can you imagine the bill!

[Ian_C]

Agreed

Never realised the exhaust manifold was such a work of art. And no wonder the G62 coolant sensor was such a complete bastard to do on my driveway from above - its only about an inch above the flywheel / clutch housing!

[S4WON]

Incredible video, thanks for sharing

[DuncanF]

Fame at last! That's mine!!

The bottom block, with crankshaft, chains etc., comes in around £5.5K. The total for the rebuild had to come it at under £12K or the insurance company would have written the car off. I think they were quoted £11.5K. On the upside, I had a new clutch fitted while they were in there at "parts only" cost!

It is at Watford Audi as noted ... still. The engine finally came out yesterday for the second time. They only have one engine lifter and it has been occupied by an RS6 for the last week. However .. they cannot see where the machining/vibration fault is. A specialist is on their way over today.

I've been mulling over replacement options for the last few weeks, but seeing that just makes me want to have her back on the road!!

[RS4_Ollie]

11.5K, thought it would be more than that. Do you know the price for a full engine? I know a chap who has a M5 v10 and it had a new engine, he said it was about £30K

That's a bugger it had to go back. Do you know what was wrong yet?

[R1RS4]

Fame at last! That's mine!!

The bottom block, with crankshaft, chains etc., comes in around £5.5K. The total for the rebuild had to come it at under £12K or the insurance company would have written the car off. I think they were quoted £11.5K. On the upside, I had a new clutch fitted while they were in there at "parts only" cost!

It is at Watford Audi as noted ... still. The engine finally came out yesterday for the second time. They only have one engine lifter and it has been occupied by an RS6 for the last week. However .. they cannot see where the machining/vibration fault is. A specialist is on their way over today.

I've been mulling over replacement options for the last few weeks, but seeing that just makes me want to have her back on the road!!

I wouldn't mind owning one that's had a new engine, 12 months warranty. The only major worry then would be the box .... Happy days

[DuncanF]

11.5K, thought it would be more than that. Do you know the price for a full engine? I know a chap who has a M5 v10 and it had a new engine, he said it was about £30K

That's a bugger it had to go back. Do you know what was wrong yet?

It never came out of the garage! On first starrtup was clear something was wrong. I was told there was a vibration and an oil leak from the block/gearbox join. First thoughts were that it was a bad short block with an unbalanced crankshaft. When I picked up another loaner I sat in the car with the engine running and it was vibrating like a loon on speed ...

This happened in Feb and it was only yesterday they had ramp space to drop the engine again. But they cannot see a fault on the block so a specialist is due in to check the machining of the block etc. Pain in the arse!

First estimates were c. £12.5K. When I told Audi the "death" hurdle was £12K they worked the numbers to bring it in lower. Which is great for me, but begs the question .... how much fluff is there on labour/parts etc. for private work?

[DuncanF]

Fame at last! That's mine!!

The bottom block, with crankshaft, chains etc., comes in around £5.5K. The total for the rebuild had to come it at under £12K or the insurance company would have written the car off. I think they were quoted £11.5K. On the upside, I had a new clutch fitted while they were in there at "parts only" cost!

It is at Watford Audi as noted ... still. The engine finally came out yesterday for the second time. They only have one engine lifter and it has been occupied by an RS6 for the last week. However .. they cannot see where the machining/vibration fault is. A specialist is on their way over today.

I've been mulling over replacement options for the last few weeks, but seeing that just makes me want to have her back on the road!!

I wouldn't mind owning one that's had a new engine, 12 months warranty. The only major worry then would be the box .... Happy days

In the last 24 months at various times ... new oil rad and pipes, new radiator and aux rads, discs/pads all round and now a rebuilt engine and new clutch (my cost, but I only pay for the parts!). So you're right. Only the gearbox is left to go pear shaped!

This is either the perfect car to sell ... or the perfect car to keep!

[CellDamage]

Keep us posted Duncan, will be interested to hear what the root cause of the vibration is.

