Audi Servicing Costs

Author
Discussion

The Surveyor

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

237 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Good morning all. I'm after some guidance on the cost of servicing for my Audi A4 Avant, 35 TFSI.

The car is a lease-car which I've had since it was delivered new in April 2018. It's now got 19k miles on it and it's indicating that it's first service is due. It says it's an 'Oil Service' but it also states on the app that an 'Inspection' is also due. I've spoken to my local Audi dealership who have said it needs a 'Major Service' and have quoted me £468.19.

Personally, I think that's an awful lot for a service on a 9 month old car and it rises two questions :-

Does this car really need a 'Major service' after only 9 months and 19k miles of steady use, surly the first service would only need a oil-change? and

Can I use a non-Audi service centre for the service and still meet the requirement of the VWFS Lease?

Sheepshanks

32,715 posts

119 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Audi is the make that seems to pop up most often where people use price match - someone (on here, I think) got their dealer to price match Halfords. Although once the dealer has your reg number they may well know it's VWFS and that they have you over a barrel.

AIUI you have to use the dealer if it's VWFS. Did you check the cost of adding service and maint to the lease? I've seen some suprisingly low figures on VW and SEAT, although I can't say I've seen Audi figures.

The Surveyor

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

237 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
I checked all the service costs on the options (Volvo, BMW, Skoda, VW etc) before I took out the lease on the Audi, but didn't check the Audi thinking it would be around the same.... the equivalent Volvo V60 service would be £265 for example. So far the car has been fine but the little niggles and annoyances are starting to add up which is putting me off getting another one when this goes back!

Can I use a Skoda garage to get the service done, they're within the VWFS network and have fixed price servicing, £179 for an annual service and an additional £59 for their extended service?

Dr G

15,163 posts

242 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Do you mean April 19?

You need an oil & inspection service as well as a pollen filter.

A "major" includes plugs and an air filter which you do not require yet.

The Surveyor

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

237 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Do you mean April 19?

You need an oil & inspection service as well as a pollen filter.

A "major" includes plugs and an air filter which you do not require yet.
Yes you're right, April 19.

I was told that the service was a 'major' service and was quoted £468.19. Does that price sound right for an oil & inspection service with pollen filter?

Baldchap

7,586 posts

92 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
https://www.lookers.co.uk/audi/servicing-and-parts...

Assuming a 35 is smallish engine, the prices I found at Lookers seem to be significantly less than you have been quoted, even for a major service.

The Surveyor

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

237 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
https://www.lookers.co.uk/audi/servicing-and-parts...

Assuming a 35 is smallish engine, the prices I found at Lookers seem to be significantly less than you have been quoted, even for a major service.
Those are the fixed-price servicing costs for cars over 3 years old, but does go to show that they're properly trying it on.

carclairvoyant

14 posts

118 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Have a Seat Leon cupra dsg petrol . Dealer agreed to price match 1st service, 2nd service next month, £170 incl pollen filter. I supply correct Castrol oil from VWMOTORPARTS.CO.UK. Price still the same
1 x Castrol Edge Professional Longlife 3 Engine Oil - 1 Litre (ZGB1541CE1LP) = £8.32
1 x Castrol EDGE Professional Longlife III 5W-30 Engine Oil 5L (ZGB15AC4A5LP) = £20.82

Hope it helps

The Surveyor

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

237 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
…..
AIUI you have to use the dealer if it's VWFS. ....
I've just checked this and you are correct, it says specifically in the VWFS agreement that the car has to be serviced at an Audi Dealership.

Dr G

15,163 posts

242 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
The Surveyor said:
Yes you're right, April 19.

I was told that the service was a 'major' service and was quoted £468.19. Does that price sound right for an oil & inspection service with pollen filter?
At full whack main dealer labour rates (which you will be charged on a new car):

1.9 hrs @ 150+/hr
50 quid of oil
20 quid on bits

The Surveyor

Original Poster:

7,576 posts

237 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
Just an update, a second local Audi dealer has just confirmed the cost of the service is £380.73.

Still pricy compared to VW and Skoda, but a little more palatable.

