bay area audi dealer for service?

[TunaRollZ]

hey guys,

Just wondering if any of you guys have a dealership in the bay area that you trust to do all your maintenance/service. I've heard (and experienced) nothing but horror stories of Steven's Creek Audi, so I won't be going there for sure.

I have an '06 that has free maintenance that I'd like to take advantage of. I'm thinking if I can't trust any of the local Audi dealers, I might just take it to a trusted local tuner shop to do the maintenance (streetwerke, br racing, etc...). I'd much rather pay for quality work I can feel at ease about, over shadiness & uncertainty from free dealer service.

Of course mod-friendly would be a plus... :)

Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!!

-jon

[LimiTed]

Rector by far is the best. my audi and my mom's porsche go there. hands down best customer service and no bullshit treatment ever. Roger is our service advisor and i couldn't be happier. they even install mods there (suspension, exhaust, etc.) so i wouldn't think that they'd trip too much. i have a dealer that i've dealt with in sac (near school) and i still drive the 1.5-2 hours to take my car to Rector.

[MattboyR32]

My experience with Rector has been really bad. Royal motors are just shocking. The best experience I have had so far was with Audi of Oakland. The service manager, Alto, is the best!

[10MPG]

Rector and ask for Roger Gray, tell him Nelson referred you to him and he will take care of you.

[OutlawDon]

Go to Rector in Burlingame and ask for Paul Medina. Excellent service.

[ottyavant]

I bring my ride to Audi of Oakland, Les is the service writer .....he's been good to me. Sometimes not the most responsive if you call the workline, call his cell he always picks up.

[joec500]

Rector and ask for Roger Gray, tell him Nelson referred you to him and he will take care of you.

HUGE 2nd.

[Omar0022]

Go to Rector in Burlingame and ask for Paul Medina. Excellent service.

x2

[TunaRollZ]

thanks for the responses guys!

I'll check out Rector first since they're closer to me. Glad to know I won't have to go to steven's creek audi ;)

ps - rector won't try to flash my ecu with the latest updates will they? kinda worried about my giac program lol. Can I see them while they work on my car?

[simona]

I bring my ride to Audi of Oakland, Les is the service writer .....he's been good to me. Sometimes not the most responsive if you call the workline, call his cell he always picks up.

Bring mine to AOO too. Les and Alto are very cool people. Alto the boss will even help his guys out when its really busy in getting his hands dirty. All the mechanics are cool to hang with. As long as you are respectful and do not get in their way, they are fine with you walking/looking in the repair area.

[smurfsvt]

thanks for the responses guys!

I'll check out Rector first since they're closer to me. Glad to know I won't have to go to steven's creek audi ;)

ps - rector won't try to flash my ecu with the latest updates will they? kinda worried about my giac program lol. Can I see them while they work on my car?

Just be up front and tell them what's going on. Best way to keep from having the dealer try to do the "required" vehicle update.

[TunaRollZ]

good point. Since I'll be dealing with a reputable dealer, I won't have to worry about them flashing me back just because I told them not to. hahaha

[pdxa4]

Yep definitely avoid Stevens Creek...Worst car experience ever...

[bigga24]

Yeah I know kinda late to this Thread, but just want to put an additional thumbs up to Roger and Hector at Rector Burlingame. Good people and they take care of you.

[speedydragon]

Hector @ Rector has been our go to guy for the past 4 years. Great service and manners! If you go with hector. tell him Ernest referred you ^.^

[TunaRollZ]

never too late to speak up! thanks for the tips folks!

[bklein8888]

I know I am super late but the service manager, George Demar @ Rector is an awesome guy...I have had nothing but great experiences there. I think, based on these posts that no matter who you speak to there, you'll be in good hands!

[TunaRollZ]

looks like i'll be going back to Rector tomorrow for more warranty work. Least my car will be clean after that! ;)

damn window regulators...first one, now another...blah

[darren @ SW]

I say Carlsen Audi, I have hook ups there, and if you need anything I can make sure it is done.

