they will price match? most will (well west mids ones always)
My local Audi centre will price match all the leading Tyre places and will quiet often beat them, same goes for work, I always question the prices they quote

[oldaudi]

My issue wasnt really the cost of the service. It was more the fact that an Audi Dealer was that desperate for business that they phoned me asking me to change my brakes pads with 85% left and tyres on 5mm and 4mm.

[Trevor555]

oldaudi said:

My issue wasnt really the cost of the service. It was more the fact that an Audi Dealer was that desperate for business that they phoned me asking me to change my brakes pads with 85% left and tyres on 5mm and 4mm.

It's not just Audi, many, many main dealers do it.

Targets to hit, flashy premises to pay for.

And I reckon they've lost custom to many of the good indys around who are sensible on price, and employ the master technicians that the main dealers have lost.

My local Audi dealer is very busy just servicing all the fleet/lease cars, and warranty repairs. They are booking at least two weeks away for anything that's not booked in by VW/Audi assist.

They wanted £398 for the first service on my TT.

But they price matched and knocked £140 off.

As for wanting to change brakes that aren't worn out, all I can say is, total rip off.... Been going on for years.

[Icehanger]

oldaudi said:

My issue wasnt really the cost of the service. It was more the fact that an Audi Dealer was that desperate for business that they phoned me asking me to change my brakes pads with 85% left and tyres on 5mm and 4mm.

sorry missed that, the "brake scandal" as said above has been going on for years, every service "your brakes are worn, would you like them changing?" its not just Audi every OEM I've used over the years trys it, up sell up sell, its like additives and engine flushing...pure snake oil,

[mawallace]

I think it's a VW thing!

I always use the main dealer - someone has forgotten to log my last MOT and service on their 'chase' list. Even though their main service records show the service and MOT I get a call every two months saying "It's time to book the car in for the MOT and service" = I point out "your dealer did this when it was due" - they say sorry will update their records.

Then I get the same thing two months later.

Still - not as bad as a leading optical firm. Sent me a letter addressed to my aunt (who would have been 95 at the time) saying - your eye test is overdue. When I mentioned to them it probably was, as she had been dead for 7 years, they went all apologetic!

[S5Scot]

Glasgow is an absolute cartel given the lack of competition locally. Avoid like the plague.

[Trevor555]

S5Scot said:

Glasgow is an absolute cartel given the lack of competition locally. Avoid like the plague.

I challenge you lol

They can't be as bad as the family owned group in Cambs controlling many of the VAG garages.

[RSbandit]

Had my Q7 in recently and more or less same rigmarole, was quoted £400 for major service(oil change etc) fine as that was still £300 cheaper than the same quote I got from my nearest VW garage that does Audi servicing...how there's such a discrepancy in price I do not know. Anyway get the usual health check video stating my front pads are 40% worn and of course that means discs need replacing too, so there's 60% left on them then doesn't sound like that needs changing to me?! All four tyres are between 4-5mm so they need changing too of course! So we're looking a £2k worth of stuff at that point I respectfully declined...jokers.

[xjay1337]

I know you have to on VW/audi/merc/bmw on lease but I would detest using main dealer for service work.

I guess the best you can do is get them to reduce their price.

[James-gbg1e]

Check your corporate schemes if you have any, I realised I get 10% discount on parts and servicing with mine.

[anonymous-user]

oldaudi said:

My issue wasnt really the cost of the service. It was more the fact that an Audi Dealer was that desperate for business that they phoned me asking me to change my brakes pads with 85% left and tyres on 5mm and 4mm.

Standard operationing procedure. Always worth asking if the brake wear indicator is on just to see the look on their faces!

I won't use offical audi stealers as they just want to rip you off, change parts early before they are worn out, etc.

[Turn7]

Glass palaces do not pay for themselves.....

[The3rdDukeofB]

Trevor555 said:

S5Scot said:

Glasgow is an absolute cartel given the lack of competition locally. Avoid like the plague.

I challenge you lol

They can't be as bad as the family owned group in Cambs controlling many of the VAG garages.

I'll see and raise you .... £1,250

went in for the usual corroded brake pad sensor cable replacement.
They advised 7 separate things

Alarm bells rand with the first part of 'wiper blades' as I had replaced them 3 months earlier, and could tell they had not even used / moved them whilst in their tenure.
Their reasoning for replacing rear discs and pads? Because rusty.

Utter coincidence the nine separate items (all found to be un-required) added up to EXACTLY £1,250.00
(edited to add - in August last year it did.... prices have moved since....)

They managed to miss the fact the car needed a G/Box oil change tho' .... leading to it being moved on.

Obviously can't name and shame, but anyone in Teesside wants to catch up - let me know.

Edited by The3rdDukeofB on Friday 13th September 00:01

[Baldchap]

Lexus used to always try to sell me new calipers because the sliders were sticking slightly. They made out it was a £800 per side job and absolutely vital to my continued existence.

I cleaned and lubed the sliders myself.

[AI1694]

Do main dealers price match local independents or lets say the local Halfords/Kwik Fit?

[sam.rog]

My company car is under a maintenance contract so everything is covered including tyres.
The lease had about 3 months left but the car needed a service so I took it in to a VW dealer. I got the phone call to say it was all done and it will be £800 ish for the privilege.
They replaced the disks and pads as they were 50% worn. The tyres were changed as they were down to 4mm. I get this video showing how worn it all was and I would die a fiery death if they didn’t replace them.
The service manager smiled as he asked how would I like to pay, his face dropped when I told him that I wouldn’t be paying and that the bill and video will be sent to the lease company for them to cover.
I’m not allowed to use that VW dealer any more by the lease company.

[cuprabob]

AI1694 said:

Do main dealers price match local independents or lets say the local Halfords/Kwik Fit?

Yes some will, however in the small print there is normally a few caveats, including within a defined radius from the dealer, which is typically not very large.