DRC Ouch!

[PaulT]

Had the RS for a year now and loved every mile - about 4k so far, what a great car
MOT couple of weeks back advised misting on both front shocks, so took a look myself and sure enough struts were bit damp but not serious. So off on a bit of a test drive to test over a few speed bumps -nothing at normal speeds (I am fairly careful over the suspension knackering traffic calming measures), but a bit more enthusiasm gave slight rebound knock from OSF.

Gave my local Indy a call but no DRC gear - VAS Motion in guildford BTW, I have used on my audis for 6 years highly recommended, good ex-Audi guys, good rates. So it went into Audi today (camberley) for an hour of diagnosis, RS tech James was gonna do the work - spoke with him at checkin and knew his stuff.

So outcome is as follows:
2x front shocks - replace
4x flexi hoses perished - replace
4x front upper arms bushes in varying states of soft/split -replace
Lower arms, arb links ok (cos I already got them done)
Valve blocks and hard lines ok (phew! - not a subframe out job)
2x rear shocks surface corroded (originals) but not leaking - my choice on replacing, but is mainly parts cost while rest of system in bits and they are old....

Getting it all done inc rears, and geometry alignment is quoted at £3275 - Ouch! Wallet has reacted like Arkwrights till!
They have cut the labour rate from £190 to £140 due size of job, and I challenged them to get closer to 3k and they agreed to 'see what can be done sir'. So they keep it and work will be done.

Wondering anyone had similar done and how the price sounds?
Cheers
Paul

Ps. Keeping DRC to remain stock, I'm not considering coilovers.

[MikeFish]

I had a leaky shock so went into unit 20 for replacement. Also got them to fit lowering srpings at the same time (already previously bought from them).
They noticed 2 of the other shocks had a slight mist but not failing but I had them changed as well along with the hoses. I also asked them to replace the front upper arms too.
All that lot came to about £2150k.
£190 per hour? Are they kidding? I'd take it to the expert (unit20) if I were you. I had mine taken there (from Eas Midlands) on the back of a flat bed for a couple of hundred quid (or one hour Audi labour rate as it's now known). It was a couple of years ago now, but think their labour rate was about £55 plus VAT.

[R1RS4]

Hi there,

You could ask your guys as VAS for a price to change the parts and get a price at Audi Guildford to recharge the system, they cannot be too far from each other, I have checked and they are 2.9 miles apart?

Good luck

[ChrisW]

+1 for Unit 20.

I can categorically say I wouldn't take mine anywhere near an Audi dealer these days.

[Ian_C]

£3275

Ps. Keeping DRC to remain stock, I'm not considering coilovers.

Interesting decision with the DRC being that expensive? You could have the highest quality springs and dampers for that price. OEM / SS ride height etc

[psglas]

I was keen to keep the DRC so got 2 shocks done 3 years ago then another done 2.5 years ago, all with a bit of goodwill from Audi. Dealer confirmed all 4 shocks had been replaced so I thought it might last.

3 months ago the newest shocker started to tap. Then last weekend after a bit of fun on the bumpy ice in Scotland the car sounds like a taxi. Front right and back left are knocking like a ......

Got a set of Bilsteins fitted this week. If you're on the smooth roads of Europe I'd stick with DRC. In the UK, DRC is an expensive option...

[Ian_C]

Give or take, that works out at £1000 a year

[HYFR]

£190 pH?! Wtf ????????

Even £140 is criminal

I dare say Unit 20 is £2k all in.

[PaulT]

Thanks for comments guys.

Unfortunately it got a bit worse - on one side the upper arms were seized to the hub housing. So new hub as well.

So in the end I have 2k of new parts and 1k of labour plus the dreaded vat. Quite a price to stay with the DRC but wanted to be stock. Audi were pretty reasonable with final bill discounting all the high cost parts and cutting the labour rate as ended up a big job.

So car is completely new suspension all round aside from springs and rear frame. Got it back on Tuesday evening and went for drive later on some twisty stuff - I thought it handled well before, little did I know how good it could really be in the corners

Cheers

[ChrisW]

Mine felt completely different after having new wishbones all round, yours must have been even better.

[RossDagley]

£190 pH?! Wtf ????????

Even £140 is criminal

I dare say Unit 20 is £2k all in.

This.

Tell Audi you want the warranty rate (£79/hour iirc) if you must stay with them, or Unit20/MRC/etc. Will be about that and you'll get someone who knows what they're doing, rather than someone experiencing a B7 for the first time as you risk at Audi.

[22B]

I had the whole lot replaced by Perth Audi last year and they were kind enough to give me a substantial 'goodwill discount. I got 4 new shocks plus all the pipework done. Fitting the pipes was the expensive part of the job due to all the labour required to pull the underside of the car apart to gain access. Total cost was 2.3k I think.
Not all Audi dealers are the same....!

[DavidRS4]

I think you are mental to have paid all that money out!

[Harris.]

I wouldn't take mind to Audi , a guaranteed Shafting with no Lube !!! £190 ph for a trainee to work on your car .

The front hubs can be heated up to set the top arms free . But still its done ,enjoy it .