How hard can it be...

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

Doodle

MB Enthusiast
Joined
May 3, 2005
Messages
6,188
Location
Echo Beach
Car
R129, KTM 1290SAR, Superb 272 wagon
...to get someone to change the gearbox fluid on an Audi? It's becoming clear that 14 years of SL ownership have left me spoiled and privileged. I've tried several different garages to get a quote and make a booking, without success.

The local main dealer has no idea, just trolling out the "It's filled for life" tripe. Yes, and I'd like that non-finite duration to be as long as possible please. Alas no, despite offering them my money they would not yield. I've tried several respected marque specialists, and while all have taken my details and promised to come back with a quote, to date none of them have.

It's really not that difficult a job, being a ZF 6HP box that was at one time or another fitted to half the yearly output of the German motor industry, and a fair chunk of the British one too. ZF themselves have published a video telling you exactly what to do. I'd do it myself but for being able to get the vehicle high enough, I don't think axle stands will cut it here.

:wallbash:
 
If you're happy doing it yourself, then maybe go to one of those "rent ramp time|" places?
 
That's where the recommendations came from, unfortunately :(
 
Do you have a trusted MB Indy that you know well enough to see if they'd do it ? Otherwise a general 'all makes' garage that you have used for other cars ?
 
Theres a VAG specialist just up the road from us who are good, called LMK Vehicle Services. Try them if they arent to far away from you :)
Natacha
 
When I was looking at a D3 A8, I spoke to 4Rings for advice - might be worth a try.

If not as said, have you tried your MB place? Mine works on other makes so I would take something like this to him.
 
Look around for a good Auto shop, there must be some around that you can trust.. up here we have Mackies and they're amazing. I wouldn't put mine anywhere else to be honest.. if you want they'll give you the guided tour of the shop, clean rooms etc etc.. John there is a bit gruff, but the service is impecable..
 
If you are any where near rugby Vasstech are a good indy.
 
Hard to believe no one will take this on.

How many places have you tried?

Had gearbox / diff oil changed on previous BMWs that were apparently 'sealed for life'. My BMW indy did say that it technically wasn't required, but was happy to do it anyway
 
Sealed for life - it’ll work until the warranty runs out then you’ll have to pay us thousands to make it work again :rolleyes::p
 
Yes - "sealed for the life"... referring to the lifetime of an ant if the ATF isn't changed!
 
Maybe not that short, but 'sealed for life' invariably means 'shorter life'...
 
Theres a VAG specialist just up the road from us who are good, called LMK Vehicle Services. Try them if they arent to far away from you :)
Natacha

Thanks Natacha, I'll have a look.

When I was looking at a D3 A8, I spoke to 4Rings for advice - might be worth a try.

If not as said, have you tried your MB place? Mine works on other makes so I would take something like this to him.

Slough is about 45 mins away, which is doable.

That would be PCS. Natacha, how does Olly feel about Audis? :D

Hard to believe no one will take this on.

How many places have you tried?

2 main dealers (Reading and Newbury), 3 marque specialists. I can't believe it myself, but the main dealers simply aren't interested because "it's not in the book", and I'm having the devil's own job getting a response on costs from the others.
 
In the end I've gone with Natacha's contact, LMK. They got back to me quickly with the right price.

I did get a response out of someone closer to home, but it quickly became clear they were referring to the local dealer (Basingstoke) who were feeding them a bum steer. First they didn't mention the filter, which the garage pulled them up on. Then they quoted for 11ltrs of transmission fluid - which would be correct if the box was bone dry. :wallbash:
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom