My Audi is reporting that it will need a service in 1500 miles. It's showing 29k on the clock.

It's an A6 'Le Mans' 3.0 TDi Quattro on a late 57 plate.

I bought it from a dealer, and it has full Audi history up to now.

Am I best, in terms of resale value, taking it to Audi? Or will a specialist VAG garage be just as good in terms of log book stamps?

What's everyone's opinion?

Chris

To me a full service history is important but I wouldn't be bothered if it wasn't a main dealer service history. I do prefer known independents to little backstreet garages that may lend out their stamps though!

You will save more money having it serviced by a local garage than you will gain from having it serviced at a Stealers.

Having Owned Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes I wouldnt touch any of them again with a barge pole Lying, Cheating, Swindelling Basxxxds.

A bit strong but hopefully made my point

Having experienced the quality (or lack of) work done by a couple of VW main dealers i now would not trust them to change a lightbulb!

Find a local audi specialist who is run by someone enthusiastic about cars... I would much rather give them the trade and can almost trust some of them to do the job right and not leave half of their tools under the engine ....

Ive used these people before for a cam belt change on my Audi A4, and can recommend.

http://www.fontain.co.uk/service.asp

They are West London (ish)

Cheers
Tris

Thanks guys. I've mailled Fontain - they're only a few miles from my house - and the local Audi dealers.

I've also got a price from these guys who are a couple of miles from where I'm working at the moment and claim they are 'VAG qualified and licensed technicians' and that manufacturers warranty is maintained. My colleague had his Passat serviced there and they seemed enthusiastic and knowledgable when we went to pick it up.

Anyone know what the requirements are for this VAG license? Or is it a load of marketing bollocks?

Chris

To me depends how you are going to re-sell at the end of your ownership

if private no problem with a 'Well known Indipendant ' and i would use these over the stealler any day of the week

if part x ing back in at audi dealership they wont pay top dollar unless all dealer stamps are there infact suspect they would send it through auction / car sales.

PS happy 2.0 tdi 55 plate A6 Audi Avant owner ( I have the original MMI update Disks if you need to upgrade your MMI )

regards

Agriv8

late 57 plate and 29k miles?

is it still under manufacturer warranty period?

If so then I'd check warranty validity of using a non Audi approved garage.

Once the warranty's up then a good independant specialist gets my vote for expense now against resale value later.

I have used main dealers for my cars for the last 15 years or so (company cars) but my Mrs's car always goes to an independant. The difference in attitude is unbelievable.
My last BMW went in for an oil change and due to a c*ck up booking it in they presented me with the invoice rather than sending it off. It had been a long time since I had paid for a service but I thought that the bill (more than 300 quid) was a bit rich for an oil and filter change! If this was correct then a few services by an independant would more than cover any potential drop in resale value!

quote:

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Originally posted by nick205
late 57 plate and 29k miles?

is it still under manufacturer warranty period?

If so then I'd check warranty validity of using a non Audi approved garage.

Once the warranty's up then a good independant specialist gets my vote for expense now against resale value later.

---

Find yourself a GOOD independent garage ( and not one with all that "Good Garage scheme" money making malarkey )but one with a good reputation and you will get better service from the main dealers. Any good garage should have the scanner/s to reset your service light and read any faults your car may have.

The cars we get in our place that been previously serviced by the main dealers, we have to use copper hammer to remove the bloody wheels......never been off before.

Ref waranty, there is not a problem as long as the garage use genuine parts.

But that's only my opinion.

Ok so Fontain say £280 inc VAT.

VASS-tech £220 inc VAT.

Of the three main dealers I contacted only one has bothered to get back to me, although they have not given a price. They did however confirm I could have my LED brake light replaced under warranty at the same time as the service, which is a bonus.

Yes the car has warranty until early next year I believe - 3 years from purchase.

My temptation at the moment is to get this service done at Audi then switch to independants once the warranty is up, but it'll depend what price the dealers come back with!

Chris

Chris how do you find MPG under normal Heavy footed driving ?

squezzed 50's on autoroute crusing to france real hypermile but had a bet with the Brother in law.

Realy fancy a 2.7 or 3.0 Quttro avant next

regards

Agriv8

Worth looking at the service schedule for you car with most modern cars you will not believe how little is is listed to be done at 30,000 miles.
It will be little more than an oil change, air filter and brake pad check.
With these VAG diesel engines it is the important to ensure the correct version of the special PD engine oil is used.

If the car has a diesel particulate filter it may complicate matters but usuallly that only needs fluid at higher mileages.

I should add any reputable garage ie I think that would be any one that is a member of a trade association can service the car without affecting the warranty --- thank EU for that.

[Edited on 3/11/10 by britishtrident]

Main dealer every time for my Audi.

I bougt my golf 4 years ago it is an 01 plate and second hand to me(full vw service history). Witin 3 months of ownersip I noticed a defect in the paintwork it was rust under the paint. VW replaced the door free of charge painted etc and gave a courtesy car to mr for a week. They said this was due to the car having full dealer history and if only a service history had been present they would have repaired and painted the door on the paint warranty

not all dpf equipt cars have fliud for regeneration in fact only a few do

but dpf oil or low ash oil only

Thanks for the comments everyone.

I'm still leaning towards getting this last warranty service done at Audi, then switching to a specialist next time (if I keep the car of course). However, I've still only heard back from one main dealer, and they've only managed to quote me for a 40k mile service/4 year service at almost twice what the specialist want. The other two have not even bothered to write back to me.

Agriv8: I can squeeze it to 35mpg average on my 30-mile commute which consists of mainly fast A roads and one town to get through. That's driving reasonably saintly with the odd blast to relieve boredom. I normally aim for 500 miles on a 80 litre tank before the 'buzzer' goes, meaning there's about 1.5 gallons left. On the way back from Montpellier last year I had it up to 38 average. That was 80mph with cruise control on.

Try and get one with radar cruise. I've got a fair few options on mine but that's the one thing I wish I had.

Also, I spent a long time looking for a Le Mans edition with the black styling pack. It was a £400 option and makes the car look so much meaner and more aggressive with no chrome on it, especially with privacy glass too. If I was buying another I'd definitely look for the same. All the chrome just looks tacky and dated in my opinion, although I did see a red one the other day with the chrome and thought it looked good.

Chris

[Edited on 11/4/2010 by ChrisW]

Thanks Chris,

You have sold it to me but the hard bit is selling it to Mrs Agriv8. ( it will be a good couple of years until I upgrade )

I recon I only get 550 580 out of my 80 litres but you have to work the 2.0 hard especially arround town.

Cheers Agriv8

I'm really pleased with the 3.0. Considering it's a diesel, and how heavy it is, it shifts pretty well. Don't get me wrong, I'd love an RS6 instead, but the fuel bill would bankrupt me, assuming I managed to keep my license that long.

Anyway, I've had it with Audi dealers. Rang four this morning. All of them told me I needed something different and quoted prices from £295 to £580. When I told one of them that another had quoted £100 less, they claimed the other dealer wasn't selling me the right thing.

Popped in at VASS tech on my way to work. What nice guys. Plugged the computer system in, did some diagnostics, worked out that I'm on 'long life' servicing, and told me it was definitely just an oil service I needed, which is the same as Fontain recommend.

With the dealers, it seemed more about what they thought I would pay for rather than what I actually need.

So, I think that's made up my mind. Going to get it done by VASS tech as they are the most convenient for me and, coincidentally, are also the cheapest.

Any more comments or pointers before I book it??

Chris