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Woohoo. Finally the DRC is going to be swapped for PSS9's, but i have 1 issue to sort first.

Amazingly and probably expectedly Warranty Direct have no record of my agreement that states that they will allow the move from DRC to coilovers (dick head from sales didnt put it on my notes on the system) when the DRC fails (again). The mananger there says she will have a listen to all the phone calls i made / were made to me when i took the policy out as verbal agreement is as good as paper when you have a recording. Should be no problem there.

In my defence / reasons for conversion:-

Am i right in thinking that: (DRC), if one shock is leaking and in need of replacement then two would need to be replaced due to them being linked? Hence the reason to move to coilovers due to the greater cost of DRC.

Having checked the cars service history the DRC has been overhalled twice, and both times the shocks have been changed in pairs. Is this as above?

In actual fact, even if they only have to change 1 shocker the bill will be greater than the coliover conversion so it doesnt really make much odds. But if i am right about the link between the corners then it should be a no brainer in my opinion. Why didnt the cock at sales just make a note eh? Im sure he'll get his comeuppance from the manager tommorrow.

Also, for reference when the garage fit the new kit, what height are you guys running your PSS9's at? Im gonna go for bump setting 4 as per Grizz and some others, but ive got a bell ringing that says that the PSS9's need to be cranked to the top to maintain the correct ride height. Any advice (i believe its easier when its off the car rather than on?)?

Cheers guys, Eddie

My Setting is on 4, 13 1/4" front 13 1/2" rear.

Fronts are almost at the top, rears are no where near.

The sticky is good advice, I also had my upper arms changed at the same time along with the mounts, both front and rear.

The requirement to fit in diagonal pairs only applied to the Mk 1 and 2 DRC systems. With the new units and the pressurising tool they only need to replace actual leaking parts.

The struts are about £180 each, and my guess is that it's about 2 hours to change and repressurise. Obviously if you do 2 or more corners at a time then there is a time saving as you only have to re-pressurise the system once.

So unless you have multiple failures then the cost to repair is going to be substantially less than full replacement with coilovers. However, if you anticipate multiple failures then clearly the situation is diferent.

AFAIK no-one who has had the Mk3 system fitted (by a dealer who knows what they are doing) has has any of the units fail subsequently.

Dave

Why is it then that my previous 2 bills form Audi have been circa £3k a time for DRC repair then? If it was £180 a strut then how could they justify the bills?

Im still on MK1 / 2 i believe.

Why is it then that my previous 2 bills form Audi have been circa £3k a time for DRC repair then?

If you have the bills then you should be able to see why it was so much.

I have the bills from warranty repairs which list parts but not labour. The price for the shocks is correct (have just re-checked for all four). My guess is that your previous repairs were before they had the "tool" which allows them to re-pressurise without replacing the central control valves. I don't have documentation showing the price of the valve but have a vague recollection of Rob (Camberley) saying something around £250. The procedure was also much longer before they had the tool as getting the system correctly pressurised without air in etc was very difficult/lengthy.

Were the previous repairs within the last two years? If so covered in full by Audi anyway rather than calling on WD.

The Mk1/2 only refers to the DRC units - the tool works how ever old your system is. So they can replace just the unit leaving the control valve pressurised etc with the tool.

If in doubt, give Rob at Camberley a ring - he should be able to tell you from the service record exactly what is covered, and the price to fix.

Dave

I noticed my front drivers shock was leacking so dropped the car into Highland Audi (Inverness) on 7th December for a health check and this is the result:

Suspension - Off side rear & both front shock absorbers leaking, may require valves aswell if they cannot be recharged.
> The above items are not covered by warranty as the parts warranty expired 02/06/08.
>
> Costing
> Front shock absorber
> n/s...............................£161.36
> Front shock absorber
> o/s...............................£161.36
> Rear shock absorber
> o/s................................£177.21
> Suspension valve X
> 2.....................................£638.69
> Suspension fluid / litre X
> 3..............................£9.98
>
> Material sub
> total........................................£1807.25
>
> Labour........................................................£408.00
>
> Total inc VAT @
> 17.5%..............................£2602.92

Sod it, I'm going to fit the Bilstein PSS coilover kit (not PSS9 coz I don't need to mess about with the damping rates)

Gary

How old is the car Nessie? Don't forget (though the dealers often conveniently do) that if it's less than three years/100,000 miles they are obliged to give you a full new system.

Your bill also answers the question as to why the systems were so expensive - evidently my memory of the valves at £250 should have been £650!!

Not all dealers have the "tool", but if they do, then they don't have to replace the valve (unless of course it's knackered). I have had all four shocks replaced (3 under warranty) in the past three months and no need to change valves.

It may well be that Highland Audi don't have the tool (can't be that many DRC cars up there!) so might be worth trying some dealers further south. Trouble is that the set up really needs experienced tech's to do it, there are few I would trust even down here.

Good luck

Dave

Just had all four of my damper replaced. drc had failed. Replaced with 4 new units and repressureised my existing valves. cost me less using local dealer than it would have to fit pss9 billies. Also comes with audi warrantee on the job. Sorted.

Hi Gambo

Which dealer did it?

Dave

Daveperc wrote:It may well be that Highland Audi don't have the tool (can't be that many DRC cars up there!) so might be worth trying some dealers further south. Trouble is that the set up really needs experienced tech's to do it, there are few I would trust even down here.

Good luck

Dave

when I had mine done this time last year I was told Glasgow Audi were the only dealers in Scotland that had the tool... May have changed now though.

Hi Dave,
My car's a 2003, so the warranty you refer to won't cover the repair. This is the 3rd time the DRC system's failed (each time after almost 18 exactly Months active duty), last twice repaired under warranty , but the 12,000 mile 24 month warranty on genuine replacement parts doesn't apply to parts replaced under warranty....only parts which have been paid for. eh!
I thought this was baloney, but after searching, it is clearly stated in Audi's warranty T&Cs.
The Billy PSS kit is good value and I'm looking forward to not concerning myself over when the suspension's gonna fail again so I'm not going to pursue a claim any further.

Has anyone else on here fitted the PSS non adjustable coilovers?