It's booked in for next Wednesday and i'll let you know if I feel I got decent value.


Adrian E

3,248 posts

176 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
The VAG brands (at least Audi and VW in my personal experience) do seem to treat owners with cars under warranty as a lovely cash cow to milk.

Longlife servicing does mean you end up having more work done at each service, balanced against the less frequent need to visit the workshop.

Audi were reasonably OK with me (especially as I was able to buy a service plan when getting a service done that covered the next 2) and would price match for stuff that wasn't part of the service plan. VW took the mickey so stopped using the local main dealer much earlier than I did with the S5.

I'm not quite sure where they've written it into their sales patter that fleecing owners of new cars for more cash than older ones is somehow OK, even when the services are identical!

Edited by Adrian E on Wednesday 22 January 14:47

Sheepshanks

32,715 posts

119 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
Adrian E said:
I'm not quite sure where they've written it into their sales patter that fleecing owners of new cars for more cash than older ones is somehow OK, even when the services are identical!
We've recently got a SEAT in the family and I noted that the SEAT website said under fixed price servicing "Car serviced to SEAT UK's recommendations" whereas newer cars it said "Serviced to SEAT UK's specific warranty requirements". Ours has a 5yr warranty so I wondered how we'd get on.

ETA:
I just went to the site and the fixed price service cost schedule now has both the above items ticked and pricing seems to be the same for all age ranges:
MINOR £175 (Every 12 months /10,000 miles)
MAJOR £295 (Every 24 months / 20,000 miles)

Tomo1971

1,128 posts

157 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
My A6 is leased.

Edinburgh Audi wanted £500+ for its first service.....

Dundee Audi £300.......So guess which one I went?

Even the second service which also had the DSG oil change done was cheaper at Dundee than Edinburgh wanted JUST for the engine service!

PS, I have called VWFS finance twice now and asked about servicing at other VWFS brands as VW, SEAT and Skoda are all closer than Audi - first said it had to be Audi, second said any of them..... I am tempted to get prices from the others next time, although not so much price orientated but convenience as cant imagine that they would be much, if any cheaper than Audi.


Olas

911 posts

57 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Do it yourself and pay your mate at the dealership £20 to stamp your book.

All the main-brand vag techs get the same trainigg so our can go to Skoda or seat for cheaper pricing on the same stuff.

Their overheads are astronomical, you’re not really paying parts or labour you’re just covering their rent and wages and other running costs.

hyphen

26,262 posts

90 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Tomo1971 said:
My A6 is leased.

Edinburgh Audi wanted £500+ for its first service.....

Dundee Audi £300.......So guess which one I went?
You thought I work hard all week, can't be bothered to waste my Saturday to save a bit of money??

Afterall if saving money was the goal, why lease an Audi over a cheaper badge. Or indeed, lease at all.

biggrin

hyphen

26,262 posts

90 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Olas said:
Do it yourself and pay your mate at the dealership £20 to stamp your book.
You are not not much of a mate if you are asking him or her to risk their career...

Olas

911 posts

57 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
laws Aimee at stopping the warranty cartels allow You to maintain your dealer warranty providing official/certified parts are used.
Show the receipt for the bits you bought and they stamp the book, no risking of employment is involved or implied.

Warranty compliance is a tricky area if you don’t know how to play the game

Sheepshanks

32,715 posts

119 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Olas said:
Do it yourself and pay your mate at the dealership £20 to stamp your book.
You could just buy the stamp off eBay, but doubtful they have service books. Mostly it's a digital service records now.

Sheepshanks

32,715 posts

119 months

Saturday 25th January 2020
quotequote all
Olas said:
laws Aimee at stopping the warranty cartels allow You to maintain your dealer warranty providing official/certified parts are used.
Show the receipt for the bits you bought and they stamp the book, no risking of employment is involved or implied.

Warranty compliance is a tricky area if you don’t know how to play the game
It's nothing to do with warranty. VWFS own the car so they can dictate that it's dealer serviced.

Apart from anything else, it means there's no issue selling it as Approved Used at the end of the lease.