Turned down by Audi regarding DRC 5 year guarantee

[rldavison]

In a recent inspection I noticed my front struts were damp on my 2006 RS4 and contacted Audi in Leeds and then Audi UK. My car is less than 5 years old and has 46k on the clock.
Both Audi Leeds and Audi UK told me they would not carry out any work under the 5 year DRC guarantee because I have had the car serviced at an Independant garage. I was told the 5 year guarantee was a kind of good will gesture to customers who use Audi main dealers for servicing etc.

Any advice or comments would be welcome.

[neckarsulm]

I think we concluded this in another thread though some posters were unsure, I might have even asked the question.
All I recall is that the conclusion to that thread made me realise I had to get my car serviced by an Audi Centre even though I run a specialist garage that had already serviced it early to maintain the DRC goodwill cover.
VW Group are limiting their goodwill in many different areas, TT clusters is another example where only FASH cars get help now while before ANY TT would get a new cluster - think that change was 1/4/09

They can do this because block exemptions rules don't apply to goodwill.

[PetrolDave]

I had my front shock absorbers and DRC valve replaced FOC by Portsmouth Audi when my RS4 was 3 years 11 months old, despite having the 3 year service and first MOT done by an independent.

I flashed them the letter I have from Jeremy Hicks when they started saying "it's goodwill and doesn't apply to you because you don't have FASH" - they changed their tune the instant they saw the letter.

[R7ANO]

I've just had mine back from Stratford Audi with a new right front and left rear damper under the 5 year warrenty,
I did have to fight for it though!
Stratford told me to go to where it was serviced as it is a goodwill warrenty, so I called Coventry Audi and they said they don't deal with warrenty issues?
So I called Audi UK and told them the story and they told me it is 100% covered by Audi UK and where did I want it done,
10mins later I had a call for Stratford asking when I wanted it booked in for the work as Audi uk had told them they would pay.
But mine does have FASH and they did ask for the service book!
It's an 06 with 48k

The knocking from the front right in the last few days with very bad! Almost sounded as if the wheel was loose!

[neckarsulm]

Stratford told me to go to where it was serviced as it is a goodwill warrenty, so I called Coventry Audi

WTF! Stratford Audi and Coventry Audi are both part of the Listers Group (as are Worcester Audi and Birmingham Audi).
Having said that they all have to make as much money as possible.

This is what the warranty man from Bham Audi said to me about getting the wheels swapped FOC on my B5;

"The way in which we obtain any goodwill from Audi has now changed. I will also need to know any service history done through the Audi Network."

In the past FASH wasn't a factor.

[Dom81]

I'd also heard that the DRC warranty was sometimes conditional on having a FASH - hence booking into Camberley for AVS2 before being told I could no longer provide oil & plugs. I went to MRC, but have a letter from Jeremy Hicks which states no such requirement so will take him on his word.

The relevant parts are quoted below - I'd appreciate any thoughts on whether this should override any change in Audi goodwill

"Therefore, in order to provide you with additional protection, we would like to offer you additional support for the DRC components for a period of 5 years or 75,000 miles from first registration (whichever is sooner). During this period Audi UK will cover the costs of repair in respect of the DRC components should a fault arise on your vehicle (RS** ***). Your local Audi Centre will be able to supply details of the specific parts included in this offer.

In summary, I am sorry for the inconvenience this problem has caused and I hope that our response will go some way to restoring your confidence in the performance and reliability of your Audi RS4. I am grateful to you for offering your feedback to us, allowing us the opportunity to respond."

[neckarsulm]

Dom, It doesn't specifically say you don't have to have FASH and considering how they can change their goodwill policy at will I wouldn't trust them.

On another note Birmingham Audi haven't kicked up a fuss about me supplying VW Quantum Platinum oil supplied by TPS - they were effectively going to charge me £160 for oil even though I said I didn't want long life, this stuff comes in at around £50 for ten litres (5w/40).

[klauster]

how do I get a copy of the letter?

[neckarsulm]

http://www.jlosee.com/images/RS4/PDF/DRC%20Letter.pdf

[SimonG]

Apologies, for slightly taking the thread off course. I have just bought last week a RS4 Avant and it has had both front shocks replaced by Camberley Audi last year.

Did I read somewhere that they work diagonally so therefore rears should have been replaced?

Thanks

PetrolDave I sent you a PM- and wondered if you ever received it?

Rgds

[P_G]

They do work diagonally but only ones that have visible signs of leaking will be replaced. For peace of mind, I had my front 2 shocks replaced under DRC warranty at around 30k miles but not the rears and last week at 75k miles all four have no signs of leaking at pressure in the system is at 14.5 Bar. So an example it can work without diagonals being replaced.

[madgreek]

Did Audi issue a simular recall out there, like they did for the US?

My car is currently at the dealer getting all four shocks replaced, even though my origanal set was fine. Below is the letter I recieved back in July

[Dom81]

No - no recall in the UK - perhaps as we're not such a litigious nation?

We got extended warranty (with some recently appearing caveats) if / when the original parts failed. Many repairs were badly done, but it seems that now most dealers have the ability, and in conjunction with the modified parts has slowed the instances of failure

[Dom81]

Dom, It doesn't specifically say you don't have to have FASH and considering how they can change their goodwill policy at will I wouldn't trust them.

True, but it doesn't specifically say I don't have to clap twice before unlocking. You may be right (and are certainly have more experience than I do) but I'm going on trust and the sanctity of the written word!

[ArthurPE]

No - no recall in the UK - perhaps as we're not such a litigious nation?

We got extended warranty (with some recently appearing caveats) if / when the original parts failed. Many repairs were badly done, but it seems that now most dealers have the ability, and in conjunction with the modified parts has slowed the instances of failure

that, and there are much fewer cars, 1/3 as many...
our warranty laws are pretty stringent also...

in some ways, the extended warranty is better...

US
say you get the shocks replaced in July 2011 at 55k miles/MY 2008
12 months later, July 2012, at 65k miles they fail again, you're done

UK
same scenario, you're covered...
up to 5 years and 75k miles, iirc, although there seems to be more room for 'interpretation'...