Sorry to bring up the old debate again .....

[Marky]

I had my car in the garage for some warranty work about 6 weeks ago and after tracking the wheels, the test drive reported some disk judder. This was not something that I had noticed previously but they went ahead and changed the disks and pads anyway, all warranty work. After getting the car back it was fine for the first week or so and then at low speed braking there was the judder. This got progressively worse over the next couple of weeks (until it could go back to the dealer). It got so bad that it was starting to cause skids during the bad weather. So, after getting the car back at the weekend, I was told that the disks were warped again!

Cue all the usual questions, has it been on a track? Have you been braking excessively? This has to be driver error. Now I have not been overly aggressive in driving the car, in fact I have been pretty cautious after getting the new disk etc. So grudgingly they have replaced the front disks again and this is where I am start to get annoyed with Audi again. I have been given a lecture on how powerful the cars is and how I don’t understand how to drive it properly. Additionally my driving style causes the brakes to warp. So I now have to go to the Audi garage to get a lecture from the service team about how to brake more appropriately!!!!

I am f****** furious at this. Basically they are saying I am a crap driver (probably true) and that the car should not be driven hard or aggressively (what?!?!?). What is the point of putting together a package like the RS if it can’t be used? I would love to know what people think ?

If Audi’s opinion is really that you should not drive the car hard I have suggested that they take it back under the Trade Description Act.


PS: This was not the end, I had also complained that the seat bolster was creaking and squeaking, first question I was asked was “How much do you weigh?â€

[W8PMC]

That's wrong on every level. Which dealer are you using?

I'd be onto Audi UK in a flash & make a formal complaint. These cars are designed to be driven.

[P_G]

In response to their questions of how you drive you could ask them how they bedded in the discs and pads for you. How many extreme stops did they do in sequence, how long did they drive it to allow the pads and disks to cool.

I've never heard so much bollocks in my life. However I will say that if they have just fitted them and not bedded them that is why your disks are warped, there is IIRC an Audi technical bulletin now on how to bed in RS4 disks and pads, ask them if they know about it. Better still, find another dealer.

How many miles have you done since you had the original work done BTW?

[SR71]

I'd be steaming too...

I suggest you get a hold of the original press release material for the RS4...the hardback book.

Then go back into the dealership and plonk it on the table in front of them and see what they have to say.

The car includes a f**king lap timer on the DIS...presumably for the trip down to Tesco's in their opinion?

In the brochure, you'll find the very first page of the document pictures a race-track with the following:

" If you succeed here, you will succeed anywhere. The Audi RS4 on the racetrack."

In the subsequent "Brakes" section of the document, it says:

"Extreme brake power offers safety. And brings you back on the course more quickly."

" The first challenge is in sight: a demanding left-hand bend. You steer towards the right edge of the track. You reach the first braking point at top speed. You press the pedal with all your strength. The brakes respond immediately...."

And so it goes on...

The whole thrust of the document is race track performance in a road car.

Mind you've, I've heard some f**king BS from Audi Dealers in the past, nothing surprises me anymore...

Last time they hit me with "Our Audi technicians have 20 years experience dealing with Audis...."

That'll be why, off the back of their failure diagnosis, they recommended me a new Torsen on my S2 (quote = £5500) when all I needed was a centre bearing on the prop-shaft (£25).

That was their best faux-pas.

(*&%^^&%ers!

[SR71]

PS: Ask them for the specs on the brake disc steel. Depending on how serious you are, then get AP Racing or Movit or Tarox to independently verify if the steel is any good for the application.

PPS: If you ask around on this site, I'm sure you'll find that various owners who have been on the Audi Drivers Days will tell you that the intructors running RS4's at these days warp front discs on a fairly regular basis. Then suggest that they might like to use some better steel for their product that being the case...

[P_G]

Last time they hit me with "Our Audi technicians have 20 years experience dealing with Audis...."

