NickCats

I know this is a Mercedes forum, but I need to vent...

My wife brought her 2005 Audi A4 in for service today ( it was due for the 55k mile service ) and I was shocked at how much they charged :

$822 !!!

This includes :

$35 for replacing a tail light bulb

$85 deductable for warranty replacement of a "pressure regulating valve"

$180 for "fuel injection cleaning service"

Now, $35 for replacing a bulb is crazy, and the $85 for a warranty emissions repair is aggrevating, but the $180 for the fuel injector service is what really gets me ! Nowhere in the maintenace book does it mention anything about this service at the 55k mile interval. Is this necessary for a turbo engine, or just a pure profit line item for the dealer ?

So, basically $522 for the 55k service plus $300 for the items mentioned above ( and I thought Mercedes was bad ! ).

Comments ?

Nick

NorseWagon

If I am not mistaken they just add fuel injector cleaner on a bottle to your fuel tank.

mac911

Yeah that is odd.

My service advisor normally goes over the costs when I drop the car off.

If they want to do something extra at my cost, they call me.

Knock on wood they don't change that policy.

C300Sport

I do my service on an item by item basis going by what the owner's manual calls for. Most of the big packages are lined with some high profit margin items so avoid blindly agreeing to them.

As far as the bulb, it might not be that bad. We have a 2009 A4 and I was planning on replacing the headlights with some Silverstar Ultras. Turns out I would have to remove the air box, and numerous trim items,etc just to gain access. Anyhow, her stock bulbs are still there but I might prefer paying $35 instead of pulling out a ton of parts just to replace a bulb.

Samieee

Tail light bulb should cost no more than $10. But it really depends on how hard it is to change

You should find out what the fuel injection service included. If it really is just a cleaner, go and complain to them and you might get some money back. I once went to service my '10 Acura TL and managed to knock off about $100 by complaining about their rates. But that was before I paid.

GHAZAN

All service should be preapproved, that's why you get an estimate of cost before you leave....sounds like you didn't do your due diligence

Glyn M Ruck

Find another dealer.They are crooks.

MBnewby

Pretty sure you got screwed...sorry to hear this man. My suggestion is to find a well respected and honest independent European shop that will perform factory maintenance at nearly half price of the stealerships. That is what I've done, actually it's the only way I can afford a German car.

tanktube67

I hate when the stealers take advantage of the people.

bigben320e

You have some good advice from some others. I would suggest another, find out where the bulbs are in the car. Most bulbs are DIY, the majority of MB's bulbs take about 2-5 minutes to get to and change. They usually cost about $4-$10 as well.

Outside of that, you got stacked and jacked. Same thing happened to me, got charged about $180 over on a brake job at a dealer. When I checked with another dealer, and confronted the guys that did the brakes on the R, they gave me a refund of $150 pretty quick.

When something is not right, question it.

lfilomeno

Nickcats:

I do not kow if this will make you feel a lot better but I purchased a C300 sport about a month or so. Took it for a wiper blade replacement thinking that it was covered by the warranty. I end up with a $110 bill for a wiper blade replacement! I paid the price for being an MB Noob!

JimPap

I think the key for owning a Mercedes is to know which services you can do yourself (oil changes, rear bulb replacements, filters), which ones you take to foreign car specialist (brake jobs) and which ones you take to the dealership (transmission service, warranty items). I am unsure about things like front end alignments because if parts are needed, they're more likely to have them.

I only want to spend dealership prices when it makes sense.

Peabody

Who the hell has to pay a deductible on a warranty item? Also, your dealership suck. I recently hit a rain puddle, which managed to knock the splash guard loose in front of my passenger tire.. this proceeded to flap in the wind and knock against my tire creating a wob wob wob sound like I had a flat tire. When I pulled over and checked it out, the tire had ate through the panel. I took it into my dealership, and despite the fact Mercedes would not cover it as a warranty repair, my SA took one minute to say, but let me ask my service manager what he wants to do. Comes back 2 minutes later and says, "Don't worry about it, we'll just eat the cost." ten minutes later I was driving away in a loaner. Coggin Mercedes of Fort Pierce once again coming through as an outstanding service department.

NickCats

Thank you one and all. I gave the dealership a call this morning to voice my displeasure, and they pretty much couldn't care less.

- Apparently the deductible used to be $50, but it has been raised to $85

- Audi now "recommends" fuel injection cleaning service at 55k miles ( although there is no documentation ANYWHERE to support this )

- The entire tail light must come out to replace the bulb, takes about 15 minutes hence the $35 charge

The service consultant seemed irritated I dare question him on these charges. I can't wait until I get the survey, man am I going to let them have it !

I gotta say, I think next time around I might be looking at VW for my wife and BMW for myself just for the included maintenance. Getting bent over by the dealer every time I bring a car in for service is getting really old...

Nick

Sportstick

I would not back off on the expensive fuel injection service yet. Although your RO may have only said "55k Service" or something non-detailed like that, which does not itemize the steps, take a look at your owners manual, which should itemize the steps and see if this is included. If not, ask for the Audi documentation which "recommends" this. I know you said none exists, but you need to ask in person. Next step, if they cannot provide documentation on site, immediately ask for an appointment with the regional Audi service rep at his next visit to that dealer and ask him to document it. If he cannot document it, ask him how to file the complaint with Audi N.A. regarding dealer service practices. In addition, there should be local statutes which prohibit adding additional charged unapproved services...let him know you plan to call your local attorney general's office. At that point, he may very well disappear into the Service Manager's office and return with a refund.

bigben320e

This.

I spoke with the SM in my case of getting a refund. Nickcats, go above a sales consultant in these cases.

JimPap

Is this an extended warranty where you have a deductable? Seems that some of these third party warranties have them.

e1000

which engine is she running? The DI engines from Audi (all manufacturers really) have huge carbon buildup issues.

C300Sport

Have any of the manufacturers come up with a service plan on how to address this....other than blasting away with walnut shells, pulling the heads, etc? If not, our 2.0T will be gone before her 100K warranty runs out.

NickCats

JimPap - her A4 has a Certified Pre-Owned warranty from Audi ( I thought it was odd that there is a deductible as well )

e1000 - she has the 2.0 liter Turbo. So do you think maybe the FI cleaning was needed ?

Nick

e1000

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-up-Megathread

I would seriously question what they will be doing. If it's a comprehensive removal of carbon buildup, I would get it done. If it's something they're pouring through the gas tank, I'd skip it.

Glyn M Ruck

Latest Benz DI engines in Europe have a detergent tank that keeps the inlet clean & is topped up at service.

RLE

Where is she buying her fuel? If it's 7-11 gas or equal then there may be a question about the detergent package.

Lowest cost is not always the best choice.

e1000

Fuel quality is irrelevant for carbon buildup on DI engines.

JimPap

Is that's the "blue tech" technology?