Is Audi Care Necessary? Dealership said they will void warranty......

[VL221]

New member here. Just purchased my first Audi but have a few questions on Audi care.

Is it a good to have Audi care for $790? I just bought my S4 yesterday and the finance guy is using scare tactics saying that my warranty will be voided if it is not done by Audi or certified Audi specialist. I find that hard to believe because car enthusiast would rather do their own oil change rather than paying someone to do it. Not only that, I rather do it myself because I know that I can do it right.

Is it necessary to buy the Audi care if I usually do my own oil change and other maintenance. I noticed that the list on Audi care is primarily for oil change and inspections. There is brake fluid I believe one time and transmission fluid. Seems like that is about it. Too bad it does not cover wear and tear items like BMW. (brakes, rotors)

Also, is there anyway I can complain to corporate about terrible customer service regarding the finance/manager. He acted very unprofessionally when I declined Audi care and extended warranty. Not only that, he put Audi care on the contract without my consent. If I didn't look over my contract like most people, I would of been screwed.

[NWS4Guy]

If you do the required maintenance at a good indpendant shop you will likely come out a little cheaper. If you go AudiCare, it is FAR cheaper if you keep the car for that length of time if you go to the dealer without it. It's not a bad overall deal for the price, however, it's BS that not using Audi or some sort of "Audi Certified" person it will void you. You will need to keep all your receipts though in the event of any problems to prove you had the service done and what exactly WAS done.

[VL221]

If you do the required maintenance at a good indpendant shop you will likely come out a little cheaper. If you go AudiCare, it is FAR cheaper if you keep the car for that length of time if you go to the dealer without it. It's not a bad overall deal for the price, however, it's BS that not using Audi or some sort of "Audi Certified" person it will void you. You will need to keep all your receipts though in the event of any problems to prove you had the service done and what exactly WAS done.

Wow, you guys reply so quick here on Audizine. Faster than I can edit my post .

Exactly, I called BS on voiding my warranty but it seems more like a line use to push customers to purchase Audi care.

Since I am a DIY type of guy, how do you keep receipts of services you do on your own. Such as oil change, brake pads, rotors, etc.

[egalley]

They are making you pay for it? My last 2 Audi's they thru in the Audi care for free.

[VL221]

They are making you pay for it? My last 2 Audi's they thru in the Audi care for free.

I think I read somewhere that Audi started making customers pay for 2011 model? Correct me if I am wrong. But IMO, $790 is still a bit pricey for simple maintenance.

[Scott in H-town]

They are making you pay for it? My last 2 Audi's they thru in the Audi care for free.

You paid for it. It just didn't feel like it. You could have negotiated more off and then not had Audi care for "free".

[egalley]

Oh, I did get more off the car than just the free Audi care.

[Scott in H-town]

Oh, I did get more off the car than just the free Audi care.

Not saying you didn't. But if your Audi care was "free" you could have gotten more.

[NWS4Guy]

Wow, you guys reply so quick here on Audizine. Faster than I can edit my post .

Exactly, I called BS on voiding my warranty but it seems more like a line use to push customers to purchase Audi care.

Since I am a DIY type of guy, how do you keep receipts of services you do on your own. Such as oil change, brake pads, rotors, etc.

I'd just keep a detailed log book with the reciepts for the parts like filter and oil, the log book will match the reciept dates pretty closely, and you mark mileage down. They cannot make you do it. It's still optional though, not "required" or else it would be padded into the cost like BMW and VW's "free" maintenance - nothing is free. They also do more than simple maintenance, like knowing where all the zerts are for greasing the proper parts of the chassis, replacement of cabin air filters, and assorted things like that.

[UmIsThisThingOn]

It is against the law for a dealership to deny warranty because you didn't bring your car to them during the warranty term.
As noted by others, as long as you can prove that you had the work done, it's all good.

[TechnoCat]

You don't have to have AudiCare; they won't void your warranty unless you clearly didn't follow maintenance and it caused the problem. On the other hand, I really like dealing with my Audi dealership and was going to have them do much of it anyhow, at which point AudiCare is a great deal. The techs have a great relationship with you, the dealership GM does, and they go way beyond the call for you. Not because of AudiCare but because you're there regularly and they know you well.

A few years ago my coils went suddenly, 2-3 days out of warranty. I limped it to the dealer about 20 minutes past service-closing; the manager recognized me, held a mechanic over, broke into parts and fixed it free (or under warranty or whatever) right then. This morning my rear view mirror popped off and I couldn't get it on due to some bent metal and not knowing the secret wiggle-shake-prayer combination. (Large happy dawg doesn't understand where his head is.) They saw me come in, greeted me and drove it down to service and fixed it so fast I wasn't even able to get on the internet before it was back... despite other people there.

So to me AudiCare is worth it.

[leviathan18]

You don't have to have AudiCare; they won't void your warranty unless you clearly didn't follow maintenance and it caused the problem. On the other hand, I really like dealing with my Audi dealership and was going to have them do much of it anyhow, at which point AudiCare is a great deal. The techs have a great relationship with you, the dealership GM does, and they go way beyond the call for you. Not because of AudiCare but because you're there regularly and they know you well.

