Well done Stuart, chuffed to see some progress at last and largely down to your efforts. Although I'm in the qualifying minority I will be following up with Audi UK with a number of points - for example if they're offering 6 years' "support" on the old system, why should we be happy with just 2 years on the "new and improved" replacement .... (which isn't available in the US yet....).
Thanks
DRC action against audi, please contribute!
Hi all,
Ok, where to begin. I have had a lengthy phone conversation with Richard Starkey this morning regard the recent developments on this matter. What can I say, other than a total waste of time. Audi are standing by the press release, its all they have to by law in a nut shell. The full audi service history stands, no budge on that, even though I pointed out that Audi dealerships are worthless in their knowledge of the RS6 and relevant parts fitted within the DRC, and this is why so many of us have source 'independent' garages to maintain our vehicles. The 6 years/120000 mile bit stands, as far as audi are concerned, 6 years is 'unprecedented' in terms of a warranty offered, despite their admittion there is a fault with the system, those with cars that fall out of this category 'tuff luck' was the general gist. I pointed out that despite many of the cars being older than 6 years, the suspension fitted in the majority of case was not 6 years old as it has had to be replaced. Answer to that - all Audi parts carry a 2 year warranty......load of old crap in English.
No budge on reimbursement for all the people who have become totally dispondant with both the level of customer care and the level of service received from Audi dealers and replaced with coilovers. I did put it to him that in some cases, coilovers have been fitted, but the 'pipework' for the DRC was still in place, would Audi be willing to re-fit DRC free of charge (I know no one will want it, but worth asking anyway). Point blank NO.
So whilst Mr Starkey was a very pleasant and polite chap, and has said for anyone with concerns to contact him directly, the bottom line is 'tuff luck'. They (Audi) dont have to do anything by law and see the press release as more than adequate and even beyond what they had to do.
My best suggestion to you all is
A: DO NOT use Audi dealers, Put your hard earned money into independents who both care, and know what they are doing such as Unit 20 or MRC. Not only will you get a better service, you will have some sort of piece of mind when it comes to work done on your car. They will not look upon you vehicle as a test rocket for all the mechanics to thrash in their lunch breaks.
B: When it comes to replacing you current cars, DO NOT buy another Audi, go to BMW or Mercs. Audi do not deserve our time or money any more, its the only way they will listen. Hit them where it hurts, in the wallet!.
I am sorry that this is not the outcome many of you were hoping for, but unfortunately i dont have either the time or money to pursue this on a legal basis, and that would seem to be the only option left open to us.
I will however be continuing to get Audi as much bad press as possibly via internet, press and TV. I have yet to contact Richard Yarrow again, but will be doing so later on today to find out what if anything we can do now.
Once again, i would like to thank you all for your assistance when it has been called upon, and i urge you all to contact Richard Starkey directly to voice your personal anger towards Audi over this matter.
Email: Richard.Starkey@Audi.co.uk
Telephone: Audi Head office: 01908 601000
Richard Starkey: 01908 601058
Registered Office: Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5AN
regards
Stuart
Ok, where to begin. I have had a lengthy phone conversation with Richard Starkey this morning regard the recent developments on this matter. What can I say, other than a total waste of time. Audi are standing by the press release, its all they have to by law in a nut shell. The full audi service history stands, no budge on that, even though I pointed out that Audi dealerships are worthless in their knowledge of the RS6 and relevant parts fitted within the DRC, and this is why so many of us have source 'independent' garages to maintain our vehicles. The 6 years/120000 mile bit stands, as far as audi are concerned, 6 years is 'unprecedented' in terms of a warranty offered, despite their admittion there is a fault with the system, those with cars that fall out of this category 'tuff luck' was the general gist. I pointed out that despite many of the cars being older than 6 years, the suspension fitted in the majority of case was not 6 years old as it has had to be replaced. Answer to that - all Audi parts carry a 2 year warranty......load of old crap in English.
No budge on reimbursement for all the people who have become totally dispondant with both the level of customer care and the level of service received from Audi dealers and replaced with coilovers. I did put it to him that in some cases, coilovers have been fitted, but the 'pipework' for the DRC was still in place, would Audi be willing to re-fit DRC free of charge (I know no one will want it, but worth asking anyway). Point blank NO.
So whilst Mr Starkey was a very pleasant and polite chap, and has said for anyone with concerns to contact him directly, the bottom line is 'tuff luck'. They (Audi) dont have to do anything by law and see the press release as more than adequate and even beyond what they had to do.
My best suggestion to you all is
A: DO NOT use Audi dealers, Put your hard earned money into independents who both care, and know what they are doing such as Unit 20 or MRC. Not only will you get a better service, you will have some sort of piece of mind when it comes to work done on your car. They will not look upon you vehicle as a test rocket for all the mechanics to thrash in their lunch breaks.
