Dodson Service

Tips For Getting Your Audi Serviced

If you own an Audi, no doubt you want it to be looked after right. When it comes to Audis, there are some things you should know in order to make sure the service has been done correctly so that the car is maintained in optimal condition. In this post we will come some basics of Audi servicing so you can ensure your service is done right and avoid problems.

Audi Servicing Basics

Audi engine

Most basic rules of servicing any car apply to Audis as well. Using quality oil and parts, and doing regular services at the recommended schedule will ensure that the car is maintained correctly. This is especially true on performance models which often require specific oils and get driven hard, so they need to be looked after properly as well.

Keeping track of the service history is also important to ensure you are doing services when they are due and to let any future owners of the car know what’s been done. A full service history will often result in a higher sale price too.

Are Audis Expensive to Service?

Purple Audi station wagon

This question often comes up, as European cars often get the stigma of high maintenance and upkeep costs.

The truth is that Audis are not more expensive to service or maintain than any other car model that is in the similar range. BMWs, Mercedes and other high performance European cars all cost roughly the same, and often times its a lot less than most people think.

How Often Should You Service Your Audi?

Regular servicing of your Audi will ensure that all the mechanical components remain in good condition and the oils can do their job as they were designed. It will also increase the chances that any potential issues are spotted early and repaired before they become a major problem.

At Dodson, we recommend doing an engine service every 10,000 kms, and a transmission service every 60,000 kms.

Can My Audi Be Serviced Anywhere Or Do I Have to Take It To a Dealer?

White Audi sedan

No, you do not have to go to the Audi dealer to get your Audi serviced. Your Audi can be serviced by independent service shops.

However, there are a few things to be aware of.

Not all service garages are going to have the necessary tools and knowledge to service your Audi correctly. While anyone can drain and replace oil, things get a bit more complex when special oil is required or the car needs to be scanned and reset, for example in the case of a DSG service. If the shop doesn’t have the right tools they won’t be able to do this correctly.

We at Dodson have all the latest diagnostics and calibration tools required to correctly service all Audi models and are able to carry out the service to the standards that an Audi dealer would provide.

How Long Does an Audi Service Take?

If we at Dodson are performing the Audi service, typically it won’t take longer than 2 hours. If there is any reason for the service to take longer than expected we will notify you to let you know what is going on.

How to Reset the Audi Service Due Message?

Audi instrument cluster

While we will always make sure the service indicator light is reset after performing a service, you may need to reset the service message for other reasons.

To reset the service message, try the following steps:

2006-2015 Models

  1. Turn the ignition on but do not start the engine.
  2. Press the “Car” button which is located next to the climate control.
  3. Turn the control knob in the centre console to scroll down on the screen, select “Service interval display“.
  4. Press the control knob button to select.
  5. Turn the control nob to scroll down to “Reset service interval”. Press the control knob button to select.
  6. Turn the control nob to select “Yes“ and then press it to confirm.

2015-2021 Models

  1. Turn the ignition “On” to activate the electronics, but do not start the engine. Usually you will just need to press the “Start/Stop” button once.
  2. Use the controls near the gear shift to toggle the menu on the display. From the Home screen on the display, turn the control knob to highlight “Vehicle“ and press to select.
  3. Turn the control knob to highlight “Settings & Service“ and press to select.
  4. Under “Service intervals“, select and press on “Reset oil change interval”.

The service due message should now be gone.

If that does not work, you will need an Audi diagnostics tool such as a VCDS tool which you will need to plug into the OBD2 port and then reset the message. The Audi dealer or most auto repair shops should be able to reset this for you.

Can I Check Audi Service History Online?

Yes, Audi does have an online service history system where they log all the services for each car. However, this will only be as accurate as the information entered, and if the car has been serviced by independent shops, they may not have entered all the information. Make sure to check this when buying your car so that you know which services were really carried out.

How Much Does An Audi Service Cost?

We at Dodson offer very competitive pricing when it comes to Audi servicing.

Engine services typically consist of replacing the engine oil & filter, installing a new sealing washer on the sump plug, checking and topping up any other fluids, checking and replacing the air filter if necessary, doing a vehicle safety check and test drive. This service costs from $399, depending on the Audi model.

If you need to get your transmission serviced, that typically involves scanning the car for any fault codes, replacing the oil and filter, the sump gasket, taking it for a test drive and doing a clutch and gear calibration if necessary. Our Audi transmission service costs from $599 depending on the model.

We also offer Haldex services which can either including just a fluid change (from $159) or a fluid change or a pump clean (from $229).

