Audi - changing from Longlife to 'normal' service intervals
Discussion
According to the dash display my car is due a service now. The car, 2004 2.5TDI, has been on a longlife service regime however I'm only getting 10000 miles between services (this has been the case since the car was new). Obviously this is a little disappointing and works out quite expensive, Audi having quoted £313 for the service now due (50k miles.)
The service sales rep mentioned that I could go to normal annual/10,000 mile servicing which would be £140 as the oil is much cheaper, however said I can't do this at the imminent service but would have to wait until the one after that. I wasn't given a reason why.
I find this confusing. At my last service in Jan I suggested to the dealer that I would rather go to annual/10,000 mile servicing however they told me the same story: I can't do this at the imminent service but would have to wait until the one after that.
WTF? I'm now at the next one since the previous in Jan so why can't I change?
Any light shed on the above would be much welcome.
The service sales rep mentioned that I could go to normal annual/10,000 mile servicing which would be £140 as the oil is much cheaper, however said I can't do this at the imminent service but would have to wait until the one after that. I wasn't given a reason why.
I find this confusing. At my last service in Jan I suggested to the dealer that I would rather go to annual/10,000 mile servicing however they told me the same story: I can't do this at the imminent service but would have to wait until the one after that.
WTF? I'm now at the next one since the previous in Jan so why can't I change?
Any light shed on the above would be much welcome.
Edited by Ghisallo on Thursday 5th November 11:55
sleep envy said:
Ghisallo said:
I'm only getting 10000 miles between services (this has been the case since the car was new)
what kind of driving are you doing?I know my father has flipped between long life and yearly inspections on his A4 tdi without problems
Spoke to the dealer again today, they say that with the annual service plan (confusingly called 'extended' service plan) they use the same oil as with the Longlive service plan I'm currently on. This is in complete contradiction from what I was told yesterday. Over the years I have lost all faith in my local Audi dealer who is unfortunately the only one in this region.
something doesn't sound quite right with that - I generally get 16k miles between services which works out every 11 months of a mix of London stop/start and cross country runs
Ghisallo said:
Over the years I have lost all faith in my local Audi dealer who is unfortunately the only one in this region.
where are you? are there an indy nearby?sleep envy said:
something doesn't sound quite right with that - I generally get 16k miles between services which works out every 11 months of a mix of London stop/start and cross country runs
I know, it's nuts. Sounds like I should be getting at least as much miles as you then.Ghisallo said:
Over the years I have lost all faith in my local Audi dealer who is unfortunately the only one in this region.
where are you? are there an indy nearby?I'm in Northern Ireland; we are blessed with only one franchised dealer. I will be seeing what my local indy can do. However feel that with an Audi Cab the next person who owns it will want a FASH
Defcon5 said:
Why not just supply your own oil, cheaper than both that way!
I would, and I can do everything myself without any trouble, except reset the longlife service indicator which requires VAGCOM.The dealer is talking rubbish, you can chop and change as you like, it takes a moment on the VAG computer plug in thing.
I know because I do it, fixed on the small services, and variable on the major services.
Dont fall for their rubbish, in any case an indy is perfectly acceptable for a 2004 car, you wont be getting any benefit from the main dealer.
Oh, and the oil thing, thats rubbish too as most dealers use the same longlife oil for both fixed and variable services.
The cost disdavntage of having two oil supplies, two oil hoses to each bay etc. dont add up to having one oil and distribution hose set up and double the buying power on their oil.
PS. They pay £3 per litre approx.
I know because I do it, fixed on the small services, and variable on the major services.
Dont fall for their rubbish, in any case an indy is perfectly acceptable for a 2004 car, you wont be getting any benefit from the main dealer.
Oh, and the oil thing, thats rubbish too as most dealers use the same longlife oil for both fixed and variable services.
The cost disdavntage of having two oil supplies, two oil hoses to each bay etc. dont add up to having one oil and distribution hose set up and double the buying power on their oil.
PS. They pay £3 per litre approx.
£3 per litre, thats .... well not right.
I dont think it would be a very good idea to say what we actually pay. But you must memember we order about 5,000-8,000 litres at a time and it comes in a big tanker truck.
It is not unbranded, its the propper Castrol SLX long life oil.
The 10w 40 semi syn fixed servicing oil is ordered in 208 litre drums, and even given those masive differences in scale is still cheaper per litre to buy than the long life.....Just.
I dont think it would be a very good idea to say what we actually pay. But you must memember we order about 5,000-8,000 litres at a time and it comes in a big tanker truck.
It is not unbranded, its the propper Castrol SLX long life oil.
The 10w 40 semi syn fixed servicing oil is ordered in 208 litre drums, and even given those masive differences in scale is still cheaper per litre to buy than the long life.....Just.
Edited by Tame Technician on Thursday 5th November 19:14
Have you had the car checked to make sure its on variable, some come from the factory wrong and were set to fixed. Unless there is a complaint, they arent check and just reset. Also if anyone has reset it with a non Audi tool, it automatically goes over to fixed.
