Stolen seats and steering wheel!

Post by **Bobsta80** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:59 pm

Word of warning for you all.

Some b@$?@+ds broke into my RS4 Avant a couple of nights ago and stole my front seats and rs4 steering wheel. Even more annoying is that the insurance company has written off the car! Apparently Audi don't carry the parts any more and they would charge about 15k to custom build the seats alone!!

It's not surprising then that my insurance company told me that they have dealt with about half a dozen nearly identical cases in the past couple of months! The police also told me that in their opinion, fast Audis are being targeted.

I'm toying with the idea of buying the scrapped car from the salvage company so if anyone can suggest where I can get some legitimate seats and steering wheel that would be appreciated.

Mean time, if anyone sees some seats or steering wheel popping up on eBay, gum tree, etc can you let me know.

cheers

Post by **MikeFish** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:32 pm

Sorry to hear that! This is getting very common now! Whereabouts are you? There's been a few cases in London, I wonder if its spreading out further now.

I'm on eBay looking at RS4 wheels daily as I've been looking for an alcantara one so I'll let you know if one comes up (don't know I'm bothering though cos they'll probably all be worn).

Post by **TimDogg** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 6:54 pm

Driveway or street Bob - did they get your keys, how did they get in?

Post by **Dal** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 6:56 pm

That sucks

there is a set of comforts up on eBay.de at present, look to be in good condition.

Post by **Audi Pardner** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:59 pm

On another thread on the forum Someone referred to locking nuts (ooh er missus) that could be used for seat mounts, but I don't know what they are/how they work. Does anyone know? Would be worth it if this trend is spreading!

Post by **sync24** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:18 pm

Audi Pardner wrote:On another thread on the forum Someone referred to locking nuts (ooh er missus) that could be used for seat mounts, but I don't know what they are/how they work. Does anyone know? Would be worth it if this trend is spreading!

That's definatley a good idea - how about refitting bolts with loctite or something similar?

Post by **brn7y** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:24 pm

A Sticker on the window with the Loctite logo saying all nuts secured with Loctite may deter your window being broken.
HD

Post by **MikeFish** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:37 pm

TimDogg wrote:Driveway or street Bob - did they get your keys, how did they get in?

Tim, the incidents I read about the git broke the window, climbed in, undone the nuts and got the seats out the window. Obviously, the steering wheel had to come off otherwise there woudln't be enough room. Lucky for them the steering wheel is actually worth a few quid as well as the air bag. If they had keys, they'd more than likely have taken the whole car.

Post by **cherub72** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:51 pm

What sort of seats and what colour are you after? I had mine done a while ago and have a pair of black saloon seats going spare that I got to tide me over until I could find some cabriolet ones

Post by **neckarsulm** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 9:24 pm

Sorry to hear this.
Amazing as this isn't easy with the doors shut (assume they were as deadlocked), not that easy under pressure with doors open!

Post by **HYFR** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:33 pm

There should be a "locking" nut for the seats as there is the wheels as they come out so easily....four bolts and your done

Post by **Ian_C** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:57 pm

15k for a pair of seats and a steering wheel is quite frankly rubbish. Was that a dealer or Audi UK? Or the insurers 'research'? The same buckets are in other Audis. I would do my absolute utmost to prevent the car going down on the register, will hammer your resale value, Audi would never take it as a px etc etc. Your best option is to negotiate with the insurer that you are happy with second hand parts being used, everyone is in a win situation, car doesn't get written off, insurers neither pay out for whole car nor pay ridiculous 15k bill to Audi

Post by **RIV** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:02 pm

The best way to avoid having your seats nicked is having comfort seats, and non flat bottom wheel, not heard of any being stolen have you ??

Post by **sonny** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:03 pm

Its a pain to remove the seats with the door open, so f**k knows how they get it through the window and managing to undo the bolts, one must be a contortionist!!

Post by **MikeFish** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:06 pm

If I remember correctly, the RS3 that had its seats stolen was a write off because of the costs of the seats, the steering wheel but also because of the damage to the rest of the interior and dashboard and doors as they forced the seats out.

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