Oil Service
 

Ok, the warning came on ... Can't see what the big deal is to change the oil. So off to my favorite, Kwick Fit ...

They did the change, but I noticed the guy on the diagnostics terminal so I popped round. He was saying I think this has worked. I got on the MMI and showed him the service setting, reset nicely no problem.

Switched to the Oil level .. Oh dear, overfilled. So fair dues, he immediately shut down the engine, tried to suck some oil out, no go as their oil sucker pipe was too big. drained some oil down through the sump plug and topped it back up.

Everything A OK.

Apparently their manual says 8.2L but in reality it should be 7.5L with a top up. So watch out for that one.

Anyway ...total bill for the oil change = £53

So I'm happy with that.

Kwik Fit for a oil change on a D4?

Why not? it is only oil a filter and a new washer?

Better than £300+ from Audi.

That is true but they did over fill it.

I would not KW with a BMX.

And who knows what quality oil and filter they used. Besides that oil service at dealer is just called oil service but includes many other things they check and lubricate

Edit: Not specific to D4 but this is example service checklist for older Audi's on Longlife service intervals. Now it's all online and computer prints out joblist depending on model, previous service history and mileage, time since last service.

I doubt it, the additional depreciation lost because of a KwikFit 'service' history will cost you more in the long run, plus untold problems caused by lower quality components and fluids probably fitted by a spotty teenager just out of school.

If you want to save money, go for it, but not KwikFit and their like, at least find a decent indy, I wouldn't let them anywhere near any of my cars, not ever.

Two true Kwik Fit stories:

1. Some time ago I took my D2 to a local indy for a few jobs, including a wheel alignment check.

When I picked it up, the 'alignment' had resulted in a car that didn't feel right and a steering wheel that was miles off 'straight'.

When challenged, the indy confessed that their alignment machine was faulty, so they'd sent the car to the local Kwik Fit! The indy sorted it properly on their, now working, machine and gave me a refund.

2. Many, many moons ago, I drove a Triumph Spitfire and got a puncture. So I swapped it for the spare and took the punctured wheel into Kwik Fit for repair. Picked it up a day later and went to put it back on the car as the 'spare' was a little lacking in tread.

It didn't fit! Clearly, they'd mixed my wheel up with one from another car. They assured me they knew which car had got my wheel and they'd get it swapped. But after 2 months of fobbing me off with one excuse after another, I insisted that they bought me a new wheel and tyre - which they eventually did.

But I always wondered about the poor sod who had my Spitfire wheel as a spare in his boot. He probably got a puncture one dark, wet night, went to put the spare on and it didn't fit!

The moral of this story is "You can't get better than a Kwik Fit f**k-up".

My summer toy is a Porsche Boxster 987 3.2S, the perceived wisdom to stop the engines going 'bang' is to double up on oil changes. It's relatively common practice for us to use Kwik Fit for this as they usually use Mobil 1 fully synthetic and an OEM filter, all for 25-33% of the price of an OPC.
Kwik Fit use an oil change as a loss leader to get you in the door in the hope of getting other, more profitable,work whilst you are there).

I wouldn't use them for a proper service, however, for an oil change, it's a no brainer.

I hang around whilst they do it though.

:)

I know about this as a previous Boxster owner too.

However, both my local indy and local OPC would both price match - an oil service at Solihull OPC for the same price as KwikFit, now that was a no brainer!

There have also been instances reported on boxa.net about KF messing up Boxster services, overfilling being quite common, but also doubts whether it is actually Mobil 1 being used

That's (good) news to me about an OPC price matching on an oil change.

Re the Mobil One, I've absolutely no doubt that that's what my local Kwik Fit used on mine.

You got a link to Boxa for that one?

there are loads of threads about Kwik Fit oil changes on boxa.net, here's one of many

http://www.boxa.net/forum/index.php?...it#entry673981

although I think you need to be logged in to read their forums.

It's a useful site if you have a Boxster though, worth registering.

I have to apologise though I think, don't think the OPCs will match Kwik Fit, only Indys using OPC parts including the filter - you don't get a Porsche filter with Kwik Fit, and I think they drain the oil rather than sucking it out as porsche prescribe. I am sure you could use it to negotiate them down though.

I'm a moderator on Boxa and wasn't aware of anything strongly for or against Kwik Fit there, the thread you've linked to is largely positive re Kwik Fit. As with any company I suppose it depends in who you actually get on the day.

Draining the oil is the norm rather than the exception, never been keen on just sucking it out.

:)

I knew I recognised that name

:)

Your's was easier to place!

Sure, but having said all that. The D4 has two services one is an oil change and one is real service.

They are both are shown in the MMI page with a millage countdown and day countdown.

So the oil service on my D4 3.0 TDI is exactly that. Change the oil, change the filter and a new washer on the sump plug ... nothing else...

My next service is now due in 2,200 miles. My next Oil service is due in 15,000

I appreciate the downer a lot of people have on Kwickfit, but in reality they are not that bad for what they know.

Is there anyone on this site who wouldn't buy tyres off them? (for the right price)

I won't be putting the car in at Kwickfit for its service, I'm eying up a local Audi specialist independent garage.

BTW: my back brake pads are still going at 9K miles.

Damn right I wouldn't, not unless I'd like my alloys to come back damaged, wheels not balanced correctly, shall I go on? :tuttut:

Again, not my experience at all.

I have had an alloy damaged with no compensation from Blackcircles.com. Dropped the car off the jack.

I once put my Audi A6 in for a service with 54K miles at a midlands Audi dealer and they rang back with a bill of £1,600 of unnecessary work. Including a new rear brake cable (not changed with 165K on the clock), new disks (replaced at 110,000), pads (80K).