Might explain why it get exactly 10k between services.
This stuff about the dealer telling you that you cant change to fixed at the next service is nonsense, you can change at any service.
What they might mean is, its £140 for an oil anf filter change service and this time your car need aditional items, fuel filter pollen filter etc, which cant be done for £140. But you can still change service regeams.
If there telling you contredictary info, ask to speak to the sensior service advisor (if they have one) or the service manager. You may have to leave a message and have them call you back, while they check out the information to be sure they give you the right anser.
Explain to the service manager, you are only getting 10k from the car between services, and are thinking of going over to fixed, but could one of the tech just check the adaption channels to make sure it is indeed set to variable. Depending on the outcome of that, get them to explain the differences in cost between the two.
Make sure you tell the, you were told you would have ot wait for then next one last time too. I'd like to know what they anser to that.
Might explain why it get exactly 10k between services.
This stuff about the dealer telling you that you cant change to fixed at the next service is nonsense, you can change at any service.
What they might mean is, its £140 for an oil anf filter change service and this time your car need aditional items, fuel filter pollen filter etc, which cant be done for £140. But you can still change service regeams.
If there telling you contredictary info, ask to speak to the sensior service advisor (if they have one) or the service manager. You may have to leave a message and have them call you back, while they check out the information to be sure they give you the right anser.
Explain to the service manager, you are only getting 10k from the car between services, and are thinking of going over to fixed, but could one of the tech just check the adaption channels to make sure it is indeed set to variable. Depending on the outcome of that, get them to explain the differences in cost between the two.
Make sure you tell the, you were told you would have ot wait for then next one last time too. I'd like to know what they anser to that.
Tame Technician said:
£3 per litre, thats .... well not right.
I dont think it would be a very good idea to say what we actually pay. But you must memember we order about 5,000-8,000 litres at a time and it comes in a big tanker truck.
It is not unbranded, its the propper Castrol SLX long life oil.
The 10w 40 semi syn fixed servicing oil is ordered in 208 litre drums, and even given those masive differences in scale is still cheaper per litre to buy than the long life.....Just.
Ok, its £2.50 per litre!, its certainly no more expensive than £3I dont think it would be a very good idea to say what we actually pay. But you must memember we order about 5,000-8,000 litres at a time and it comes in a big tanker truck.
It is not unbranded, its the propper Castrol SLX long life oil.
The 10w 40 semi syn fixed servicing oil is ordered in 208 litre drums, and even given those masive differences in scale is still cheaper per litre to buy than the long life.....Just.
Edited by Tame Technician on Thursday 5th November 19:14
BTW I have that on good authority, people who work for VAG group, people who I know and trust, people that service my car.
Like I say many garages dont bother having two oil set ups, its not worth the hassle so everything goes out with longlife - just that the fixed service cars get better oil than perhaps they should.
When you break down the difference in oil price per service its about £2 cost so why bother with the double setup, the need for the guys to get it right etc.
Sorry if this exposes too many truths but it is fact.
When I said not £3, I meant quite a bit higher than that.
We have the fixed oil in drums because there are so few cars on fixed it is not cost effective to have a sencond tank etc as you point out.
I beleive you have to have both oils to pass the Audi ISO ordit, maybe other VAG groups dont have to meet the high standard Audi UK insist on and check up on every year.
We have the fixed oil in drums because there are so few cars on fixed it is not cost effective to have a sencond tank etc as you point out.
I beleive you have to have both oils to pass the Audi ISO ordit, maybe other VAG groups dont have to meet the high standard Audi UK insist on and check up on every year.
hman said:
Tame Technician said:
When I said not £3, I meant quite a bit higher than that.
Ok, sorry you're right- I just found my bill.£3.10+vat per Litre for longlife SLX
I can scan a copy of my bill if you like
I'm not getting dragged into giving an exact figure here, i DONT DO POLITICS, I FIX CARS. this thread in now going to decend into chaos,
Edited by Tame Technician on Thursday 5th November 21:51
I dont think chaos will ensue, hardly seems to be breaking out so far.
The workshop isnt as big as you think although volume may be high, I'm told that this price for oil is fairly standard for dealerships.
Makes me choke when a litre of oil to top up locally costs £12!
Defcon, I dont pay £15 per litre, I pay £3.10 per litre.
The workshop isnt as big as you think although volume may be high, I'm told that this price for oil is fairly standard for dealerships.
Makes me choke when a litre of oil to top up locally costs £12!
Defcon, I dont pay £15 per litre, I pay £3.10 per litre.
Edited by hman on Thursday 5th November 23:23
Defcon5 said:
Why not just supply your own oil, cheaper than both that way!
It's not cheaper if you tell the dealer in advance you are going to supply your own oil! I found that the cost of the service came down, and I didnt have the hassle of buying oilEdited by blueg33 on Friday 6th November 07:01
Edited by blueg33 on Friday 6th November 07:04
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