Shift magnet

,

Hi have an Audi 2006 A4T. took me a long time to coax the car out of park into any gear a few weeks so took it to dealer and they told me I needed a shift magnet and charged me $150 for the part and $110 times 4=$440 for labor even though it only took them 1/2 hour to fix, when I questioned them, they said that was what they had to charge me for that service, it seems excessive but I didn’t know of any options, Audi seems to have a lock on even oil changes that MUST be performed at the dealership. Should I contact Audi America, I feel really taken advantage of by the dealership. Did I have other less expensive options to fix my problem …I had never heard of a shift magnet before what is it what does it look and how much should one cost.

Hoooo boy, for real. Shift magnets are hard to believe, but I do believe. You have my sympathy because I don’t know anything about shift magnets. I’d rather choose one of the 19 politicians who are running for governor in Maine. Something else I know nothing about.

Thank you for warning us all about Audis. Not that I would ever buy one anyway. I may have to start a rumor that Audis are just souped-up Volkswagens.

I’ve changed a lot in 42 years. I used to blame the owner for the cost of maintenance. I was younger then.

Find a different dealer. What is the 4 x $110 about? I think you are definitely being taken advantage of by the dealer.

There is no way on earth that Audi “requires” you to use the dealer for an oil change. Unless they are providing the oil change as part of some maintenance program that came with the car. They do require that you use oil that meets their specifications to keep the engine warranty.

Any way to prove they only had it for 1/2 hour? If you can, I’d then threaten them with small claims court, follow through if need be.

Unless they had 8 mechanics all working on this for 30 minutes each, I would complain very very loudly. You’re being taken advantage of, this is why I stay away from dealers as much as possible. Their repair shop is a bigger profit center than the new car sales floor.

There’s real world rates and book rates. Sorry but that’s the way it works. There’s a standard set of books that state how much time something will take for each and every car. MOST of the time a good mechanic can do it in less time…AND IT’S PERFECTLY LEGAL TO CHARGE YOU FOR THE FULL RATE (at least in most states that I know of). These rates are applied universally to the auto industry. And the average mechanic down the road has access to these rates and will charge you accordingly.

From a consumer point of view …MOST of time the rates are fair. It helps to keep you from getting ripped off by the mechanic who is cluelss how to repair a vehicle and charges you 10/hours for a simple job that takes everyone else 15 minutes to do.

I know a few GOOD mechanics…who’ll charge you no more then what the book says. If it takes less then they’ll charge you less…if it takes more…they’ll eat the difference.

BTW they don’t have to use the rating book…they can charge you by the hour…I’d prefer to be charged by the rating book…much more uniform.

Typical Dealership treatment! Look for a private Audi-VW Specialist garage, For that you should only have paid parts + $40 by such an independent mechanic. As long as it is a licensed mechanic who is doing on a car I assume is still within the warranty you are safe to not have your warranty voided. What kind of warranty does your car have? What conditions do you have to fulfill regarding going to this Dealer? If any? I never go to a dealer.

Audi’s without Quattro may be closer to souped up VW’s… However, I love my '07 A4 and the Quattro AWD option is a must have and nice piece of mind in crappy weather.

Dealers always suck.

There’s real world rates and book rates. Sorry but that’s the way it works. There’s a standard set of books that state how much time something will take for each and every car. MOST of the time a good mechanic can do it in less time…AND IT’S PERFECTLY LEGAL TO CHARGE YOU FOR THE FULL RATE (at least in most states that I know of). These rates are applied universally to the auto industry. And the average mechanic down the road has access to these rates and will charge you accordingly.

Sure it’s legal to charge whatever you want, but the day there’s a mechanic that can beat factory time to the tune of 1/8th, I’ll show you a millionaire. That’s impossible in any conventional sense. I mean, if the guy took an air chisel and MADE his way take 1/8th the time….

But if he’s not under some extended warranty, how in the heck is the dealer telling him he has to change his oil there?

Call Audi. Call the BBB. Don’t go back there again.