DRC action against audi, please contribute!

4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 450 bhp
4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 480 bhp (plus)
User avatar
RichRS6
3rd Gear
Posts: 437
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:49 am
Location: Penzance

Post by RichRS6 » Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:40 am

Hyoctane,

Thanks for all the help now all we need is to find a lawyer on this forum who is a RS owner..........

Shouldn't be too hard.............

Come on you lot there must be some legal eagle types on here........

If we do get the new fix offered I personally would wait until there is some fedback from owners who have had the fix before removing the coilovers which I am happy with and which have no reliability issues.

IMO as a goodwill gesture Audi should retro fit the suspension from the New RS6 I wouldn't mind that as it has Three settings !

The worst part of this is that Audi could have let us in the U.K. know that something was in the pipeline as from our point of view they were doing nothing and worse still denied there was any problem.

I guess if I were a Lawyer (which I'm not) I would say that admitting to a problem would have made them liable for any expenses incurred by owners and due to the nature of the fault also meant that the RS6 was not really roadworthy from the off so We may have been entitled to ask for our money back !!
03 Mugello Blue Avant, Silver Leather, Carbon Fibre, Alcantara Headlining, MFSW, Electric folding Mirrors. H&R Coilovers, Hotchkis ARB's, Res Miltek, APR R1's, ITG Filters, RNS-E, OEM Bluetooth, Digital Freeview and Headrest Monitors, Aero Wipers, Rear Aero Wiper and R/H parking Mod, Rear Fog mod, Valentine 1.

User avatar
GardinerG
Top Gear
Posts: 2285
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:58 pm
Location: Fleet, Hampshire

Post by GardinerG » Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:51 am

I for one would welcome the revised system if it works. Audi UK can use me as a guinea pig if they like - at their expense though.

What gets my ire is that after we have forked out to replace the system with coilovers due to the design faults they expect us to pay them again to go back. They are going to use the same parts aren't they?

What about Warranty Direct warranties, will they be willing to keep us on their books if we go back to DRC?

G

langstone
1st Gear
Posts: 84
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:22 pm
Location: Dawlish, Devon
Contact:

Post by langstone » Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:37 am

I've just found an interesting and relevant article on the Times website where the author, Tim Shallcross, is basically describing the behaviour of Audi with the DRC Issue.

I particularly liked this bit:

"Sadly, most (manufaturers) have a huge reluctance to admit that any of their cars might have a fault. In the world of the internet and rapid exchange of information between car owners, this sort of behaviour makes ostriches look far sighted. "

Bit unfair on ostriches though.

the article from February 10tT can be found here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/drivin ... 696138.ece

Another point he raises i that where the failures are fundamental to vehicle safety then VOSA should be protecting the consumer and public.

Mark

calummcculloch
2nd Gear
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:02 pm
Location: Edinburgh Scotland

Post by calummcculloch » Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:49 am

Hi GardinerG

Are you saying that Warranty Direct are not covering suspension problems anymore?
I have my car in Edinburgh Audi at the mo with a burst pipe.
I have a Warranty Direct warranty :shock:
Calum

User avatar
GardinerG
Top Gear
Posts: 2285
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:58 pm
Location: Fleet, Hampshire

Post by GardinerG » Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:03 pm

WD wont cover RS6s for new policies at the moment, this has no effect on existing policy holders - it is all down to the sheer number of DRC claims!

My point was that I am insured with WD (with KW suspension from the outset of the policy), so what would be the case if I were to phone them up and tell them I am going back to DRC - would they then refuse to cover me? Probably not, but it is still a question I would want answering.

Grant

User avatar
RichRS6
3rd Gear
Posts: 437
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:49 am
Location: Penzance

Post by RichRS6 » Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:21 pm

I guess that if Audi replace our coilovers with "Super Duper new DRC MK2" then it would be covered by Audis parts warranty so would not bother Warranty Direct too much, I would like it to be longer than 24 months though.

With regard to the coilovers lots of us have been forced to fit due to the not fit for purpose DRC I would like Audi to compensate us and pay back our costs (including the costs of coilovers and fitting) and replace the DRC with the MK2 version.

