Audi A4 2003 - lot of issues to fix

TripleAce

Hi!

I drive an Audi A4 2003, so quite an old car (current value about 4k €), I took it today to the Audi dealer to have it checked, mainly because the break pads warning lamps was flashing - I took the opportunity to have a full check and when I received an itemized report of what must be fixed I nearly had a heart attack.
The report shows "Advisory items" and "Immediate attention", I would like to focus on the critical items first. A lot of the cost seem really high to me (for example I could get a car battery in Halfords for half the price shown below).
As I am not much of an expert on cars, I would appreciate if somebody could please advise which of these you think are the most critical to fix and also which prices are way off and could be getting fixed for much less elsewhere?

Immediate attention:

Battery Condition Poor 256€
Coolant Level Low - pressure test required 79€
Front Brake Pads 95% worn, disc 100% worn 279€
Front Brake Pads 60% worn, disc 100% worn 279€
Brake Fluid Due? 139€
Cambelt Due? 628€
Rear Flexile brake hoese perished 341€
Front tyre need replacing 74€
Wipe Blades Front need replacing 49€
Brake light not working 36€
Warning lamps - eml light on dash further time required 79€
Warining lamps - abs and traction lights on dadh further time required 79€

As I said the value of the car is just about 4k and I don't think spending 2k to fix everything is a very wise thing to do, so I would like your opinion from more expert on this. I am also going to see a local mechanic tomorrow and see what he says.

Thank you in advance for your help

tossy

Why would you bring a 10 year old car to a main Dealer? That list is ridiculous.

I'm no expert but...

Battery Condition Poor - 70 quid in Halfords or a decent motor factors,fit it yourself 10 mins.

Coolant Level Low - top it up and see what happens a liter or 2 of coolant 15 quid.

Front Brake Pads 95% worn, disc 100% worn
Front Brake Pads 60% worn, disc 100% worn
Brake Fluid Due?
Cambelt Due?
Rear Flexile brake hoese perished

See a reputable independent mechanic for firstly a second opinion and then a price.


Front tyre need replacing 74€ this seems the only good value for moeny on the list.

Wipe Blades Front need replacing go to Halfords but if the are the Aero type the won't be cheap,you can also get replacement rubber for Aero wipers which is cheaper than the whole blade.

Brake light not working - change the bulb 2 euro


Warning lamps - eml light on dash further time required 79€
Warining lamps - abs and traction lights on dadh further time required 79€

Anyone with VCDS can scan the car for you and tell you why these lights are on at least.

Where are you based ?

MuppetCheck

256 for a battery?

Take it to an independent garage for a second and often cheaper opinion.

OREGATO

Good post by Tossy, best bet is to bring it to an Indy. €256 for a battery is ridiculous!

Edit: MuppetCheck beat me to the battery cost also!

sean1141

Why in sweet jesus are you taking a 10year old car to a main dealer??

Battery Condition Poor 256€ A half decent battery will cost about 120 in any motorfactors. Fit yourself
Coolant Level Low - pressure test required 79€
Front Brake Pads 95% worn, disc 100% worn 279 150 should replace the parts
Front Brake Pads 60% worn, disc 100% worn 279€Im guessing rears? Again 150 max for parts
Brake Fluid Due? 139€20 for fluid
Cambelt Due? 628€An indy will charge half that
Rear Flexile brake hoese perished 341€ Hoses maybe 60 quid
Front tyre need replacing 74€
Wipe Blades Front need replacing 49€
Brake light not working 36€ check bulb
Warning lamps - eml light on dash further time required 79€
Warining lamps - abs and traction lights on dadh further time required 79€Both should be covered in the one scan

Rough prices off the top of my head for parts but a main dealer will be double the price for labour as and indy

_Kaiser_

tossy wrote: »

Why would you bring a 10 year old car to a main Dealer? That list is ridiculous.

sean1141 wrote: »

Why in sweet jesus are you taking a 10year old car to a main dealer??

Come on guys.. give the lad a break!!

TripleAce wrote: »

As I am not much of an expert on cars, I would appreciate if somebody could please advise which of these you think are the most critical to fix and also which prices are way off and could be getting fixed for much less elsewhere?

so I would like your opinion from more expert on this. I am also going to see a local mechanic tomorrow and see what he says.

As I've said here before.. not everyone knows or has access to a "trusted"/decent independent, not everyone knows someone "handy" with cars, and not everyone can strip an engine.

