DRC AGAIN - RESULT NOW AUDI are HELPING :)

[pDkALO]

By coincidence I was in Tonbridge Audi this morning and was going to post with what they told me re DRC - must have been just after you Steve, as they mentioned the discussion you had with them, and you beat me to it with the post

It might not help you much, but what they had to say was interesting - they told me that they'd just clarified the current position with Audi UK for both RS4 & RS6, which is pretty much as you say, that cars with FASH up to 5 years are covered by the goodwill programme, meaning no cost to the owner - but here's the thing... they said that the goodwill policy is that Audi UK pay for the parts, and the dealer you've taken the car to has to provide the labour - has anyone heard that before?

Personally I've got faith in Tonbridge (they helped me in a dispute with another dealer re a previous car), so I'm minded to believe what they said - seems harsh on dealers if it's true, as the DRC probs were down to design and nothing to do with them. Might explain "generous" prices though, if they've been stung with giving away labour, or anticipate they will be in the future - might be worth checking if Audi UK publishes a menu price for DRC work?

I'm counting myself very fortunate that my 07 does have FASH, and is under Audi used warranty 'til December, so I'll be crawling all over the suspension with a magnifying glass come November... fingers crossed you get a decent result with yours

[tremmer]

Seems strange that both, Audi UK and US have such nice replacement programs. In Austria they "don't know" the problem and there is no replacement if you are beyond the 2 years Audi warranty.

[PetrolDave]

Seems strange that both, Audi UK and US have such nice replacement programs. In Austria they "don't know" the problem and there is no replacement if you are beyond the 2 years Audi warranty.

In the UK RS4 owners mounted a campaign to get Audi UK to admit there was a problem and their response was the 5 year goodwill warranty.

I guess the greater propensity of Americans to litigate lead to their more generous DRC replacement program.

[adsgreen]

Seems strange that both, Audi UK and US have such nice replacement programs. In Austria they "don't know" the problem and there is no replacement if you are beyond the 2 years Audi warranty.

In the UK RS4 owners mounted a campaign to get Audi UK to admit there was a problem and their response was the 5 year goodwill warranty.

I guess the greater propensity of Americans to litigate lead to their more generous DRC replacement program.

US auto law on stuff like this is their main worry. It's actually a large sledgehammer which is why there are so many official recalls in the US but nowhere else.

[notax]

I have just started looking for an RS4 Avant and am concerned that a number of the cars I am considering have full Audi service history but are now just over 5 years old. If the DRC issue hasn't been addressed previously should I be concerned? It seems I need to check each shock for leaks - would this be a leak on the stanchion itself? Be grateful if someone could confirm exactly what to look for and where.

[bigsteve]

Yes its a big worry. I thought that when i brought mine i was covered on the DRC until the end of Janaury 2012, now its maybe that i am only covered on the parts costs as the suppling non Audi dealer serviced the car before he sold it and the used car warrantty that came with the car with the car says WEAR and TEAR is not covered.

So waiting on Audi to say if they will pay for the parts or not, but over £3300 for a pair of front shocks is a joke, I am considering even if they offer to pay for the parts I may still get some coil overs instead and then not have to worry again, as the labour cost will be £864 inc vat and the coil over kit is only £1650 ONLY !

I am also worried if the one or both of the rear ones go during in the future, I WILL have to pay the £3300 for them to be replaced, it like russian roulette.

I think Audi UK are looking to get all there money back over the few years as when the 5 year goodwill ends we will all be paying their crazy prices for replacements.

Unless everyone converts to coil overs, i see over 50% of the cars being on coil overs within 2 years.

It a great business to get it too, fit sub-standard and or faulty designed parts wait 5 years, dont upgrade the parts and wait for the cash to roll in.

Could be worse we could be talking about breast implants, that french company, did they do shocks for Audi too.

Here is a scan of Audi offical advise to dealers of how to wangle out of replacing shocks.