B: When it comes to replacing you current cars, DO NOT buy another Audi, go to BMW or Mercs. Audi do not deserve our time or money any more, its the only way they will listen. Hit them where it hurts, in the wallet!.
I am sorry that this is not the outcome many of you were hoping for, but unfortunately i dont have either the time or money to pursue this on a legal basis, and that would seem to be the only option left open to us.
I will however be continuing to get Audi as much bad press as possibly via internet, press and TV. I have yet to contact Richard Yarrow again, but will be doing so later on today to find out what if anything we can do now.
Once again, i would like to thank you all for your assistance when it has been called upon, and i urge you all to contact Richard Starkey directly to voice your personal anger towards Audi over this matter.
Email: Richard.Starkey@Audi.co.uk
Telephone: Audi Head office: 01908 601000
Richard Starkey: 01908 601058
Registered Office: Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5AN
regards
Stuart
You've been great, Stuart. I for one am very grateful for your efforts.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
Same here. You've put in a more-than-stellar effort on behalf of all of us RS6 owners, and I have nothing but admiration for your persistence on the matter.
I also believe that one day, a legal battle will be fought. But until then, I will be riding around, comfortably and SAFELY, on my stupendously able and reliable H&R coilovers.
Good luck matey!
I also believe that one day, a legal battle will be fought. But until then, I will be riding around, comfortably and SAFELY, on my stupendously able and reliable H&R coilovers.
Good luck matey!
Thanks for the...er....thanks fellas!
I did just cos i like a bloody good argument :p
I myself will be going over to coilovers as soon as i can get the time to come over to England and have the work carried out by Grizz and his team, only problem is time seems to be in very short supply for me at the moment, tourist season is kicking in and running a pub on the seafront is sucking the life out of me! lol
I will also be using the Unit 20 boys for all my future repairs/servicing and I urge you all to do the same. Use people who care about the customer and not just the invoice at the end of the work is my advice to all RS owners.
As i said in my earlier post, I will not be letting this go to sleep, I am going to continue to pursue any avenue open to me to get Audi as much bad press as possible with regard to their appalling customer service attitude. All I can hope is that people heed the advice and steer clear of them.
ill keep you posted with any news i have in the comming weeks/months, but sadly it looks like I/we have hit a bit of a brick wall with Audi.
Regards
Stuart
I did just cos i like a bloody good argument :p
I myself will be going over to coilovers as soon as i can get the time to come over to England and have the work carried out by Grizz and his team, only problem is time seems to be in very short supply for me at the moment, tourist season is kicking in and running a pub on the seafront is sucking the life out of me! lol
I will also be using the Unit 20 boys for all my future repairs/servicing and I urge you all to do the same. Use people who care about the customer and not just the invoice at the end of the work is my advice to all RS owners.
As i said in my earlier post, I will not be letting this go to sleep, I am going to continue to pursue any avenue open to me to get Audi as much bad press as possible with regard to their appalling customer service attitude. All I can hope is that people heed the advice and steer clear of them.
ill keep you posted with any news i have in the comming weeks/months, but sadly it looks like I/we have hit a bit of a brick wall with Audi.
Regards
Stuart
Audi UK wrote:This support is conditional upon the vehicle having a full Audi network service history…
Whilst in my ownership I’m certain that my car complies, I could not be 100% certain how it was serviced under previous owners so I took legal advice this morning. I couldn’t understand how we’re able to have our cars serviced at any garage and still maintain a manufacturer’s warranty intact.
I had it in mind there must have been some change of legislation that enforced this. I believe I’m right…
The applicable law here is the Block Exemption Regulations (European Commission Regulation No. 1400/2002) (BER) which came into force on 1 October 2002, however, the majority of the provisions did not come into force until October 2003. BER gives you more freedom, allowing you to have your car serviced in a garage of your choice without it invalidating your manufacturer’s warranty, although there are some conditions placed on this.
This was designed to give "more choice and fairer prices for consumers, and greater competition and innovation in the retail sector"
Under the regulations, if the car has been serviced in accordance with the vehicle manufacturers servicing schedules and is recorded as such and provided that the parts used are of an "appropriate quality" then the warranty is not rendered invalid, as it would have been prior to the BER coming into force.
The responsibility for enforcing UK competition law falls to the Office of Fair Trading. So it was suggested to me that if Audi refused to undertake the repair because a car did not have a “full Audi network service historyâ€
So, if you have an early RS6 (the ones they say have most of the problems) then you need this replacement package but your car is too old to get it?
I suppose its this kind of stuff the pilgrims got fed up with when they came across the pond..
