Service questions (Spark plug, gearbox S-Tronic, Air Filter, Pollen Filter, etc...)

[Oxylis]

Hi all,

I would need a bit of your expertise regarding what I need to do and what I can delay (or not do at all).
I have a 2009 A3 1.8TFSI (160 version) with 38K miles.

The car was serviced in June 2011 (15k miles) Jan 2012 (25k miles) and the oil/filter was changed (long life) as well as the Pollen filter in both services.

In December 2012 the car indicated I need to do another service so I brought it to Audi and here is what has been done:

• Topup oil (long life)
• Replaced oil filter
• Replaced air filter
• Replaced sparkplugs
• Replaced pollen filter

a/ Now I checked the service book and it says I need to change the Spark plugs at 57k or 6 years and the air filter at 57k.
I guess it doesn't harm to change them but I wanted you opinion on this as I feel they've been cheeky on it.

b/ Same for the 7 gears S-Tronic gear box. The service book indicate it needs the oil needs to be changed for the 6 gears but seems to indicate it is not required for the 7 gears on the A3 (any advice on this?)

c/ As far as I know the brake fluid hasn't been changed since the car was bought (none of the previous service mention) should this be something I do urgently?

d/ They indicate the cambelt is due in 18month which I guess make sense but I wanted to double check as the car is only 38k miles and I would assume I wouldn't have to worry about this until the car is like 100k no?


Thank you again for all your help

[NHN]

You ideally need A8 Tech to answer some of these, but:

a - cant see how they've been cheeky, every service I'd change the air filter full stop & 40k on set of plugs I'd say is acceptable to change even if not within factory rated, but some factory specified timescales arent or maybe shouldnt always be followed, namely oil changes is one I dont adhere to, always change before due.
b - ask a master techy at audi to come & explain
c - brake fluid unless you have any issues should be fine
d - cambelt is between 60-80k mate, so yes would be about right as its what 4-5 years or 60-80k there abouts iirc, chassis dependent sometimes I think, check it but I'd say fair

[Oxylis]

Thank you NHN for the quick answer.

I thought the pollen filter should be changed every service but I didn't know about the air filter. (although it seems to cost only £13 anyway so why not doing it)

a/ The reason I felt they were cheeky on this is that I wanted a £149 service but sale advisor told me I need to change spark plugs and air filter which is included in a major service £299 and I felt the extra £150 didn't match the work done, I assume they did a thorough check though.
I'm sure they've done a good job, they wouldn't compromise on the checks anyway but if I knew I would have done a £149 service and then change the rest separately for probably a lower cost

b/ Actually a tech came a chat to be and didn't know about this and when he checked on the computer he couldn't find any info and say "well you probably don't need to do it then". Anyone with a 7 speed S-Tronic around here who had this question?

c/ Great thanks, All good with the breaks so far, Had to do an emergency braking in Paris recently and all good (thank you ABS )

d/ Good to know then as the service book doesn't say anything about 1.8T (and it says 114 000 miles for the 2.0T)


Edit: Sorry what is a A8 tech?

[NHN]

I didnt say it had to be changed every service fella, I personally change the air filter on every car I've had on each service, given what it does, I'd prefer optimal air supply

Pollen I'd say 20k, tbh 40k is also fine as my car has shown me, maybe even more, just needs checking, but for what it costs in time to check, I'd do this aswell anyway.

Ah you see you never said anything about the £149 service requested, that makes sense now.

TBH sparks & air filter changing takes an hour or so to remove all, refit, test & clear any codes shown for maf, etc, I cant see how the £150 extra is really that excessive considering you're in london & they are one of, if not the highest hourly rates around, but thats a fixed price service, you could of clearly said no I'll stick with the minor, but you didnt, so fair to them they did what you said yes to, at the price advised of & tbh mate, once you work out costs of sparks, filter & hassle of doing it yourself, you may realise it doesnt save you much overall anyway, as time is always money whether its yours or there's, at least if anything goes wrong they're responsible.

I would never chance a cambelt to 100k+, no way.

Ask for it in writing to confirm any gearbox oil changes needed, that way if its not done on there advise & it goes wrong, you have something to come back too as such.

A8 Tech is a member of the forum & extremely knowledgable in all areas on most audi's if not all, have huge respect for the guy, very helpful aswell

[Oxylis]

You're right I shouldn't have said yes in the first place. I normally trust the garage and if they say I need to change something I would do so.
Anyway not a big deal as you said with the hassle of doing it myself would have worth the extra £150, just felt like I could have waited a couple of years as mention in the service book (I now drive 5k miles a year instead of 12k)

(Also I didn't mention but they originally quoted £570 for the service: £300 major service, £60 pollen filter, £210 S-Tronic oil change, which I said no to)

Good to know for the cam belt, will definitely do it as recommended in the next 18month then.
Also they mentioned they'll change something else for free at the same time (water pump?) which is good to know


Thanks for your replies, feel better now As a matter of fact I got a call ealier this morning from the customer manager who asked me how the service went and I gave a good review overall as the staff where very nice but mention about the extra work that wasn't really needed as adviced and he double checked and acknowledge is shouldn't have been suggested so he will refund me the difference between the normal service and the major one So definitely happy now

[NHN]

Damn your dealer must have got his rocks of last night lmao.

[Oxylis]

I checked online today and they have terrible customer reviews!!! (I should have check before!)

As it is not owned by Audi directly I think and they might have to report to them on the customer satisfaction.
The manager mentioned something about the importance of customers to be satisfied and if I get a call from Audi he hopes I let them know I'm happy. (he used the words "extremely satisfied")

Quite weird but they might be trying to change this image of bad customer service.