Let The Fun & Games Begin - Turbos Failing

[ZeroK66]

Well, they will not warrant the car.

I wrote in to Tom Peterkin head of Audi UK CS. He refused to respond directly and referred back to the CS manager I was dealing with who wrote back to me and said as there was no proof of the vehicle being moddified at the time of purchase (despite me providing the recording, reference to the autotrader add which said 310BHP & contact details for the sales rep who sold me the car who can confirm how it was sold).

GRRRRR - how frustrating.

www.smmt.co.uk are looking into the case for me as we speak & I intend on climbing the chain higher and higher with Audi UK.

By the end of this I should have a pretty good list of Audi contacts etc that I can post in the Aftercare/ownership section to help others in the future.

I LOVE the car... I just REALLY REALLY REALLY hate Audi UK!!! Why oh why do they have to be soooo frickin stubborn, what happened to customer service etc?

[MarkB]

So what do you plan getting fitted now then Leon?

[philipwalker]

Leon

As I see it your issues/warranty including verbal agreements are with the old dealer who is no longer trading?
If the dealer in turn Audi UK spots it has been chipped regardless of who and when, it will invalidate any warranty. Audi will look to get out of repairing this as it looks they have a perfect reason.

I don’t think any manufacture not just Audi would extend any good will repairs to a chipped or modified car. The only exception to this was the old GTI engineering who offered engine mods that retained the full VAG dealer warranty.

You may have been better to take the car into a dealer who recognised the warranty and asked them to repair, have a stock chip and a standard exhaust fitted before you visit. It may be too late for this option.

[KayGee]

Listers have/had an approved upgrade program for Audis also.

If the dealer was an approved Audi dealer then Audi should be backing up the dealer and be bound by what the dealer agreed IMO. If the dealer was independant then I see no reason for them to be obliged to help.

Just my 2p.

[alastairg]

Now I may be wrong but my understanding is that if Audi dealers sell a modified car the approved warranty covers the non modified bits and the dealer covers the modified bits. The dealer and Audi agree between themselves on a case by case basis who covers what. That also is my understanding with several other makes who have 'approved tuners'.
If the selling dealer goes, so does your chance of complete cover.BTDT with Scotts a long time ago in London re Nothelle tuning options.

[ZeroK66]

I can understand those views... but as an Audi customer I expect Audi to help me out given one of their main dealers has exchanged hands. As stated in my letter to Audi - I did not seek a moddified vehicle - these come up rarely at dealers & at a reasonable mileage it was a great opportunity to purchase one of these from a main dealer.

At the very least Audi should be making an effort to resolve this on my behalf not wash their hands clean of it and tell me to pi55 off. That is what is getting at me - their total diss-interest in helping. And their reason for not helping is there is no proof it was moddified at the time of purchase - all the proof is there.

I think KayGee's view is the most objective and reasonable under the circumstances.

[fletchie55]

today I am going to call up Audi approved used car centres and express my interest in buying a car (maybe RS4 or RS6 to get them realy listening!!), then I will state that I am concerned because a friend of mine bought a car via their used car scheme and theyre not helping at all and that the audi warranty counts for nothing & how can they account for this! of course no specific names or details will be mentioned.

damn I have too much time on my hands! hehehe off to Oslo for a few days now

[QuantumJohn]

I wish you well with your case Leon and hope you get a resolution.

This instance just highlights to me why I am so thankful I have a certain amount of automotive technical knowledge and also highlights why websites like this are so useful. As far as I am concerned warranties (including to a certain extent new car warranties) are not worth the paper they are written on. The companies will try to get out of any payment if possible and it requires the purchaser to spend plenty of time reading every small print and consider every consequence. Then there is the potential stress and hassle should a claim be necessary.

My advice is, if you are considering buying a car find the forum for that car (hope it is as good as this one) read as much as you can and then buy privately. You will get to meet the person who actually owns the car which can tell you almost as much about the car as the condition of the car itself. Don't be afraid to ask questions and if you don't have much mechanical knowledge or experience of the car you are looking at, swallow that pride and ask someone to come with you that is. I wouldn't mind going to look at A4's, S4's or RS4's in my area with someone should they ask. I am more than happy to help.

It will save yourself plenty of ££'s and then keep some tucked away incase something that is unforeseen e.g. electrical does go wrong.

John

[ZeroK66]

Good sound advice John... I did think when I bought my car how great it was to have purchased from a dealer as bits of trim had been replaced & stone chips repaired... but the reality is all of that is cosmetic & counts for nothing. The amount I spent extra is simply not worth it.

Joe - bugger off to Oslo then - rub it in eh?

[scoobydood]

I can say that Leons experience has put me off buying a an approved used Audi (I had been looking regularly on their website for the right one to come up). It's no surprise really that year after year they get criticised for poor customer satisfaction. It would appear they have no intention of changing that either.

[Dippy]

Yeah, my car only had the 1 year Audi manufacturer warranty, and I decided not to buy any additional warranty. So what I have effectively 'saved' over the last 4 years minus the few items that I could have claimed under warranty (windscreen washer pump, tailgate lock and rust on tailgate trim), I still must have a couple of grand to put towards the time when my turbos go.

Of course when my turbos do go I'll have no arguing to do, I'll just put my hand in my pocket and have 400 bhp please