Keeping to the right service schedule protects your Audi's reliability, warranty, and resale value. But Audi uses more than one servicing regime, and knowing which yours follows is the first step.

FIXED VS FLEXIBLE (LONGLIFE) SERVICING

Audi offers two approaches. Fixed servicing works to set time and mileage intervals, and suits cars that do lower mileage or lots of short trips. Flexible, or LongLife, servicing uses sensors to monitor how the car is driven and extends intervals for higher-mileage motorway cars. Your car's service indicator will tell you when it is due, and the mode can be set in the vehicle. If you mostly do short local journeys, fixed servicing is often the healthier choice.

THE MAIN SERVICE TYPES

  • Oil service (interim): The more frequent one, centred on an oil and filter change plus a visual inspection and top-ups. It keeps the engine's lifeblood fresh.
  • Inspection service (major): A more thorough service that adds items such as air and pollen filters, a fuller inspection, and additional checks and adjustments.

These alternate over the car's life, so you are not paying for a major service every time.

THE LONGER-INTERVAL ITEMS

Some jobs fall outside the regular oil and inspection cycle but are just as important:

  • Cambelt (timing belt): On belt-driven engines, this must be changed at the specified interval. Neglecting it risks catastrophic engine damage, so it is never worth stretching.
  • Brake fluid: Typically changed every two years, as it absorbs moisture over time.
  • Spark plugs (petrol) and fuel filters (diesel): Replaced at longer, model-specific intervals.
  • DSG/S tronic gearbox oil: Automatic and dual-clutch boxes need periodic oil and filter changes that owners often overlook.

HOW TO KNOW WHAT YOURS NEEDS

The exact schedule depends on your model, engine, age, and mileage. The safest approach is to have a specialist check your car's history and current mileage against Audi's schedule, so nothing is missed and nothing is done before it is needed. That keeps your service record complete and your running costs predictable.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How often should I service my Audi?

It depends on whether the car is on fixed or LongLife servicing and how it is driven. Fixed servicing works to set intervals; LongLife adjusts to your driving. A specialist can confirm what yours is due.

What happens if I miss a service?

Skipping services risks premature wear, higher repair bills, and gaps in your history that hurt resale value. It can also affect warranty cover. Catching up promptly is best.

Do I need to change the cambelt even if the car runs fine?

Yes. A cambelt gives no warning before it fails, and failure typically causes major engine damage. It must be changed at the specified interval regardless of how the car feels.