drhaller

I just scoped out an independant repair shop <a href="http://www.blk4est.com">The Black Forest</a> in Auburn, CA where I now live - for my 1998 Volvo V70 and 2001 Audi 2.7T (once it is ex-warranty).

I asked about ZF automatic transmissions and their "lifetime fill" and the absence of service a recommendation from Audi or BMW (which also use ZF trannys).

The owner said "it is complete BS that ZF does not publish any service recommendations" adding that (in his opinion) "... there is nothing special about their transmissions that eliminate the need for periodic servicing".

He said he has replaced 8 or 10 failed ZF transmissions (with new units, not rebuilt units!) in his shop all around the 80-90K mile mark (out of warranty) - typically in the $8k to $10k range. He recommends a servicing every 40K miles which includes a filter change and full fluid replacement (which in his case would include a complete flush to make sure that the torque converter was properly drained). He said for Audi's this service runs about $250-$275 and for BMW's around $600.

I'll be taking my 2001 A6 2.7T there within the next 10K miles - not having the skills or tools that PaulW has to do this myself :-).

/dan

P.S. I liked the shop but have not had service there yet. I did buy a Volvo door latch from them to replace a fautly one on my car - part took only a day to arrive.

DrMark'sA8

I just picked up my car from Morong Audi....and got the bill for the transmission fluid/filter change. Much to my surprise, I had to pay $600!! All that I have seen here indicates that it should have been in the range of $275 or so...I was charged for three hours labor, $225 dollars worth of fluid (9 quaarts)..and filter parts, etc....Is it me, or did i get bent over without the courtesy of a reach around????

A8-911-Odyssey

No reach around I'm afraid

chairman

No kiss either?

skiracer

how they put the full 9 liters of fluid in the tranny- we have been replacing 6.5 to 7 liters at the most. I can do the filter/fluid change in my garage, on jackstands, in less than 2 hours! Give me a lift and shorten that by at least 30 minutes! My local supplier sells the fluid for $15/liter, and the stealer wants $18/liter. $25/liter is extortion! Time to contact AoA and complain about this stealer (for whatever that's worth)!

RCBENZ2

DrMark, are you even sure they did the work? At all!

CEB

.....I'd ask for a detailed list of what they did - and how they got 9 liters to fit....

Jon C

I was told it's very expensive fluid, so 9 liters plus labor plus filter would end up around $400+ maybe? $600 seems high.

ltnyc

I own a 2001 A6 2.8 still under warranty. Want to keep it right so I was thinking now that it has 25K miles, it should get a new fuel filter and transmission service. Called one dealer who said they don't change fuel filters and $400 for tranny svc. Called a second that said they don't change fuel filter "Audi says it is lifetime and so is the tranny. Changing the fuel filter could result in problems down the road like broken fuel line." Sounds like BS to me. Said doing this service causes problems. Any help here would be appreciated. Could not find any info on fuel filter changes posted. They suggested a more expensive Injector cleaning. Thanks