My R8 - not,impressed with audi dealers
Discussion
FastRich said:
Another point to note - this came from a friend of mine about a year or so ago who worked at Audi as a mechanic - when Audi carry out an oil change, they don't drain the oil via the sump nut, they suck it out with a little vacuum, a bit like the thing a dentist's assistant uses. This means that any tiny metal fragments/other unwanted debris stays in the bottom of the sump/churns around the engine. Not brilliant.
That's the most common method for changing oil these days - not just for Audi. It's the way Audi Germany tell them to do it as well, in ElsaWin.I agree Lexus customer service is the exemplar for 'premium' manufacturers. They will collect my dad's IS250 free of charge (he lives 20+ miles from the dealer) and it's an entirely drama-free process.
The only issue he's had with them is it took 3 attempts to resolve a 'visit dealer cause it's broken' type message. What turned out to be a failed ABS sensor wasn't diagnosed at first visit, on second visit they got the old sensor out and THEN found they'd ordered the wrong one in, so on the 3rd visit they finally managed to fit it. He'd driven it in on these occasions so quite a bit of time and petrol involved. They didn't bill him for labour to fit it and gave him a discount on the part to apologise for the cock up.
Audi on the other hand over-billed me by more than half for a simple job and didn't even apologise after I chased them for 3 weeks to get the bill corrected! Only when I gave them the lowest score on a customer service email did it get sorted....attitude is the biggest issue, the actual service is usually OK!
Adrian E said:
I agree Lexus customer service is the exemplar for 'premium' manufacturers. They will collect my dad's IS250 free of charge (he lives 20+ miles from the dealer) and it's an entirely drama-free process.
Don't all Audi dealers offer that? Shrewsbury certainly do. We're almost an hours drive away, and they collect and return even for minor things like MOTs/brake fluid changes.
Lexus are good - Dad's 70 now so needs hassle free motoring and good service! A message popped up on the dash saying the key fob battery was low so he went to Lexus Guildford who changed it there and then on the spot and didn't charge him a penny.
Mum was so impressed with them over the last few months that she's bought an RX - my sister forgot the difference between going forwards and backwards and took mum's front no. plate off - dad took it in and asked then to supply/fit a new one and again, they did it on the spot and they didn't charge him! That really is above and beyond.
They also run something called "car wash club" where you can run your car in to them on a saturday morning and have a coffee while your car is given to the valeters - all for free. Of course, they need showroom traffic and when better than a saturday morning...but even so, that's pretty good.
Mum was so impressed with them over the last few months that she's bought an RX - my sister forgot the difference between going forwards and backwards and took mum's front no. plate off - dad took it in and asked then to supply/fit a new one and again, they did it on the spot and they didn't charge him! That really is above and beyond.
They also run something called "car wash club" where you can run your car in to them on a saturday morning and have a coffee while your car is given to the valeters - all for free. Of course, they need showroom traffic and when better than a saturday morning...but even so, that's pretty good.
A Lexus dealer somewhere in the middle of England wanted to replace the discs and pads on my wife's R450h at every annual service, regardless of the condition and mileage, I know this as I had them checked by a trusted friend and independent each time (my wife's annual mileage is around 7k). They are not the only ones, but they are among the worst I have experienced for dishonest trading.
I find it incredible how a brand can be so different from one branch to another - you'd think these so called "premium" brands would really have customer service screwed down - on paper, there's not much difference in the cars so customer service surely has to be their differenciating USP! (for the average Joe Bloggs, not a PHer of course!!) That's how Lexus got popular, it's be a shame if they ruin it now.
Apologies for resurrecting this thread but...have now had the R8 for 2 years and looking at doing the oil change (I bought an autolift ramp in the summer)
Has anyone done this themselves or any manuals out there on all the drain points and filters etc to look out for
Just about to replace the standard magride suspension with KW V3 system as well while it is off the road over winter now
Cheers
Has anyone done this themselves or any manuals out there on all the drain points and filters etc to look out for
Just about to replace the standard magride suspension with KW V3 system as well while it is off the road over winter now
Cheers
Hi Dr G. In the end I took the R8 to Leatherhead Motor Company on recommendation of a colleague with an A8. Was v apprehensive...
They did the oil change comprehensively using Mobil1 (10 litres - I saw it being delivered), MOT, replaced fog lamp buld but notably also called me into the workshop to show the alternator belt was severely cracked all the way around the bely ie every 10mm. Looked like the original (car has 50k miles). So OEM part ordered and delivered in an hour and fitted. Total cost? £446 incl VAT V impressed and highly recommended.
I also checked they do NOT wash the cars and they confirmed it as they it is a big deal for some customers ie paint damage.
Re- reading the woes on Guildford Audi - a bunch of numpties/ white goods salesmen. I also had the 'paying customer experience' after being passed over on a test drive - reported it to Audi UK & DE product managers at Goodwood FoS who were livid and wanted to know the salesmen names; gave them the dealership instead. Most of the good Master techs leave after training and you are left with the monkeys who have to do the work within the costed Audi labour allowance; this is why stuff gets replaced - faster.
If you can - do stuff your self if you are going to keep the car. otherwise find a good 3rd party that has brand specific mechanics that are trained.
They did the oil change comprehensively using Mobil1 (10 litres - I saw it being delivered), MOT, replaced fog lamp buld but notably also called me into the workshop to show the alternator belt was severely cracked all the way around the bely ie every 10mm. Looked like the original (car has 50k miles). So OEM part ordered and delivered in an hour and fitted. Total cost? £446 incl VAT V impressed and highly recommended.
I also checked they do NOT wash the cars and they confirmed it as they it is a big deal for some customers ie paint damage.
Re- reading the woes on Guildford Audi - a bunch of numpties/ white goods salesmen. I also had the 'paying customer experience' after being passed over on a test drive - reported it to Audi UK & DE product managers at Goodwood FoS who were livid and wanted to know the salesmen names; gave them the dealership instead. Most of the good Master techs leave after training and you are left with the monkeys who have to do the work within the costed Audi labour allowance; this is why stuff gets replaced - faster.
If you can - do stuff your self if you are going to keep the car. otherwise find a good 3rd party that has brand specific mechanics that are trained.
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