Anyone had one – any fails? I got a 3 year old A4 just out of warranty but had full service in November with no issues so should be OK and they seem OK apart from charging too much for tyres 😉

Nothing is free.

I bet they'll tell you your brake pads need changing 'soon'

My brother had this on his other halfs TT. They found a raft of problems that didn't exist.

I am ready for it 🙂 I'll just take it elsewhere and recheck and never go back there – I bough the car from them and had it serviced last year – if they muck me around then I shall tell them I sahaln't be back – was going to get and A3 with then next year poss so I sahll also tell them that as well 🙂

Having a main dealer do your MOT for you is like inviting Gordon to have a look in your wallet and help himself.

Get your car booked into the local council MOT testing centre – they have no financial incentive to fail you.

Its already in there – I have also read plenty of stories about people having a good experience with Audi Free MOT's – personal as well so if they want to keep our custom then they should be fair – if not were taking it elsewhere – simple!

foxyrider- tip. When your service is next due ring round five different Audi dealers and ask them for their best price. The recession affects everyone.

There are stories of cars having their pads/discs etc changed at the annual services every year. One Piston Header bought a Volvo V70 (FVSH) that had this done And MORE. Poor feckers.

Trouble is unless you check you car over the night before then you are at the mercy of them really – I guess you just have to find one you trust – I'll see if I trust my local Audi garage after this. 😉

"There are stories of cars having their pads/discs etc changed at the annual services every year"

the problem with long service intervals – they have to make sure there's enough life left in the pads to last a year.

If they fitted a set last year and there's anywhere near half gone they have to replace them to get you through the next year.

It's one reason I go with an 'interim' service and oil change on my car – I don't want them replacing pads that have 10000 miles left on them because the next service isn't for 12000.

foxyrider funnily enough a year ago my car failed on a rear bulb. It failed ON THE WAY to the sodding test centre.

Doesn't affect the MOT however unless they are illegal wear – It would just be an advisory 🙂

I wouldn't have an MOT at a dealer. What Cranberry and Hora said:

MOT – go to your local council tester.

Service – ring around and get them to price beat (not match) as they're desperate for your business (I used to save about 50-75 on the 'going' rate). Also go to Halfords or National for 4L of approved oil and get them to put that in and save another 40 quid off the cost of a service.

Tyres – Get some prices from etyres or Black Circles. If you know you need tyres at the MOT/Service then you can tell them what you are prepared to pay. Any other time just get your tyres changed via etyres/Black Circles and have it done at home, work or at a garage local to where you are.

the problem with long service intervals – they have to make sure there's enough life left in the pads to last a year.

Service and MOT are different things, and keeping an eye on brake pad levels etc is outside normal servicing, it's something you should really check as standard fairly regularly if you're going to own a car. Unfortunately people are less and less able to interact with their cars and now basically expect someone else to check things for them, so costs rise as a result.

I've had mine done two years in a row. First time passed with no problems. Second time failed a tyre that had a bulge on it, didn't try and sell me a new tyre either. I took the car away got a new one fitted and got it retested within a couple of days for free.

Salesman that lives in my town even offered to bring it in for me, as I was struggling to find the time.

Top service and nothing to be afraid of, just get it done.

My wife as her A3 done last week – no problems at all…so it was free. As in free, no costs involved.

I had the free MOT from Audi last year, they passed it but said I should get new tyres soon. Which I did, 3 months later from somewhere else.

To be fair, their price for the tyres turned out not be too bad…

Which part of the Country, I';ve got an old A4 and the last two years it's passed,comes back washed and valeted too. There were some advisories that matched those listed by the indepent garage that does my servicing so I've no complaints. As said if they come back with a full list of things you can always go elsewhere

Free MOT then they will tell you this that and the other needs replacing, they told me mine needed new brake discs WTF so I took it to an independant garage who said I just needed pads, bunch of lying bastids. never taken my car to an Audi main dealer since.

When I had my TT I took it to the main dealer for the service (stamp really) but used to ask my honest local garage to do any other work. The dealer who I won't mention (but they have their name on a stadium where the Warrington Wolves play!), told me during one service that the car needed nearly £2k of addition work doing so I told them just to do the basic service. Took it to my own garage and it did need extra work doing, but about £200 not £2000. My mechanic used to work for a main dealer but left and set up on his own as he was sick of having to push people to have non essential work done just so that he could reach his targets each month!

I'll post an update when I hear 😉

Which part of the Country, I';ve got an old A4 and the last two years it's passed,comes back washed and valeted too. There were some advisories that matched those listed by the indepent garage that does my servicing so I've no complaints. As said if they come back with a full list of things you can always go elsewhere

Cars start needing MOTs around the time that they stop getting serviced at main dealers – hence offering an MOT cheaper or free they get people coming back and a better chance of using the dealers for servicing. Especially as a lot of people who only need a service a year try to time it to get the MOT done as well.

Most MOT fails are on bulbs and tyres, which makes you wonder how oblivious most people are about the state of their cars.

Newton Abbot Audi tis where its at – we shall see 🙂

Always look around when buying tyres, etc. Best bet to begin with is Audi forums, e.g. Tyresmoke and Pistonheads. Main stealers are rarely able to compete.

Just saved £60/corner this week by going to my local (reputable and very decent) fitter instead of dealer.

Pretty much the same for servicing. Check your warranty (extended or otherwise), and see where you can go locally to save another few quid. Usual stipulations are 1) must be serviced in accordance with schedule, and 2) must use genuine manuf parts. Saved £140 last week by going to a specialist instead of dealer. And it was only a tenner for hire car:)

SM

Simon_g, when was the last time you did a bulb check on your car? As in, have someone check the lights whilst you sit in and operate them?

UPDATE: A4 Avant 07 passed MOT – they failed it on headlight alignment on nearside and one advisory and then re-tested it for free. All the MOT was free of charge and no one tried to suggest fixing the small chip in the windscreen etc. Very happy Audi customer 🙂 saved me £52 🙂