MOT Fail: Leaking shock absorber

[pisquano]

why did you pay? I would have waited and have Audi UK call directly the dealer

anyway...keep talking to Audi UK...they're a good bunch and ready to help

I assume you didn't have any additional warranty?

[pisquano]

I agree - the inconsistency is one of the main problems.
I have two local dealers... one continues to deny all knowledge of this to the point of them saying "don't believe everything you read on the internet" to the other who outlined the process of inspecting the shocks and going into what will and won't be replaced without any prompting.

I spoke to Audi UK and they say there' has never been an OFFICIAL statement from Audi to replace them for free.
it's essentially a gesture of goodwill up to the dealer.

if they had so many problems with DRC I wonder if they should simply go for something different with the b8 RS4?

[markwm]

I haven't paid and cannot afford it. Waiting to hear back from Audi CS with fingers crossed.

[rs4007]

Paul Adcock wrote to me and said...

'The policy for the DRC replacement is 100% cover for 5 years /75,000 miles on defective components. We have had this policy for a couple of years now and hear of very few cases of it not being successfully put in place'.

Personally, I had one replaced and Audi Edinburgh a couple of months back. They were sayign simialr things about the above not being in place anymore, but it obviously is if Pqaul Adcock is saying it. £3600 also seems a lot of money. I had 2 sweating front shocks and they said to replace 2 would be £780, but would offer 50% goodwill on these as they weren't actually failed. Fair enough, as I took it out for a 400 miole drive at weekend and all was ok.

Sounds like you should be getting your money back!

[markwm]

Just had a call and they're going to pay for it all.

[PetrolDave]

I spoke to Audi UK and they say there' has never been an OFFICIAL statement from Audi to replace them for free.
it's essentially a gesture of goodwill up to the dealer.

Whoever said that needs to speak to Jeremy Hicks, several of us have a letter from him saying that they WILL cover the cost of DRC replacement up to 5 years or 75,000 miles. You can't get much more official than a letter from the MD...

[grizz]

That's crap .. I'm are only £160 per shock .. Will check tomorrow ..

Pss 9s are better and cheaper ..

[Dom81]

Glad it's sorted - it's amazing how many conflicting (or just ill advised) opinions there are

For info, the arrangement is that Audi will compensate the dealer for parts and labour if it has FASH, but only parts if it's left the network - leaving the dealer to take the labour cost if they choose to honour the deal. Obviously in this case there was FASH (as well as one owner from new, and very low mileage) so the dealer wouldn't have lost a penny...

[rs4007]

Just something to bear in mind, apparently, if you get shocks replaced free, the warranty on these parts will run out with the warranty of the vehicle, so 5 yrs with the shocks I presume. However, if you pay something for them, even 10% possibly, you will retain the warranty on those parts for 2 years even after the warranty of the car runs out. Although saying that, i think even after 5 years, they will honour around 50% of goodwill if they go pop, depending on the dealer, of course..

[markwm]

Bumping this thread from last year (audi agreed to replace 3 faulty shocks)

Noticed this morning that the one they didn't replace is about 30mm lower than the rest. Car is now booked in, it's still under 5 years. Fingers crossed they are willing to replace this one as they did they other 3.

[paime]

Im just entering this area of RS4 ownership after hearing some knocking from the front corner and from what i've read on this forum it might not be an easy ride! Having said that, the guy from Aberdeen Audi said they would replace the DRC FOC as it's within the 5 year period unless the damage has been caused by hitting a pothole etc rather than a faulty part. It goes to the garage this Friday morning so fingers crossed!