Nice Dealer experience...but is it good value?

haudi partner

haudi partner

Member
I had a very nice experience at Audi Eastbourne today...it's very flash. The staff were nice, friendly and helpful. I went in for an air-con service...basically they drain and regas...£49. It's working again !! (at least for now, could be a leak somewhere maybe). They said I could wait, leather chairs, plasma TV, newspapers, free coffee machine, 2 internet terminals...very nice, I might pop in every day!! They are certainly not cutting costs on customer/staff facilities.They also washed my car for me (free) and chammied it dry..and I think they even hoovered it. Some of the cars in there are beautiful, the A5 sportsline...gorgeous...only £37,000 !!
Anyway, I asked about a cambelt change..they are doing it for £329 "heavily discounted" and I asked if they do the water-pump..."we recommend it and its another £90". So, is this good value ? I guess the work will be insured and I can go back if there are any issues with it? A major service is currently £199, which doesnt seem too bad either. Prices will be rising with vat soon, so what do you think...should I go for the cambelt?...I'm on 54000 and dont know if its been done already having just bought it with very little history.
 
It sounds like a good deal to me. You just as well save before vat goes back up.

I know that the cam belt has to be replace after 5 years.Not sure at what mileage.

At least I now know where to get a nice free cup of coffe:D
 
Just rembered I am pretty sure that all work done at a vag dealer is loged onto data base, so there should be a record of any work done.
 
The £329 is a pretty standard price now for cambelts amongst dealerships and the £90 is, I think, astronomical!

They get to keep the old pump, so it's as if you were getting the pump on an exchange basis (which is what they do at the parts department, should you want to buy one - around £90 if no exchange unit, £45 is you return the old one), so charging you another £45 for undoing a bolt and adding a little coolant is a lot!

All the actual work of getting to the water pump is done in getting to the cambelt, so see if they'll bring it down a little, maybe to £390 or £400 tops

Also for information, they might price match another dealership:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDI-CAMBELT-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item587e5177e1

Cheers,

Mike
 
Thats very helpful Skip, If my dealer would match that Staffordshire price (£275) then I would definitely get it done straight away. My tdi has done 54k so its inside the mileage but it is a 52 reg, so it should be done really. I agree about the pump, the part is £45 but to charge extra labour when they have got to it already when doing the belt, another £45 is a bit greedy...not so customer friendly and perhaps that is how the Bang and Olufsen plasma tvs and coffee-machines are paid for!;)
As far as the database...I dont think they had anything on my car when they checked the reg number...I will call them tomorrow.
 
I was planning to use Eastbourne Audi for my AVS's to maintain an Audi service record, so if it helps in your negotiation you can tell them that if they can give you a good deal you can bring them other business.
 
Audi Eastbourne

Pugliese said:
I was planning to use Eastbourne Audi for my AVS's to maintain an Audi service record, so if it helps in your negotiation you can tell them that if they can give you a good deal you can bring them other business.
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Well I mentioned that, and sent them the link for the Stafford Audi £275 deal. Seems they dont really want too much business unless it's well paid. As a special deal for me they have quoted £377 for cambelt, tensioner, water-pump and antifreeze. Its not really that amazing as all Audi dealers are doing the cam for £329, so they are doing the pump for £48 at the same time.
However mate, if you want the major service doing, call Peter Smith at Eastbourne Audi...01323-525700..they can do it for £199 but for a limited number they can knock off the vat...so that should save you £30! Mention the A2OC and that our members are looking to use them in the future and you should get that deal. Mine is booked in for tuesday and they are picking up the car from my house as well.
 
haudi partner said:
Well I mentioned that, and sent them the link for the Stafford Audi £275 deal. Seems they dont really want too much business unless it's well paid. As a special deal for me they have quoted £377 for cambelt, tensioner, water-pump and antifreeze. Its not really that amazing as all Audi dealers are doing the cam for £329, so they are doing the pump for £48 at the same time.
However mate, if you want the major service doing, call Peter Smith at Eastbourne Audi...01323-525700..they can do it for £199 but for a limited number they can knock off the vat...so that should save you £30! Mention the A2OC and that our members are looking to use them in the future and you should get that deal. Mine is booked in for tuesday and they are picking up the car from my house as well.
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Interesting about the VAT. They also quoted me £199 which was a lot better than Tonbridge £340! However next AVS not due for a while and I plan to do the annual oil/filter change myself. I will however need to go over there as i need to order the front retaining pegs for the mats
 
haudi partner said:
I agree about the pump, the part is £45 but to charge extra labour when they have got to it already when doing the belt, another £45 is a bit greedy...not so customer friendly and perhaps that is how the Bang and Olufsen plasma tvs and coffee-machines are paid for!
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I changed the water pump while replacing the cambelt on my TDi. There may be short cuts but to drain the coolant, remove the old water pump, clean the mating faces, fit the new pump, refill with coolant and bleed the system would take over 30min. With dealer labour rates of approx £100 / hr, an extra £45 seems about right.
While changing the water pump I think its worthwhile replacing the antifreeze after 5years or so, making it good practice to fully drain the system before filling up with new stuff
Just my two penn'orth

Cheers Spike
 
In a weeks time I'm having the timing belt replaced for £130 labour + kit + £35 pump + VAT. The labour is the same with or without the pump. Fair value I thought. I'll report back afterwards how it all goes.
 
extras

Will said:
In a weeks time I'm having the timing belt replaced for £130 labour + kit + £35 pump + VAT. The labour is the same with or without the pump. Fair value I thought. I'll report back afterwards how it all goes.
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Well Audi Eastbourne gave me a quote for the cambelt and tensioner and waterpump £377 fitted. I have just had a call from them whilst they are working on it and say there is a secondary tensioner with some play in it ( "which could go in 6 months" ) and this will be a further £25 + vat. I said I was quoted for the tensioner...they say this is another one extra to the kit that say Stafford Audi would fit. I appreciate the call from them but surely they should have quoted me this initially? What do you guys think, are there 2 tensioners to replace?
 
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