Dodson Service

Getting Your BMW Serviced In Auckland

If you need to get your BMW serviced in Auckland, no doubt you want it done by someone that will do the job correctly, using the right parts and components and ensuring that all procedures are done correctly.

This is especially true if you need your BMW DCT transmission serviced, as it must be done with the right oils and procedure to make sure that it will operate correctly and be protected against wear.

BMW Service in Auckland

We at Dodson Motorsport offer BMW Service in Auckland that includes complete engine and DCT transmission service packages.

What’s Included?

Just like all cars we service, all BMWs are serviced using high quality brands such as Mobil, AP Racing oils and fluids. DCT transmissions are scanned to make sure that everything is right before it gets serviced.

We also have team of vehicle technicians and R&D engineers that can make quality components here in New Zealand that coupled with the support of our ISTA service tool, help us to repair or upgrade the BMW DCT transmissions.

This ensures that your BMW is serviced in the best possible way and that we pick up any potential faults before they become issues. As a result your car will be running smoothly even in high performance driving sessions like track days.

Which BMWs Do We Service?

We service all late M performance models including:

  • BMW M2
  • BMW M3
  • BMW M4
  • BMW M5

If you are ready to get your BMW serviced book it in today by calling us on 09 441 3635 or emailing service@dodsonmotorsport.com.

Get Your Audi R8 Serviced At Dodson

Looking to get your Audi R8 serviced by the best? We at Dodson offer premium engine and transmission servicing for Audi R8s from our workshop in North Shore.

Get Your Audi R8 Serviced at Dodson

We know how much these cars are valued by our customers. That is why our specialists will service your Audi R8 to the absolute highest standard using the best oils and components for the Audi R8, including Castrol and AP Racing fluids and parts. All without the dealership pricetag.

Our Audi R8 engine service includes:

  • Replacing the engine oil & filter with premium components
  • Installing new sealing washer on sump plugs
  • Check and top-up of any other possibly low fluids
  • Inspection of engine air filters and replacement if necessary
  • Full vehicle safety check
  • Quality test drive

Our Audi R8 Transmission Service includes:

  • Scanning the vehicle for any fault codes to ensure the sensors and pressures are working correctly
  • Draining the transmission oil and removing the oil filter
  • Replacing the filter and cleaning all components
  • Filling the transmission with DMS high performance transmission fluid specifically designed for the Audi R8
  • Quality test drive
  • Optional clutch/gear calibration & adaption drive

If you are looking to make your R8 faster we’re also able to help you with increasing the performance of your car.

Book in your R8 for a service now by calling 09 441 3635 or email us on service@dodsonmotorsport.com.

Why a Transmission Service Is Just as Important as an Engine Service

When it comes to servicing a car, most drivers immediately think of engine oil. However, changing the transmission oil is equally important to ensure your car is maintained properly. Here’s why.

Transmissiobn Servicing Auckland

It’s commonly thought that a transmission service is really only required for cars that are used in very high demand conditions like performance and racecars. Some even think that it is an unnecessary expense, especially since some OEMs claim that their transmissions have “lifetime oil”.

However, transmission oil is very important not only for lubrication of gears and parts and reducing friction, but it also helps to keep the unit cool and makes gear changes smoother. Good oil also keeps everything clean, reduces vibrations, protects against corrosion and increases the lifespan of your transmission.

It is better to change oil in your transmission sooner rather than later. It will help to keep your transmission in optimal condition, extend its life and reduce the odds of failure or damage occurring.

When transmission oil loses its pressure you can experience delayed shifting. Residue in the transmission oil can make shifting more difficult, potentially resulting in crunching or grinding. You also risk the transmission overheating which can lead to serious damage to many parts of the transmission. This can all happen if the transmission oil is not in good shape or is low (usually due to a leak) and hasn’t been replaced.

