S4 Servicing

[liffy99]

My oh my, it's confusing.
My car is currently on the longlife schedule. According to Audi it has Inspection services (afaik all they do is check fluid levels, brake thicknesses etc - no actual work done unless they find something) and Oil Change services (I think this is the inspection plus oil and oil filter change), but both / either can be at up to 19000 mile intervals or 2 years. When I bought the car a month ago it showed approx 4500 miles to go to the next oil change and 11500 miles to the next inspection. Suddenly, after 1600 miles covered the oil service is showing 3000 but the inspection as a day overdue ! As the last inspection was less than 2 years, or 19000 miles ago I've a feeling this has been caused by the last brake fluid change being just over 2 years ago. So first question - if I change the brake fluid and get the service indicator reset, will this put me back to the 10000 (approx) miles to go to the next inspection (ie recognising the brake fluid has been done) or will it start again at 19000 miles to go assuming a full inspection has been carried out ?

On top of that there is air filter and plugs every 57000 miles.

My local Audi dealer tells me the inspection is £120 and the oil change, inc. inspection £260 (so £140 for changing the oil and filter).

A very well respected outfit often praised on this forum has suggested I switch to fixed interval servicing (I'm likely to get a remap) but quoted over £300 for a 10k service and almost double that for a 20k. The former is basically an oil change, inspection and air filter. the latter adds pollen filter and plugs. Seems very pricey . . .

Now, I wouldn't have thought I needed new plugs every 20k, or even an air filter (remember, Audi suggest changing at 57k)

What do you guys do ?

As things stand I'm getting the oil changed (Castrol,Edge 5-30 synthetic and to VAG std, drained via sump) by National Tyres this weekend (half the cost of Audi) and I'll ask them to change the brake fluid.

Or have I got it all out of kilter ? Car service history to date is;

19000 Inspection + oil change
29000 Oil change
37000 Inspection + oil change
Car is now on 47000

Oh for the good ol' days . . . .

[S4WON]

subbed! I'd love to also know what others have done

[Ian_C]

Personally I change the oil every year, full service including brake fluid change every two years. I would repeat this on any future Audis I buy. With brake fluid change on a two year fixed interval, it makes sense to me to have it serviced at the same time. Managed to secure a good deal doing this last time, and the next time I simply called up and asked them to do exactly the same service and price again as they did 24 month ago. Otherwise it becomes a nightmare with different dates for brake fluid change, inspection without oil, oil change only, full service............ etc

[liffy99]

Thanks - and what's the ballpark figure for the full service ?
Must admit I like the simplicity of your approach.
I'd be tempted to go back to fixed interval servicing.
Other than plugs, air oil and pollen filters, oil changes and brake fluid what else is there ? What about lubrication of hinges etc ?
Obviously there would be consumables on top - tyres, brakes etc.
£600 just seems a lot for oil change, plugs air and pollen filter.
Plugs on my recent BMW 3.0 came to a gnats gadget over £100 fitted.

[Ian_C]

For me doing low mileage where I the service interval of two years is reached before the max allowed mileage, by having an AVS every two years with an intermediate oil change, it effectively is fixed interval servicing. AVS every two years, oil change every year - effectively big service, small service (repeat)

Audi did comment once they wouldn't be able to stamp the book on the family Sportback TDi until I pointed out it was being serviced more regularly than necessary. The car does 12k a year, so their point was a full service every 24k wasn't enough. However the car was going into Audi for oil every 12k, whereas I bet most TDis will only see the dealer and have oil every 20,000 miles.....

I'm not the man to ask regarding B8 service prices, I'm sure there must be a few owners who can comment

[liffy99]

AVS ?

[HYFR]

Read the service book for all the bits they do on an inspection.
Its more than just check the oil level.

[Ian_C]

AVS ?

Audi Variable Service - max interval 24 months or around 19000 miles, whichever comes sooner.

Commonly agreed 19000 miles is a joke for a high revving V8 / anything turbocharged

Collected mine today - AVS (Audi Variable Service) and BFS (Brake Fluid Service) including air and pollen filter. Oil was last changed 12 months / 5000 miles ago. Felt flipping fast after having a boggo fwd only diesel Q3 for two days!

[liffy99]

Well, I've been to National Tyres for an interim oil change. Also had new brake fluid and a tiny puncture in one tyre repaired. Was a bit tortuous as, at first they thought they couldn't do it as the car has no dipstick, so had to explain about MMI etc. But after several hours (an S4 was a new animal to this branch so they learned as they went) we got there.
Amazing value - £85 all in and for simply changing consumables I see little point in using Audi but I'll probably return for the big service at 57k.

One fly in the ointment though - despite me checking in advance, they were unable, as they thought they would be able, to reset the service indicator. I think this had been triggered by the brake fluid last being done a few days over 2 years ago.

How can I get this sorted ? I assume I need access to VCDS (I've posted a request to see if there is anyone with that tool in the West Country). B8 S4 2009.

[HYFR]

What about an inspection?

[liffy99]

What about an inspection ??

Before the brake fluid reminder triggered the Service Due indicator, the next Inspection service was due in just under 11000 miles (long life service schedule).

So what I really want to do is reset the service reminders to where they should be;

Oil 9400 miles
Inspection 10,800 miles

Is that possible, or is the only option to reset the Inspection flag ? Seems strange that the car would think it needed a much earlier inspection just because the brake fluid was last changed just over 2 years ago. Last Inspection was 8000 miles ago and about 15 mths.