Audi Warranties, BEWARE

[toasty]

Not happy.

Took my car to the dealers the other week because of a few minor problems and a major issue with the suspension (was clunking over bumps etc....)


They agreed that the trackrod ends and other parts were worn and would need replacing, and they ordered the parts.

A week later they ring me back to say the parts are in, and could I bring the car back in to have them fitted. So I do.

However it turns out that they have to have the claim assessed as it is over £800 by Audi.

The assesor has now assesed my car (after two days) and he has to go back to Audi to have the claim approved.

So I have to go back to the dealers, swap back to my own car again and wait for the results of the claim.

Then I'll have to go BACK to the dealers again (3rd time) to actually get the problem fixed.

Considering that the audi warranty is so bloody expensive, I'd have expected better service than this.

Anyone else have any similar experiences?

In total by the time the claim is resolved I'll have been without my car for 6 days (assuming two days to fit the parts) plus god knows how much extra petrol to'ing and fro'ing to the dealers.

[SimonS4MTM]

I had problems with my warranty also, though not of the same nature.

Scotts of London totaly screwed me with my used S4 that had been modified. When i purchased it just over a year ago they gave me a full 12 month Audi warranty and told me that it was covered even with the mods.

However, when i came to make a claim on it, i found that they had told Audi that it was a 1.8 Avant. I had no comeback on Scotts becaused they had closed the company down and then re-opened it with a new board (new company)

I did get the work done in the end, after many arguments with Audi UK and some help from my local dealer.

I guess the quality of the warranty is dependant upon the Audi garage that you actually ask to do the work. [img]images/graemlins/s4addict.gif[/img]

[Riz_RS4]

Bad news.... i need to buy some warranty before november. [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[toasty]

Good news, they are going to do the repairs now.

Not quite sure why they made such a fuss over it really, from looking at the warranty docs there is no question that the suspension should be covered.

All being well it shouldn't cost me a penny..... which is to be expected considering that the warranty costs almost £800.

[DavidT]

Good news mate.

Do you think they just got their wires crossed or could it be the power of the web ?


David

[toasty]

Dunno really.

I appreciate that the warranty side of the business can perhaps sometimes be a little reluctant to spend more money than they have to, but to be honest I don't see that as my problem. I think the dealer should act on my behalf and argue with the warranty department until they do what is detailed in the warranty details (afterall they sold the policy to me)

I didn't expect to have to be stroppy with them first, but the outcome is the same I guess.

I still have my clunky suspension for the time being, as they are now waiting for parts (which I was told they already have) but hopefully in a few days time the car should be back in to be fixed.

[toasty]

Sorry chaps,

Just re-read my posts and realised that they don't really make any sense! [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I was initially annoyed as the dealer told me that the suspension problems I was experiencing were due to the trackrod ends and arms being worn, but this was considered to be wear and tear so not covered by the warranty.

I can see no mention of this in the warranty docs, and indeed the dealer have now come full circle and said that the warranty will cover the problems.

[DJG]

Hi,

My S4 is going in for warranty work on its clunking front suspension on 1st Sept (I'm on my hols next week). First comment from the dealer was they found slight play and suggested re-checking in 5K miles. When I told them my warranty would have run out by then they re-assessed and got agreement to do the work now.

This actually made me decide to renew the Audi Warranty rather than go for a cheaper one with Warranty Direct or similar. Keen to have a warranty due to the fairly high chance I will need new turbos.

I think the main thing you get from the Audi Warranty is that the dealer should be better/more experienced at getting the claim through the process.

(Dan's dealer doesn't seem to have managed things too well though [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img])

When I talked to my dealer about alternative warranties they produced a pile of paperwork for non-Audi warranties that are currently "in dispute" where either the warranty companies won't pay out at all or will only cover a part of the job. I was told that Warranty Holdings was the worst in this respect and always wriggle out of paying (They are the company behind lots of warranties).

Will just have to make sure I get my money's worth!

