Lease Audi - service history
Discussion
Hi all.
My A4 lease is up at the end of the year.
I've recently had the brake fluid changed and the full service as per the service schedule.
I used an independent instead of the main dealer.
I've checked my contract and nowhere does it state that I have to use the main dealer - just to service as per the schedule.
The indy can't update the Audi service portal but I have the paperwork/receipts.
Can you see any problems with this when it goes back?
Cheers
My A4 lease is up at the end of the year.
I've recently had the brake fluid changed and the full service as per the service schedule.
I used an independent instead of the main dealer.
I've checked my contract and nowhere does it state that I have to use the main dealer - just to service as per the schedule.
The indy can't update the Audi service portal but I have the paperwork/receipts.
Can you see any problems with this when it goes back?
Cheers
VWFS or someone else?
If the funder is VWFS then this should be in your document portal somewhere.
Page 6 for non maintained vehicles.
If the funder is VWFS then this should be in your document portal somewhere.
Page 6 for non maintained vehicles.
Audi Finance / VWFS said:
Service and maintenance
Please ensure the vehicle is serviced and maintained at an Audi Centre or Audi Authorised Repairer strictly in line with recommended manufacturer guidelines using only Audi Genuine Parts.
The set fee used to be £50 per missed service.Please ensure the vehicle is serviced and maintained at an Audi Centre or Audi Authorised Repairer strictly in line with recommended manufacturer guidelines using only Audi Genuine Parts.
Edited by b0rk on Saturday 13th January 23:12
Dr G said:
Not everyone neglects leased vehicles. Most new vehicles are bought with finance.
Bit of a sweeping generalisation, this.
We are on page one and already two posters have missed the service at the main dealers because too expensive, Im sure many others do exactly the same.....and these are enthusiasts!!!! Bit of a sweeping generalisation, this.
I'd argue a missed service, and choosing an independent garage are distinct.
Few people bother to post on enthusiast forums about having their lease-car serviced.
Random example, the first A6 I click on from VWFS ex-lease listings:
Yes, there are some people who neglect cars they lease because the penalties are too small. I wouldn't say they're any more prevalent than people bypassing maintenance on their own cars for (probably) the same reasons.
OP - as long as your maintenance work is correctly documented and the finance company's terms don't stipulate franchise servicing then you're fine. As a precaution I'd keep copies of everything, as the logistics of such things are handled by companies like BCA who struggle to differentiate a middle-arm-joint from a gluteus maximus.
Few people bother to post on enthusiast forums about having their lease-car serviced.
Random example, the first A6 I click on from VWFS ex-lease listings:
Yes, there are some people who neglect cars they lease because the penalties are too small. I wouldn't say they're any more prevalent than people bypassing maintenance on their own cars for (probably) the same reasons.
OP - as long as your maintenance work is correctly documented and the finance company's terms don't stipulate franchise servicing then you're fine. As a precaution I'd keep copies of everything, as the logistics of such things are handled by companies like BCA who struggle to differentiate a middle-arm-joint from a gluteus maximus.
Dr G said:
I'd argue a missed service, and choosing an independent garage are distinct.
Few people bother to post on enthusiast forums about having their lease-car serviced.
Random example, the first A6 I click on from VWFS ex-lease listings:
Yes, there are some people who neglect cars they lease because the penalties are too small. I wouldn't say they're any more prevalent than people bypassing maintenance on their own cars for (probably) the same reasons.
OP - as long as your maintenance work is correctly documented and the finance company's terms don't stipulate franchise servicing then you're fine. As a precaution I'd keep copies of everything, as the logistics of such things are handled by companies like BCA who struggle to differentiate a middle-arm-joint from a gluteus maximus.
Do tyre shops update manufacture service history then?Few people bother to post on enthusiast forums about having their lease-car serviced.
Random example, the first A6 I click on from VWFS ex-lease listings:
Yes, there are some people who neglect cars they lease because the penalties are too small. I wouldn't say they're any more prevalent than people bypassing maintenance on their own cars for (probably) the same reasons.
OP - as long as your maintenance work is correctly documented and the finance company's terms don't stipulate franchise servicing then you're fine. As a precaution I'd keep copies of everything, as the logistics of such things are handled by companies like BCA who struggle to differentiate a middle-arm-joint from a gluteus maximus.
That's VWFS (the finance company) rather than a manufacturer. Lease/fleet companies commonly manage maintenance so their records include things like tyres, brakes etc.
If a tyre shop did service work on your car (for example) then yes they can/should update the manufacturer database. Any garage can (costs nothing).
If a tyre shop did service work on your car (for example) then yes they can/should update the manufacturer database. Any garage can (costs nothing).
Just checked my contract again and this is the only reference to maintenance;
Ensure the vehicle is serviced at the manufacturers recommended service intervals and at any other occasions when faults arise. Ensure that tyre pressures, oil and coolant levels are maintained to manufactures specifications.
Ensure the vehicle is serviced at the manufacturers recommended service intervals and at any other occasions when faults arise. Ensure that tyre pressures, oil and coolant levels are maintained to manufactures specifications.