He's asked for advice not comments on how "stupid" bringing the car to a main dealer is. He even says he's bringing it to an independent anyway tomorrow! Besides, a lot of dealers are offering good pricing now for service work (although not in this case admittedly)

As I said, give him a break!

TripleAce

Hi,

First of all thank you for taking the time to answer all my question and so quickly, very much appreciated!
I never really took the car to the main dealer before, I just wanted a full check to see what was wrong with it (if anything, except from the break pads), and I thought only Audi dealer could run a diagnostics on the car (as I said I am not car expert). My plan was then to go to my local mechanic (he did a great job for very cheap price before) with the list of things to fix and see how much would it cost. The check today didn't cost me anything, so no damage done so far
I also spent sometime today on google/ebay checking out rough prices of the parts and I could see they were way lower than what I was quoted, but as I don't know the work involved in getting them fitted I couldn't have a realistic price expectation.

Thank you again, I feel a bit relieved now on the total cost

TripleAce

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Come on guys.. give the lad a break!!



As I've said here before.. not everyone knows or has access to a "trusted"/decent independent, not everyone knows someone "handy" with cars, and not everyone can strip an engine.

He's asked for advice not comments on how "stupid" bringing the car to a main dealer is. He even says he's bringing it to an independent anyway tomorrow! Besides, a lot of dealers are offering good pricing now for service work (although not in this case admittedly)

As I said, give him a break!

thanks Kaiser! don't worry I don't get upset so easily, I got the info I needed so I am very satisfied

sean1141

TripleAce wrote: »

Hi,

First of all thank you for taking the time to answer all my question and so quickly, very much appreciated!
I never really took the car to the main dealer before, I just wanted a full check to see what was wrong with it (if anything, except from the break pads), and I thought only Audi dealer could run a diagnostics on the car (as I said I am not car expert). My plan was then to go to my local mechanic (he did a great job for very cheap price before) with the list of things to fix and see how much would it cost. The check today didn't cost me anything, so no damage done so far
I also spent sometime today on google/ebay checking out rough prices of the parts and I could see they were way lower than what I was quoted, but as I don't know the work involved in getting them fitted I couldn't have a realistic price expectation.

Thank you again, I feel a bit relieved now on the total cost

Sorry if I came across a bit harsh. You done well to get the check today for free but if they had gone ahead with the work they would have gotten it out of you!!
Your local guy should have no problems with any of the work and if he is decent he could tell you half of the stuff is not needed. Get him to look over it without telling him what audi said it wanted.
Be careful with parts off ebay. They will not be the same quality as the genuine audi stuff unless they are oem parts. Your local motor-factor could be even cheaper.

tossy

I wasn't being harsh on the poster at all and i don't think i came across harsh,i have them a massive break with my informative reply

Where are you located OP.

TripleAce

sean1141 wrote: »

Sorry if I came across a bit harsh. You done well to get the check today for free but if they had gone ahead with the work they would have gotten it out of you!!
Your local guy should have no problems with any of the work and if he is decent he could tell you half of the stuff is not needed. Get him to look over it without telling him what audi said it wanted.
Be careful with parts off ebay. They will not be the same quality as the genuine audi stuff unless they are oem parts. Your local motor-factor could be even cheaper.

no worries, my plan tomorrow is to take the list of things to fix to my local mechanic but without the Audi quotes and get an opinion/quote from him, then decide to go ahead based on that. I need to check in the service book if the time/belt was changed before I bought the car 3 years ago as I am not sure, battery is not a problem, I can keep it until it goes and then get one in Halfords when it dies...I am more keen in getting brakes/tyre fixed first for safety and see what the story is with the warning lamps.

When I took the car to the Audi dealer today I told them in advance not to do any work/replacement without calling me first

Fuh Q

Its no wonder main dealers are closing, that price list is ridiculous.

TripleAce

tossy wrote: »

Where are you located OP.

Bray...

slimjimmc

tossy wrote: »

Why would you bring a 10 year old car to a main Dealer? That list is ridiculous.

I'm no expert but...

Battery Condition Poor - 70 quid in Halfords or a decent motor factors,fit it yourself 10 mins.

Coolant Level Low - top it up and see what happens a liter or 2 of coolant 15 quid.

Front Brake Pads 95% worn, disc 100% worn
Front Brake Pads 60% worn, disc 100% worn
Brake Fluid Due?
Cambelt Due?
Rear Flexile brake hoese perished

See a reputable independent mechanic for firstly a second opinion and then a price.


