Follow-Up: Tranny Q's, and some OFFICIAL answers (from ZF): there have been several
#15
What everyone fails to understand is that Audi calls the fluid lifetime AND they have been logging
RECORD sales numbers every year for about the past 10 years running now. Thus, per the typical auto executive, they MUST be doing the right things based upon this loose correlation (loose to us, de facto evidence of marketing genius on their part). Also, there were a LOT of ****-poor service departments out there, and if the fluid change job is botched and the tranny fails, AoA pays for new tranny soon after the service. By waiting for a lifetime, very few will fail within the warranty period - and the cost tradeoff has to be on that side, or they wouldn't do it. Remember that they only started using the Vw 502/505 oil once the sludge problem cost them a bunch of engine replacements. Before that, they were saving real $ on each and every "Maintenance included" oil change. They care about making $, not repeat customers. It obviously hasn't hurt them based upon sales numbers and those can't be disputed...(ask GM about long term customer ill will, though - it takes a while but once it comes home to roost, it can jurt really badly!).
#18
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Edmond, OK
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I don't get it. It says I have 5HP19FL which is Audi number G 052 162 A1 but blauparts kit fluid is
G 052 162 A2.
Also, on one of those links it shows 5HP19FL oil specification as being ESSO, yet ESSO has been approved as compatible with Mobile One Syn
ATF. WTF?!?!!?
which fluid do I use then?
Also, on one of those links it shows 5HP19FL oil specification as being ESSO, yet ESSO has been approved as compatible with Mobile One Syn
ATF. WTF?!?!!?
which fluid do I use then?
#19
AudiWorld Super User
One word...unintendedacceleration. Audi execs have convenient memories.
Poor maintenance policies and reliability failures aren't as exciting as wifey hitting the gas rather than the brake, but it all adds up to customer discontent and bottled rage.
It's not unique to Audi either...the maintenance schedule for BMW got remarkably easy once BMW started picking up the tab for the first 4/50k miles....I maintain my M3 on the old schedule in between the free dealer service as required by the warranty. Same as the A6 and S6.
Volvo is next on the free maintenance bandwagon after holding out for many years....I smell Ford!
It's not unique to Audi either...the maintenance schedule for BMW got remarkably easy once BMW started picking up the tab for the first 4/50k miles....I maintain my M3 on the old schedule in between the free dealer service as required by the warranty. Same as the A6 and S6.
Volvo is next on the free maintenance bandwagon after holding out for many years....I smell Ford!
#20
Also remember that "lifetime" reduces "cost to own" numbers per JD Power & others...
by putting "lifetime" interval on ATF, and 105k intervals on timing belts, they take these maintenance/wear & tear items outside the typical JD Power-or-whoever 100,000 mile cost-to-own calcuations and artificially knock down the projected cost of ownership.