[TunaRollZ]

i'll consider them for next time per your recommendation Darren. I already made an appointment with Roger @ rector so I best stick w/ it. I just wish I could see them work on my car from the waiting room @ rector, but unfortunately the porsches are on that side of the service dept lol.

Darren - you guys free to do an oil change on my b7 for me? :) If so, I'd like to come in for one during one of my lunch breaks or something. Thanks!

[B7A4Sport]

I have a quick question for everyone, although the answer is semi-obvious to me, I just need to be sure.

I've heard mixed reviews of Sonnen Audi/VW in San Rafael, CA (North Bay), but my particular service attendant seems to be a good guy. However, the financier and salesmen were basically human scum, that tried to dupe me in to believing my 2006 A4 DOES NOT come with the free maintenance package. I need to take my car back for the scheduled maintenance, and expect not to be charged for both that service, and the oil change I need.

My question is, when I call my service guy, can I press him to not charge me, or will that most likely be something he'll transfer to the finance dept? I basically want to go in already equipped with the correct knowledge of this free mainenance for 2006's, and how I can fire back should they continue to try and dick me around.

My understanding as of now is: The free maintenance transfers ownership, plus the car is Cert. Pre-Owned. This maintenance includes BOTH the scheduled, mileage-based stops AND routine service like oil changes, brakes, etc and stuff besides tires.

Any suggestions, or should I just take it somewhere else all-together? I AM willing to drive, as long as their loaner situation isn't too clogged, as I commute daily and can't be without a car.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[TunaRollZ]

I believe your 06 should have free scheduled service up through 2010 (or 50K miles IIRC...whichever comes first).

This doesn't cover brakes by the way. I know because I just had Rector do my brakes for $4xx. Now I have lifetime replacements of my pads if I keep going back to Rector for scheduled maintenance, but rotors are not covered. :P

I think you should just ask your service advisor. They don't interface sales/finance or any other department when you go in for service. He should be able to look up your car and see if you qualify for the free scheduled service or not...

[speedydragon]

This doesn't cover brakes by the way. I know because I just had Rector do my brakes for $4xx. Now I have lifetime replacements of my pads if I keep going back to Rector for scheduled maintenance, but rotors are not covered. :P

...

I'm going in for some fresh pads soon! got my rotors ordered already!

[darren @ SW]

Darren - you guys free to do an oil change on my b7 for me? :) If so, I'd like to come in for one during one of my lunch breaks or something. Thanks!

Sure just give me a heads up, to see if I have a free lift avail.

[tpliquid]

i used to go carlsen until they stop giving me free rentals


i goto stevens creek and it seems like their service is better now. Free loaner cars and shit.

but this will be my first and last audi. I will be giong back to mercedes since their service is 5X better and i do not have to drive far

[TunaRollZ]

Sure just give me a heads up, to see if I have a free lift avail.

Thanks Darren!

I'll give you a call next week before heading over. :D

[[email protected]]

Rector by far is the best. my audi and my mom's porsche go there. hands down best customer service and no bullshit treatment ever. Roger is our service advisor and i couldn't be happier. they even install mods there (suspension, exhaust, etc.) so i wouldn't think that they'd trip too much. i have a dealer that i've dealt with in sac (near school) and i still drive the 1.5-2 hours to take my car to Rector.

Your right about that, Rector def. is better. I dont deal with dealers in the Sac area anymore.

[B7A4Sport]

I believe your 06 should have free scheduled service up through 2010 (or 50K miles IIRC...whichever comes first).

This doesn't cover brakes by the way. I know because I just had Rector do my brakes for $4xx. Now I have lifetime replacements of my pads if I keep going back to Rector for scheduled maintenance, but rotors are not covered. :P

I think you should just ask your service advisor. They don't interface sales/finance or any other department when you go in for service. He should be able to look up your car and see if you qualify for the free scheduled service or not...

Thanks much, I have an appointment next week, I feel pretty safe going in there and being firm on the free service thing.