A few years ago my coils went suddenly, 2-3 days out of warranty. I limped it to the dealer about 20 minutes past service-closing; the manager recognized me, held a mechanic over, broke into parts and fixed it free (or under warranty or whatever) right then. This morning my rear view mirror popped off and I couldn't get it on due to some bent metal and not knowing the secret wiggle-shake-prayer combination. (Large happy dawg doesn't understand where his head is.) They saw me come in, greeted me and drove it down to service and fixed it so fast I wasn't even able to get on the internet before it was back... despite other people there.

So to me AudiCare is worth it.

thats not audi care thats a great relationship with your audi dealer, same happens with me and my dealer but i invite them to beers or we stay 2 hrs talking about cars, etc

so when i have an issue they go the extra mille

[AofC_RR]

If you're leasing they can actually charge you back per service you skip. It's in the contract.... Seriously Audi Care is a win. Besides it's meant to build customer relationships and bring you back in because they do things like RVU's and TSB's that you can't do yourself when you come in for service.

[VL221]

If you're leasing they can actually charge you back per service you skip. It's in the contract.... Seriously Audi Care is a win. Besides it's meant to build customer relationships and bring you back in because they do things like RVU's and TSB's that you can't do yourself when you come in for service.

From what I remember, TSB are supposed to be performed regardless if you have Audi Care or Warranty. Correct me if I am wrong.

[cellg8]

You don't have to have AudiCare; they won't void your warranty unless you clearly didn't follow maintenance and it caused the problem. On the other hand, I really like dealing with my Audi dealership and was going to have them do much of it anyhow, at which point AudiCare is a great deal. The techs have a great relationship with you, the dealership GM does, and they go way beyond the call for you. Not because of AudiCare but because you're there regularly and they know you well.

A few years ago my coils went suddenly, 2-3 days out of warranty. I limped it to the dealer about 20 minutes past service-closing; the manager recognized me, held a mechanic over, broke into parts and fixed it free (or under warranty or whatever) right then. This morning my rear view mirror popped off and I couldn't get it on due to some bent metal and not knowing the secret wiggle-shake-prayer combination. (Large happy dawg doesn't understand where his head is.) They saw me come in, greeted me and drove it down to service and fixed it so fast I wasn't even able to get on the internet before it was back... despite other people there.

So to me AudiCare is worth it.

May I know which Audi dealership this is? Thanks.

[helix139]

That finance guy must never have heard of Magnusson Moss. They can't legally void the warranty unless they can prove the service performed or parts used caused the failure.

[Dr GP]

If you lease, you actually get a 1% higher residual with Audicare. Basically pays for itself in the savings. My dealer recomended that I didn't need it when I was considering it at the time I ordered my car. At delivery, they threw it in for free.

[krunko]

Wow, you guys reply so quick here on Audizine. Faster than I can edit my post .

That's just NWS4Guy, he's some freak of nature S4 oracle...like a walking wikipedia of B8.

[joneill1155]

That's just NWS4Guy, he's some freak of nature S4 oracle...like a walking wikipedia of B8.

True that Bro, NWS4Guy is a walking, talking, posting B8 "Aficionado" for sure!

[A4_n00b]

That finance guy must never have heard of Magnusson Moss. They can't legally void the warranty unless they can prove the service performed or parts used caused the failure.

This is correct. Run (don't walk) away from any dealership that would try to pull that off on you. I'm sure there are plenty of local Audi dealers who would love to sell you a car.

[B8_Jim]

This is correct. Run (don't walk) away from any dealership that would try to pull that off on you. I'm sure there are plenty of local Audi dealers who would love to sell you a car.

But stop by the sales managers office on your way out and explain why they are losing a sale.

[AofC_RR]

From what I remember, TSB are supposed to be performed regardless if you have Audi Care or Warranty. Correct me if I am wrong.

Correct but how are you going know about them unless you stop by a dealer and ask or spend all your free time checking for new updates, etc for your car on forums.

[LeadToRome]

The main reason I like AudiCare or would probably take my car there even if I didn't have it is that the service departments want work and they're looking hard for things to fix, they don't care if Audi pays for it under warranty instead of you. The day my warranty runs out will be the last day they see the car though, most likely.

[gmann]

FWIW having your regular services done at he dealership can save you a LOT of coin in the long run, also you're getting your car checked over every time it goes in by an expert on JUST those cars.

I work at an audi dealership in the midwest and had a customer with an 06 A6 3.2L come in last week for an oil change at 55k miles and a CEL diagnosis, not the 55k maint. Well the CEL ended up being for chain adjusters and camshaft to crank deviation codes... the chain adjusters failed and the motor jumped time. We then informed the customer of this and told them that it would be wise for them to purchase the 55k maint like they had done with ALL prior maint's and not skip this one and we will see what Audi can do for the engine. Well, they sat on it for a while and decided to pay for the entire 55k maintenance. Audi's picking up the tab for the motor even though the car's well out of warranty.


Just another reason why it pays to get ALL of your service done at your local dealer.

[TechnoCat]

May I know which Audi dealership this is? Thanks.

Barrier in Bellevue, WA. I'm on my fourth car from them. I go out of my way to buy from them due to the service I've received.