Full Audi Service History - maintain or move on?

[chive90]

My B7 has FASH which, in my few years of ownership, I have continued.

However, I won't be the first or last to say this but not only are main dealer prices absurd, their ability is pretty poor too. They don't fill me with confidence at all, even when just undertaking an oil change!

I have a couple of great indy garages near me that I use for everything else, but have still been using Audi for a tick in the service book come service time.

Last year I paid £165 for them to change the oil, and that was with me supplying my own oil !!!!!!

What would you guys do? Seems a shame to drop the FASH after so long, but does this really matter as much these days and how much re-sell value does it really add in the real world.

Welcome peoples thoughts - cheers

[highrise]

How many miles on the clock?

[chive90]

How many miles on the clock?

80k

[highrise]

I wondered if the mileage was super low then it might be worth it.

I think you'll get better service from a good indy given that they will have recent and relevant experience of the older cars. Dealers are setup to work on the new stuff.

Be interested to see what people think.

[chive90]

I wondered if the mileage was super low then it might be worth it.

I think you'll get better service from a good indy given that they will have recent and relevant experience of the older cars. Dealers are setup to work on the new stuff.

Be interested to see what people think.

Yeah I guess it's still pretty low mileage for the age now but not as low as some.

Oh I completely agree and that's why I use an indy for anything and everything else. It's more paying for a stamp in the book from Audi each year - I guess I'm curious as to whether others do it. I'm basically paying them £170 to pour in some new oil that I've bought myself, and stamp my service book and it seems a little bit crazy when reflecting on it!

[12th]

I've had mine from new, just under 100k now. Dropped main dealer about five years ago and have no regrets whatever. Whatever it might cost in depreciation (and I never intend to sell, so that's moot) I reckon I am likely to have saved in not being shafted once a year*. A good indy will try to fix things, rather than spending your money as though it was their own.

Main dealer also lied to me about a corrosion issue, subsequently addressed elsewhere.

*Their hourly rate a decade ago was £165, rising to £250 over the next five years (whilst inflation was pretty much zero), so heaven only knows what it is now - I suspect around £350, and for people who seem of questionable competence and integrity to me.

[QuRace]

I have one of those low mileage Avants (2008 / ~35kmls). And I don't bother either.

I simply will not accept main dealer prices both for hours and for spare parts. Esp. the latter point, where you sometimes pay double/triple for one and the same OEM part, just w/ the four rings, seems absurd.

Also, with 16+ year old cars, and the number sold, the know-how at the dealerships on these special cars must be vanishing fast, too. I trust myself + the interwebs more than an appretice who sees 5 of these a year.

Plus, I'm not selling. Ever.

.

[chive90]

I've had mine from new, just under 100k now. Dropped main dealer about five years ago and have no regrets whatever. Whatever it might cost in depreciation (and I never intend to sell, so that's moot) I reckon I am likely to have saved in not being shafted once a year*. A good indy will try to fix things, rather than spending your money as though it was their own.

Main dealer also lied to me about a corrosion issue, subsequently addressed elsewhere.

*Their hourly rate a decade ago was £165, rising to £250 over the next five years (whilst inflation was pretty much zero), so heaven only knows what it is now - I suspect around £350, and for people who seem of questionable competence and integrity to me.

Yeah the rate is crazy, and you're right about the competence. They tried telling me I needed a whole new caliper just because one of the bleed nipples was seized! Anything like that or any other nonsense they try and tell me, I just take the car to the excellent indy I use. It's just been nice to maintain the FASH, but maybe I'll drop it this year.

Were you using them just for servicing, or other things too?

I have one of those low mileage Avants (2008 / ~35kmls). And I don't bother either.

I simply will not accept main dealer prices both for hours and for spare parts. Esp. the latter point, where you sometimes pay double/triple for one and the same OEM part, just w/ the four rings, seems absurd.

Also, with 16+ year old cars, and the number sold, the know-how at the dealerships on these special cars must be vanishing fast, too. I trust myself + the interwebs more than an appretice who sees 5 of these a year.

Plus, I'm not selling. Ever.

.

Yeah you're right there! Your mileage makes me wish I bought a lower mileage one, as I never plan on selling either. 80k seems high when people still have them on 35k! I did view a couple sub 40k ones when I was looking, but found that they were in need of much more than the higher mileage ones. They'd spent most of their lives sat for really long periods and had corrosion issues, leaky DRC, gaps in service history, and god knows what else that really put me off. Ideally needed an enthusiast at the time selling one that had no expense spared but there weren't any like this when I was looking sadly, so ended up buying a mint one on 70k.

[highrise]

I think if I was buying again, I'd look for an enthusiast-owned car. Stamps from a well-known indy who specifically knows and is proven with B7 RS4s would be a plus in my book.

[12th]

Had started to use the indy for other things and got to the point where I could see I was paying more for less. Still left like a leap to abandon FASH, but have never looked back.

[chive90]

Cheers chaps, think I'll move away from the main dealer and use my well respected indy for servicing too

[Mav8]

I always use my trusted indie, as said previously main dealers aren’t really interested I the other stuff.
I’d rather buy a car that’s had indie servicing than dealer.

[mikep99]

very dubious about main dealers.
signed up to a 2 year service plan when I got mine about 8 years ago and had reason to think they hadn't done anything after an inspection.
if I can't do it myself now, I'll take it to an indy.
services, I do every year, not difficult and a better job

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[delroyx]

I wouldn't rate a main dealer stamp over an indy. I've learnt over the years that nobody cares for my car as much as I do! I don't think there's anything wrong with DIY servicing as long as you can show it's been done with paperwork & maybe even your own stamp.

[stuartbarriskell]

The "recognised and reputable" indy gets my vote, too. I bought my B8.5 thru here, the owner used Ayr Audi to refresh the ticket.

The car was due in and out on the same day, I was in contact with the owner the whole time, a few minor issues cropped up on the MOT, including tyres, there was nothing on the list that concerned me as long as it was addressed and fixed, I think the horn was one thing and another minor item I can't recall.

After 5 days, the owner called them up and went mental, only then was he told to uplift the car at the end of that day.

There appeared no urgency to get the job completed and get the car back to the owner.

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