Should read "Tell them that they leak as a matter of course and its only a matter of time before our 5 year warranty runs out and then we will tell you that there leaking and need URGENT replacment"

[adsgreen]

To be fair to Audi - ALL shocks can "mist". That isn't a failure.
It's so common that this is explicitly mentioned in the official Vosa mot testing regulations as not reason for a failure.
Also the oil on the outside can be caused by a leaking or split oil top mount which has nothing to do with the DRC system.
The advice given to Audi dealers seems pretty reasonable to me given the attention put on the DRC issues.

[adsgreen]

For 3k I think I'd junk the DRC and go for a 4 way stasis setup.

[bigsteve]

found these intresting links

http://shop.achtuning.com/B7-RS4-Coilovers.aspx

http://rs6.com/showthread.php/17330-DRC ... ent-thread , that's how to get some response from Audi, oh how i wish we had some US consumer protection laws here.

I the KW v3's are looking good.

[chanchan]

Guys,

I have been following this thread and would also like some advice. I have 06 saloon which is obviously out of Audi warranty but within the 12 months warranty I got from my local Audi dealer. The car has had full Audi service history and is now suffering from knocking and sounds like wheezing noise from the back end every time I go over a bump. The arse end is really low, even lower than it usually is. I have tried to look for tell tale signs, like weaping struts or fluid, but can't really see any. It feels lie its bottoming out without anyone in the back.

I have checked through the service book and can't find trace of drc being replaced. Can any members on here either shed any light on what it could be or due you think it could be drc??

I will post a pic am and put in on.

Thanks in advance

If the mileage helps it is just turned 50k.

Thanks

Craig

[bigsteve]

Book your car in your local Audi dealer for a free visual inspection as i did in Tonbridge Audi, they will report back on any problems, ask them to check the DRC.

Cheers

Steve

[chanchan]

Cheers Steve. Gonna ring them Monday.

[bigsteve]

Anybody know about these, please

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YELLOW-DPS-COIL ... 4cbc5#shId

£900 inc shipping, Maybe NOT

I thought they were DGR's just repainted yellow...which I think are D2's with gold accents which are Godspeeds painted painted black with blue accents which are Yonakas painted red which are C8Sports painted gold which are Megan Racing painted blue which are KIDO Racing painted black and red which are EMOTIONS painted silver/blue/black which are K-Sports painted black and silver which are BGs painted black/orange which are VMAXX painted black which are Circuit Sports DPS painted silver/blue which are just some shitty generic sleeve/collar/sping/pearch with some generic shock cartridge painted blue with no real spring/dampening research.

off a MX5 US forum

What about these budget Olhins, I think there called road and track here in UK

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STaSIS-Ohlins-S ... 4ab0a3cd6f

[Terry1948]

Don't forget import duty. I bought 3 cds from mofi and it cost me £40 in duty. I will ask Arthur next time also if I have to download from HDtracks site as I would need to quote a US address. Hi Arthur

[bigsteve]

Just update spoken to Audi today about my DRC leaks on the front Shocks.

Short answer is they will not pay for anything, not even the parts or even a contribution towards them.

They say because I brought the car secondhand not though a Audi dealer they will give no GOODWILL payment of any kind, so much for the 5 year cover on DRC.

I told them the car was serviced using Audi parts by the indepentant dealer I brought the car from and i had no control over that service, also that I would normally use Audi to service it.

What a bunch of ****** , so KW's are now the only way to go and I will use a specialist to service the car, i'll do my best to NEVER cast my shadow over the Audi dealers forecourt again.

How can they charge £3300 for replacing 2 front shocks and valves, that over £6000 for the complete car, that a quarter of the full cars value that's madness , with no guarantee how long the new shocks will last, Ok i'll get a 1year but that's all , will i be paying out £3300 each year, its a possibilty.
Audi UK suck



Speaking to a coilover supplier now, wainting for a deal but looking at about £1400 to £1500 for KW's 3 delivered.