To book your Audi service in, simply call us on 09 441 3635 or email service@dodsonmotorsport.com.

Nissan Skyline GTR R34 Rebuild by Dodson

A ‘99 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR came to us at Dodson with a damaged motor due to some unknown previous debris that was left inside.

We set about rebuilding the motor which included replacing the pistons with new CP forged oversized units, all new ARP bolts and studs and ACL bearings through out. We fitted a Tomei MLS head gasket and oil restrictor, and an N1 Nissan oil pump. The cylinder head was given an OEM refresh. We also had the turbos rebuilt with new upgraded steel wheels.

Here is the engine complete and back in the car:


Then we put the car on the dyno:

It made 320whp on the factory boost controller. Not a bad result at all.

Mclaren 720s With NOVITEC Kit Serviced At Dodson

We recently serviced a special Mclaren 720s at Dodson Motorsport. The car came in for new front brake pads and a post track checkover.

Mclaren 720s NOVITEC Kit

Mclaren 720s NOVITEC Kit

Mclaren 720s NOVITEC Kit

What’s special about this car is it has a full NOVITEC kit with full carbon bonnet. NOVITEC offers these special kits for the 720s along with suspension, wheel, power and exhaust upgrades.

It certainly looks stunning especially in white, which contrasts beautifully with the carbon fibre.

If you need your supercar serviced, be sure to contact us today by calling 09 441 3635.

2700HP “King Kong” Nissan GTR

Recently, ST Hitech’s 2700HP King Kong Nissan GTR was back at Dodson Motorsport.

King Kong Nissan GTR

We originally built this car, and it includes our entire catalogue in the gearbox, along with many of our custom-made parts.

It has a complete carbon fibre body, with a hand-build 4130 chromoly tube chassis, weighing 500kg less than factory.

The front suspension geometry is the same as factory, but the rear has Ohlins TTX twin-tube dampers mounted horizontally to custom bell cranks. These Ohlins dampers are the same ones that come in the Nismo GT3 R35, however the spring rates in King Kong are much lower to achieve the squat needed for grip in drag racing.

For drag racing purposes, it has a lightweight brake kit with solid rotors and five-stud hubs, which get replaced for big brakes and centrelock hubs when it’s doing circuit racing.

The drag spec wheels it runs are Belak beadlocks with titanium hardware – 17×10 on the front and 15×10 on the rear.

Under the bonnet, the parts include a Diamond pistons, a billet crankshaft, billet alloy rods, CNC ported heads with custom cams with a duration higher than 300 degrees, and a custom billet 3.8L block, designed by us at Dodson and milled from a solid block of billet alloy. It also runs an enormous Precision turbo.

The engine block doesn’t actually have any water galleries. Instead, the engine is cooled by an electric water pump which sends water only to the heads and cools them through a small radiator which is under the side of the bumper. Most of the cooling comes from the methanol passing through the custom-made billet fuel rails with 1700cc and 5750cc injectors mounted in the custom billet and carbon fibre inlet manifold.

It certainly is a beast, and we are happy to see it back in our shop and still going strong.

We Service Nissan Skylines in Auckland

Dodson Motorsport has long been associated with Nissan Skylines and GTRs in New Zealand (and worldwide). We have an extensive history building performance Nissans which have set numerous records around the world. So naturally, we are able to service your Nissan Skyline right here in Auckland.

Whether you have an R32

Nissan Skyline R32 Service in Auckland

R33

Nissan Skyline R33 Service in Auckland

Or R34

Nissan Skyline R34 Service in Auckland

We offer complete servicing options for both engine and transmission. We have been working on these cars for a long time so are able to make truly expert recommendations as to which is the best oil to go for depending on what you intend to use the car for, and any other things that we might recommend which will help to increase performance and durability.

After years of working on these cars, we took what we learnt and now use the best oils we have found which perform better and offer better protection in New Zealand conditions, especially for cars which are used for racing or performance driving.

If your Nissan Skyline is due for a service speak to us today by calling 09 441 3635 or emailing service@dodsonmotorsport.com and we will make sure it’s done better than anyone else.

Also, if you are looking to improve the performance of your Nissan Skyline, we are also able to help you there, by both making recommendations and supplying the parts. Give us a call to discuss that today!

 

How Often Should You Service Your Porsche with PDK Transmission?

If you drive a Porsche, you paid a premium for a top notch vehicle. No doubt you want to keep it that way. Making sure that it gets serviced properly will ensure it keeps its value and continues to run at its peak for years to come.

