Service dilemma

[eliano]

I know this may have been covered before but im stuck as to what to do. My car has FASH , service is due and cannot decide to make the trip to a good specialist or stick with audi ??? My car has been modded as per my description below. I cant help but thinking id be mad to take elsewhere when the car came from my local dealer in 2006 and has only been serviced by 3 audi dealers and now shes back home , i wont be keeping her forever so i need to consider buyers opinions tbh

[PaulT]

I think the mods are key to this - the car has FASH for the regular work, but the modifications are done by specialist(s). So i doubt doing the servicing at a reputable specialist will harm the service history. At least if i was the buyer that would be my thinking. (if you had a completely std car with FASH you could reason differently)

[MikeFish]

My cars modified but I've kept up the FASH. More chance of a goodwill gesture if anything goes wrong with FASH and I'd feel happier knowing that if I was buying the car even though most specialists will probably maintain it better than most dealers.

[Daytona]

I had this predicament, so started off by calling some main dealers, now I know the person answering the phone doesn't work on the car but the first one was miserable and couldn't have been more unhelpful if they tried, the second was just interested in booking me in (and selling my email address) and the third quoted me £345 (roughly) for just an oil change but no filter, then roughy twice that to include an oil filter and nothing else?! Knowing she didn't know what she was talking about I enquired about a cambelt, she couldn't give me a price but said it probably needs doing every couple of years. Dealers remind me of doctors, know a bit about most things but turn up with something wrong a bit out of the ordinary then it's the consultant you want.
Not that inpressed so far but thought I'd see how I got on with getting the slight corrosion on the front wing lips done under warranty, "could take up to 8 weeks for Audi to make a decision sir" they said, 12 weeks on, f@ck all!
That was enough for me so took it MRC!
I see the point about goodwill repairs but how often does this happen in reality and when it does I bet it's a right ar$e getting them to agree to knock a bit off. Mines had most common RS4 issues fixed over the years yet no mention of goodwill anywhere.
The way I look at it is I want the best to look after my car so why would I choose a main dealer if I know they're far from it, yes you get an Audi stamp but also a massive bill for work not required and it'll still probably have vacuum leaks!
If it makes my car worth slightly less when I come to sell it, then so be it but I'm maintaining the car for me, not the next owner and if they turn their nose up at the specialist stamp, then it's not the car for them.

[audi_do_dat_den]

Get it serviced at Audi. I only use Audi for scheduled service work.

Its more expensive but it will be once every 2 yrs.

Its the only stamp the general buying population will take a shine to.

....or.... do it yourself and forego the stamp.
These are expensive toys. The bills are naturally gonna be bigger than lesser motors.

[eliano]

Thanks for the replies guys, im still not decided haha, i agree that mrc is the better option, as theyve already worked on the car and to us lot it means more.. but as a few others have said i just think most buyers would prefer a dealer stamp when it comes to selling, not really a price thing but most buyers will look for this . I know its my car but when i do move her on id like all the boxes ticked

[Rw@@dy]

If you sold the car through this forum, I'd think most members would prefer to see mrc or unit20 over an Audi dealer as they know the car has been looked after by someone for far better knowledge on it than the dealer

[Frostie]

I won't use main dealer. just because there is an audi badge above the door doesn't do it for me, when i know a good specialist will take a lot more care and have a lot more knowledge than the spotty trainee at audi.

[irishmike]

I always use the main dealer.
My car had FASH when I bought it and I've gotten goodwill on pretty much everything that I've got done on it.
Its been well worth it for me.

[eliano]

Thanks for all taking the time to reply. I think i need to go to mrc as its only 2 hours away, just need to find the bloody time !!!!!

[eliano]

So after talking with audi and mrc, it seems a 10k service is just oil and a filter and a stamp, mrc is a 4 hour trip and is £345, audi is 5 mins away and £320.im gonna go with audi this time as i simply havent the time

[Rw@@dy]

Both prices are crazy for that amount of work

[Daytona]

So after talking with audi and mrc, it seems a 10k service is just oil and a filter and a stamp, mrc is a 4 hour trip and is £345, audi is 5 mins away and £320.im gonna go with audi this time as i simply havent the time

I've just had an oil and filter done at MRC and I'm pretty sure it was £219, unless your adding 4 hours of fuel?

[Pistolpete2543]

Yep, that is silly money. Audi fixed price servicing for an "interim service" is on their website at £345. This is basically just oil and filter change plus inspection.

I have just booked my car in with them for an interim service, but I will supply the oil, filter, sump plug and washer. They have quoted £186 inc VAT for labour. The parts & oil are about £50 (Fuchs Titan Pro C-3 as recommended on here, the filter parts from TPS). Still expensive of course, but it is definitely possible to save a bit of money but still maintain the Main Dealer Service Stamp (which I think is important even at this age of vehicle).

[CaptainLeadFoot]

I go between specialists and Audi at alternate intervals, that way i have the stamp at reasonable intervals and have the attention from both aspects.

Also some of the heavy lifting work in the engine or suspension I am going back to the dealer because they offer the warranty and I have claimed DRC shocks and also other parts that failed within the 2yr warranty period.

Then going back to the specialist to get better aftermarket parts of the consumables changeover.