ChrisW
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 12:25 PM |
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Main dealer or specialist?
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
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 12:33 PM |
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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!
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big-vee-twin
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 12:45 PM |
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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
Duratec Engine is fitted, MS2 Extra V3 is assembled and tested, engine running, car now built. IVA passed 26/02/2016
http://www.triangleltd.com
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tegwin
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 12:50 PM |
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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 ....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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Tris
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 12:50 PM |
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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
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ChrisW
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 12:58 PM |
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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
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Agriv8
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 01:00 PM |
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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
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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nick205
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 01:13 PM |
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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.
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Richard Quinn
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 01:33 PM |
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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!
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loggyboy
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 01:47 PM |
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quote:
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.
As long as genuine parts are used, any qualified and vat registered garage can perform services and repairs to a car still covered by manuf'
warranty. Law was changed quite a few years ago on this to allow fairer trade.
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pgtips
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 01:47 PM |
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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.
If I die, my biggest fear is that my wife sells all my toys for the price I told her I bought them for...
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ChrisW
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 04:15 PM |
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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
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Agriv8
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 04:35 PM |
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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
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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britishtrident
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 04:43 PM |
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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] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 04:47 PM |
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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]
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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AndyW
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 06:35 PM |
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Main dealer every time for my Audi.
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austin man
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 07:30 PM |
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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
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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DRC INDY 7
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| posted on 3/11/10 at 09:21 PM |
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not all dpf equipt cars have fliud for regeneration in fact only a few do
but dpf oil or low ash oil only
https://www.facebook.com/groups/462610273778799/
Puddle Dodgers Club
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ChrisW
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| posted on 4/11/10 at 09:43 AM |
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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]
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Agriv8
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| posted on 4/11/10 at 11:04 AM |
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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
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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ChrisW
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| posted on 4/11/10 at 03:19 PM |
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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
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