First service - when?

**Johhny7** · 13-11-2015,12:26 AM

I have an A3 which was first registered in May 2014 but the service history shows a "delivery inspection date" (to the dealer I bought it from) of November 2013.
The car is now reporting "inspection due".

Is it Audi policy that the service dates are calculated from the date of first registration (as the Audi warranty is) or from its first delivery?

I cannot find this info on Audi's site

Cheers and thanks
Johhny

**Scott K** · 13-11-2015,12:34 AM

It will depend on what the service reminder is set to in the car. Long life is 19,000 miles or 2 years. If you are doing low miles it should be on yearly (fixed) service intervals.

**Johhny7** · 13-11-2015,11:13 AM

Thanks Scott but when??
2 years from when? 1st registration or delivery inspection?

**rd1** · 13-11-2015,12:53 PM

Johhny,
Interesting question, are you suggesting that the car sat for 6 months after delivery because it was unregistered and are you worried that the oil etc was deteriorating during that time?

Surely the service schedule starts from when the mileage starts accumulating so in your case if it had been used by the dealers on trade plates (is that possible or legal?)then that's when the service schedule starts from.

Alternatively if it was when you bought the car that the mileage started then it seems reasonable to me to start from that point unless you are worried about the oil etc standing in the car. The issue is that it has the dealer's delivery date recorded and had it been sitting elsewhere until they delivered it to you and carried out the pdi, the two events would have been closer and probably not even known about unless you found the build date.

**Johhny7** · 15-11-2015,06:58 PM

rd1
it does seem that it sat there - strange.
No I am not worried about the oil etc, just worried about the warranty being voided if I don't meet Audi's service schedule.

It was used as a demo for a time so mileage would be accumulated then, but before, I do not know.

How can one find out the build date?

**rd1** · 20-11-2015,02:58 PM

My build date is stamped on the wing just under the bonnet on the drivers side.

**Oliver Head** · 22-11-2015,07:48 PM

I have had all the servicing done by my local mechanic - invoiced as the schedule states. I have VCDS and can reset service lights myself.
I refuse to pay £300 for an oil change.
I do mine every 8-10k miles too as I don't like the idea of 20k miles on oil.

**Scott K** · 22-11-2015,08:38 PM

Originally Posted by Oliver Head

I have had all the servicing done by my local mechanic - invoiced as the schedule states. I have VCDS and can reset service lights myself.
I refuse to pay £300 for an oil change.
I do mine every 8-10k miles too as I don't like the idea of 20k miles on oil.

Completely agree. 20k is too long especially if you intend running the car long term. I was questioned about 3 times when I took mine in for an oil change at 9k after 6 months. For the price of the oil and a filter it is cheap piece of mind.

**Oliver Head** · 22-11-2015,09:28 PM

I know! I'd never feel comfortable to leave it that long!!

My main ******* even had the cheek to say to me that as I haven't had it serviced with them no main dealer would take it in part exchange. This made me very angry and I pointed them to the EU directive stating that it can be serviced at any VAT registered garage.

**Scott K** · 22-11-2015,09:55 PM

It's terrible they make threats like that. Be tempted to tell them I wasn't bothered as I get more with a private sale! I want to keep my car main dealer serviced for the yearly but I will do the interim myself. Considering an oil change takes me 30 mins from start to finish and a set of brakes and discs a couple of hours, it's not worth putting it to the dealer out of warranty for guys who are slightly me hanically minded.