The question of how often should you service your Porsche often comes up when talking about maintenance.

Porsche Engine & PDK Transmission Service

The service intervals we at Dodson recommend are:

  • Engine: every 10,000kms or 1 year
  • PDK transmission: every 60,000km or 6 years

Engine Service

Our engine service will ensure that your engine is properly maintained and all parts necessary are replaced or upgraded to keep the car in top condition. That includes:

  • Replacing engine oil & filter using Mobil & other high quality parts and oils
  • New sealing washers on sump plug and reservoir
  • Checking and topping-up any low fluids
  • Vehicle safety check
  • Quality test drive
  • Optional – performing any additional standard or intermediate maintenance as required by Porsche service manual

PDK Transmission Service

Our PDK Transmission service is the complete maintenance package needed to ensure your PDK transmission runs like new. It includes:

  • Scanning vehicle for any fault codes to ensure the sensors and pressures are correct
  • Draining old transmission oil, remove sump with filter
  • Replacing sump and filter and cleaning all components
  • Filling transmission with DMS high performance transmission fluid
  • Performing clutch/gear calibration
  • Quality test drive

If it’s time for your Porsche engine or PDK transmission service we at Dodson Motorsport are here to help. Our service packages will ensure that your Porsche remains in the best running condition possible. Give us a call now on 09 441 3635 or email to book in your Porsche service.

Here’s What’s Involved in a Typical DCT Transmission Service

DCT transmissions are not quite automatics and not quite manuals, and they require a specific servicing procedure that’s not the same as either.

Why do DCT transmissions need to be serviced?

The way that DCT transmissions are designed means that they use a “wet-clutch” setup, which shares the same oil as the rest of the transmission. This is so that the clutches are stronger and can hold more power. However, clutches are wear and tear items, and as they wear the materials from the clutches contaminate the oil, which is why the oil needs to be changed.

DCT Transmission Service

Typically, a DCT transmission service will involve replacing the fluid and the filter of the transmission. Most DCTs have two filters, and internal and an external one. Only the external one can be accessed during the service (the gearbox has to be stripped to get to the internal one), so only the external one is changed during the service.

Typically the car will first be scanned for any fault codes to ensure that the sensors and pressures in the gearbox are correct and that there are no other errors. The old oil will then be drained, the oil pan removed (if necessary) and old filter replaced with a new one, and any internal parts such as the valve body will be cleaned. The oil pan will be reinstalled with a new  gasket and the new oil will then be poured into the transmission.

The clutch and gear calibration will now be performed and then the car will be taken for a test drive to ensure everything works correctly, and any necessary adjustments will be made.

If you need to get your DCT transmission serviced, speak to us at Dodson today by calling 09 441 3635.

We Offer DSG Servicing for Volkswagens & Audis in Auckland

Have you got a Volkswagen or Audi with a DSG transmission and are looking to get it serviced?

We at Dodson Motorsport now offer DSG transmission servicing for all Audi and Volkswagen models.

DSG Service in Auckland for Volkswagens and Audis

What’s Involved In a DSG Service?

Servicing a DSG transmission typically involves a procedure of draining out the old fluid and replacing it with new fluid (approved for DSG gearboxes), replacing the filter and seal, and installing a new drain plug gasket.

How often you need to do this is dependent on the car, but typically most DSG equipped cars specify to service the transmission every 65,000 kms. If you are driving the car hard, taking it to track days or racing it, you should be changing the fluid more often.

What Do You Get With the Dodson Motorsport DSG Service?

When we service your DSG transmission, we provide a complete service that ensures your transmission is operating as it should, and with the new oil is like new.

What this means is that before doing the fluid change we will scan the car for any fault codes to ensure the sensors and pressures are correct. Once that is all ok we will drain the oil fluid and remove the old filter, replace the fluid with our DMS transmission fluid (specially made for DSG gearboxes to improve on what we found lacking in other fluids) and install the new filter and all associated parts.

Once that is done, we will take the car for a test drive to ensure is operating correctly and will make any necessary adjustments. We can also perform an option clutch and gear change calibration.

How Much Does a DSG Service Cost?

Our DSG Service costs from $469 depending on the model and including a complete service including scanning the car for fault codes, new DMS high performance fluid and filter, a quality test drive and an optional gear and clutch calibration and adaptation drive.

Get Your DSG Serviced Today!

If you are looking to get your DSG serviced, give us a call now on 09 441 3635 or email to book yours in now!