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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 |
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#2
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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 VW Golf GL Cabrio - Alfa 75 TS - Alfa 155 TS Lusso - COSOC KOTL BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC # |
#3
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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 |
#4
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"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 |
#5
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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. > > > 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. |
#6
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"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 |
#7
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> > > > > 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. > |
#8
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>
> 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 |
#9
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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 > > |
#10
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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. |
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