I collected a brand new 0 miles Volvo XC90 that was supposedly been through a PDI. The vehicle wouldn't do over 30 miles an hour. Turns out the airflow sensor cable wasn't plugged in.

Personally I keep a beady eye on who is working on my car. After a period of time I begin to trust the company, but still question them.

The Kwik Fit that I use does honest work and has looked after me and my cars for the last 14 years. So you can say whatever you want I will still keep using them for the right sort of jobs.

Had a Honda from new. Lacquer started to peel away from a stone chip on the wing, not a small bit a large patch. Had to write a solicitors letter to get them to rectify it under warranty. It took no less than six dealer visits including two overnight drop offs, with no courtesy car.

I get the feeling that there is a bit of Skoda syndrome going on here. Using Skoda as a good example of brand that was horrendous, but is now top quality, but still shunned by people who don't know what they are talking about.

I think the whole industry needs an arse kicking to be frank, especially main dealers, so when I come across someone who at least does what they promise I tend to rave a bit about it.

As for depreciation for using Kwik Fit I've not noticed it at all. In fact, I traded my last car bought for new at private book with a fully stamped up Kwick Fit service history. There are some private buyers that will walk away, most don't care. -- I do get it that Porsche is different, but they are a different type of buyer and market.

BTW: this all my own opinion. I fully respect your experience and views.

This I can agree with

A fair point, and I guess it does vary from branch to branch depending on the staff they have in.

Totally agree with this.

I wasn't singing the praises of main dealers, not at all, more so the small owner-run independents who live on their reputation.

I'm afraid I wouldn't even come to look, it's not just a Porsche thing, an A8 is a big chunk of expensive metal too. If you were selling a 2 grand city car, then fine, but not for anything that needs the right touch.

Two year old XC90 Volvo, on a trade for my A8. Not a city car. Mine is a 3.0 Diesel, not an S8 with a V10 -> So I'm comfortable with the approach.

I do agree with the local independent, going to test one out shortly. Hopefully we will bond :) The problem with them is they are a 30 minute drive away; hence the KF option for minor jobs.

This is the result from a forum I moderate on, of a recent kwik fit tyre change. 4 miles after fitting a new tyre the wheel came off, luckily not on a motorway
http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic...l=+kwik%20+fit

Not sure if you need to be registered to see the pictures.

Ok, had a vauxhall many years ago, bought it second hand from a main franchised VW Dealer. Engine let go on the motorway, threw a rod. Towed it back to the dealership, agreed to fit a rebuild engine. Took two weeks to sort. Pick up the car its burning oil and smoking like a chimney, like something out of fools and horses. Take it back for engine #2. Fixed in the end. Immediately traded the car in on something else.

Had a brand new 7 series. Some muppet stuck a massive dent on the door whilst it was parked. Quoted the work around. Franchised BMW dealer came the cheapest. Dropped the car off. Week later come back. As I drove onto the lot I can see my car. The repair is so bad I don't even need to get out of the car. Go to reception they immediately try to take payment. I say to the reception guy, let's go have a look shall we. I stand in front of the car and say ...That is not fixed... Proceed to have an argument with the service manager giving me some bull about the door needing to be replaced and it will be impossible to fix. .... Proceed to have a complete rage fit, (And I swear this is true) The dealer principle happens to be behind the service guy, whilst I'm bellowing at the top of my voice on various topics. Service guy bundles me into to a room, one week later car is properly fixed.

I can go on and on and on .....

Had a Golf GTI 16V, took it into the local VW agent to get some warranty corrosion work done on the drivers door, went back a week later to discover they'd ended up replacing the passenger door whilst leaving the drivers door untouched.............

LOL... When I was in the Navy I went to the on ship dentist.

Needed a tooth filling.. Yes same thing. two for one.

What do people think of Halfords Autocentres?

I had a spotty youth replace the battery on my old A8 a few years ago, as my back was iffy and I couldn't lift the battery - but even that seemed to be a challenge!

It took him ages and he made it look really difficult. I've done the same job myself since - no problem. So, if a simple job like that is a challenge, would I go there for anything else? Not a chance.

On the whole, this debate seems to be KwikFit vs Stealers, citing c**k ups on both sides. IMHO, both are rubbish and I've had bad experiences of both.

The only place I've found a garage that....

a) has all the right equipment
b) gives a s**t about older cars
c) pays enough to recruit qualified mechanics
d) knows what they're doing with a 'high end' car

....is a good Audi independent. And even they don't get it right all the time!

LOL, no better than KF mate.

Go and sit in their carpark for 10 minutes and watch them scratch their heads trying to change a light bulb or a wiper blade. Funny as :ROFL:

I did that with a parcel company and I noticed this.

http://youtu.be/upJswKYb5vA?list=UU_...h41ZgHnHsdASvg

Bumping this thread from the depths but National Tyres are quite competitive on oil changes only. A few years ago I had them do an oil change on my Mk 1 Audi TT and they did it within an hour with no advisories for extra work.

I've recently put details of my 3.0 TFSI D4 into their website and they quoted a very reasonable £40 for Fuchs Titan plus an extra 10% off with one of their discount vouchers. I know this oil is pretty decent given that Opie Oils seem to recommend it regularly. Not sure I'd be happy with a National stamp in the service book though.

And there's your problem, nor will anyone else when you come to sell, depending on age etc you're wiping off £500-1000 of its resale value

Stick to a reputable specialist or Audi dealer, or, if you plan to keep it forever, DIY it

Mobil 1 is not an oil, it's a brand!

With at least 8 different types of oil and only some of which meet the VAG spec 504.0 and 507.0, would YOU trust them to put the right oil in for your Audi or Porsche?

Julian