How many of us have had to pay for repairs and repressurisations, I know I have !

If they recall the RS6 to fit uprated parts then they are admitting that the original issue was not fit for purpose and are also admitting liability ?

I'm no lawyer, come on there must be someone on this forum who is !!!!
03 Mugello Blue Avant, Silver Leather, Carbon Fibre, Alcantara Headlining, MFSW, Electric folding Mirrors. H&R Coilovers, Hotchkis ARB's, Res Miltek, APR R1's, ITG Filters, RNS-E, OEM Bluetooth, Digital Freeview and Headrest Monitors, Aero Wipers, Rear Aero Wiper and R/H parking Mod, Rear Fog mod, Valentine 1.

User avatar
PaulRS6
2nd Gear
Posts: 128
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:17 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post by PaulRS6 » Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:42 pm

Sorry, I'm a little late into the fray here, have had my car only a short while but have a good history package with it, so have added as below. The car has not had any suspension problems since I have had it, but the history may well be of help.

marmite wrote:1. MoRS6+ - RS6 plus - 10,500 - Fontain - March 08 - DRC replaced with H&R coilovers
2. Shoppinit - RS6 Avant - 68959 - Inchcape - Feb 08 - All shocks diagnosed faulty, Bilstein PSS9s ordered
3. Hartge - RS6 plus - 35526 - T.B.C - March 08 - DRC to be replaced with H&R coilovers
4. Lionelflair - RS6 Avant - 42000 - RNS replaced - new shock & valve, 44000 - RNS replaced AGAIN - new shock & valve
5. HungryPigeon - RS6 Avant - 37000 - all four shocks need replacing 2K miles after rear suspension rebuild
6. LondonRS6 - RS AVANT , 03 plate, 33k - AUDI CAMBERLEY - all four shocks and 2 CV replaced , third party warranty replaced with New DRC
7. Cas - RS6 Avant - 37000 - Audi Franklin Leeds diagnose require just OSR shock + accumulator replacing for £1k.
8. Rupert RS6 Avant, 04, 50k miles, various dealers, Failed 9 times, twice replaced completely. Currently very bad.
9. Onlinesys - RS6 Avant - 24000 - all four shocks leaked and just replaced with H&R coilovers. Can't wait to get the car back!!
10. Lowell- RS6 Avant, DRC failure at 33k, replaced with H&R coilovers
11. Pedro - 04 RS6 Avant, NSF failure at 40k, replaced with valves in Jan09 and beginning to go again
12. WeaselRS6saloon - 2003, RS6 saloon, all four shocks leaking at 47k - replaced with KWv3 coilovers.
13. GardinerG - 2003 RS6 Avant, 40k miles, DRC failed twice in 2007 within 3 months of ownership, replaced with KW coilovers.
14. Bazza - 2003 RS6 Saloon, 36000, 20 shocks and 10 accumulators in 3 years and 7000 miles, In with audi at the moment
