Main Dealer or Independent Service

"Richard Goulding" > wrote in message
...
> I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says
he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

Before you make a choice, get quotes from a few other dealers in your
approximate area (£800 buys a lot of petrol ;o)

I can't remember exactly how much a service varied between low and high in
my area, but it was something like 50-100%. Yep, up to double from a
different franchised dealer.

One also upped the price substantially when I converted from a quote to
booking the car in. And lost the business in the process..

I'm personally very happy about specialists carrying-out work, but stick to
the dealer for the service stamp. 'Tis up to you, really..

--

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!