Contact us at Dodson if it’s time to change your transmission oil. We will be able to determine when the right service interval for your car is and what type of transmission oil is best to use, whether you have a manual gearbox, DCT or automatic.

What Is The Best Service Interval For Your DSG?

DSG transmissions are complex and how long they last is very dependent on how they were serviced. Regular service intervals for DSGs are crucial to keep them in optimal condition. But how often is regular?

DSG Service Interval

How the car is driven will greatly determine the interval of servicing the DSG. A car that is driven in a more “spirited” manner, or raced, will need to have it serviced more often than a car than is just being driven on the road. The recommended service interval for a DSG that isn’t seeing a lot of hard driving is 60,000 kms or 6 years. If you drive your car hard, you’ll want to service it more often.

What’s involved in the DSG service?

When we at Dodson carry out a DSG service, we first scan the car for any fault codes to ensure the DSG is working properly and that all sensors and pressures are correct. We then drain the old oil and remove the old filter, replacing the filter with new parts and cleaning all components before putting it back together. Then we fill it our specially mixed DMS high performance transmission fluid which has been specifically designed for DSG gearboxes.

Once that is all done we will take the car for a test drive to ensure everything is operating correctly, the gears are shifting smooth and that there are no other issues. If necessary, we will perform a clutch/gear calibration & adaption drive to solve any shifting problems.

If it’s time for your Audi or VW to get a DSG service, speak to us today to book your car in!

Servicing Your Audi in Auckland

If you are looking to get your Audi serviced in Auckland, no doubt you want it done by someone who’s going to do the job right, with quality materials and procedures that ensure it’s been serviced correctly.

Especially if you have a DSG transmission, the service needs to be done with the right fluids and procedures to ensure that the transmission will operate as it should and be protected against wear.

Audi Servicing Auckland

We at Dodson Motorsport specialise in servicing Audis in Auckland. We offer complete engine, DSG transmission and Haldex service packages.

What’s included?

Like with all of our services, all Audis get serviced with all new high quality parts, Castrol & AP Racing oils and fluids, and with the full procedure such as computer scans on the DSG to ensure everything is right before it gets serviced.

This ensures that the service is completed to the highest standard possible and that if there are any faults, they are picked up before they become an issue. As a result, your car will last longer and perform better, with quality components to protect it against wear even in high stress situations such as performance driving or track days.

Which Audis Can We Service?

We are able to service the following Audi models:

  • Audi TT
  • Audi A1
  • Audi A3
  • Audi S3  (including RS)
  • Audi A4
  • Audi S4  (including RS)
  • Audi S5  (including RS)
  • Audi A5
  • Audi A6
  • Audi S6  (including RS)
  • Audi A7
  • Audi A8
  • Audi Q2  (including RS)
  • Audi Q3  (including RS)
  • Audi Q5 (including RS)
  • Audi R8

Ready to get your Audi serviced? Book in your Audi today by calling us on 09 441 3635 or emailing service@dodsonmotorsport.com.

Why We Use Our Own Oils & Fluids for Some Cars

At Dodson we service a wide variety of high performance cars which are used in many different applications, from simple daily drivers to dedicated race cars. This has given us the opportunity to see how various oils work under many different circumstances, and has given us the ability to provide improvements in certain areas.

This is why, depending on the application, we use our specifically blended Dodson oils and fluids when the circumstances require.

Dodson Oils & Fluids

Many times OEM oil is the best option for the car. After all, the guys who made the car usually know what’s best for it. But there are a few instances where it is possible to improve on it, such as with cars that are heavily used in racing rather than on the road. Different climates can also affect what oil needs to be used, and sometimes the manufacturer’s recommended oil isn’t the best that’s available.

In some applications, the manufacturer recommended oils are made quite thin, which helps driveability on the clutches and makes them appear to drive smoother (which can give the driver the impression that the oil is better than what was previously in there). But this usually means less gear protection during extreme conditions such as racing or ‘spirited’ driving.

