Motoring Discussion > Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Auntie Lockbrakes Replies: 39

 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Auntie Lockbrakes
So I bit the bullet. Car was due it's annual/12,000 mile service, and after 8 months and 4500 miles in my possession I think it's a "keeper", so I wanted it checked-over thoroughly. I reckoned the odd service item had probably been skipped in the last couple of year's use by the first owner.

So how much did I pay for the following on a 2.4 V6 petrol:
- annual inspection service, plus
- new air filter
- new pollen filter
- 6 new spark plugs
- 2 new windscreen wiper blades
- ATF flush & refill
- brake fluid flush & replace
- and 11 quids' worth of Cleanburn Engine Fuel Additive (whatever that is)?

Clue - it was pretty much the price I expected, so Christmas isn't cancelled (yet)!
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - PeterS
Working up from the bottom I paid £59 for Audi to change the brake fluid on the A4, and wiper blades were £39. No idea on ATF change - ours is manual - but I'll guess £99. A service is £299 on the 4 cylinder engine - I'll add £50 for the 6' and then plugs and pollen filter another £100. I reckon around £650
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Zero
I reckon peter is about bang on the money.

Just to make you feel good, I can service the Lancer with all that stuff and have 550 quid change.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - madf
Whatever you paid is up to you but as it's an Audi dealer it will be about £400 more than it's worth...
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Falkirk Bairn
Audi dealer £600
Audi Specialist Indie £350
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - NeilS
£465
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - oilburner
£464.

I totalled it up and I agreed exactly with NielS. So I knocked another pound off, just because!
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Jacks
The Audi website gives the fixed prices as follows


Major service £299
Interim service £149
Cam belt £429
Brake pads & discs (front or rear) £259
Brake pads (front or rear) £129
Clutch (quattro®) £899
Clutch (non quattro®) £749
Brake fluid change £59
Front Wiper Blades £39

These include VAT but only cover up to 2.0 litre.

So
annual inspection service, plus £299 for 2L say £329 for V6 extra plugs
- new air filter inc
- new pollen filter extra £20
- 6 new spark plugs inc
- 2 new windscreen wiper blades £39
- ATF flush & refill extra £150
- brake fluid flush & replace £59
- and 11 quids' worth of Cleanburn Engine Fuel Additive (whatever that is)? £11

About £609
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - No FM2R
Anybody think the OP's username should be taken into account?

Or am I missing something?
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - oilburner
There is a village in Wiltshire called New Zealand. But, yeah, point taken...
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Jacks
>> Anybody think the OP's username should be taken into account?
>>
>> Or am I missing something?
>>

ok then 1187 NZD !
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Zero
Taken into account, s/h cars and parts are expensive over there.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - nice but dim
I dont understand main dealer servicing - never had it done before.

Are you saying that you have to pay £200-300 and then pay for the parts and consumables used as well? If so what are you paying the £200-300 for?

I always though a service price was "all included"
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - oilburner

>> Are you saying that you have to pay £200-300 and then pay for the parts
>> and consumables used as well? If so what are you paying the £200-300 for?

£200-£300 usually means an oil and filter change, with some poking about of the dirty bits underneath, usually accompanied by tutting and slow head shaking.

Basically, that's the oil (£20-50) + labour charges.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Zero
>> I dont understand main dealer servicing - never had it done before.
>>
>> Are you saying that you have to pay £200-300 and then pay for the parts
>> and consumables used as well? If so what are you paying the £200-300 for?
>>
>> I always though a service price was "all included"

You pay for the labour, at £60+ per hour (book time charged for, even tho they take less time)
and the parts, and the consumables, and an environmental disposal charge, the the cost of the mechanics gloves and hand cleaner, all at full MRRP.

And overheads and profit of course.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Boxsterboy
Why the ATF fluid change? Is it a CVT or something? My VAG Tiptronic auto is sealed for life. £800 inc. VAT (or its equivalent in NZD).
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Zero
>> Why the ATF fluid change? Is it a CVT or something? My VAG Tiptronic auto
>> is sealed for life. £800 inc. VAT (or its equivalent in NZD).

Are you sure? I think its life might be shorter if you follow that advice.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 29 Nov 12 at 16:32
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - oilburner
Yep, "sealed for life" means you don't need to change it until the car is ready for the scrappie. It doesn't tell you that the gearbox breaking is what will send it on that final journey...

