Main Dealer or Independent Service

I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the cambelt
and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says he
can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.

My questions are :

Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
now move to my local garage.
Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job like
a cambelt.

By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

Thanks in advance.

Richard

Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi

Richard Goulding > wrote:

> I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

Jesus. That's stupid amounts of cash for a cambelt and service. It's
only a VAG V6 (ISTR), not something exotic.

I good indie should be able to do a service for around £150 and the
cambelt etc for £250-ish.

I certainly wouldn't use a dealer charging that amount of money.


--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300
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"Richard Goulding" > wrote in message
...
>I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says
> he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
> like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Richard
>
> Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
>
>

I thought there was a new ruling that to maintain the warranty, ie stamp the
logbook, anyone can do it so long as genuine parts are used. Land Rover
allow this as I know an owner who uses this method.

toy

"Toy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Richard Goulding" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> > year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> > cambelt
> > and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431
for
> > the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> > service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am
considering
> > taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> > cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general
garage
> > who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He
says
> > he
> > can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
> >
> > My questions are :
> >
> > Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should
I
> > now move to my local garage.
> > Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> > Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
> > like
> > a cambelt.
> >
> > By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
> >
> >
>
> I thought there was a new ruling that to maintain the warranty, ie stamp
the
> logbook, anyone can do it so long as genuine parts are used. Land Rover
> allow this as I know an owner who uses this method.
>
> toy
>
>

Thanks for the reply.

I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.

Thanks

Richard

> > "Richard Goulding" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer
a
> > > year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> > > cambelt
> > > and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431
> for
> > > the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> > > service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am
> considering
> > > taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my
other
> > > cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general
> garage
> > > who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He
> says
> > > he
> > > can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
> > >
> > > My questions are :
> > >
> > > Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or
should
> I
> > > now move to my local garage.
> > > Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> > > Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical
job
> > > like
> > > a cambelt.
> > >
> > > By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Richard
> > >
> > > Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
> > >
> > >
> >
> > I thought there was a new ruling that to maintain the warranty, ie stamp
> the
> > logbook, anyone can do it so long as genuine parts are used. Land Rover
> > allow this as I know an owner who uses this method.
> >
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.
>

Best to try & find a decent Independent who specialises in VAG. Such as
www.wheelbase.uk.com if you are anywhere around the south east

I.

"Iain Miller" > wrote in message
...
> > > "Richard Goulding" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > >I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi
Dealer
> a
> > > > year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> > > > cambelt
> > > > and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of
£431
> > for
> > > > the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for
the
> > > > service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am
> > considering
> > > > taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my
> other
> > > > cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general
> > garage
> > > > who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He
> > says
> > > > he
> > > > can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
> > > >
> > > > My questions are :
> > > >
> > > > Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or
> should
> > I
> > > > now move to my local garage.
> > > > Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are
good.
> > > > Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical
> job
> > > > like
> > > > a cambelt.
> > > >
> > > > By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance.
> > > >
> > > > Richard
> > > >
> > > > Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > I thought there was a new ruling that to maintain the warranty, ie
stamp
> > the
> > > logbook, anyone can do it so long as genuine parts are used. Land
Rover
> > > allow this as I know an owner who uses this method.
> > >
> > Thanks for the reply.
> >
> > I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.
> >
>
> Best to try & find a decent Independent who specialises in VAG. Such as
> www.wheelbase.uk.com if you are anywhere around the south east
>
> I.
>
>
Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I am in the North East. I believe there is a VW\Audi locally
but I don't know anything about them so I am wary about using them
especially when I have an honest garage close to my home. Unfortunately they
don't specialise in Audi but how hard can it be to work on them ?

Richard

> >
> >
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Unfortunately I am in the North East. I believe there is a VW\Audi locally
> but I don't know anything about them so I am wary about using them
> especially when I have an honest garage close to my home. Unfortunately
they
> don't specialise in Audi but how hard can it be to work on them ?
>
> Richard
>

I know a guy who does my MOT's in Sheffield, v small back st garage(but in v
posh part). he does things like Masaratis, 70's or older Jags etc or brand
new stuff or the run of the mill **** 1.1 festas. Not the fastest at getting
round to doing it, or maybe thats on my cars. But i can ask him a squestion
and he seems to know all the ins and outs about all brands. Whats a regualr
mailure etc or things like that.

I wouldnt trust my Toyota dealer to work on my car (1977 Celica) but someone
like him.


>

>
> I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.
>
If it's any help, I have a Rover which is well out of manufacturer's
warranty but for which I have an AA warranty. The deal is that I have it
serviced professionally, i.e. not do it myself. But they do not say that it
should be a main dealer, so I use an indie.

Rob Graham

For my money, stick with the guy you trust, and have the genuine parts. BUT
see if there is a VW equivalent - while waiting in our local VW parts shop
(which is next door to the Audi parts shop), the assistant served a customer
to a part, and commented that the same part from the Audi spares place would
cost a great deal more!

"Richard Goulding" > wrote in message
...
>I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says
> he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
> like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Richard
>
> Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
>
>

Richard Goulding ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or
> should I now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical
> job like a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

A small specialist indie is FAR more likely to be good than a dealer.

Think about a typical mechanic's career path - start off in a dealer,
training up, senior technician, then off to start own business. If they've
chosen to specialise, it's usually in a marque they know well and are
enthusiasts for.

A dealer will also get away with sub-standard work, as they don't need to
trade off their reputation - there's a bloody great big sign outside that
does all the selling for them.

A dealer is also not going to see as much of the long-term work on older
cars. They're mainly going to get the first couple of years routine
servicing.

Pay more for worse quality work? Hmmm. Let me think.