For this reason we have a wide variety of specially crafted oils made to our specification as well as OEM supplied oils to best suit the vehicle we are working on. This ensures we are able to offer the maximum protection to the transmission components whilst maintaining maximum performance.

One example of where we use our Dodson oil is the Nissan GTR, as it offers better gear protection over some of the other oils on the market whilst not being so thick that it interferes with clutch operation. We also manufacture different oils for the GTR based on climates or applications (such as drag racing).

We are here to ensure you get the best oil for your car depending on how you plan to use it. Speak to us today and we will be able to recommend which oils you should go with when getting your car serviced by us!

Book Your VW in for Servicing at Dodson!

If it’s time to get your VW serviced, now is the time to book it in with us at Dodson. We are closed during Level 4, but are booking out fast for when we all reopen at Level 3, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get your booking in now.

We at Dodson Motorsport offer a complete servicing package for modern VWs such as Golf mk5, Mk6 and Mk7 including GTIs and Rs. Servicing engines, DSG transmissions and Haldexes, we will make sure that your VW is ready for another round of performance driving.

VW Servicing Auckland

What is included in the VW servicing?

Engine Service

Our VW engine service is a premium oil change using only the best oils and materials from VW, AP Racing and Castrol. Included in the service is:

  • Replacement of engine oil & filter
  • New sealing washer on sump plug
  • Check and top-up of any low fluids
  • Inspection of engine air filter and offer replacement if necessary
  • Vehicle safety check
  • Quality test drive

DSG Transmission Service

Our DSG transmission service is only done with our DMS blended fluid specifically designed for DSG transmissions to exceed manufacturer’s specifications and ensure your DSG remains in top condition. Our VW DSG Service includes:

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

Haldex Service

To complete the service package for you VW we also offer Haldex servicing which can either be just a fluid change or fluid change and pump clean. The Haldex service includes:

  • Draining the old Haldex fluid
  • Filling with new high quality fluid
  • Optional pump and filter clean

If you need to get your VW serviced, talk to us today to book your car in for when we go back to Level 3. Call Mike on 021 441 869 or email us on service@dodsonmotorsport.com now.

Here’s Why You Should Get Your DCT Transmission Serviced at Dodson

Getting the oil changed in your DCT transmission may seem like a simple task of just putting new fluid in. However, there’s quite a bit more to it than that, and we at Dodson Motorsport are here to ensure that it’s done right on your car.

DCT Transmissions are actually quite particular about the fluids used in them. This is due to several factors:

DCT Transmission Service by Dodson Motorsport1. DCT Fluids are not all equal. Some are better than others, and along with that, different DCT transmissions actually require different oils, as not all oils work effectively on all platforms. This means that using the correct oil in your DCT will make a big different to how long the transmission lasts and how it performs.

The reason for this is that some DCT fluids are not viscous enough (otherwise referred to as thicker) and affect the way the clutch behaves and drives as well as any auto adaptions the car may be trying to carry out. Other fluids are a lot more viscous (thinner) and do not have adequate additives for great protection, which can result in unnatural wear of the gearset and ultimately premature failure of the gearset.

Some DCT fluids will have the wrong additives which, if incorrect for the transmission, can leave behind residue and gunk which can block up or jam solenoids and clutch seals, all resulting in premature failure of the transmission.

2. The service intervals specified by manufacturers for DCTs are often not correct. For example, Nissan states that the service interval for GTRs is from 30,000 up to 60,000km, which is practically suicide for those transmissions.

As we at Dodson Motorsport have serviced an incredible amount of DCT transmissions and have seen more Nissan GTR DCTs than any other company in NZ, probably by a large factor.  So we are well aware of the end results of incorrect fluids and service intervals on DCT transmissions.

Along with this, we have been working closely with our 200 worldwide dealers on all DCT platforms for both servicing and performance. This is why we have the knowledge and experience required to make recommendations we believe are more accurate than those provided by car manufacturers. We have seen the real world results and our aim is to ensure that your car is properly serviced and taken care of.

