Audi Fixed Price Servicing... Too good to be true?

Malt_Vinegar · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:26

My Mrs' Audi needs front pads/discs doing, normally I would do it myself, but looking at the prices for parts (drilled discs/pads) the costs are very similar to the fixed brake service from Audi.

They have told me the car qualifies over the phone, but the car is the S-line TSFI quattro special edition, which has the larger drilled discs which seem to be costly compared to the standard discs. I'm not sure the person I spoke was aware what I was saying about the discs not being the same as the basic A4 of the same engine.

Are they likely to ask for more money once the car is presented to the dealer? I don't see how they can do anything but lose money on these parts at the quoted price...

Anyone have any experience with them?

pepsilol · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:27

Lets see some actual numbers..

Malt_Vinegar · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:35

pepsilol said:
Lets see some actual numbers..

Audi are quoting £279 for the discs pads all misc parts and labour included.

321x30 discs are £77.11 each
Correct pads are £37.51 for the kit

So £191 for parts alone, from brakeparts.co.uk who I find pretty good on parts usually compared to dealers.

For comparison, Kwik Fit quoted £323.49

Peerzy · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:38

Malt_Vinegar said:
I don't see how they can do anything but lose money on these parts at the quoted price...

I'm not sure about this instance but plenty of companies have run promotions in the past that only break even or lose them money in an attempt to gain a customer.

They do a really good cheap job here and you are more likely to get your car serviced / repaired with them next time.

233 · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:46

Thing is the brakes probably cost audi sub £200 trade so their making best part of £100 to fit discs and pads which in fairness is an easy job on a ramp

--Mike-- · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:59

Get them to do a quote via email so you've got it in writing. I should think it would have your registration plate/VIN on the quote so they should know what they're quoting for.

Armageus · 8 Oct 2014 at 12:59

Malt_Vinegar said:
I don't see how they can do anything but lose money on these parts at the quoted price...

They possibly do or break even on them, but how common is the quattro special edition? - when you average across the whole range of 2litre and under cars for which their fixed prices apply, I'm sure there are a lot of discs/pads that they are making money on.

*edit*
e.g. just for the A3 8P the following are available, and barring S3/RS3 all would be covered by the under 2 Litre fixed price brake disc deal. Can't imagine 280mm discs are going to cost the same as 312 or 345mm.

So heres the list FRONTS 1ZA 1ZC 1ZM 1ZD 1LJ are 312mm
1ZE 1ZP are 288mm
1ZF are 280mm
1ZK 1LK 345mm
1LG are 370mm(RS3)

REARS front wheel drive 1KD are 255mm
1KE 1KF are 260mm
1KQ are 255mm
1KU are 286mm
1KZ 1KJ are 286mm

4 wheel drive 1KF are 260mm
1KJ 1KU are 286mm
1KW 2EA are 310mm
(RS3 312mm)

source: http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/brake-disc-size-guide-list-oem-fit.179189/

Malt_Vinegar · 8 Oct 2014 at 13:40

--Mike-- said:
Get them to do a quote via email so you've got it in writing. I should think it would have your registration plate/VIN on the quote so they should know what they're quoting for.

That's a good idea! Will get them to do that now

Its not a massively common car compared to the most of the range.

If you look at adverts, when I was looking for that model after coming across one by accident, there were less than 10, and only 3 within 100 miles. Its not exactly "rare", but not everywhere

Malt_Vinegar · 8 Oct 2014 at 15:17

My Email to them:
Good Afternoon Kenny,
I got your email address from the Colbournes Audi website.
Can you please send me a quote for changing the Front Discs and Pads on an Audi A4 (**07 ***).
I understand this comes under the fixed price servicing deal you provide and will be a like for like replacement. Can you confirm this for me?

Regards
************

Reply:
Good Afternoon Mr ******,
I can confirm the fixed cost for replacement front pads and discs is £279.
Please call us on 01483547700 and ask to speak to our bookings team if you would like to get this done.
Kind Regards,
James

Great stuff, will be visiting them in the next couple of days!

chanjy · 8 Oct 2014 at 15:35

Result!

Castiel · 8 Oct 2014 at 15:58

Audi's fixed price servicing is a bargain, none of the independents around here can even get close to them. Which is probably the whole point.

--Mike-- · 8 Oct 2014 at 18:50

That's a good result then. It's not really up to you to know what type of pads and discs you need if you book it in with them

telewebby · 8 Oct 2014 at 20:24

volkswagen audi group have 2 levels of brake discs and pads. the factory fit ones and a eco range. I found this out at a local TPS site

Alex

mccarf · 8 Oct 2014 at 20:46

I suppose if some people wait though, they'd have a little look around the new audis if they're bored. So by taking a few smaller losses, they might get a major sale they wouldn't of otherwise had because the customer wouldn't be there looking at new cars?

zain · 8 Oct 2014 at 22:02

Bit deceptive not asking and informing them about your concerns, so if they do end up giving normal ones, which is highly likely unless it says otherwise in the schedule, you will more than likely be told they are competent enough for the car and you will be stuck with them.

Saint · 8 Oct 2014 at 22:23

Audi make a small profit on these jobs, which are partly subsidised by each of the retailers on these campaigns, however the idea is that you will very likely return for more work in the future.

I can tell you that working with Audi on a daily basis and supplying them with customer data, they are all about customer retention and this is what this offer encourages.

I don't know if you know also, but they do price matching on parts, so another good way to save

Malt_Vinegar · 9 Oct 2014 at 00:09

zain said:
Bit deceptive not asking and informing them about your concerns, so if they do end up giving normal ones, which is highly likely unless it says otherwise in the schedule, you will more than likely be told they are competent enough for the car and you will be stuck with them.

I did, I told then on the phone clearly the model.
I just wanted it confirmed.
I fail to see how I am being deceptive. I even gave them the reg?!

JonnyGeee · 9 Oct 2014 at 07:53

nearly 300 quid for front brakes? blimey.

scratch · 9 Oct 2014 at 08:08

JonnyGeee said:
nearly 300 quid for front brakes? blimey.

Obviously depends on the size of the discs but that sounds like pretty reasonable pricing from a main dealer.

Just front pads on my 335i from BMW is £199! I recently got a quote from an indy who quoted £800 to do the discs and pads front and rear, and that was only charging 1.75hrs for fitting at £125. EBC discs and pads all round come in at £427 fitted, so you get an idea of just how expensive the OE parts can be.

InvaderGIR · 9 Oct 2014 at 09:13

zain said:
Bit deceptive not asking and informing them about your concerns, so if they do end up giving normal ones, which is highly likely unless it says otherwise in the schedule, you will more than likely be told they are competent enough for the car and you will be stuck with them.

If the lower spec cars have smaller brakes then they won't fit on the car anyway so I'm not sure what you're on about. The different types of discs they could supply are plain*, drilled, grooved, drilled & grooved. Chances are standard discs will be plain so there really is no way he is being deceptive and he will get "normal" brakes, as in, the ones that are normally fitted to that exact model, nothing smaller or worse.
As for pads, they will only be able to fit the correct size for the discs too, so again, won't be supplied with smaller or anything, the compound will be the same too.

*note I'm not saying solid as they will likely be vented and solid wouldn't fit on a vented set up anyway