I think you're laughing, but do make sure you have backups of the proof of this.
Just because you leave all the paperwork in the car (or with driver) don't assume it will reach the desk of the person who hands out the penalties!
My last VWFS returns we were billed for damage that simply wasn't there (video evidence to disprove), and a service that was not yet due at the point of collection but was when they eventually moved it on. They backed down, but it was a faff nonetheless.
Just because you leave all the paperwork in the car (or with driver) don't assume it will reach the desk of the person who hands out the penalties!
My last VWFS returns we were billed for damage that simply wasn't there (video evidence to disprove), and a service that was not yet due at the point of collection but was when they eventually moved it on. They backed down, but it was a faff nonetheless.
Hi,
Reading the posts to date in the topic it seems like some Audi enthusiasts with cars on lease hire or a financed purchase might use Independents rather than main dealers for servicing. This could possibly result in the Audi service print out being blank if the independent did not update the Audi database, is this a realistic assumption?
The reason for my question is that there is a diesel SQ5 from VWFS with 30K mileage that I quite like but the service print out is blank. I am unable to find out if there is any independent servicing paperwork with the car at the moment as it is to be sold at auction.
Am I crazy to be considering the car, if the car really has had no servicing at all up to 30K miles is it a major concern?
Reading the posts to date in the topic it seems like some Audi enthusiasts with cars on lease hire or a financed purchase might use Independents rather than main dealers for servicing. This could possibly result in the Audi service print out being blank if the independent did not update the Audi database, is this a realistic assumption?
The reason for my question is that there is a diesel SQ5 from VWFS with 30K mileage that I quite like but the service print out is blank. I am unable to find out if there is any independent servicing paperwork with the car at the moment as it is to be sold at auction.
Am I crazy to be considering the car, if the car really has had no servicing at all up to 30K miles is it a major concern?
Edited by tbgrowler on Monday 12th February 12:06
tbgrowler said:
Hi,
Reading the posts to date in the topic it seems like some Audi enthusiasts with cars on lease hire or a financed purchase might use Independents rather than main dealers for servicing. This could possibly result in the Audi service print out being blank if the independent did not update the Audi database, is this a realistic assumption?
The reason for my question is that there is a diesel SQ5 from VWFS with 30K mileage that I quite like but the service print out is blank. I am unable to find out if there is any independent servicing paperwork with the car at the moment as it is to be sold at auction.
Am I crazy to be considering the car, if the car really has had no servicing at all up to 30K miles is it a major concern?
Aren't they usually sold at closed auctions - so the fact that you're getting a sniff at it means there isn't a service record? So you have to assume it ahsn't been done.Reading the posts to date in the topic it seems like some Audi enthusiasts with cars on lease hire or a financed purchase might use Independents rather than main dealers for servicing. This could possibly result in the Audi service print out being blank if the independent did not update the Audi database, is this a realistic assumption?
The reason for my question is that there is a diesel SQ5 from VWFS with 30K mileage that I quite like but the service print out is blank. I am unable to find out if there is any independent servicing paperwork with the car at the moment as it is to be sold at auction.
Am I crazy to be considering the car, if the car really has had no servicing at all up to 30K miles is it a major concern?
If it really hasn't been done I don't know if it's a huge problem - they can run to 18500 miles between services anyway - how old is it? I suppose an SQ5 is more likely to be been driven "firmly" than most - which actually might not be a bad thing. Trouble is, you've jus no idea how it's been used - lots of short trips, a few long ones..etc.
Someone on a Merc forum I use bought a car in same circumstances, serviced it straightaway and it threw a rod a few weeks later. Funnily enough MB didn't want to know.
Sheepshanks said:
Aren't they usually sold at closed auctions - so the fact that you're getting a sniff at it means there isn't a service record? So you have to assume it ahsn't been done.
If it really hasn't been done I don't know if it's a huge problem - they can run to 18500 miles between services anyway - how old is it? I suppose an SQ5 is more likely to be been driven "firmly" than most - which actually might not be a bad thing. Trouble is, you've jus no idea how it's been used - lots of short trips, a few long ones..etc.
Thank you for your reply, the car is about two and a half years old, averaging 12K miles per year.If it really hasn't been done I don't know if it's a huge problem - they can run to 18500 miles between services anyway - how old is it? I suppose an SQ5 is more likely to be been driven "firmly" than most - which actually might not be a bad thing. Trouble is, you've jus no idea how it's been used - lots of short trips, a few long ones..etc.
From what I can gather, the online service history in the Audi database is blank, ie something like the erwin online service history or whatever database used by the auction company when checking vehicles contains no entries. There could be a folder in the vehicle with servicing paperwork from an independent but that is unknown?
Trying to get information from auction companies on specific vehicles or asking them to get someone to go and check the car is pointless, "hammer down, sold as seen, commission please" is generally their operation model which is fair enough.
There are a few unknown factors with the car such as driving history and servicing but at the right price could it be worth a punt, albeit a risky punt?
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