However, if you have had one DRC replacement by Audi and have had all work done at an Audi dealer, then you now can qualify for replacement DRC since it came with a 2 year warranty and this brings you into a more recent time frame? Is this correct?
I suppose its this kind of stuff the pilgrims got fed up with when they came across the pond..
However, if you have had one DRC replacement by Audi and have had all work done at an Audi dealer, then you now can qualify for replacement DRC since it came with a 2 year warranty and this brings you into a more recent time frame? Is this correct?
I can't find anything on their website but I'm sure I read or heard somewhere that if VOSA get over a certain number of complaints or reports of a problem with a particular model of car then they are obliged to investigate further.Rilla wrote: I still have some avenues of attack open, and will be contacting VOSA later on today. Please can as many people as possible contact VOSA aswell, whilst they dont have to power to order Audi to do a full recall, they are still a reasonably powerful organization withing the motor trade.
Also reading between the lines in the AudiWorld forum it would appear that the US equivalent of VOSA, the NHTSA were close to issuing a recall anyway before AoA capitulated and issued their recall statement first.
MalcolmSu wrote:Audi UK wrote:This support is conditional upon the vehicle having a full Audi network service history…
Whilst in my ownership I’m certain that my car complies, I could not be 100% certain how it was serviced under previous owners so I took legal advice this morning. I couldn’t understand how we’re able to have our cars serviced at any garage and still maintain a manufacturer’s warranty intact.
I had it in mind there must have been some change of legislation that enforced this. I believe I’m right…
The applicable law here is the Block Exemption Regulations (European Commission Regulation No. 1400/2002) (BER) which came into force on 1 October 2002, however, the majority of the provisions did not come into force until October 2003. BER gives you more freedom, allowing you to have your car serviced in a garage of your choice without it invalidating your manufacturer’s warranty, although there are some conditions placed on this.
This was designed to give "more choice and fairer prices for consumers, and greater competition and innovation in the retail sector"
Under the regulations, if the car has been serviced in accordance with the vehicle manufacturers servicing schedules and is recorded as such and provided that the parts used are of an "appropriate quality" then the warranty is not rendered invalid, as it would have been prior to the BER coming into force.
The responsibility for enforcing UK competition law falls to the Office of Fair Trading. So it was suggested to me that if Audi refused to undertake the repair because a car did not have a “full Audi network service historyâ€
Yes, that is exactly how it works, though like i say, they dont have to power to force Audi to do a full recall of a vehicle as far as i know.MalcolmSu wrote:I can't find anything on their website but I'm sure I read or heard somewhere that if VOSA get over a certain number of complaints or reports of a problem with a particular model of car then they are obliged to investigate further.Rilla wrote: I still have some avenues of attack open, and will be contacting VOSA later on today. Please can as many people as possible contact VOSA aswell, whilst they dont have to power to order Audi to do a full recall, they are still a reasonably powerful organization withing the motor trade.
Also reading between the lines in the AudiWorld forum it would appear that the US equivalent of VOSA, the NHTSA were close to issuing a recall anyway before AoA capitulated and issued their recall statement first.
Thanks for your effort Stuart. I'm somewhat angered by the standing that "they" have on the matter. I have stopped using Audi for servicing/maintenance for nearly a year now, MRC'll get my work in the future (no disrespect to Grizz but MRC is only 30 minutes from me and I'm sure the burger van in the immediate vicinity is equally adequate). I'll wait till my DRC packs up before getting the Bilsteins and ARBs...been two years since the last round of replacements...........................either that or shop around for an M5 touring or E55 AMG estate.
RS6 (MRC'd with econodrive) is not just for Xmas
Toyota Aygo Platinum for minimising carbon footprint.
Toyota Aygo Platinum for minimising carbon footprint.
Audis attitude to (us) its customers is beyond belief !!
After spending Years denying there is a problem when there plainly is and then when they finally admit the problem exists, offering nothing for those of us who have had no choice but to spend money from our own pockets to make their product safe and reliable is nothing short of an insult.
How Audi could deny the problem in the first place when the DRC components were almost permanantly on back order and their own Warranty department (which must have had a record of the numbers of components replaced) and must have been working overtime with claims from RS6 owners for repairs to the DRC.
The owners in the U.S. are being compensated for any repairs costs relating to the DRC which owners have had to pay for.
So why are we not being treated in the same manner ??
My car only goes to Audi for the routine servicing to keep the Service history all Audi but for anything else it will only go to people who I trust (Grizz and Lee at Unit 20 and soon MRC).
I for one would be happy to contribute financially towards the legal costs of a legal group action on this matter, does anyone know of a Lawyer who would be able to give us a price to start such an action ?
I think that a legal action may be the only way to make Audi realise that we are not just going to go away.
