Am I being ripped off!

[Firedog]

Hi my car went in for a service this morning at Audi Peterborugh. They have just called me to say that my rear brake and discs are at 80% wear. I had the front ones done 2 weeks ago and they told me then they were 60% worn. They have also asked if I want the pollen filter changed at an extra £25 that should be included in the service? I have done approx 600 miles since the front discs were changed and the car has done 55000 miles.

Am i mistaken in thinking if rear discs and pads are worn I should get another 30000 miles ish out of them if the car has done 55000 mies? There estimations don't seem right?

Regards

Iain

[Eshrules]

what type of service did you send the vehicle in for?

It's unusual for Audi to advise of worn pads/discs if they're not - it's not in their best interest to mislead customers.

85k out of pads/discs - I might be mistaken but I think you'd be down to metal on metal at that point.

[Firedog]

Whatever service in needed the car told me it needed a service soI booked it in. 60% two weeks ago 80% today it says it on the last worksheet I have.

£269 Service
£13.40 rear washer thing
£25 Pollen filter (hidden extra?)


£269 for rear discs and pads!

Front Discs and pads £269 2 weeks ago....

[NickPicks]

I don't think you're being ripped off.

The difference between 80% and 60% is down to the individual tech who examines them. It's a matter of mm, so 60/80 is difficult to tell.

I know that garages like to change discs aswell when doing pads, as it means thay're less likely to have problems bedding in, but if I was DIYing, unless the discs are badly scored or lipped, I'd be inclided to change the pads only.

It's difficult to guess how much more mileage you'll get out of them, and since the rear ones don't give a DIS warning like the front, I'd say either do them now, or make sure you inspect them regularly (not just wait until the next service or until you hear a grinding noise)

Did their service schedule say the pollen filter was included? If it did, it should be included, if it didn't, then £25 is about the right price. You could get an aftermarket pollen filter for around £12 and fit it yourself.

[NickPicks]

£269 for discs and pads sounds reasonable for dealer prices. Personally, I'd do it myself for about half that, but I know a lot of people prefer to poitn the car at the dealer and say "fix it".

When the dealer services a car for someone who doesn't want to have to check the brake pads themselves, they have to be sure that the 20/40% left on the pads will be sufficient until the next scheduled service. If that's 20,000 miles, then they're accepting a lot of risk if they say "they'll last", and then have a complaint when you get pulled over / fail an MOT for having no material left on the pads / have an accident .

[Firedog]

Thanks Nick that makes sense what you are saying, I will book it in next month to have it done. No way I could do it myself just not mechanically minded. Peace of mind and all that just don't like being taken for a mug.


Cheers

Iain

[Guest 2]

I paid £218.18 for my front discs and pads last September on my A6. Back ones were reported to be OK but will need Inspected/changed at next service.

The total of my 48k service was 3x the price of the discs and pads though!

And you can't put a price on safety!

[jay clock2]

For brakes I would go to an independent. Same parts, just costs less. eg, my main dealer said I needed and a/c cleansing for £75. Independent wanted £69 and that included a re-gas...

[Crasher]

Beware if the brake discs and pads are not actually genuine as OE is not necessarily genuine VAG, non genuine VAG brake discs and pads have been causing me a lot of trouble recently.

[phil miller]

now on most if not all cars i work on for servicing when you check the service sch on auto data the pollen filter is changed every time, the filter costs £9 for a genuine item, as already said you do have to look at it one mans 60 is anothers 80, the rear pads do about 20% of all braking of the car, mine have hardly worn over the last 20,000 miles it is hard to gauge how someone will use there brakes, i will always advise on pad wear with mho of how many miles are left, that way i cover myself