Gearbox Service

[ScottD3]

I contacted my local Audi dealer for a price on a few bits I want doing on the car but it raised more questions.

I asked them for a Interim Service and going by the site it should be £159 but they quoted me £250.58.
That's not a fixed price service or is it the fixed price service for a A8?

Next I asked for a AC service, they quoted £79 which is the same as the website, so all good there.

Last but not least and the main thing I want done, I asked them to change the oil and filter in the gearbox.
The came back with the line of "Its a sealed for life gearbox and we don't do that".

I read somewhere that they say this cause they don't know but I can't find the thread now.

Has anyone had their tiptronic gearbox serviced by Audi after they said its sealed for life?

I know of a couple of local gearbox places but I like the idea of keeping the Audi paperwork going and I'm happy to spend the money with them if they start getting their act together and stop being so ****e!!

I guess I could go to Swindon.

[tintin]

I don't think you'll get any Audi main dealer to do this - I didn't, and like others on here, I'd point you in the direction of either Mackies (Glasgow), or Chester Transmissions (Chester, unsurprisingly…).

Links are here:

http://www.mackie-transmission.com

http://www.transcentre.co.uk (I think…)

Service cost at Mackies is £155, more than that at Chester Auto (£c.250 from memory…).

There's also a couple of longish threads on this, here's one which covers the box replacement (which hopefully is less relevant to you.. …)

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5719

[ScottD3]

Thanks for the links. I'll have a read now.

Shame Mackies and Chester is so far away from me

[HPsauce]

I looked long and hard to find someone in the South(ish) who would do it and failed.
In the end my local VAG independent did a standard "drain and refill" with new filter etc. which is better than nothing.

[tintin]

Originally Posted by ScottB5

Thanks for the links. I'll have a read now.

Shame Mackies and Chester is so far away from me

Agreed - I used Chester Autos the first time, as it was fairly local (I'm in Cheshire), but went to Mackie's in Glasgow for the second service, and combined it with a short break in Glasgow, which made it a more sensible excursion. It's a long way just for an oil change….

The key thing about both these places is that they have the specialist "sucky/pumpy thing" which is required to do this properly, and which you'll hear mentioned on other threads, including the recent thread started by The Laird about the Mackies's open day. That's probably another reason why Audi dealers won't do this...

[ScottD3]

Found these guys.
http://www.cdtransmissions.com/

Apparently they are good.
I'm bashing that on the fact that I can't find anything bad.

[tintin]

Sounds like it's worth exploring. If it was me, I'd want to know how much experience they have of this particular gearbox (5HP24? - someone'll be along to correct that if I've got it wrong), which used on the '8 and also the Jaguar XJ6.

If they're official ZF agents, that would also be good. I think someone on here found a ZF agent based down south, but can't recall/find where that was: you should be able to get this info from ZF directly.

There also seems to be a very long list of cars that they say they will service the 'box on, and no customer testimonials, which could possibly raise alarm bells….

[ScottD3]

I found a ZF service centre
http://pilkingtonmarine.co.uk/

But its marine. lol

EDIT: I pressed the wrong button.

[ScottD3]

Better look at the correct map there appears to be two near Bristol that are partners.

What difference for it make to be a ZF partner?

[M-A8]

Scott, our gearboxes are not tiptronic as far as I know, or are they??? Tiptronics are not sealed for life and they need servicing every 30k or something like that.

Our gearboxes are sealed for life, but if you want to do it especially on a high millage car then MAKE SURE you really use PROFESSIONALS and Audi EXPERIENCE SPECIALISTS.

For anyone who is prepared to travel or lives local to London/Harrow I STRONGLY RECOMMEND this guys
http://www.audivwsc.co.uk/

The amount of experience they've got (Chris especially with A8s) is really impressive. They are just TOP BOYS.
I service and repair my car with them for around 3 years now and genuinely I can't even think of one bad thing about them, hand on my heart...well, there is one thing, not very comfortable sofa in the reception area
But on the serious note, I've done all sort repairs, from camshaft tensioners (both), cambelt, rad replacement, suspension, exhaust, longlife service, ac service, alternator belt, water pump, electrical faults and never ever had any issues with them.

Plus they use only genuine parts for very good prices and the main London stockist which supplies all Audi dealers in London and surrounding areas is just next to them, so any part any day Mon-Sat will be with them within 30min.

I can't remember if that was a service or just filter+oil change (dont know what else you can service there if gearbox is running fine) but it was £250 I think (or 350?? I'm almost sure it was 250)
Just check About Us section to find out more about them.

If actual cost will be less than quoted because of less labour involved, they WILL charge the correct amount. If your car is ready early, they will be on the phone to you to take car away to make room for another one (there is outside space of course) as in 3 years I've never seen a quiet day there, ever, and I've been there many times, sometimes even for a chat about some issues which I couldn't figure out.

They were recently adding Lucas Transmission maintainer for me (great stuff and it works), and not every VAG specialist will tell you, but even that requires gearbox oil temp to be something like 51 degrees, and they always follow this procedures as you would expect from specialist, where some would just add it, charge money and wave you goodbye. Not sure if temp requirement is crucial, but its there for a reason

Sorry for the write up, but I believe that real professionals should be always reviewed well...and they do full rebuilds as well, no matter if its a gearbox, engine or whatever.