15. Mac - 2004 54 RS6 Shocks replaced june 07, Full System inc vlaves replaced Oct 08....55k
16. Stuart6587, Audi RS6 Avant 2003, 2 shocks and central valve @ 3,300 miles in Jan 09
17. MalcolmSu - RS6 saloon 2004, 1 front shock Jan'09 @ 52k; 1 rear shock Feb '09 @ 55k
18. Andyt - RS6 Saloon '03: Both valves replaced May 08 @ 56k, both valves and front right shock replaced Feb '09 @59k.
19. RichRS6 - RS6 Avant '03. All Four Shocks and Two Valves Replaced by Audi Warranty March 2008 @24,000 Miles. Jan 2009 @33,000 Miles Two leaking shocks and One valve Replaced and finally removed the whole lot in March 2009 for H&R coilovers when I found another leaking shock.
20. Langstone - RS6 Avant - 49384 - Audi Approved Newton Abbot - 06/09/07 - shock absorbers replaced under parts warranty.
21. Gorwanvfr - RS6 Saloon '03 - Audi Issac Agnew - Oct 2008 @ 36400 miles new rear shock
22. BigMo - RS6 Avant 03 - Listers Audi - 29/11/06 OSF+Valve@42520, 08/03/07 OSR+Valve@45464
23. aRSy - RS6 Avant 03 - Camberley Audi - Aug'08 @ 37,000 miles - Full system
24. rachaeljf - RS6 Avant 04 - 57500 - DRC failure diagnosed March 09 by Northampton Audi - Warranty Direct have authorised repair but I want to go to Unit 20!
25. Deanobeano - RS6 Plus 54 - 06.11.07 (47045) replace both front shocks accumulators pipe work and nsf top suspension arm. 01.12.06 (35518) renew nsf/osr accumulator. 25.08.06 (31076) renew nsf / dsf / dsr shock absorbers.
26. LIG - DRC totally replaced (with DRC) March 08, June 08 2 x valves replaced, July 08 Shocker replaced, March 09 All replaced with H&Rs!!
27. DrB - One corner failed in January 2007 and then the other in April 2007. Both parts were repaired by Audi paid for by Warranty Direct.
28. ells109 - RS6 53 - Walton Audi - DRC, leaking shock. Replaced, within 2 weeks leaking again and replaced again. All out of warranty. over £3000. Mileage 55k
29. Speedsix - RS6 53 - Unit 20 Jan 09, 4 leaking shocks. Replaced under warranty (Warranty Direct) with coilovers. Had been le4aking for some time before replacement though.
30. Marmite - RS6 03 - Hatfield 24/4/07 41180 miles 1 shock o/s/r, 30/1/08 49756miles 4 shocks and valves, 17/2/09 58466 miles 4 shocks and valves, All covered under warranty, the vehicle did have the same repairs done but is not on record Vehicle has had a minium on 13 shocks.
31. PaulRS6 - RS6 Avant (All work at Listers, Coventry) 6/1/06 32329 miles OSF Shock replaced, 15/6/06 36660 miles OSF Valve replaced, 12/04/07 43059 miles All Shocks – Removed and inspected, fluid changed, 2/4/08 52712 miles All Shocks replaced, 17/11/08 60398 miles OSF shock repaired.
C7 RS6 Avant

