Exhaust Manifold

[DrB]

I also had the same problem last year. Quoted a similar price £1100 labour £1200 parts. My car was meant to be covered under an extended Audi warranty - no joy!

Audi Customer services - Dee Edwards 08457573340 - was who I spoke to after and she negotiated half price parts from Audi. Edinburgh Audi, however, would only charge the full amount for labour.

If you had a warranty from 'Warranty Direct' your exhaust mannifold is covered!

I have now fallen out with Edinburgh Audi!!

Mark [img]images/graemlins/piss.gif[/img]

[B5DOM]

What can I say about AUDI, cust sat sucks, I have been offered 50% on parts and 15% on labour, still £1,500 job to fix a common problem on a car [img]images/graemlins/rocketwhore.gif[/img]

[B5DOM]

[img]images/graemlins/24430-audibash.gif[/img] have told me that it does not cause a problem to the car (performance or Danger), it is just that I have to live with the annoying whistle, does anyone know different, cause current thinking is to leave it and then P/Ex for an RS4 later in the year

[wazza]

[img]images/graemlins/24430-audibash.gif[/img] have told me that it does not cause a problem to the car (performance or Danger)

I agree with that statement, but what about resale values?
Who is going to buy the car off you with it like that?
Just tell them to get it sorted. NOW. [img]images/graemlins/rocketwhore.gif[/img]

[DrB]

Iif a problem does occur near the exhaust or mannifold it can cause problems further back, such as the turbos - the vibration can affect them. If it is known that you had a problem already, your warranty would not cover your turbos repair.

You have a few options:
1. repair at the audi centre - expensive
2. repair at an audi specialist - cheaper labour but the parts will not be discounted
3. upgrade - Miltek have been looking at a performance mannifold; how about an RS4 set; MTM or abt mannifold
4. take the car to your local garage and get them to spot weld it!! [img]images/graemlins/3flypigs.gif[/img]

[Mo_S3]

Is it not possible to get a performance exhaust manufacturer to custom make in stainless steel for u ?? I know of a good company who would do these for u, but it all depends on how accessible the old ones are?

[Paul-RS]

Mo IIRC its an engine out job for the manifolds.

[JohnW]

I fail to see how they can claim it is not a problem, and say they will not change it.
Surely a leaking manifold will affect the emissions, and could also potentially cause problems for the cats.

Right about now I would be writing to Audio UK, copying to Audi Germany, and expressing my 'concern' that Audi are not accepting liability under the warranty that a broken part should be replaced.
It is not a serviceable part (i.e. does not wear out like bearings or belts) and is broken by the fact that manifolds are designed to be air-tight, and this one clearly is not.

Also, as has been pointed out you would be unable to sell the car in this condition, as it is a requirement of the UK MoT law that the exhaust system shall be securely fitted with no leaks (there is a web site somewhere with the MoT standards on line. Check the official wording).

If all else fails get an AA or RAC inspection, so that you have an official indepenent engineers report.

There is no way I'd let them walk from this one without a lot of effort.

If your not a member of Which, now could be a good time to join, writing to them with a copy of the letter you send to Audi.

[email]B@stards[/email], the lot of them [img]images/graemlins/062802beat_prv.gif[/img]

Cheers,
John.

[B5DOM]

Audi, have been quite sneaky really and do not cover the manifold under the warranty, I have taken a look at the BMW, Porsche, (VW & Merc Could not find anything saying not covered) websites and all these manufacturers seem to cover these parts

Who would you suggest I write to at AUDI UK and Germany and do you have any contact names?

It looks like Audi are trying to play with the big boys in the playground but still have their shorts on!

[JohnW]

Sorry, can't help on contacts at either, having only just joined the Audi owning crowd.

from their website I would fire off a letter to the address given at:
http://www.audi.com/com/en/contact/contact.jsp

Note that there is also a 'praise and criticism' contact.

I would point out that while a manifold is indeed part of an exhaust system, it is not considered a serviceable item like the rest of the pressed steel pipework on the other manufacturers cars you have checked.
Also point out that this is not the sort of service you expect from a major manufacturer for a car costing in excess of 38k gbp, with xxx miles, full dealer service history, and still being within its warranty period !