We also have the ability to perform programming and calibrations of many DCT platforms using genuine and aftermarket service tools, some of which only dealers typically have access to. This allows us to ensure that everything is working correctly in your DCT and to pick up any faults that may be otherwise have been missed.

So no matter what car with a DCT transmission you have, our aim is to help you service it and service it right, ensuring it continues to perform and lasts the test of time.

To book your DCT transmission in for a service, give us a call now on 09 441 3635 or email us on service@dodsonmotorsport.com.

Is It Really Worth Paying More For a Quality Oil Change?

Oil is the lifeblood of your car and ensures that the engine remains healthy and performs at it peak. But is there really a difference between oils? Should you pay extra for “top quality” oil?

The short answer is “Yes!”. But you’d expect us to say that, so here is why:

Using low quality oils that don’t meet the specifications of your engine can lead to costly engine damage and increased fuel consumption. It will also void the engine’s warranty because manufacturers are aware of the consequences.

Why Use High Quality Engine Oils

Top quality oils are design with better durability, doing their job of lubricating your engine better for longer. This helps to extend the life of your engine and keep it in optimal condition, which helps it to perform better. Especially when it comes to high performance cars, using the correct oil is crucial because the engines are even more precision-made and highly strung than a regular car.

Many high performance engines are designed to use a specific type and viscosity of oil. The viscosity of the oil is essentially how easily it flows, but it’s also known as the thickness of the oil. Using the incorrect viscosity will lead to the oil not following as designed around the engine, which can lead to serious problems.

Aside from the viscosity, the additives used in the oils are what make a big difference. One of the issues that can result from using an oil with the wrong additives is that they are not compatible with the materials in the engine, which can lead to serious failure. Low quality oils often use low quality additives, the wrong additives or no additives at all, which will lead to the same result. This is why it’s so important to follow the manufacturer’s specifications.

This other issues with low quality oils are that they break down quicker (meaning they can turn into sludge) and often have a much higher level of impurities, resulting in more wear to your engine.

We at Dodson Motorsport only use the highest quality oils recommended by each car’s manufacturer. This will ensure that your engine remains in excellent condition and performs at its peak for years to come. To book your car in for a service contact us now on 09 441 3635 or service@dodsonmotorsport.com.

The Better Way to Get Your Lamborghini Serviced in Auckland

Trusting someone to service your Lamborghini is no joke. These cars are expensive, you don’t want to take any chances making sure the job gets done right and that your car will be looked after.

Lamborghini Service in Auckland

That is exactly what we at Dodson Motorsport offer with our Lamborghini service in Auckland. We know how valuable these cars are to our customers and are here to offer a premium service you can trust to service your Lamborghini all while being cheaper than the dealership.

What Exactly Do We Offer?

We offer premium engine and transmission servicing for Lamborghinis from our workshop in Wairau.

Our engine service includes:

  • Replacement of engine oil & filter
  • New sealing washer on sump plugs
  • Check and top-up of any low fluids
  • Inspect engine air filters and offer replacement if necessary
  • Vehicle safety check
  • Quality test drive

Our transmission service includes:

  • Scan vehicle for any fault codes to ensure the sensors and pressures are correct
  • Draining transmission oil, removal of sump and filter
  • Clean of all components and replace filter
  • Refitting of all components with a new  pan gasket
  • Filling transmission with DMS high performance transmission fluid
  • Quality test drive
  • Optional clutch/gear calibration and adaption drive

For all Lamborghinis we only use high quality, Castrol and AP Racing fluids and parts. Our service exceeds manufacturer’s specifications so you can be sure you are getting the absolute best for your supercar.

If you’d like to book in your Lamborghini or talk to us about your service, call us now on 09 441 3635 or email us on service@dodsonmotorsport.com.