Rilla
3rd Gear
Posts: 292
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:56 pm

Post by Rilla » Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:14 pm

1. MoRS6+ - RS6 plus - 10,500 - Fontain - March 08 - DRC replaced with H&R coilovers
2. Shoppinit - RS6 Avant - 68959 - Inchcape - Feb 08 - All shocks diagnosed faulty, Bilstein PSS9s ordered
3. Hartge - RS6 plus - 35526 - T.B.C - March 08 - DRC to be replaced with H&R coilovers
4. Lionelflair - RS6 Avant - 42000 - RNS replaced - new shock & valve, 44000 - RNS replaced AGAIN - new shock & valve
5. HungryPigeon - RS6 Avant - 37000 - all four shocks need replacing 2K miles after rear suspension rebuild
6. LondonRS6 - RS AVANT , 03 plate, 33k - AUDI CAMBERLEY - all four shocks and 2 CV replaced , third party warranty replaced with New DRC
7. Cas - RS6 Avant - 37000 - Audi Franklin Leeds diagnose require just OSR shock + accumulator replacing for £1k.
8. Rupert RS6 Avant, 04, 50k miles, various dealers, Failed 9 times, twice replaced completely. Currently very bad.
9. Onlinesys - RS6 Avant - 24000 - all four shocks leaked and just replaced with H&R coilovers. Can't wait to get the car back!!
10. Lowell- RS6 Avant, DRC failure at 33k, replaced with H&R coilovers
11. Pedro - 04 RS6 Avant, NSF failure at 40k, replaced with valves in Jan09 and beginning to go again
12. WeaselRS6saloon - 2003, RS6 saloon, all four shocks leaking at 47k - replaced with KWv3 coilovers.
13. GardinerG - 2003 RS6 Avant, 40k miles, DRC failed twice in 2007 within 3 months of ownership, replaced with KW coilovers.
14. Bazza - 2003 RS6 Saloon, 36000, 20 shocks and 10 accumulators in 3 years and 7000 miles, In with audi at the moment
15. Mac - 2004 54 RS6 Shocks replaced june 07, Full System inc vlaves replaced Oct 08....55k
16. Stuart6587, Audi RS6 Avant 2003, 2 shocks and central valve @ 3,300 miles in Jan 09
17. MalcolmSu - RS6 saloon 2004, 1 front shock Jan'09 @ 52k; 1 rear shock Feb '09 @ 55k
18. Andyt - RS6 Saloon '03: Both valves replaced May 08 @ 56k, both valves and front right shock replaced Feb '09 @59k.
19. RichRS6 - RS6 Avant '03. All Four Shocks and Two Valves Replaced by Audi Warranty March 2008 @24,000 Miles. Jan 2009 @33,000 Miles Two leaking shocks and One valve Replaced and finally removed the whole lot in March 2009 for H&R coilovers when I found another leaking shock.
20. Langstone - RS6 Avant - 49384 - Audi Approved Newton Abbot - 06/09/07 - shock absorbers replaced under parts warranty.
21. Gorwanvfr - RS6 Saloon '03 - Audi Issac Agnew - Oct 2008 @ 36400 miles new rear shock
22. BigMo - RS6 Avant 03 - Listers Audi - 29/11/06 OSF+Valve@42520, 08/03/07 OSR+Valve@45464
23. aRSy - RS6 Avant 03 - Camberley Audi - Aug'08 @ 37,000 miles - Full system
24. rachaeljf - RS6 Avant 04 - 57500 - DRC failure diagnosed March 09 by Northampton Audi - Warranty Direct have authorised repair but I want to go to Unit 20!
25. Deanobeano - RS6 Plus 54 - 06.11.07 (47045) replace both front shocks accumulators pipe work and nsf top suspension arm. 01.12.06 (35518) renew nsf/osr accumulator. 25.08.06 (31076) renew nsf / dsf / dsr shock absorbers.
26. LIG - DRC totally replaced (with DRC) March 08, June 08 2 x valves replaced, July 08 Shocker replaced, March 09 All replaced with H&Rs!!
27. DrB - One corner failed in January 2007 and then the other in April 2007. Both parts were repaired by Audi paid for by Warranty Direct.
28. ells109 - RS6 53 - Walton Audi - DRC, leaking shock. Replaced, within 2 weeks leaking again and replaced again. All out of warranty. over £3000. Mileage 55k
29. Speedsix - RS6 53 - Unit 20 Jan 09, 4 leaking shocks. Replaced under warranty (Warranty Direct) with coilovers. Had been le4aking for some time before replacement though.
30. Marmite - RS6 03 - Hatfield 24/4/07 41180 miles 1 shock o/s/r, 30/1/08 49756miles 4 shocks and valves, 17/2/09 58466 miles 4 shocks and valves, All covered under warranty, the vehicle did have the same repairs done but is not on record Vehicle has had a minium on 13 shocks.
31. PaulRS6 - RS6 Avant (All work at Listers, Coventry) 6/1/06 32329 miles OSF Shock replaced, 15/6/06 36660 miles OSF Valve replaced, 12/04/07 43059 miles All Shocks – Removed and inspected, fluid changed, 2/4/08 52712 miles All Shocks replaced, 17/11/08 60398 miles OSF shock repaired.

User avatar
RichRS6
3rd Gear
Posts: 437
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:49 am
Location: Penzance

Post by RichRS6 » Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:36 pm

I have just read the scanned letter from Audi posted by HyOctane, if says they are going to reimburse owners for money they have spent on repairs to the DRC !!

Thats got to be of interest to all of us I'm sure, if they can do it for the U.S then they can do it for us too.

