How to find a good Audi engine mechanic outside of dealership

[ejudgie]

I wonder if anyone knows the best way to find a good local Audi mechanic that can really work on Audi engines.
My previous 2013 S4 had a single exhaust value spring crack and the local Audi dealership was quoting me $6500 to fix it. Required lots of labor apparently.
My in town trusted mechanic who's been working on Audis for 40 years could not diagnose it and when I told him what it was admitted that this was not something he would have been able to fix anyway. I now just got a 2018 S4 and proactively wanted to look around for a local mechanic that would be capable of making this type repair. Just in case I ever needed one and didn't want to spend dealership repair prices. Is it crazy to think that there might be Audi mechanics in my area that could make such an intricate repair? And if not how would I find them? Word of mouth?

[SHCKR]

I wonder if anyone knows the best way to find a good local Audi mechanic that can really work on Audi engines.
My previous 2013 S4 had a single exhaust value spring crack and the local Audi dealership was quoting me $6500 to fix it. Required lots of labor apparently.
My in town trusted mechanic who's been working on Audis for 40 years could not diagnose it and when I told him what it was admitted that this was not something he would have been able to fix anyway. I now just got a 2018 S4 and proactively wanted to look around for a local mechanic that would be capable of making this type repair. Just in case I ever needed one and didn't want to spend dealership repair prices. Is it crazy to think that there might be Audi mechanics in my area that could make such an intricate repair? And if not how would I find them? Word of mouth?

I would post in your local regional forum

[ejudgie]

I would post in your local regional forum

Thanks. I will try there.

[AldermanToffee]

What you're looking for is usually referred to as an "Independent Audi Specialist", or "Independent VAG Specialist".

I'd recommend either googling that which will return local results, or asking for one of those in a local Facebook group.

[S4ZAP]

Go to your local Google listing, drive by that shop and see what brand of cars are parked out side as well as the cars they're currently working on. I have a mechanic friend that I have known for more than 40 yrs he specializes in all German and Japanese cars, I took my daughter's car there for something simple, when I left his shop I decided to go in a different direction, rather than leaving the usual way, and low and behold, I saw 3 separate garages and all the cars were Audi's.!!! And I wasn't even looking for a German mechanic repair shop. I have 2022 S4 with 4 yr preventive maintenance plan!!! Now I can sell them all my oem s4 new wheels and tires to them!!!! Yay!!