Another quick question, if anyone would oblige, does someone know how lenient Audi is w/ the mileage as far as when you bring it in? I had to drive a LOT recently, and I now just ticked into the 27k's while overdue on the 25k mile service. Are they gonna hassle me about that? My suspicions are they give you a slight padding, especially considering the next appointment from when I called was almost 2 weeks out, but 2k miles seems sketchy.

Thanks in advance!

[TunaRollZ]

that probably depends more on the dealership you choose to go to (to an extent). Rector seems fairly lenient about it so far. 2K miles doesn't seem too bad, but best thing on that one would be to call and ask.

Are you planning to take your car to Rector?

[smurfsvt]

Thanks much, I have an appointment next week, I feel pretty safe going in there and being firm on the free service thing.

Another quick question, if anyone would oblige, does someone know how lenient Audi is w/ the mileage as far as when you bring it in? I had to drive a LOT recently, and I now just ticked into the 27k's while overdue on the 25k mile service. Are they gonna hassle me about that? My suspicions are they give you a slight padding, especially considering the next appointment from when I called was almost 2 weeks out, but 2k miles seems sketchy.

Thanks in advance!

I'll try to remember to look it up for you tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure your okay.

[TunaRollZ]

smurf - werent you in san jose before? where you working now?

[smurfsvt]

I'm still in San Jose. Slowly trying to help out. :)

As for your 25k, it really depends on when you had your 15k. Since the service is 10k miles or 12 months after your 15k, the specific mileage is not set. But unless you had your 15k done WAY before 15k, you should be fine. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll see if I can't get them figured out for you.

[B7A4Sport]

I'm still in San Jose. Slowly trying to help out. :)

As for your 25k, it really depends on when you had your 15k. Since the service is 10k miles or 12 months after your 15k, the specific mileage is not set. But unless you had your 15k done WAY before 15k, you should be fine. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll see if I can't get them figured out for you.

Thanks much, bro, been very helpful so far. As for when the 15k was done, I couldn't tell you off the top of my head cuz I bought the car w/ 21k. I could check, but it sounds like I should be hoping the previous owner was on the later side with the 15k.

I'm not terribly worried, especially because I'm cool w/ the service attendant assigned to me. If they do hassle me, I'll say F U to the dealer for both the stinginess and the deception over the free maintenance and go to Rector.

Thanks again, and anything else you can turn up is much appreciated!

[smurfsvt]

If you would like, I can see if I can more than likely look up when your 15k was done, but it wouldn't be till tuesday. Just PM me your vin. Otherwise, good luck with whichever dealer you did choose to service it.

[PinoyS4]

yes, take it to us at rector. i'm a porsche tech there. we'll take care of you

[SeKKeY]

^i see your car all the time..can i park in the loading bay if i need to grab some parts real quick?

[PinoyS4]

just drive to the back. it'll be easier.

[B7A4Sport]

Damn, well I didn't see this thread until it was too late to politely cancel my appointment (I hate cancelling), so I think I'm gonna give the dealer a shot given it is literally 5 minutes from my house.

I VERY much appreciate all the tips and offers, and it's more than likely I will bring my car to Rector in the future. You guys seem really cool from other posts 'n stuff I've seen, and only ever heard good things about the folks down there. Thanks again!

p.s. - I'm about to go over to the dealer in 15 minutes, I'll give an update when I get to work afterwards.

UPDATE:

I'm pleased to say that my service tech at Sonnen San Rafael is great, and not only did he not charge me, he even gave me some good recommendations for places to get body work and other mods done around town. So far, I'm happy enough that I think I'll save my gas for now, as much as I appreciate the open doors at Rector. I literally could probably hit the car dealer with a well-struck golf shot just to give you an idea as to how close I live, which is playing in a lot to my willingness to drive 1+ hour(s) if I don't absolutely have to. Car has a clean bill of health, no other problems reported, and I'm pickin' it up this afternoon.

Thanks again guys

[smurfsvt]

Good to hear they took care of you.

[Jay B7]

Can anyone advise on whether Rector hooks it up with a free loaner or rental?