UPDATE: 4 failed shocks after one week. RS6 romance is over...

[LRB23]

Hi All,
bit of a depressing post to write but I could do with some advice. As the topic suggests, 1 week after collecting my lusted after RS6 I began noticing a rattling noise near the back and front right side. I had driven the car from the U.K all the way down to the south of France and onto Pisa in Italy. It was an awesome experience to have the motorway destroyer and it really gave me some time to get to know the beast. I don't know if the knocking was always there and I didn't notice it because of the sweet exhaust note in every tunnel or it just happened about a week after I took ownership of the car.

At first I thought the noise was something loose in the boot. So I began emptying the rear of the car, removing the parcel shelf, collapsing the rear seats but the noise still persisted. I noticed that the noise was less prevalent when the car was in Dynamic... odd as it may seem. It then dawned on me it could possibly be DRC related. My heart sank a little and I began trawling the internet for anything similar and came across a post from another RS246 member who reported similar issues. He confirmed that his issue was indeed a DRC failing and that it was known by Audi as a potential common issue with certain RS6 C7's.

Straight on the phone to Hatfield Audi to report the issue and they advised I take the car to the nearest Audi garage and get it checked out. A week later I received a phone call from the French Audi dealer confirming all four shock absorbers were leaking and needed to be replaced. They also wanted €9,000!!!! I explained I had Audi used approved warranty, which they informed me does not cover me outside of the U.K. With all four shocks needing replacement it really brought into question the validity of the 145 point check. How could all four fail after purchase???? Hatfield Audi have so far refused to pay the bill for the repair work in France and want the car back in the U.K. The've confirmed the car will be fixed under warranty / factory goodwill as it is a known issued. I'm not overly keen driving the car back 1,000 miles to the UK with shocks in their current state. Not to mention all of the costs and time involved. So we're at a bit of a stale mate. I'm supposed to be in France for the next 6 months driving to and from Italy.

I've pleaded with Hatfield that if they're going to claim the factory goodwill surely they can pay for the repair in France and claim it back. This has been ongoing for a month now and I'm starting to get a bad taste in my mouth. There was another good reason for the car to go back to Hatfield and that was to complete the pre-sale work agreement that I put in place. There were a handful of items such as paint repairs, RS6 badges and my request to have the car go through another 145 point check of the vehicle. To add insult to injury the Salesman who sold me the car has subsequently been dismissed. Hmmmmmmmm

I'm also now concerned about the level of wear on my discs. I'll put pictures in a separate post.

I'd appreciate anyone's advice.

Cheers all.

[Lig]

Hi LRB23,

Have you phoned the Extended Warranty cover direct as my understanding is that providing you get the repair done at Audi it will be covered outside the UK??

Whether you have 'all component' or 'Named component' cover the suspension is covered. "Suspension: All components including self-levelling system; wheel bearings; switchgear; ECU and relay; hydraulic pumps and valves"



regards,
Lig.

[MikeFish]

Can't you drive it back to UK to get fixed. If you arrange it all in advance with Audi you could do it in a day. Drive over Sunday night, sleep over close to Audi, drop in first thing, then drive back as soon as done.

[535dboy]

Can't you drive it back to UK to get fixed. If you arrange it all in advance with Audi you could do it in a day. Drive over Sunday night, sleep over close to Audi, drop in first thing, then drive back as soon as done.

He is in the south of France so it’s not just a case of nipping back!

I’d be speaking to Audi Uk

[MikeFish]

Can't you drive it back to UK to get fixed. If you arrange it all in advance with Audi you could do it in a day. Drive over Sunday night, sleep over close to Audi, drop in first thing, then drive back as soon as done.

He is in the south of France so it’s not just a case of nipping back!

I’d be speaking to Audi Uk

I get that but it doesn't look like Audi are being of any help so to me it's the best option of paying for it to be done in France or driving like this for the next 6 months. You can still leave Sunday, get the work done Monday then head back to France probsbly arriving early Tuesday.

[Markp]

Sorry to hear this. Driving back should not be an issue safety wise. The dampers weep and let (the very high) pressure out of the DRC but should not fail - ie the dampers still work, but the anti-roll effect of the DRC is lost. Audi will replace the whole set with the upgraded parts and probably new DRC accumulators too giving you a whole new system. Mine was trouble free for 25k after this work, and may well still be ( I sold it and now have a RS4).

