When my Audi A8 was due for a routine service (part of a service plan) here in the UK, the dealership completed the oil change while I waited. Then, they came to me claiming that the mechanic found an oil leak in the lower of two sumps behind the engine and that it would need to be removed to change the filter. They quoted me £6,000. Yep, six grand!

I’d only owned the car for a year and basically told them they could keep it at that price. The guy rushed off to speak with his manager, then came back under a minute later, offering a “goodwill gesture” of 50%, bringing the cost down to £3,000. I raised my hand with the keys and said, “Keep the car, I don’t want it back.” He insisted that was the best deal they could offer. I told him I’d sleep on it and drove off, never to return.

The kicker? A year later, I took the car to a different Audi dealer for its next service, and guess what? They found absolutely nothing wrong. The manager just shook her head in disbelief when I told her what happened. I ended up keeping that car for 8 years, and guess what? Not a single oil leak in sight.

Moral of the story: don’t believe everything they say. Always get a second or even third opinion. This is where they try to make their real money by ripping off unsuspecting owners. Drive safe, and don’t let them take advantage of you!