First Service for B9 S4

bora-gav

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il stick with my own records thanks.
View attachment 243481

My mechanic does this, everything is written on the engine bay and in the service book.
He’s a vw specialist, every car I’ve sold, the buyer has been more than impressed with this documentation that they’ve never once asked for any vw recorded services and that included a potential trade in to Skoda Belfast.
 

Coog

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You're buying a 2017 S4 with 25k on it. Two identical cars are for sale one with the Audi dealership history and another with a local service centre history on it. Which one do you buy? Why?

Assuming it wasn't a lease, how much do you think the first owner saved in the end by taking the car to an indy?

Fast forward 2 years, warranty is up and the gearbox keeks itself out of the blue. What sort of goodwill is Audi likely going to show on one car vs the other?
 

Lyons

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All of us know a good independent is going to do a better job than a main dealer, but it’s the fear of what a next prospective buyer makes of it when you come to sell. To be honest if it was a car on the mainland I’d prefer a main dealer history though, as I wouldn’t know anything about the independents. Would be different if it was local and you knew the company.
 

AMG

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I'm looking forward to hearing what potential buyers say about the wife's A4. I bought it with 40 odd thousand on it, now almost 130, and it has never been near a mechanic (apart from the emissions recall) since.
I have done everything it needed myself, written it in service book, and kept receipts, but I just know it will be used as a bargaining tool because there is no history!
 

Burt2000

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On something like that I’d be happy seeing receipts over a stamp in a book
 

colin84

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I'm looking forward to hearing what potential buyers say about the wife's A4. I bought it with 40 odd thousand on it, now almost 130, and it has never been near a mechanic (apart from the emissions recall) since.
I have done everything it needed myself, written it in service book, and kept receipts, but I just know it will be used as a bargaining tool because there is no history!

IMO receipts is service history, although others may not see it that way. Anyone can buy a stamp and stamp up a service book without doing any maintenance.
 

Big Jon

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There’s no service book now as its all done electronically. The on board system shows when oil is due to be changed and when the inspection is due; both need to be reset. Belfast Service Centre will do the same service and the inspection all logged on the Audi UK system with genuine parts for half the price. Shows how much that fancy coffee and shortbread costs at the main dealer.
The Audi is a nice car but I think it’s back to BMW when it’s time to change.
 

pobmk4

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Any registered independent can fill it in online, I never see the big appeal with the stamps in a book, I had 2 cars in this week with the service schedules done incorrectly...... Just because it's done in a dealer doesn't mean it's done right.
 

Big Jon

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Thanks to all for their input. The car was left in with Belfast Service Centre yesterday who carried out the oil change, inspection and replaced the pollen filter all for £240 using genuine Audi parts and the proper spec Castrol Edge oil.
 

chris_b

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You're buying a 2017 S4 with 25k on it. Two identical cars are for sale one with the Audi dealership history and another with a local service centre history on it. Which one do you buy? Why?

Assuming it wasn't a lease, how much do you think the first owner saved in the end by taking the car to an indy?

Fast forward 2 years, warranty is up and the gearbox keeks itself out of the blue. What sort of goodwill is Audi likely going to show on one car vs the other?
Hit the nail on the head there Coog.
Even within warranty period two identical cars the same age and similar miles and one the dealership knows well as they’ve serviced the car, sorted warranty niggles etc and one they’ve never seen since it left them, they are going to look after the customer they know on a first name basis a hell of a lot more

It’s probably wrong yes but sadly it’s just the way it is I guess.
 

Coog

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Hit the nail on the head there Coog.
Even within warranty period two identical cars the same age and similar miles and one the dealership knows well as they’ve serviced the car, sorted warranty niggles etc and one they’ve never seen since it left them, they are going to look after the customer they know on a first name basis a hell of a lot more

It’s probably wrong yes but sadly it’s just the way it is I guess.

I've had some pricey faults sorted through goodwill because the car had been at the dealership all its life. Thousands of pounds worth of faults sorted FOC. Didn't really benefit the person who paid for most of the servicing though right enough lol
 

Big Jon

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Would the audi dealer not have price matched that?
Audi want a written quote on headed paper. If you were a business and someone said can you give me a written quote so I can get the work done elsewhere what would your response be?
At the end of the day the car is properly serviced and if needs be the money saved will pay for an extra years warranty should I get nervous about out of warranty repairs.
 

Deleted member 13907

D
Just flicking through this thread and has given me something to think about. I’ve recently bought an a4. It’s 8 years old but has a full Audi dealer service history (previous owner even went to Audi for tyres, etc). I’ve always just used local mechanics, but trying to weigh up whether there’s any point in maybe looking at Audi servicing, or a good independent VAG specialist. I’m guessing based on the age of my car, it’s unlikely to make any difference to resale value?
 

gpaevo

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All of us know a good independent is going to do a better job than a main dealer, but it’s the fear of what a next prospective buyer makes of it when you come to sell. To be honest if it was a car on the mainland I’d prefer a main dealer history though, as I wouldn’t know anything about the independents. Would be different if it was local and you knew the company.
Last time I trusted a main dealer was Bavarian back in 2008 when I had my E90. They neglected to refill it with oil after a minor service. Hum day 1 week 1 at mechanic school!

There was some shouting and roaring done that day.
 

Big Jon

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@Big Jon how did you get on with your service? Do you go Audi or Independent route?
Apologies, I haven't been on here much recently as I've been snowed under.

Went Independant in the end. Belfast Audi kept on about price matching but I wouldn't have the brass neck to go and ask for a quote on headed paper just so I could take my business elsewhere.
 

aaflyer79

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Interesting replies. Similar thread came up in the F30 Bimmerpost Forum. Essentially opinions there boiled down to keep the relationship sweet with the main dealer and basically having a better fallback on any goodwill. If something goes bang and main dealer has done the service, then it it’s much easier to smooth the waters. Goodwill, relationships and all that. Nice s4 is always going to be ££ to service - come on folks, it’s a ”prestige” marque so it’ll be “prestige” prices at main dealer (whether you agree it’s right or not) - if you go that avenue
 

markmeus

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People probably wouldn't mind prestige prices if you got prestige service, but you get crap like this Servicing expectations

That said, I've had to service the Cupra at SEAT because its a VWFS lease, but even at that the first service was £189 and the second was £239, Audi looking near double those prices for essentially the same job.
 
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