David

[toasty]

Be careful though mate, make sure they are actually doing the work.
First time I took it in, I didn't really expect them to actually mend the problem, couldn't realistically expect them to have S4 parts in stock or easily available.
But when they had the car for two days, I thought perhaps they were mending it, turns out it just took 2 days to get it looked at [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Second time I took it in, I was sure they were fixing it, they told me they had the parts and everything, however they had it for 2 days and that was just to get the problem assessed by the warranty people from audi [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Now I'm told that they have to wait for the parts, which surprises me, as the reason they didn't fix it the first time was that they didn't have the parts, and when I brought it in the second time I was told that they had the parts. [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

With regard to the assessing part of my saga, I'm told by the dealer that anything over £800 needs to be approved by Audi, so unless you've already had this done you may have to take it in just for this.

My dealer also claimed at first that it was wear, however the noise on my car has got progressivly worse over the last few weeks, so I think it is a little more than that.

Although my new dealer is still better than the old one, I'm starting to realise that good/great service is really hard to find these days. [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[DJG]

It will be interesting to see how this goes.

My dealer appears to have worked quite hard to get this done for me under warranty. As they should of course because it is extra work for them and it makes me a happy customer. They certainly have given the appearance of working hard on my behalf.

Guess I will have to wait and see.... Plenty that could still go wrong!
[img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]
David

[toasty]

.....still waiting for my centre armrest to turn up [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Didn't want to have to take it in twice, so I still have my clunky suspension too.

[DJG]

Mine is in today!

Told me they were changing all the control arms on one side.

Also an oil seal on the diff! (There was a slight oil stain on the diff! They originally said it was nothing to worry about)

Re. my clunk they originally said they could only find very slight play and to come back in another 5K miles. When I told them my warranty would have run out by then they agreed to do it sooner.

Since last week I have a new noise too.

Right hand slow speed turns with a lot of lock (or going round a mini-roundabout) I get a sort of double clunk from , I think, the middle of the car (not exactly a clunk, but can't think how to describe it). Makes me glad I renewed the warranty! Waiting to hear what they make of that! Determined to get my money's worth out of the warranty. [img]images/graemlins/nodder.gif[/img]

Are things like the CD changer and speakers covered by the Audi warranty? One of my rear speakers vibrates like mad when there is any real bass playing. OK on radio 4 though [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
[img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]
David

[wazza]

Are things like the CD changer and speakers covered by the Audi warranty? One of my rear speakers vibrates like mad when there is any real bass playing. OK on radio 4 though [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
[img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]
David

Yep, mine were [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
I should sign off as the warrantymeister [img]images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]

[DJG]

Thanks Paul [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

David

[DJG]

Well two top control arms replaced front and rear on the nearside and oil seal replaced on the rear diff. Didn't notice any clunking on the way home so hopefully this has done the trick. Also pleasantly surprised to find the new noises have gone too (sort of a double squeak, on turning right with a lot of lock. Not a suspension clunk. Don't think it was steering pump either). Maybe the diff was running low on oil. [img]images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img] to John at Whites Camberley for sorting this out before my warranty ran out. Strangely this persuaded me to renew it... [img]images/graemlins/spineyes.gif[/img]

Still have a loose circlip in the gear lever mechanism and a dodgy rear speaker, but am trying to get problems sorted out two at a time!

Most worrying thing was the comment that the tech thought my gearbox was a bit noisy.... (Paul I am catching you up!) [img]images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] They didn't want to write this down though so as not to cause me problems in the future if I need to make a claim. [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

60K service and new front and rear disks coming up soon.

Quotes for 60K service have varied from £400 from Reading Audi (Mobil 1 supplied by them), £224 without oil from Martins and £208 fromm Whites (w/o oil I think).

By the way Whites have had change of heart and will now let you bring your own oil (I like to use Mobil 1, which they don't stock). Previously they wouldn't allow this due to the terms of their ISO9000 registration
[img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]
David