Flat Spotted 'Hard' Wheel

[lemonpuff]

As a relatively new RS4 owner (since May 2008), I would appreciate your wisdom on the following issue;

Noticed a very slight vibrate through the steering at around 60 to 70 MPH and took it into the dealers (for reference Guildford Audi) knowing that it was probably deformed wheels after reading through this forum.

Booked the vehicle in and the dealer has just confirmed that ‘the wheels show no signs of kerbing or any other external damage, but the N/S has a considerable flat spot whilst the O/S has a slight 'wobble' but below the permitted 2mm deflection’.

The dealer is stating that 'a flat spotted wheel is due to pot hole damage' and would like a princely sum of £560 to replace the defeat item!

I know for certain that I’ve not gone down any pot holes as like many of us here, drive like a possessed mad man trying to avoid the darn things!

When I purchased the vehicle from Guildford Audi back in May 2008 it had just been fitted with new wheels of the Hard type.

What's the story with the Hard wheels and any warranty claims?

[rtd]

hi lemonpuff, i think the hardtype wheel comes with a 2yr warranty from time of fitting.

[Nige_RS4]

hi lemonpuff, i think the hardtype wheel comes with a 2yr warranty from time of fitting.

I was told this by the dealer when I had my hard wheels replaced, so as long as you don't have any kerb damage they should be able to process a claim for you.

[ollys]

I was told the opposite when my soft wheels were replaced with hard items by Audi- no warranty at all on the new items because I hadn't paid a penny for them.

Hope you get it sorted - otherwise put your £560 (! shame VAGParts no longer trading as they were much cheaper) towards a set of BBS!

Olly

[Nige_RS4]

Well that would mean that any item that has been replaced under warranty comes with no warranty?

[ollys]

I know it's a cop out by Audi - just what I was told when I had mine replaced and others have been told the same too. If you pay for 4 new wheels yourself you get the 2 year warranty, as with any other replacement part paid for at the dealership. I agree there is a grey area on this principle if, for example a part replaced on the last day of the 3 manufacturer's warranty were to fail on the next day out of warranty - the logic of their argument says you haven't paid for the replacement so there is no 2 year warranty on the affected part, which is a dumb line to take. However, these kinds of arguments often fall on deaf ears at dealerships in my experience.

In my case I offered to make a nominal contribution to the cost so as to get the 2 year warranty (on their logic) but they weren't having any of that. TBH the amount of grief I had just to get buckled soft wheels changed for free in the first place meant that my energy had been well and truly sapped by Audi by that stage - a deliberate strategy on their part you may surmise.

That there is no consensus on these matters across dealerships makes it all very arbitrary and even less acceptable IMHO.

Olly

Olly

[BAX123]

Lemon puff

Got the same issue, i bought my RS4 only a month back, i knew that atleast one of my wheels was bent at time of purchase, but took the hit because i believed that it could be repalced or repaired, but on further inspection all wheels are slightly deformed and two of the wheels on the car are the hard type.

But i have found a man that thinks, with a degree of certainty, he can 'fix' all of my wheels. he has dealt with the RS4 wheels on several occasions and believes that he will have no problem reshaping mine.
He's about two hours away from me, (he's in Melton Mowbray) but the trip should be worth the money saved on new rims. (cost of repair est. at £60 a wheel) check out their website if ur interested.

www.alloywheelrepair.co.uk

Regards Mike

[RS4SH]

Has anyone used this service?