There's no such thing as ATF that lasts forever.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - PeterS
I *thought* the OP had posted recently about UK main dealer experiences (Glass Palaces?) but my memory is not what it was...
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - No FM2R
>> but my memory is not what it was...

How do you know?
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Robin O'Reliant
Why would anyone pay £39 for a couple of wiper blades? They're under two quid each in Wilkinsons and take a minute each to fit.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - WillDeBeest
That's good to know. The LEC needs a new rear one, and that's really short so it should be even less.

I like Wilkinsons.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Runfer D'Hills
You're going to put a Wilkinsons wiper blade on an E Class?

Dear Lord !

Might as well wear trainers with a business suit. Much the same effect.

:-)
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - WillDeBeest
Well I can hardly put a Wilkinsons rear wiper blade on the S60, can I?

Obviously, if it looks too naff I'll go elsewhere for something Goodyear welted.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Runfer D'Hills
Well, of course it's up to you...

Blimey.

:-)
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - WillDeBeest
Nothing about using one as a squeegee, Humph? Frankly I'm disappointed.

};---)
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - PeterS
>> Why would anyone pay £39 for a couple of wiper blades? They're under two quid
>> each in Wilkinsons and take a minute each to fit.
>>

Free WiFi, a Latte and a guarantee that the wipers will work as designed. No need to get my hands dirty either :-)
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - PeterS
>> >> but my memory is not what it was...
>>
>> How do you know?
>>

How do I know what?
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - mikeyb
I reckon £571
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - No FM2R
>> >> >> but my memory is not what it was...
>> >>
>> >> How do you know?
>> >>
>>
>> How do I know what?
>>

You know, thingy.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Auntie Lockbrakes
Well, the total bill was a little higher than all of your gu-estimates. Not surprising considering the prices of used cars over here (yes New Zealand) as Zero pointed out further up the thread.

So I paid:

6 spark plugs - 65 quid (expected higher tbh)
oil filter - 16 quid
7 litres of ATF fluid - 157 quid
pollen filter - 18 quid
1 litre of brake fluid - 12 quid
air filter - 19 quid
6 litres of Castrol SLX Professional oil - 65 quid
2 wiper blades - 17 quid each (eek!)
Labour - 290 quid

Any idea what the 20 quid charge on top for "Computer Analyser" is for?

Plus of course a random 30-odd quid for "environmental disposal levy", "cleanburn engine fuel additive" & "grease and lube".

All of the above plus VAT at 15% over here...

Anyway, job done, I can feel the car runs better. Got a year to save up for the next service, at which time rear brakes will need doing. No complaints though.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Bill Payer
Oddly the oil was a lot cheaper than it would be in the UK.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Zero
>> Oddly the oil was a lot cheaper than it would be in the UK.

Huh? I can get 5 litre castrol slx prof for 48 quid.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Bill Payer
>> >> Oddly the oil was a lot cheaper than it would be in the UK.
>>
>> Huh? I can get 5 litre castrol slx prof for 48 quid.
>>

Not as part of a service from an Audi dealer.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - PeterS
>> >> Huh? I can get 5 litre castrol slx prof for 48 quid.
>> >>
>>
>> Not as part of a service from an Audi dealer.
>>

I'm pretty sure last time I had the Audi serviced under the fixed price scheme the oil was discounted to £8 a litre on the invoice to get it to the (then) £279. Now that's plus VAT, but by my reckoning thats £9.60 inc VAT, or £48 for 5 litres, with the upside that you only pay for what's needed. Probably 5.5 litres ;-)
Last edited by: PeterS on Sun 16 Dec 12 at 11:40
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Bill Payer
>> I'm pretty sure last time I had the Audi serviced under the fixed price scheme
>> the oil was discounted to £8 a litre

Fair enough, but the fixed price schemes distort everything and with most makes can only be used on cars more than 3yrs old. The undiscounted price will be double the rate on your invoice.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - PeterS
That's true enough - i think it was discounted from around £10 (plus VAT) a litre!
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Lygonos
>> I can feel the car runs better

Assuming this isn't just wishful thinking I bet it's largely due to the new ATF.
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Zero
>> >> I can feel the car runs better
>>
>> Assuming this isn't just wishful thinking I bet it's largely due to the new ATF.

Or more likely the air filter.


Of course new wiper blades now allow you to see how fast you are going.....
 Audi A4 Cabriolet - Main dealer service visit - guess how much?! - Auntie Lockbrakes
- No wiper blades on the speedometer, Z..!!
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