Brake Fluid & Air Con for £100

spartacus 68

spartacus 68

Member
Carlisle Audi offered me a annual 2 year brake fluid change and to re-gas the air-conditioning for £100 all in which I think is a pretty good deal. I bought my wife's A2 from them a couple of years ago.

Audi charge £55 for a brake fluid change. Okay the brake-fluid can be done for less than £20 if I do it myself, however it's a pain (wife has to help pump the brake).:(

Re-gassing can vary from garage to garage. I know it can cost £70-100 at least.

As I'm in Aberdeen - I challenged Aberdeen Audi to do the same offer. A couple of telephone calls later and the service reception agreed. A year ago this would have been unheard of. If this recession does anything - I hope it forces Audi to look at it's pricing policy and 'wake up and smell the coffee'.
 
Yes, I think you are quite right, see my post on Stoke Audi's latest offer regarding pricing policy on main dealer servicing/repairs for vehicles 3yrs+

Stokes Sunday offers sound very good at 50% off everything, if this is based on menu pricing from Audi. I wish them well with their campaign.
 
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spartacus 68 said:
Okay the brake-fluid can be done for less than £20 if I do it myself, however it's a pain (wife has to help pump the brake).:(

Re-gassing can vary from garage to garage. I know it can cost £70-100 at least.
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I too have tried using the missus to help me with bleeding the brake fluid but in the end I discovered that there is just no substitute for a plastic pipe taken off the vaccum cleaner jammed between the seat and the pedal. I should have known better after the response I got when I asked her to read some directions to me on a map while I was driving.

I seem to remember kwik-fit offering an air-con recharge for £45ish. There is also some sort of money back guarantee if there is no improvement.

The newly advertised audi prices look attractive compared to the independent specialist whom I have frequented, but there is still a few quid to be saved by doing the job yourself. I noticed that the 'major service' at £199 offers a fuel filter, oil filter and air filter change. No mention of pollen filter. Seeing as it's so cheap and easy to replace, one might have expected that to be thrown in as well. I wonder if they would try and charge stupid money for adding that on.
 
thespringfield said:
The newly advertised audi prices look attractive compared to the independent specialist whom I have frequented, but there is still a few quid to be saved by doing the job yourself. I noticed that the 'major service' at £199 offers a fuel filter, oil filter and air filter change. No mention of pollen filter. Seeing as it's so cheap and easy to replace, one might have expected that to be thrown in as well. I wonder if they would try and charge stupid money for adding that on.
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you are right £27+vat to replace the pollen filter, audi charge 0.2 units, 12 mins to replace, at £65 per hour - new rates.
i think last time i did it i took 10 mins to replace and it cost me £7!
Glen
 
I got my car back from an Audi main dealer after a service today,,,I had the call suggesting brake discs were a bit rusty and fluid and aircon were on schedule to be changed.
When I pointed out the brakes appeared to be less than 1/2 worn after myself and MOT tester looked at them last week, things got a little frosty...I declined the a/c service at £100 and will get the fluid done either myself or when I change the pads. I did succumb to the pollen filter at £27 though.

I do realise they are offering the £199 deal to get cars through the door, but the attitude changed when I wasn't happy to spend the potential £500+ bill they had their eye on.....The A2 TDi does 60mpg and costs £35 to tax, do they really think owners are in the mind set to spend small fortunes on a service?..

next service is likely to be at a decent independent for my car!
 
You'd have to have serious amounts of water in your tyres for this to be an issue?!

The only potential problem with Gunsons is the risk of actually pushing air into the system causing bubbles if you don't keep the cylinder upright and well-filled with brake fluid.

I use Gunsons to change my brake fluid every 12months, never once had a problem with the Gunsons kit.

Speaking of which, does the A2 use oil-based Dot 4 or the silicone-based Dot 5?

And has anyone tried using Dot 5.1 or other performance-related brake fluids like ATE Super or Castrol SRF?

thespringfield said:
I have heard that using such a system can contaminate the brake fluid with the moisture from the air in your tyres.
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I used to obsess about my brakes - I drove a 300bhp 1.5ton car and wasn't exactly light on the throttle. I also used to track it 3/4 times a year so would get through pads pretty quickly. Therefore I changed the fluid every year as the brakes were getting a thorough pasting.

If it's Dot 4 that means Dot 5 is an absolute no-no, completely incompatible due to Dot 5 being silicone based. However, Dot 5.1 spec fluid is compatible with Dot 4. Stupidly confusing.
 
I use SRF on a quick (non A2) track car and it is as good as it gets, but a total waste of time on an A2, you will never get enough heat in the brakes to warrant the benefits and extra expense.






Now we are due several posts from A2 driving gods who drive their cars sooo hard! :D
 
I'm getting the Brake fluid done at Kennys Vw in Inverness,
so will let you know what it costs for a proper Job :)
also a service next week :(
 
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