I am considering purchasing an Audi from one dealer due to the deal they are offering. There are three others dealerships closer to me. If I get Audicare, do I have to go to the specific dealer I purchased from in order to get service, or can I go to any of the local dealer service center?
You can go to any Audi dealer. They’ll see it in the system when you show up for service.
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Sure can. You can even take it to an independent shop if you’re not getting free maintenance.
@michael beat me by a nose
Yes but I always wondered…you are not allowed or not guaranteed a loaner car if you go to a diff dealer for service??
I don’t think you’re necessarily guaranteed a loaner with any brand. They can loan out all of them on any day. They may put you in a rental, or depending on how far you live, drive you to/from the dealer. I know that I need to book a little in advance to get a loaner from the Volvo dealer closest to me (not where I bought it), but I usually schedule service when I’m working from home, and they drive me home, then pick me up to go back.
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I get service on my BMW and MINI at a different dealership than the one I leased from. Never had any problem with getting a loaner. Just need to schedule it a few days ahead to confirm loaners are available.
Don’t underestimate how much money dealerships are making from services.
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Yes but what money is made on covered services???
The only thing that hasn’t been said: that’s why you get BRANDcare: AudiCare, ToyotaCare, Subaru Safe and Secure - any dealer accepts it.
But why are you getting a warranty or maintenance on a lease? There are a few reasons why, but not clear from your post. When I had a 2004 WRX lease for 45k miles, I added Subaru Safe and Secure in case the turbo exploded (and canceled at disposition and got money back). This lease is a hybrid for 45k so I added a warranty to cover that (in case the inverter dies at 37k miles, I don’t want to be the asshole in the showroom screaming about a dead car that needs an $8,000 part). Some leases have insane breaks and tires where maintenance MAY make sense, but usually it’s just for that dealer.
So why AudiCare on this lease?
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Audicare can raise the RV a point, making it nearly a wash in some cases, with the convenience of services already covered. Some folks like that warm fuzzy and it’s almost free.
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Audi care covers maintenance covers 4 of your scheduled maintenance after the free first maintenance. Is is usually $800-$1000 and also raises the residual by 1%, so it is almost a wash. So for maybe $10/mo more, you get all of your scheduled maintenance included.
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I wouldn’t get to tied up about a loaner, unless the car is a lemon you’ll only be in 2 or 3 times for service depending on the term.
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If I understand your question, the covered services (like BMW 3-year maintenance package) are paid by BMW, not the dealership.
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Oh it makes no difference to me, as long as I get one or a ride. I usually end up going more times than that - annual inspections, little things, being nit-picky about others.
Annual inspections? What are those, I only take it in when it says to, it’s basically a long term rental car.(I drive it as such too)
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Yeah, yeah, lawless Florida and such. That’s how I got away with driving my 1996 Grand Cherokee for so long. Here, you will get a ticket without a valid sticker.
After leasing our Grand Cherokee with a dealer that didn’t offer loaners (got a lemon - it was pure hell for four months), I made sure my next lease was with a dealer that did. Most dealers around us offer loaners as a “perk” to customer who buy from their dealership. If you don’t buy from them, no loaner. At least that’s been my experience. Probably depends on the brand. My dad had an Infiniti years ago, bought on eBay and shipped to him, and his local dealer always offered him a loaner.
This is what Bmw told me…the loaners were for their customers. Were the bluffing? Not sure but I’m pretty sure there’s no recourse if they didn’t offer me a loaner. But yes, you are all correct a deal shouldn’t be based on getting a loaner
I’m not sure if your statement lacks a context, but how are you not a customer? You are taking your BMW to a BMW service station. You are thus a customer. That’s it.
Oh that racket, new cars should be exempt for at least a couple years, that’s a government scam. Didn’t know dealers did those inspections
Yup, in the Northeast they generally do
NJ lets you hi 5 years from the first one on new cars, so most people leasing are okay. NY and MA are every year.