DRC action against audi, please contribute!

[MalcolmSu]

Increased factory goodwill for DRC on RS 6

AU0334-09

Increased factory goodwill is now available for Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) problems on the C5 model RS 6.

A substantial materials contribution is available for manufacturing defects (up to six years or 180,000km) upon a goodwill application on SAGA/2. The usual factory goodwill parameters apply: a full Audi network service history is required, and vehicles must be unmodified from standard specification.

Service ID Description Damage type Model

4090 Shock absorber

0016
0020
0050
4B40EZ
4B45EZ
4B60AZ
4B60EZ

8EC5X9
8ECRX9
8EDRX9

8HE5X9
8HERX9
4293 Shock absorber

4331 Front spring damper

4366 Spring damper


If you can carry out a repair for a customer using this support, you will also be able to claim goodwill support from the National Contact Centre for the labour charges associated with this repair. This can be claimed via authority submission or empowerment.

Customer information
Customers with concerns about future reliability can be advised that we adhere to a policy of continuous development across all areas of manufacturing, including replacement parts and, in line with this policy, the DRC shock absorbers have been consistently improved since the introduction of the RS 6. The current parts are now further reinforced and longer lasting.

Any offer of support for these repairs should be positioned as a goodwill gesture.

End document.

Drybeer- any chance of you clarifying the part numbers (?) quoted above please? I assume the section that starts "Service ID Description Damage type Model" was a heading to a table but try as I might I can't work out which of the following numbers fit under which heading. And are these the affected or damaged part numbers or the replacements?

[MalcolmSu]

Hi Guys

just got the list of the parts for my latest DRC fix.
list is as follows

1x shock absorber w4b3513031p
1x shock absorber w4b3413032b
2x Wg052731a2 hydraulic oil
2x Wn10106402 hex nuts
2x w4b3698009 gasket set
1x w4b3616808a valve
2x wn0347908 screw
2x wn10272302 nut
4x wn0138115 gasket
1x w4f0412137 boot
1x w4b0512137c boot


Can some one confirm if the bottom two items are the new parts which the US are getting as part of the "new improved fix"???? or is it the same old crap that fails after a couple of hundred miles??
.

cheers

Baz

checking back on the part numbers quoted by myself and Marmite and the US guys in the posts on page 19 of this thread the part numbers are all the same . Did your oil really have a W in front of it? The W indicates a part covered by warranty!

Also can i ask how much the boots were I noticed Marmite's were £2.36 yet mine (same PN) were over 6 quid!

[Ironside-69]

DR05 DRC

[bazza]

Cheers Malcolm

I had the part numbers emailed to me by the service tec as i wanted to know if it had the new bits that the US had. Im due to pick the car up on Thursday so i will look at the invoice then and let you know.

The whole job was coverd by Audi CS i believe so thats why the W might be at the front of the part numbers.

[kbee]

Could someone put in short what i need to do here? this is a long & confusing post,I have a 6 with drc issues & id like to imput my info thanks

[Rilla]

what do you want to do is the first question, if its simply to be added to the list of pissed off owners, all we need is your name, car, mileage and faults you have.
If you want some assistance on getting work done then probably best to email me on StuartHurd@gmail.com with exactly what is wrong with your car, how long it has been like it and what dealers you would go too to have the work carried out. I can then advise and assist you with regard to Audi Customer Services and getting the work done.

Hope it helps.

[bazza]

IM ON A RAMPAGE......

Just got the car back from Audi today after 2 shocks being replaced.

40 miles later and there is a massive explosion from the front drivers side shock.

This will be the fourth time this year so i have no option but to demand aftermarket shocks.

Im so P!ssed right now you wouldnt believe.........

[GardinerG]

Oh God mate, so sorry to hear it.

[Rilla]

oh my god baz, you have to be THE most unlucky person I have ever met mate, my sympathies go out to you, at least you didnt have the family in the car this time, small consolation I know but still....
If you need any help in contacting Audi mate just email me and we can arrange something.

[bazza]

Cheers Stu / Grant

Im going to get on to Audi CS tomorrow to sort this mess out yet again.

Ill email you and let you know if i need a helping hand.

[Daveperc]

I'd insist on changing dealers. Three years ago Crawley had my car for 4 weeks trying to get it right, and I knew as soon as I drove out of the dealer it still wasn't right. Took it to Camberley, and they sorted it in two days.

A lot of the success/failure of DRC repairs is down to the skill of the tech that does the work IMHO.

Dave

[MoRS6+]

I think this is the crux of the whole situation.

Repeated trips back to dealers for remedial work takes demoralisation to an entirely new echelon of incredulity.

I couldn't care less if Audi gave me an unlimited, lifetime warranty on these shocks; THEY ARE SCRAP METAL AND WILL FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless Audi completely redesign the shocks, I think the only real solution for people who wish to preserve their sanity is coilovers.

And I think that is what we should be pushing for. It is clear that even if Audi provide new replacement shocks, the people fitting them just do not seem to be able to do it properly; either that or there has been some unforseen colateral damage done to other components that will soon fail after repairs.

In a way, I wish I'd been pissed on as well because I most certainly would be joining the class-action - but I cannot as I'm neither out-of-pocket nor suffered any real inconvenience, such was the immediacy of Fontain to replace the DRC with the coilovers - something that my sanity and well-being is mightily grateful for!!!

[drybeer]

Drybeer- any chance of you clarifying the part numbers (?) quoted above please? I assume the section that starts "Service ID Description Damage type Model" was a heading to a table but try as I might I can't work out which of the following numbers fit under which heading. And are these the affected or damaged part numbers or the replacements?

Hi.

Sorry just noticed this. I had not been paying attention as now having coilovers I've given up hope - particularly as Audi will do nothing for me now that I have modified my car, inspite of working for them and having full history.

I'll get on it this weekend and get you an answer.

Andrew.

[LondonRS6]

back again at camberley audi for the annual service, 5000 miles covered this year,mainly motorway driving, anyhow rear driver's side shock is leaking, fortunately it is being replaced under the 12mths part guarantee, so 1 more new shock. evidently come june 2010 i am on my own as the guarantee runs out then post the whole DRC being replaced in june 08.

[Shoppinit]

Sorry to come back to the part numbers again, but Audi have quoted me for the DRC parts and I suspect they're having a laugh.

Can anyone confirm that the last letter of part number is the revision?

They're quoting for:

2 x 4B3 413 031P left front shock absorber
1 x 4B3 513 031M left-rear "gas-filled shock absorber" (WTF??)
1 x 4B3 513 032 right rear gas-filled shock absorber
1 x 4B3 413 032 front right shock absorber

My maths isn't great, but I'm pretty sure my car doesn't have 5 shocks!

They're also quoting for 1 hour of labour to read the "diagnostics memory" including "adapting for shock absorbers".

Can anyone shed any light?