Also, try to find out what the details were of that recall.
If you can get a copy of it stating chassis numbers or build dates, you have a case to show that there was a design fault, and clearly your car has suffered from the same fate.

I would also mention in your letter how this is a problem recognised by several owners, and has been/is being discussed openly on owners forums, creating a great deal of bad feeling/publicity for Audi owners in general.
After all, what good is a warranty if it fails to cover major parts of the car that fail within 3 (or is it 4) years from date of registration...

Shout loud and wide mate.
Make a total pain in the ar$e of yourself, and make them aware of just how annoyed you are about this, and how far you will publicise this problem.
Also how it will potentially make you avoid buying any VAG vehicles in the future.

Here is a direct quote I've just copied from the Audi.co.uk web site, under the customer support section

At Audi we believe that every customer has a right to expect excellent service each and every time contact is made with us. To help ensure that this happens we have agreed a set of service standards with our Audi Centre network that governs the way they do business with you, the customer. These standards apply to both the sales and the aftersales experience and we actively monitor their delivery to ensure that you receive the highest standards of customer service. We believe that these service standards are the very least we should deliver and go a long way toward ensuring a consistent, stress free experience whenever you are in contact with anyone who represents the Audi brand.

By the way, just checking, but is it rattling or actually blowing ?
If it is just rattling I'm not sure just how far you will get, except that a rattling heatsheild on a cat on a different car was advised as an mot failure to me, as it was liable to fall off. Comes down to insecure exhaust system...
(fyi Porsche just replaced a wiring loom on my car totally free of charge, and that is on a 94 car !)

I wish you luck mate.
May take a bit of time on your part, but for 2k5 it has to be worth trying [img]images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

One last thought - did you ask anyone to check the parts numbers as David R suggested ?
If yours has the same number as those that failed, you should almost be home & dry. dd

[Mik]

Hi

I have the same problem (have had it for a while but have been fighting with Audi to get it done with as little outlay as poss).
The Dealership I use have recommended that both Turbos and Manifolds are changed - to begin with I questioned that - However, having had the car reviewed/tested by 3 Dealers and AMD, I found the general consensus to be that the unattached heatshield could potentially cause heat-damage to other parts of the engine (in addition to causing rattle and whining) - most likely the turbos which have been known to fail as a result (AMD said this too)....so I would think about having the turbos done too now that the engine is out anyway with the manifolds.

I have managed to get 30% on parts and 15% off labour which leaves the cost a just over £2800 including VAT for 2 new K03's with manifolds, fully fitted. This is after 4-5 months of chasing Audi UK.....this is not ideal (for free would have been [img]images/graemlins/033102bad_1_prv.gif[/img] ), but still quite a bit cheaper than the KO4 upgrade (5k +) which I can't justify with my car having done 65k miles. But I do like it enough to spend 3k .... [img]images/graemlins/s4anogaro.gif[/img] .....

[B5DOM]

By the way, just checking, but is it rattling or actually blowing ?

It is more of a whistle than anything else, not so noticable when driving on motorways or wide roads, but in lanes or near buildings you can hear the sound clearly. At first I thought it was the turbo's, but have been told that those are fine and that the manifold is made up of an inner and outer tube and these have come apart slightly therefore producing the annoying whistle

[Lewis]

Can you Guys clarify this problem. I have a rattle on my 98 S4, it only happens at about 1400 rpm, then it's fine.

I had it up the ramps today and have sourced it back to what I think you guys are on about. With the Coolant Resovoir removed looking straight down there is what appears to a light weight metal sheild above the exhaust and Turbo. This one appears to rattle slightly unlike the offside which is solid.

I found the rattle annoying but not sure I pay £2500 or even half that to get rid of it.

If I can find a way of securing it and stop the rattle I'd be happy. However from the looks of this topic I missing something, why's it so important to get it put right, what damage am I doing?

What purpose do these shields have?

Please help as I'm worried I shouldn't be driving it?

[Nikolaos]

I have replaced my manifolds with the MTM one (5500,- Eur) only for hardware. I should have my OEM exhaust manifolds somewhere. They have about 20thousand km and they are in perfect condition.

Email me if you are interested: nikolaos.seizis@seizis.cz

[Dippy]

Nikolaos,

Are you saying that the MTM manifolds are 5500 euros just for the parts?????