MOT Fail: Leaking shock absorber

[markwm]

Just failed an MOT at my local garage for "serious fuel leak on front shock absorber" and there's an advisory warning on the other one.

Car is 4 years old, 16k miles. Gonna start ringing round for prices tomorrow but any ideas how much I should be looking at?

[ShaneyB]

Isn't it a 5 year extended warranty on the DRC?

Does it have FASH?

[markwm]

sorry, what's FASH?

[leont]

I took mine into Audi due to leaking shock - parts came in at £1600 I believe plus fitting (think it was for 2x linked shocks).

Car was just 2 weeks shy of 5 years old and wasn't FASH - but I mentioned the last Audi Service was 22 months before and only 20K miles - Audi honoured it under the goodwill scheme so all done for free.

You might as well get Audi to do the work and MOT the car for you at the same time.

*Full Audi Service History - its usually required for DRC replacement*

[markwm]

I called audi customer services and they said *if* it is a problem with the DRC, they will repair it for free. So this is great news if it's the drc/

I had serious leak on one side, "oil misting" on the other on the MOT fail sheet.

[adsgreen]

"serious FUEL leak on shock"?
I'd be really worried if they've filled up the pressurised shocks with petrol!

Can you take a picture of the offending shock?

[RS6chris!]

sorry, what's FASH?

[markwm]

Yea, I get it now. It does.

[HYFR]

you'll be sorted for free

dont pay a penny

[rs4007]

Sounds like it! Although, I got one replaced 150 miles ago, got some noise now, brought i back in, they 'advised a replacement' on front 2 with 50% goodwill (not 100% like the one before - this was apparently a mistake). Now, they told me the front shocks were sweating in the first place, now I bring it back in and they are 'advising' a replacement because sweating and starting to leak, but had not failed... fishy!?

The full price they were saying per shock was about £380.. (Edinburgh Audi), so I am getting 2 for £380. They said if you pay something for them (as apposed to FOC), you get a 2 year warranty on those shocks.. which is some piece of mind for a while..

[edge]

*Full Audi Service History - its usually required for DRC replacement*

I didnt have that issue in Ireland. Is that the norm?

[silent-gerbil]

Just had my '07 avant MOT'd at Macclesfield Audi,
It passed but they gave me an advisory for "misting" on the front left shock, when I went to collect the car they offered to book it in for this friday for a replacement shock free of charge, no questions asked!
It really is poor that there is no consistency to Audi dealers approach to this problem.

[rs4007]

Waaaa, so they replaced a misting shock free of charge, that is good and a string to my bow in getting my front two covered! The inconsistency is a bit annoying, although I would highly recommend paying a nominal 10%, this way you will retain a 2 year warranty on the shocks as the warranty on them will run out with the warranty of the car. I was told this today by Paul Adcock at Audi UK.

[adsgreen]

I agree - the inconsistency is one of the main problems.
I have two local dealers... one continues to deny all knowledge of this to the point of them saying "don't believe everything you read on the internet" to the other who outlined the process of inspecting the shocks and going into what will and won't be replaced without any prompting.

[markwm]

Took the car into audi today for repair, got a call a few hours later saying it needs 3 new shocks but there's "no good will on it". Cost of repair £3600. Shocked....

I remember the name of the person I spoke to at audi customer services, he said it would be repaired free and any problems I should give him a call. I call audi cs, guy I spoke to isn't in and hasn't logged the conversation we had on the 6th june.

They've now opened a case and are looking into it

Not looking promising. Car is 4 years old, I'm owner from new, around 16k miles on it.