I echo the other posts regarding my reluctance to buy anything from Audi now and as I had been looking at a C6 RS6 thats One less sale which is directly related to their handling of this matter.
What really pi$$es me off though is that they gave us no warning that this "fix " was coming otherwise I may have held off with the replacement of the DRC with Coilovers which I have only recently done at some expense to My pocket.
Just keeping us informed that they were working on a real solution which would sort the DRC out would have been better than being kept in the dark and fed bull$hit !
If they have been working on this fix with Kabaya then they have been aware of it for some length of time, so could have been more honest with us.
They have been denying the problem existed to us but working on the solution for some time !!!
What a bunch of C***'s.
Well done to Stuart for starting this and to everyone for texting in to Watchdog (even if they dont think we're worthy of airtime)
Lets keep the pressure on !!
After spending Years denying there is a problem when there plainly is and then when they finally admit the problem exists, offering nothing for those of us who have had no choice but to spend money from our own pockets to make their product safe and reliable is nothing short of an insult.
How Audi could deny the problem in the first place when the DRC components were almost permanantly on back order and their own Warranty department (which must have had a record of the numbers of components replaced) and must have been working overtime with claims from RS6 owners for repairs to the DRC.
The owners in the U.S. are being compensated for any repairs costs relating to the DRC which owners have had to pay for.
So why are we not being treated in the same manner ??
My car only goes to Audi for the routine servicing to keep the Service history all Audi but for anything else it will only go to people who I trust (Grizz and Lee at Unit 20 and soon MRC).
I for one would be happy to contribute financially towards the legal costs of a legal group action on this matter, does anyone know of a Lawyer who would be able to give us a price to start such an action ?
I think that a legal action may be the only way to make Audi realise that we are not just going to go away.
I echo the other posts regarding my reluctance to buy anything from Audi now and as I had been looking at a C6 RS6 thats One less sale which is directly related to their handling of this matter.
What really pi$$es me off though is that they gave us no warning that this "fix " was coming otherwise I may have held off with the replacement of the DRC with Coilovers which I have only recently done at some expense to My pocket.
Just keeping us informed that they were working on a real solution which would sort the DRC out would have been better than being kept in the dark and fed bull$hit !
If they have been working on this fix with Kabaya then they have been aware of it for some length of time, so could have been more honest with us.
They have been denying the problem existed to us but working on the solution for some time !!!
What a bunch of C***'s.
Well done to Stuart for starting this and to everyone for texting in to Watchdog (even if they dont think we're worthy of airtime)
Lets keep the pressure on !!
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.
It'll be interesting to see what this "solution" is. I'll believe it when I see it. My PSS9s have been sitting in the boot, just in case. I suppose I can put them on now.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
As far as i could conclude, from the phone call with Richard Starkey, the fix isnt a fix at all. No new struts or anything major, just the same old crappy boot fix and a 'new & improved' rubber seal. So F**k all in a nut shell.
I really cannot urge people enough to NEVER use Audi again for anything, weather it be servicing or new purchases. They deserve neither our time or money.
Their whole handling of this situation as been diabolical (and that is being polite).
Do they honestly think we are a bunch of retards who know no better?
I for one will be bad mouthing Audi to anyone who will listen, BMW and Mercedes stand by is all i can say, Audi have just boosted your future sales for you!
I will be taking advantage of this 'new & improved' fix though, 10 mins before I go to grizz and have coilovers fitted. Just to cost Audi something basically. I dont care that it will be ripped out the same day. If it takes up precious service time and denies them other income because my car is in, taking up a service bay and a mechanic for some time, I'll be happy with that knowledge. That is if my car has full Audi service history, is less than 6 years old, has less than 120000 miles, has still got leaking dangerous suspension fitted, my inside leg is less than 32", my hair is brown, have only driven on silk, and only eat bananas on Thursdays and Saturdays.
I really cannot urge people enough to NEVER use Audi again for anything, weather it be servicing or new purchases. They deserve neither our time or money.
Their whole handling of this situation as been diabolical (and that is being polite).
Do they honestly think we are a bunch of retards who know no better?
I for one will be bad mouthing Audi to anyone who will listen, BMW and Mercedes stand by is all i can say, Audi have just boosted your future sales for you!
I will be taking advantage of this 'new & improved' fix though, 10 mins before I go to grizz and have coilovers fitted. Just to cost Audi something basically. I dont care that it will be ripped out the same day. If it takes up precious service time and denies them other income because my car is in, taking up a service bay and a mechanic for some time, I'll be happy with that knowledge. That is if my car has full Audi service history, is less than 6 years old, has less than 120000 miles, has still got leaking dangerous suspension fitted, my inside leg is less than 32", my hair is brown, have only driven on silk, and only eat bananas on Thursdays and Saturdays.
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