Front tyre need replacing 74€ this seems the only good value for moeny on the list.

Wipe Blades Front need replacing go to Halfords but if the are the Aero type the won't be cheap,you can also get replacement rubber for Aero wipers which is cheaper than the whole blade.

Brake light not working - change the bulb 2 euro


Warning lamps - eml light on dash further time required 79€
Warining lamps - abs and traction lights on dadh further time required 79€

Anyone with VCDS can scan the car for you and tell you why these lights are on at least.

Where are you based ?

You complain about main dealer prices then you send him to Halfords for wipers? :eek: :P
OP, you'll get wiper blades in a motor factors for half (or less) the price Halfords charge.

George Dalton

Main dealers wouldn't offer these free checks unless it was generating work for them. I would say that for every one customer like the OP who gets the free check done and takes their work elsewhere there must be multiple people who just agree to the work and get fleeced.

Digital Society

Thats off the ****ing wall. Youd be an idiot to pay that. Even for an Audi Dealer thats the high end of extreme.

Half the stuff you would easily do yourself. The rest a garage would do for half nothing.

2 mins of a scan would cover the last 2 X 79s. Absolute scam charging twice. If you seen what they are actually doing there you would see how much of a scam that is

2k I would have laughed in their face. Where they not even laughing when handing you the quote?

Never ever spend another cent in that dealership and with any luck they will soon lose the right to sell / fix Audis. Hopefully 1000s see this bull**** and do the same thing.

Kace

Did he put that quote into writing on Audi paper ? Shameful.

My favourite is the rear brake light for €36. That takes about 10 mins to fix yourself.

The tyre is about the only thing on there that's decent value - although judging by the prices of the rest of the items it's probably a crap tyre he has quoted you for.

One tip for you - I have an A4 as well and often have problems with the rear brake light failing, as it tends to get a bit of moisture inside. The funny thing is when you fix this by replacing the bulb, I would not be at all surprised if it clears some of your other warning lights inside.

I had all sorts of crazy lights on the dash and thought my car was a lemon - until I replaced this pesky bulb !!!!

tossy

slimjimmc wrote: »

You complain about main dealer prices then you send him to Halfords for wipers? :eek: :P
OP, you'll get wiper blades in a motor factors for half (or less) the price Halfords charge.

Wow you quote all my post just to nit pick at wiper prices? Ignoring all the helpful advice. Halfords are a stockist of Bosch Aero wipers,in my experience most motor factors don't stock them and sell charlie cheapo spurious wipers,nothing more annoying than cheap wipers.

galwaytt

tossy wrote: »

Wow you quote all my post just to nit pick at wiper prices? Ignoring all the helpful advice. Halfords are a stockist of Bosch Aero wipers,in my experience most motor factors don't stock them and sell charlie cheapo spurious wipers,nothing more annoying than cheap wipers.

And they do good pricing on Bosch S5 series batteries with 5 year warranty as well. On a Sunday. And discount if you're with AXA. Win win win.

slimjimmc

tossy wrote: »

Wow you quote all my post just to nit pick at wiper prices? Ignoring all the helpful advice. Halfords are a stockist of Bosch Aero wipers,in my experience most motor factors don't stock them and sell charlie cheapo spurious wipers,nothing more annoying than cheap wipers.

Wow obviously failed to see the 2 smilies while losing all sense of humour?
No nit picking, plenty of motor factors stock Bosch wipers, including Aeros, I know of 2 such stockists within 2 km of me. I don't use Aeros but I do buy Bosch standard blades and the indies around here are consistently far cheaper than Halfords for the exact same product.

Batteries seem priced well in Halfords though.

TripleAce

Short update: I took the car to my local garage and will get everything done for around 900€, including front/rear brake pads and discs change, rear flexi pipes replacement, battery and timing belt change, break fluid change, water pump, coolant

darragh o meara

Battery: Can be got a lot cheaper in a motor factors and not the hardest thing to replave .

Brakes: Again buying from a motor factors will save you a fortune. I done front and rear pads and discs on my old Passat (basically the same car) for less than the quote for one axle on yours.

Brake light not working: Check the bulbs!! If they are OK its highly likely to be the brake light switch which will also bring on all those lights on the dash... The switch is about 10-15 from main dealer.

Other fault lights can be checked either by someone with a vagcom cable or just buy one yourself. I bought one from done deal for 30 euro and it works perfectly.

Can't remember what else was on the list but you were being had!! Sounds like a quote you'd get from a certain tyre chain...