Derby Audi & Nox sensor

[Adam_A2]

My engine management light came on last week so I went round to my local Audi dealer (Derby Sytner) and booked it in for a diagnosis. They told me it would cost £50+vat which I thought was fair enough. I took it in today even though the light had since gone out and my car was running fine, and I must say I was very impressed with the service and staff, everyone was very helpful and friendly. They didnt even charge me in the end which was a bonus (and there was me downing the complimentary drinks to try and get my moneys worth). They found that it was the Nox sensor at fault and have quoted £190.72inc vat to replace it. So i was just wondering if that was a fair price or not, taking into account the £50 i saved today. The service staff told me it's quite a big job and that the catalytic converter has to be removed in the process.

Thanks in advance, Adam

 

[pezza]

Great team at Derby...

My engine management light came on last week so I went round to my local Audi dealer (Derby Sytner) and booked it in for a diagnosis. They told me it would cost £50+vat which I thought was fair enough. I took it in today even though the light had since gone out and my car was running fine, and I must say I was very impressed with the service and staff, everyone was very helpful and friendly. They didnt even charge me in the end which was a bonus (and there was me downing the complimentary drinks to try and get my moneys worth). They found that it was the Nox sensor at fault and have quoted £190.72inc vat to replace it. So i was just wondering if that was a fair price or not, taking into account the £50 i saved today. The service staff told me it's quite a big job and that the catalytic converter has to be removed in the process.

Thanks in advance, Adam

I second your comments re: the Derby Audi service team... I bought my first and second A2 there, and have always been very happy with service and treatment from both sales and service... (they have some pretty dishy receptionists there too!)

Cheers,

Ian

 

[fergy]

Wish i could say the same about the staff at Tyneside Audi certain ones in there find it to hard to smile also had same in York Audi its very off putting got the feeling that because i drive a A2 and a old 1997 A4 that they didnt want to know me mind i bet it would be different if i walked in to buy a brand new 30k car

 

[Teresa]

Nox Sensor - Norwich Audi grrrrr!

Hi - I think it might be worth me driving my car up to Derby!!. My engine management light came on at the weekend. I had a quick look on here and thought it might be the NOX sensor.

I dropped it off with Norwich Audi last night and they rang me today to confirm it. They said it would be £110 to diagnose and a further £350 to do the repair. I got all sort of waffle about how it took a while to diagnose because it didn't show up to start with (with my last A2 they just plugged a laptop under the steering wheel). Then he was saying how much of an awkward job it was.

I was just about to go into a meeting when they rang so couldn't really discuss. They won't be doing the repair for a few days because they are waiting for the part so i think i may give them a call and query the cost tomorrow. This isn't the first time I have had concerns about Norwich Audi. When it went in for its last service they said it was due a new cam belt (4 years old and 33,000 miles). When I went to pick it up and they went through the work they had done they didn't say anything about the cam belt. I asked if it had been done and the girl looked at me blankly and said no, it doesn't need one for a while yet. It had been crossed of the sheet and i did wonder whether it was because when they went into the record they realised i was on a pre paid service plan and wouldn't have to pay for it.

Anyway rant over - anyone think I am being unreasonable please? Thanks T x

 

[spike]

Hi Teresa, welcome to the A2oc
The standard diagnostic scan (where they plug-in under the steering wheel) usually costs around £60. this does not always give the full story so more detailed testing of the specific components may be required. For example, the NOX sensor output is processed by a dedicated control unit. A fault in either this or the sensor could trigger the management light. Sadly, in many cases their £100 / hr labour rate means it can be cheaper to swap bits on a trial and error basis rather than spend extra time on checking everything out. If possible try and get some assurances that you don't pay for parts if their diagnosis is incorrect and they don't solve the problem first time.
The latest from Audi on cambelts is that they should be changed after 5 years or 75000 miles, which ever comes first.
And No, I don't think you are being unreasonable

Let us know how you get on

Cheers Spike

 

[Teresa]

Hi Spike

thanks for the info. I didn't realise that the laptop didn't always give a diagnosis so they are forgiven there Mind you, having read up on here given the mileage (40K now) and the light, i had thought it was could be the NOX sensor and said so when i took it in - perhaps i should have charged them £100!!

Anyway, they rang me mid morning to say it was all done. I knew they weren't getting the part until this morning so i did mention that it obviously wasn't too tricky as they did it so quickly and did that mean it would be cheaper. There was a bit of a nervous laugh but when i picked it up the bill was quite a lot cheaper than they had said so I was happy with that.

Having read the rest of your post, i realised i now need to start saving for a new cam belt as she is 5 in September and my service plan has run out!!!

thanks for the info, Teresa

 

[Adam_A2]

Just thought i'd give an update on my saga, but I have changed my mind on Derby Audi, lol, although they were very good face to face, they didnt really know what they were talking about. After they told me I needed a new NOX sensor I took it to a local Vag specialist garage that I discovered to get the work done because they were cheaper. Before they started they plugged my car in once more to confirm the problem and they said that although the NOX sensor was registering as an error it wasnt at fault. It turned out it was a coil, and because of my cars low mileage they only changed one to try and save me some money. My engine managment light came on again since and I took it back to the garage and they plugged it in straight away free of charge and it turned out another coil was playing up. They said theyd change the rest of my coils and charge only for the parts becuase theyd already charged me the labour to do the first one. Very impressed! And the garage btw is Sunset VW on parcel terrace in derby. Cant recommend them enough!