Yeah, there are 10 of them with 20 years between them; average of 2 years each on working on every Audi under the sun against the a handful of the 3000 B7 RS4's in the country. The odds aren't good on a successful outcome really?

[MoRS6+]

Sorry mate, but the bit about when they asked how much do you weigh made me lol, but in a sheer disbelief fashion. They really will say anything the b*stards!! As for the warping discs issue, I too read that there is a specific procedure to bed the brakes in. Without the procedure, they are more prone to warping, and quickly.

Based on their remarks, the manual should read something like: "RS4, awesome on the road, awesome on the track"*




*driver weight must not exceed 12 stone; hard braking not advised.

[ARSEY4]

I bet there was naff all wrong with the discs and a wheel weight had just come off.

[PetrolDave]

Don't ever take your car back to that dealer again .... they are totally incompetent, don't understand what the RS sub-brand is about, and insult customers through their lack of knowledge.

Might be worth "naming & shaming" so nobody else here has to deal with that bunch of idiots again...

[pippyrips]

Yes, do tell!

[ghoonk]

If any of you ever figure out how to deal with the creaking seat, I'd love to know. It started a couple of months back, and I weigh around 90kg (max). The creak sounds like it's coming from the back of the seat, or the bottom left corner (mine is a LHD) where it bolts to the floor. And it is driving me mental...

[booski]

If any of you ever figure out how to deal with the creaking seat, I'd love to know. .

I have this creak as well my personal solution was a non res milltek.... Problem solved- I'm too busy enjoying the exhaust note

[chemical-ali]

I'd be steaming too...

I suggest you get a hold of the original press release material for the RS4...the hardback book.

Then go back into the dealership and plonk it on the table in front of them and see what they have to say.

The car includes a f**king lap timer on the DIS...presumably for the trip down to Tesco's in their opinion?

In the brochure, you'll find the very first page of the document pictures a race-track with the following:

" If you succeed here, you will succeed anywhere. The Audi RS4 on the racetrack."

In the subsequent "Brakes" section of the document, it says:

"Extreme brake power offers safety. And brings you back on the course more quickly."

" The first challenge is in sight: a demanding left-hand bend. You steer towards the right edge of the track. You reach the first braking point at top speed. You press the pedal with all your strength. The brakes respond immediately...."

And so it goes on...

The whole thrust of the document is race track performance in a road car.

Mind you've, I've heard some f**king BS from Audi Dealers in the past, nothing surprises me anymore...

Last time they hit me with "Our Audi technicians have 20 years experience dealing with Audis...."

That'll be why, off the back of their failure diagnosis, they recommended me a new Torsen on my S2 (quote = £5500) when all I needed was a centre bearing on the prop-shaft (£25).

That was their best faux-pas.

(*&%^^&%ers!

You are not a happy man are you!

Look, if the car doesn't work, ask them if they have heard of section 14 of the sale of goods act. You may notice a change in attitude.

The problem with most of us is that we wont fight our corner. Did you stick it to them in the showroom?

[Marky]

In "discussion" with the dealer at the moment. I have a meeting with the engineer this afternoon who worked on my car to discuss the brake warping issue. This can not be done via phone, he must see me in person.

With regard to the other issues, apparently my wife (who dropped the car in to the garage) never told them about the seat bolster or not to wash the car. This is now a battle of her word against Audi's as they never issued any customer paperwork on receipt of the car, either to detail the work to be carried out or a cosmetic check sheet (detailing scratches etc.). They will look at the bolster but the paintwork is not thier fault and tough luck if I don't like it.

I did have loud words when I picked up the car, but there was only the sales staff around. I have mentioned that if the car is not fit for purpose I want my money back which was politley ignored. They were more interested in the second car that I was about to buy from they (needless to say this is on permanent hold).

I will update later.

Section 14 eh?

MW

[SR71]

Did you stick it to them in the showroom?

After my recent discussion with them, I'm never going back to that particular dealer.

Camberley can have my business from now on...I'll just have to synchronize my visits with trips to the out-laws...