Air Con Service?

[Hammer2001]

My Audi dealer keeps leaving messages on my voicemail, telling me my car is due an air conditioning service, as it's two years old. Anyone else bothered to get this done?
Is it necessary or just another money maker for Audi?

[belly buster]

Probably both.

[Wuffles]

Nice one Centurion, like it.

[johnsimcox]

An air con system loses about 10% of the gas each year and therefore it becomes less efficient, you also get a build of bacteria in the system which can make it smell, as well as not being that healthy for you and your passengers. Whether it is worth paying your Audi dealer £79 to do it (that is the fixed price deal on older cars up to 2 litre but I would of thought it was a good negotiating base if they want your business) or to go to Kwik-Fit or Halfords and have it done for £49 I am not sure, although I think they also change the pollen filters with the Audi service.

[retired99]

I think this varies from car to car.

Had a Mercedes for six years and never touched the a/c. Was as cold the day I sold it as the day I bought it. I think the bacteria contamination happens if it isn't used regularly; moisture dwells in the system and the bugs breed.

I never turn the a/c off, keeps all the seals in good condition so needs less frequent re gassing and keeps the system dry so the bugs don't breed.

If it's working I'd probably leave it alone.

[shabazmo]

I am with retired99. I have had my Ford Galaxy done after about 6 years and it had lost about 25% of its fluid. So I reckon every 4 years should be ok.

[jk88]

I had a call from my local dealer a while ago saying the air con should be serviced every two years. I politely turned down their kind offer but checked with their master tech a few weeks later when my car was in for some warranty work. He said don't bother unless it stops blowing cold air. I seem to recall that my A8 needed regassing when it was 5 years old, so every two years is taking the p**s. I also have mine on all the time which probably helps.

[ScottyA6]

There has been only one car I have owned that needed a re-gas and that was my venerable XJ-S V12 Convertible. As it leaked pretty much everything else as well it wasn't really a big surprise. It made up for it by being able to pull round the dial to 140+ without hardly making a sound beyond 'Whoosh'.

Never even thought about it in an Audi.

[Hammer2001]

Thanks all for your replies.
Looks like I'll give this service a miss!
I too always keep my air con on all the time, and have never had any issues and I had my last A6 for over 10 years!