Audi Service History - really worth the additional cost...?

[AMRoberts]

Opinions please...
I have an Audi A1 2014 32k miles
It has only has had 1 service since new at 22K miles and also brake fluid change. So a full Audi FSH at the moment.
Audi have just quoted £1061 for a major service and cam-belt/water pump which is over 10% of the value of the car.

My question is > Is keeping the Audi service history really that great value for money...?,
I'm not planning on selling it anytime soon and my local garage is one of the best VAG independent garages in the area
TIA

[krisdelta]

What is the incremental difference between Audi and your local independant for the same service?

[DuraAce]

AMRoberts said:

Opinions please...
I have an Audi A1 2014 32k miles
It has only has had 1 service since new at 22K miles and also brake fluid change. So a full Audi FSH at the moment.

Eh? Don't the long life services have a time back stop of 24 months if the mileage limit hasn't been reached in that period? (they certainly did when I owned Audis a couple of years ago)

1 service (and therefore 1 oil change only?) in 5.5 yrs isn't FSH in my opinion.

Get it done by an indie to save money.

[shtu]

AMRoberts said:

Audi have just quoted £1061 for a major service and cam-belt/water pump which is over 10% of the value of the car.

£1061 is the standard fixed price service costs.

Haggle!

The service dept will usually pricematch, my local place matched the local independent without even being asked to.

If you do want to think about it, look at,

A) Price difference of local vs dealer service.
B) Price difference of used cars with\without dealer history.

If you intend keeping the car a long time it matters less, but if you plan to sell on in the not-distant future it may cost you more to use the indy.

Also - someone mentioned some sort of online "secret garage" service recently on here, and was getting the same garage quoting far less for the work than they would directly, see if you can find it.

[krisdelta]

I would just point out that the major service on my 2013 C63 at a franchised dealer was £464 - £1k is loadsaaamoney, especially for a low mileage super mini.

[Sheepshanks]

DuraAce said:

1 service (and therefore 1 oil change only?) in 5.5 yrs isn't FSH in my opinion.

Yes it is - that's the car's full service history!

[Sheepshanks]

krisdelta said:

I would just point out that the major service on my 2013 C63 at a franchised dealer was £464 - £1k is loadsaaamoney, especially for a low mileage super mini.

You're omitting that your car needs a service every year and it should have already had two very hefty bills, when the spark plugs and the ATF were changed.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Sunday 22 September 12:26

[mk2glenn]

For what it is, any service history at all is fine. Independent specialist history would be as good or better than dealer if I was buying.

[moxy89]

i have a very low miles audi s3, i get it serviced twice a year even though it only covers 3-4k hard driving a year but i still save money taking it to my tuner than paying audi. Also took my audi in and they asked me if i liked the 1.8 bam engine, intact mine uses to 2.0 cdl engine, last time i went back

[AudiSport]

I’ve found Full Main Dealer service history to be a real attractive point when selling my cars. I do agree though, service and care is probably better in a specialist independent!

[whp1983]

I think attitudes are changing and some specialists are highly regarded.

I would never take my S3 to an Audi dealer again. They’re a disgrace. I travel all the way to Manchester for Awesome GTI to look after it. Not only less expensive but a much better job- they genuinely care.

If it was a ropey garage or a kwik fit a car had been serviced at then maybe I wouldn’t buy but a specialist I would.

[AudiSport]

I don’t disagree!

[moxy89]

whp1983 said:

I think attitudes are changing and some specialists are highly regarded.

I would never take my S3 to an Audi dealer again. They’re a disgrace. I travel all the way to Manchester for Awesome GTI to look after it. Not only less expensive but a much better job- they genuinely care.

If it was a ropey garage or a kwik fit a car had been serviced at then maybe I wouldn’t buy but a specialist I would.

i drive from southampton to bedford for alex at AKS tuning to work on mine. bloke is mega helpful. really knows his way round them

[thegreatdogwood]

There isn't a way that you could have one service in 5.5 years and comply with the Audi service regime (2 years is the maximum interval) so technically you don't have a full service history.

The value is already compromised if the buyer looks at the details, so I'd go to a good Indie

[JuniorD]

When the wheel arches start rusting at 10 years old and you go Audi for a warranty claim and they see that you haven't been to them for the scheduled servicing be aware that they will make a fuss and create lots of bother.

[DJMC]

Sheepshanks said:

Yes it is - that's the car's full service history!

I regard a full service history to mean two things:

1/ FULL means it's had all the required services which Audi specify, whether mileage or time based.

2/ Its servicing has been done either completely by an Audi dealer or a combination of Audi/indy/indy only.

If I were buying a 5 year old Audi I'd prefer to see an all Audi service history which hits all the mileage/time required services.
I may be OK with a recent service being done by an indy, but I'd want to research the indy's reputation.
I'd phone the garage which last serviced the car for any faults or advisories.

In this particular car's case, one service in five years indicates an owner who does not care for his car and cuts corners keeping it in good condition. I'd walk away. But you're not selling... yet.

A full Audi service history (see above) means the least buyer problems come resale but not necessarily the best servicing and probably the most expensive.

A good, trusted, indy service outside of the manufacturer's warranty period, to Audi schedules, gives best value peace of mind as an owner, but may lead to a lower resale price when you do decide to sell.