Some owners here have paid thousands out for repairs !
03 Mugello Blue Avant, Silver Leather, Carbon Fibre, Alcantara Headlining, MFSW, Electric folding Mirrors. H&R Coilovers, Hotchkis ARB's, Res Miltek, APR R1's, ITG Filters, RNS-E, OEM Bluetooth, Digital Freeview and Headrest Monitors, Aero Wipers, Rear Aero Wiper and R/H parking Mod, Rear Fog mod, Valentine 1.

calummcculloch
2nd Gear
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:02 pm
Location: Edinburgh Scotland

Post by calummcculloch » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:28 am

Hi Guy's just got this e-mail from Richard Starkey this morning, can't wait to see what comes out of this , lol , nothing I suspect!!!!!


Dear Calum,

Thank you for your note. I ask my assistant Isobel Lindley to contact Sandy
at Edinburgh Audi to understand the current issue and how we can help.

We will be in touch shortly.

Regards

Richard

Richard Starkey
Customer Care Manager

Audi Aftersales & Service

marmite
4th Gear
Posts: 740
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:02 am
Location: Barnet

Post by marmite » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:29 am

calummcculloch wrote: Dear Calum,

Thank you for your note. I ask my assistant Isobel Lindley to contact Sandy
at Edinburgh Audi to understand the current issue and how we can help.

We will be in touch shortly.

Regards

Richard

Richard Starkey
Customer Care Manager

Audi Aftersales & Service
A man of many words, do you think he wrote that or his assistant LOL
03 RS6 Saloon Daytona Grey | Milltek | RS6+ Wheels | RS6 Mats | Tesco Club Card Points

Rilla
3rd Gear
Posts: 292
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:56 pm

Post by Rilla » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:18 am

OK, i have a few contacts for people to send emails to regarding this. The more people we can get to bombard them with emails the better as we have more chance of getting some coverage of our plight with Audi.

The first is Auto Express magazine. I have spoken to them on the phone this morning, and explained roughly our issues with Audi refusing to admit a problem despite Audi USA admitting and doing some thing about it. I was told that they can help, but we all need to email in with our problems. The address is: fightback@autoexpress.co.uk

Next is top gear. I personally don't hold much hope of getting them to help us, but if you don't ask you don't get. So if everybody could send them an email, then they may take up our story and help us. Two email addresses for them, first is general 'office' email: top.gear@bbc.co.uk Second is the producers personal email (probably the better to go for i'd say), that is: andy.wilman@bbc.co.uk

Finally, I have got a phone number for BBC Watchdog programme. Its is the usual automated reply line, leave a message and we will get back to you if we can be bothered affair, but still worth harassing them I say!. The Number is: 02085351000

I have said it before, but the more people who can get involved the better. So far I have been really pleased with the response we have mustered up amongst us, lets not drop the baton now.

Regards

Stuart

markademus
Neutral
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:19 pm
Location: Essex

Post by markademus » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:43 pm

What car and Which car magazines could be a possibilty, surely these failiers are a safety issue and having stated that it may get more attention.

mjc1010
Neutral
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:53 pm
Location: Hampshire

Post by mjc1010 » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:04 pm

My RS6 is 4 years old with 50k the ride feel changed with about 47k on the clock I have been in touch with Audi UK and my local Audi dealer who has informed me the DRC system would cost around 400 pounds to repair if the tool to re-pressurise the system was available.

The tool to carry out this work has not been passed on to Audi from the makers of the DRC system which means the alternative would be to have the system changed out at a cost of approx 2000 pounds!!!!

Has anyone any information to what is the best solution to this design fault / problem would like to know what are the best alternatives as Audi UK refused to meet any costs of repairs.

calummcculloch
2nd Gear
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:02 pm
Location: Edinburgh Scotland

Post by calummcculloch » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:09 pm

Hi MJC1010

Audi at there best what a crock of ****, I have had mine repressured three times in the last year.Try another Audi dealership or come to edinburgh they all have them here.

Post Reply

Return to “RS6 / RS6 plus (C5 Typ 4B) 2002-2004”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: EireRS6, Google [Bot], Majestic-12 [Bot], Steveo and 94 guests