Servicing - Dealers or Independant?

[RichKi]

Hi all,

My 04 A3 2.0 FSI is telling me (via the dash on startup) that it will be due for a service in 5800 miles or 14 days, whichever comes first. This is my first Audi and first service and I could use some advice being somewhat of a newbie at this.



I have a really good garage that look after my car with genuine Audi parts and charge a very reasonable rate. Should I use them for the Service or take it to a dealers? So far, the car has a full dealer history but from reading other posts on here, it sounds as though the dealers will bend me over in a rather unpleasant manner.

If you do advise visiting a dealers, are Hazelden's considered an Audi dealer? I know Volkswagen and Audi are same company effectively but I'm not sure how that translates into dealers / forecourts / servicing, etc.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

[johnnya3]

Hello,i have just had my 2004 audi a3 2.0 fsi for a major service at an audi dealer.

The service itself cost £230 which included an oil and filter change,a pollen filter change and brake fluid change.

Now for the fun part!

I waited at the dealers for the work to be done to save hassle with coutesy cars etc,so after a couple of hours one of the service managers approached me and asked me if i was aware my engine warning light was on,which it wasn't when i drove the car to the dealers!
They said the fault was a egr valve which would cost £300 to replace!

On top of this they said i needed new rear brake pads and discs which would be £185,new spark plugs £80 and new windscreen wipers £40.

I have changed the spark plugs myself at a cost of £32 (ngk platinum) and have bought some brake pads,cost £20 (mintex) which i am going to fit on wednesday.
I will check the discs when changing the pads,but i am betting they have plenty of life in them.

Not sure what to do about the egr valve,the fault code is 17811 "egr flow deviation".

So the answers to your questions are stick with your local garage,as the audi dealer will indeed probably bend you over.

It wasn't all bad though,they did leave a tin of boiled sweets on the dash which i will always cherish.

[RichKi]

Well, I hate to say it but that sounds typical of what I've been hearing and so I'm very reluctant to even book the car in.

Were they willing to stamp your service manual without doing all the additional work? I'm keen to get the stamp for the basic service and then visit my local garage for anything else that wants doing.

If not, I'll just go entirely local.

Cheers

[A3some]

Agreed - definitely Independent. I get a local garage to change the oil and filter for me for £20 with me providing the oil and filter.

I get a VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda independent specialist garage to do any work for me. I get the MOT done at places that only do MOTs.

Recently I had the engine warning light on - had a check and was told it was an air leak...It went away after two weeks, and hasn't been on again for five
weeks now ( I'm just hoping now the bulb in the dashboard hasn't blown!)

My experiences of main dealers are comical to say the least.

[johnnya3]

Well, I hate to say it but that sounds typical of what I've been hearing and so I'm very reluctant to even book the car in.

Were they willing to stamp your service manual without doing all the additional work? I'm keen to get the stamp for the basic service and then visit my local garage for anything else that wants doing.

If not, I'll just go entirely local.

Cheers

Yes they stamped the service book,if they had not i think i would have blown my head gasket.