New Car? Now What? ๐
Whether you are the new owner of a brand new Audi/Volkswagen, or if you are thinking of purchasing one, having us perform a New Car Service on your most recent investment is a must!
The following are our recommendations:
Undercoating ๐ก๏ธ
Having the underside of your vehicle undercoated will ensure it will be free from rust and corrosion for the life of your vehicle. Undercoating is a product that is sprayed on the areas under your car that will rust.
The best result for application is when the car is new. See our undercoating page for more detailed information.
4 Wheel Alignment โ
Believe it or not, most of the time your brand-new vehicle is not perfectly aligned when you get it. Most of the time this is due to the car’s suspension settling out, which will cause the alignment to change.
Having the alignment performed will ensure better tire wear and fuel economy. Alignments are recommended every 15k miles thereafter.
Lubrication of Alignment Adjustments ๐ง
Most Audi and VW vehicles have 6 alignment points of adjustment. The tie rods are in the front and in the rear and there are 4 eccentric bolts. All 6 adjustments have a high likely hood of becoming stuck/seized over time. Because these adjustments are steel and where the bolts slide through is typically steel, they tend to eventually rust to one another.
When this happens, the alignment cannot be performed properly and can be very costly to repair. Part of our New Car Service is to completely remove the adjustments from the vehicle and apply an anti-corrosion paste, reassemble, then perform a four-wheel alignment. This along with annual alignments will ensure that these adjustments continue to move freely.
Remove Wheels – Lubricate & Check the Balance โ๏ธ
It is very important to remove your new wheels and apply anti-corrosion paste to where the wheel mounts to the car. Similar to the alignment adjustments, corrosion will occur and the wheels can become stuck to the vehicle. This can be a massive issue if you were to get a flat tire and are not able to remove the wheel from the car.
While the wheels are off the car we will check the balance of the tires and adjust them if necessary. Moving forward we recommend tire rotations every 5k miles and a tire balance every 15k miles along with an alignment.
Ceramic Coating ๐งผ
Ceramic coating has become extremely popular in the past few years. It takes the place of traditional wax and is a semi-permanent coating that is applied to the entire car. This includes all painted surfaces, wheels, and glass. It is extremely important for the best results, to apply this coating as soon as you get your new car. The more time goes by, there is more prep work is involved before the coating can be applied.
The coating help prevents scratches, minimizes water spots, makes it easier to wash, and keeps the paint glossy. It is important to not go through any car wash if you have this type of coating. Special soap must be used to ensure the coating lasts.
Should I Change the Oil In My Brand New Audi or VW?๐ข๏ธ
Definitely Not! It is important that your engine breaks in properly. This means not changing the oil until 10k miles. After 10k miles it is important to change the oil every 5k miles. Audi and VW do recommend 10k mile oil change intervals.
I can tell you, that is the worse possible thing you could do for your brand-new car. Would you go to the dentist once every 2 years? It is just asking for expensive surprises. Oil changes are the cheapest insurance you can have on your new investment.
Should I Purchase a Pre-Paid Service Package? ๐งพ
Prepaid service packages seem like they have a lot of savings, but they actually are more expensive than what we charge for what you are getting. There are not a lot of services included in these prepaid service packages. Mostly they include oil changes, maybe an air filter, and a possible brake fluid service.
Tire rotations, alignments, and any additional services are not included. Your new car needs a lot more service than what is recommended by the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s goal is to ensure your car is problem free until it is out of warranty.
Is your new Audi or VW needing service? To schedule an appointment, give us a call, or send us a message!