[drbru]

Id be straight on the phone to Audi UK with a copy of the letter that you are going to send to the motor ombudsman....You bought a car that had a fairly significant failure within a week (im guessing the problem was potentially there when you bought it) - so in my head it doesn't matter what country you are in or even whether you have warranty or not.

The Americans have their own "lemon laws" and we have our own consumer rights (both basically the same thing but you have to navigate differently)

I would request (not ask) stating your consumer rights and if they really are not prepared to have the car repaired in France/Italy then they ship the car back to the UK at their own expense with an appropriate courtesy car whilst you wait

I would get this all over their social media pages and make some noise.....im sure they will budge with the right tone

[Tadass910]

It is dangerous drive to Italy as corona virus going to spread soon to France as well

[Golfather]

Get Audi roadside assist which covers Europe. Then call up for a breakdown and get it recovered. to Hatfield Audi direct. Flight back to collect once fixed and drive home.

[LeeRS6]

Had mine replaced by Audi extended warranty a little while ago, I wouldn't worry about driving it as Audi wasn't as they made me drive it for a month before they got the parts in, I was assured it wasn't a problem as long as I could put up with the noise I begged to differ as didn't feel the car was safe to drive on uneven roads but they said not a problem.

[LRB23]

Hi All,
thanks for your input. Audi European roadside assistance will be picking up the car from France and transporting it back to U.K. Hatfield Audi are going to carry out the repair as well as investigate the new issue of brake disc wear. I've also requested that they carry out a new 145 point check and do a complete overhaul of the car. I'm also asking Audi to cover my costs to return collect the car, and drive it back down to the South of France.

The most annoying part of being without my car for probably 4-6 weeks is being told that I'm only eligible for a courtesy for 2 weeks. Despite the fact its going to take 2-3 weeks to even ship it back.

Fingers crossed I'll get everything sorted and have my pride and joy back again soon. I will keep you all updated.

[MikeFish]

Glad you got it sorted but personally I'd be taking it back myself rather than be without it for 4 to 6 weeks. It'll be a nice drive back.

[Lig]

That is good news that it is being sorted.

I am suprised that as a global company Audi have not arraged to get it sorted at a French dealer, as it says in the Warranty doc 'Claiming while outside the UK' ... but I guess it must be something to do with how their business model works?!

But at least its a positive outcome (fingers crossed)!!

Lig.

[LRB23]

Update:

So the car made it back to the UK via Audi Roadside Assistance. I’ve had a hire car for the last two weeks provided by them, however that expired a week ago and I was forced to hire my own. Interesting note... Audi Roadside Assistance only provide you with a hire car for two weeks despite quoting it would take three weeks for it to be delivered back to the U.K. even before work can start. Such a <beep> system. I’ve spent two weeks on the phone bouncing back and forth between ARA and Audi Customer Service and no one would help. I urgently need a car so had to hire my own. I’m gonna claim off either the Dealership for this or Audi direct.

Back to the car... so the initial assessment is that there is nothing wrong with the car. All they’ve noted is a slight misting on the shocks but they are not defective. The lady in the service department told me the ‘system was empty’ and that is what caused the clunking noise. A lot to unpack from these comments:
1) why does the French Audi Service report completely differ to what Hatfield is saying? I’m trying to get the evidence of the leaking but France is in Corona lockdown so that may take a while. Someone is lying.
2) If a shock is misting doesn’t that mean it’s leaking?
3) And surely if the system is ‘empty’ then obviously there’s a leak???

WTF!!!!

Would love some input on this one. I’m trying to remain calm because there are far more serious things happening in the world today BUT I really want my car back and in good working order.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Markp]

There is a leak. The system should be under very high pressure, somewhere around 15- 20 bar (sorry don't have exact figure to hand). Misting around shocks can be normal.

As a bare minimum you need:

1) Two new DRC control valves (accumulators) as these are knackered by loss of pressure.
2) Recharge and test of all 4 dampers and lines to exclude leak (it may have been one of the old DRC valves so this may fix it).
3) Be aware that the loss of pressure can damage the dampers too if you carry on driving for too long.

Do not accept less than 2 new valves, recharge and re-test. Don't ask me how I know...

Good luck

Mark