Non-Audi Warranties.

[DJG]

Hi,

Jeff's turbos, B5DOM's exhaust manifold and now biturbo's whining (turbos I mean [img]images/graemlins/icon_lol.gif[/img]) is making me think about what to do when my Audi used car warranty runs out in August.

Not too happy about paying Audi £760 plus an inspection fee.

Particularly when an exhaust manifold is not covered by the Audi warranty.

The DIS display (already had one), the turbos and exhaust manifold seem the most common things to go. In fact the tubos seem to be pretty much certain to go at some point. [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Just had a call from Warranty Direct. I had a warranty from them two cars ago on my A4 1.8 TSport, but never had to use it. The A4 2.8Q I replaced it didn't need as it still had the Audi warranty. It with would have been 3 years old last week, which is why Warranty Direct called me. Basically I still have some credit with them from the unexpired portion of my original warranty.

Cover seems good for the price (£5K claim limit, £5K annual limit) and includes the exhaust manifold which Audi don't cover.

Best thing is the price £236 for 12 months or £398 for 24. Now I do have some credit with them from an unexpired previous policy, but this is lower than the price on their website which was £330.

Now I know that they won't replace something unless it has actuall failed, wheras Audi seem much keener to use (abuse)their own warranty system.

Anyone have any experience with Warranty Direct or other companies.
[img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]

David

[Golich]

Yes I was with Warranty direct for my first year of owning my S4.

Yeah good price and they appear to have excelent cover. However, both my mate and I tried to claim to no avail. ALthought to be fair they were very grey claims.

They cover suspension. I maintained my rear dampers were knackered. They asked me were they leaking? I said, "no."
"Then they are ok," was the reply.
I said, "That is just one very obvious failure."

At the time I was convinced if I took them off the car I would be able to demonstrate there was little or no damping. The tele guy said well we won't pay for investigative work. I suggested I would remove the shocks myself and hopefully demonstrate. I stated that all claims over £250 (I think) had to be physically assessed by a tech. "Fair enough," I said, "Can you send the guy round to my garage?" He agreed.

So I went through the claims details. Only to discover I had gone over the agreed milage by 1000miles - DAM.

I said,"Well what if I re-new my policy and then I claim. You are telling me that as far as you are concerned the shocks are ok until I prove otherwise."
"No sir that is not possible. I have now made a record that your dampers are faulty and you will not be able to claim on renewal."

"But your telling me you won't accept they need replaced!"

Hhmm granted it was a bit of a chancing one. As it turned out they were knackered but even taking them off they still appear to have pressure and damping so the plan would have failed! [img]images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

My mates story was related to his Fiat Coupe. The oil cooler pipe blew. In all recorded cases it is so difficult and time consuming to remove the oil cooler hoses from the oil cooler and in most case you end up damaging the cooler or the labour charge become excessivly more the cost of the oil cooler. So guess what the inevitable happed. He tried to claim for the oil cooler. They weren't having on the basis that it was perfectly possible to remove the hoses without destroying the cooler and proceeded to list a whole numebr of methods they had databased. (Clearly they were all to aware of this claim) Despite my mates persistance with numerous emails of Web forum posts and web site adverisments of comapanies making coolers since Fiate were unable to keep up with the demand he never got his claim.

On the whole it's a good price. And I think if you had a proper claim then you stand a good chance of getting something out of them. But beware these buggers know their stuff so chipped cars with blown turbos etc. could be dodgey

[DJG]

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the feedback. I remember you posted the story before somewhere.

It would have been interesting to see if an Audi warranty would have paid out. IMHO Audi dealers sometimes play the system and do work that maybe they should not strictly do.

Really looking for something to cover the major things like the turbos going bang or the exhaust manifold cracking.

To be honest not really surprised they didn't want to change your shocks just on your say so.

The agreed mileage thing is annoying particularly as they wouldn't have charged you for the extra 1K miles if you had told them that was your annual mileage when you took out the policy.

Must say I was planning to take out an Audi warranty until I got the call from W D, but now think I may take the cheaper option and spend the difference on new shocks or something (mine are soft too!).

Cheers,

David

[ChrisG]

Daughter had one for her Passat TD. Starter motor bush (?) and something to do withclutch release bearing were both seen to , but it was all done by a local Independent VAG ( sadly no longer around.....formed by the workshop staff when the local dealer packed up )
I seem to remember they came to inspect first and wanted to see the 'broken' bits afterwards.
These companies will be a step ahead of us all....... if not they are not around long [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]