[jaysrs4]

Not that I'm criticising but I can't see how a car that's had to have so much work can ever be right again! All that manual work rebuilding, refitting etc. it's seriously capable of so many mistakes surely?!

That video makes me sweat! Such a complex engine.

[Vodkaking77]

Wow, so sorry for you mate. I would go mental if my car was in for so long. Good luck with the repairs. Only had my car for 6 months so not been in for a service, though it went in for a recall for software update to Chingford.

[DuncanF]

I think I've given Audi Watford a hell of a long leash to work on, and now I do need to go mental.

After fitting the short block there was a vibration as noted above. Cue waiting a couple of weeks for sage advice from Audi UK who said to change the fly wheel. Still a vibration. Cue several more weeks of waiting for an Audi UK tech to visit and suggest the front pulley on the new short block was wrong. They dropped that off, and the vibrations stopped. Cue waiting two weeks for the correct pulley to arrive from Germany.

I finally went in to pick it up yesterday. Even though I'd told two service managers that I wanted to drive the car first before signing/paying for anything, the insurance paperwork was still pushed across the desk. I declined. Just as well ...

The car was brought round the side and I hopped in and fired it up. The engine sounds and runs fine from what I can see so far. But as soon as I pulled away I could hear/feel a grinding from the front n/s. Thought it could be the brakes so I reversed up the forecourt and worked those. Still grinding. Got the service manager out and we drove 50 metres when he hopped out to fetch a tech.

After waiting ten minutes the tech arrived and we went down the road. The tech thinks there is a backing plate scraping on the brake disc. So back to the workshop with it. Also the shut line on the bonnet is way off. You could fit a fist between the bonnet and bumper/valance.

The thing that really me pisses me off? How come I could spot this fault in the first five metres of driving, and yet these "highly skilled" techs at Audi Watford could not. Even though they've done plenty of test running - It went in with plenty of fuel and is now down to 15 miles.

And here's the kicker ... they gave it an MOT on Tuesday. Part of which test is to raise each wheel and rotate it etc inspecting from underneath. I presume then that they must let apprentices do this test? Apprentices who are listening to their iPods and cannot hear a grating noise from a wheel in front of their nose.

Audi Watford ... muppets! I've sent them an e-mail telling the service guys that I want to speak to the Dealer Principle a.s.a.p. As expected no immediate reply.

I have their A6 still, so I'm mobile, but if they want it back then the only person I'll speak to their is the head. Think I'll drop him an e-mail directly tomorrow. Maybe copy in someone at Audi UK and someone at LV= ...

[Tacko]

Sounds like an absolute nightmare mate. I do question the skill of their techs as well! Mine had a complete health check with it's Service along with a brake fluid change, however the wheels don't appear to have been taken off???

Hope you get her back soon with a nice apology and a tank of free fuel!

[Audi Pardner]

Sorry to hear of your continuing woes. That's really sh**y service; yes, I'd demand to speak to the DP, but also pursue Audi UK vigorously. Good luck

[DuncanF]

Spoke at length with the Head of Business at Audi Watford this morning. He came across very well and addressed the issues I had raised. No deflection or swerving. Many lessons to be learned etc., both at Audi Watford and Audi UK/Audi Germany (new short block with two faults). He used to work the for MD of Audi UK who is aware of the car ...

The grating noise has been identified as a damaged n/s prop shaft. No idea when/where this happened, possibly part of the accident, certainly not before; I would have noticed the grinding noise.

They will replace the prop shaft at their cost, resolve the issues with the bonnet shut lines and give me 1 year's unlimited mileage Audi Warranty once the car is back on the road.

I'm still frustrated at the time it has taken to fix the car, but this seems to be to be a fair offer in the circumstances. Downside? The prop shaft has to come from Germany, so another couple eof weeks until I get the car back I guess. Hey ho!

[Pistolpete2543]

I thought all Audi genuine parts carried a 2 year warranty, so I'd be pushing him for the full 2 year unlimited mileage warranty (especially considering it's had so many new parts fitted in the time they had it).