keith47

Hi Gareth - thanks for the further feedback. I think that we are almost on the same page with this issue. For the relatively small uplift in price quoted by the independent garage for supplying 'genuine' Audi parts vs the Gates equivalent I am comfortable asking them to do the job using Audi parts. My outstanding concern relates to what they told me if there was a subsequent problem during the warranty period for the work - i.e. I would have to take the car to an Audi dealership if 'genuine' Audi parts are used. Can't really see the logic in this - that is why I was asking if any other forum member had come across this before. I will call Audi UK today to seek their comments. I will also widen my search for Audi dealership prices - so far the ones that I have spoken to all are all quoting the official online fixed price service costs. If I go much further afield it will have be somewhere (by the seaside?) where I can enjoy the rest of the day whilst waiting for the work to be done.

Thanks for the further advise. I have obtained a price from an independent garage, which specialises in Audi cars. I have visited their premises and spoken to staff there - they appear to run a good operation. The price is a bit more than I have been quoted by 2 nationwide chains of garages but less than local Audi dealerships. The independent garage recommend replacing both the timing (cam) belt and the water pump as this comes as an inclusive kit. They also recommend replacing the alternator belt at the same time, whilst everything is stripped down for the timing belt work. I do not have a problem with this as I have finally accepted that I should have the timing belt changed due to age rather than my low mileage. They propose to use Gates parts , on the basis that they manufacture parts for Audi under the Audi brand name and they have good experience of using these parts in the past. They did give me an uplifted price for using 'genuine' Audi parts, which was not too much more and still less than Audi dealerships have quoted. However they advised me that if they use the 'genuine' Audi parts and I subsequently have a problem then I would have to take the car to an Audi dealership to have the problem investigated and resolved. Before I contact Audi for their comments, I would be interested to learn if any readers of this forum have come across this situation in the past. I do not want to become the meat in the sandwich, stuck between 2 garages, in the unlikely event of something going wrong (was it a faulty part or the way it was fitted? etc.). Any advice would be most welcome.

Many thanks for your further feedback, Gareth. The belt & water pump changes were made in September 2012 at 18000 miles (current mileage is 28000). I will discuss your advice with my local Audi dealer and check out prices with other Audi dealerships in the S.E. London area. Regards, Keith

Many thanks for the advice, Gareth (Magnet). The previous cam belt, altenator belt and water pump were fitted by an official Audi dealership so assume that they were genuine parts. I have obtained quotes from other nationally recognised, but not Audi, garage chains as these were more economical than the prices quoted by Audi 'on the 'fixed cost' section of their web site. Based on your advice, I will need to check it the other garages would be fitting genuine Audi parts or OEM equivalent parts - if the latter I will need to check for any price increase if I insist on genuine Audi parts being used. General servicing - I have already adapted that regime (2 years). Thanks for the reassurance on that. Keith

My car is 11 years old but the total mileage is only 28,000 - current mileage less than 3000 miles per annum. I try to do minimal short journeys and mainly use it for longer runs (50 miles +). According to the Audi service book, a number of additional service items (e.g. cam belt replacement, change brake fluid etc) should be carried out either by age or mileage, whichever comes first. When I first bought the car I was on variable service intervals but then changed to fixed service intervals, which I have continued to use until now. I had the cam belt, water pump and altenator belt changed after 5 years - the belts that came off the car looked, to me, to be in excellent condition. According to the book, I should now be replacing these again. I would be interested to hear members views on whether or not the 'age' criteria needs to be strictly adhered to in situations like mine.