My S3 died at the weekend :-(

[ade_g]

First off hi, my first post here but it's not a good news one...

My engine blew at the weekend whilist I was in Germany. Not really sure what the problem is but the Guy at the Audi service centre the car was recovered to says it needs a new engine. I have an Audi Warranty as the car brought from a stealer approx. 2 months ago (S3 210bhp pre facelift 2000 reg). But, they can't confirm that it will be covered (probably hedging their bets until i get the report on what happened and/or what caused it). It's being repaired out there as I never took out the european assistance to get it back to the UK.

Has anyone else had any experience of engine failure and claiming on the warranty? And am I right in thinking that engine failures aren't unusual for this engine?

Symptoms were a loss of power, followed by the oil pressure warning light coming on and then horrible knocking noises (I was already trying to stop at this point!) then as I did stop the power steering went as well. The mechanic at Audi got me to hold my hand over the oil filler hole whilist he ran the engine and there was air being blown up out of the filler hole (which isn't normal!)

[david7m]

Welcome, shame its bad news though.

Do a search, there's been a few that have blown up recently

As for the power steering, that runs off the engine!

Dave

[Nige_RS4]

The VAG 1.8t engine is considered by many to be un-burtstable, so something must've let go (cambelt?)

Unless it's been modified or the service hasn't been carried out in accordance with the warranty you should be OK? I assume it's an Audi warranty?

[ade_g]

Thanks guys.. It's a unmodified S3 (haven't had it long enough to mod it!) and it is an Audi Warranty. I want to have a level of confidence as Audi have said that because it happened in the EU i will have to pay for the work myself and then claim back off of them. This isn't too much of a problem but I don't want them to try and get out of paying once the work's been done.

[david7m]

Thanks guys.. It's a unmodified S3 (haven't had it long enough to mod it!) and it is an Audi Warranty. I want to have a level of confidence as Audi have said that because it happened in the EU i will have to pay for the work myself and then claim back off of them. This isn't too much of a problem but I don't want them to try and get out of paying once the work's been done.

Yeah, you want that in writing before you spend a penny!


Dave

[Nige_RS4]

I'd speak to Audi UK customer services - the original warranty is european, not sure about the warranty after the orginal 3 years runs out tho?

[mintie]

mine went bang tried to get audi to pay for repairs but they said sometimes detination happens and its no ones fault still cost me over 3k

[sitas3]

mine went bang tried to get audi to pay for repairs but they said sometimes detination happens and its no ones fault still cost me over 3k

that's funny as hell! that's like Audi saying 'sometimes we make crap cars but we won't warranty them!' What a cop-out..

Let us know how you get on.

[springfield]

Take them to small claims court i did over my S4 manifolds failing,they coughed before we got there !