Oil cooler pipes corrosion....under warranty?

[Revolution]

Hi All

Got a leak on my oil cooler pipes which I thought was covered under warranty under a previous recall.

Emailed pics to my local Audi dealers and they say probably wont be covered as "corrosion", can anyone clarify if its covered under my Audi extended warranty and is there a recall number or something I can email back to the service dept.

Also going to lower it via the H&R springs route but they have advised me that DRC warranty will be void unless I use Audi parts - presume they will supply and fit the SS+ springs.
Want to stick with DRC system
Is there a way around disconnecting the front DRC to fit the springs that I'm not aware of?

Any help would be most appreciated.....

Thanks
Glenn

[P_G]

IIRC the oil cooler inspection TSB was to inspect and slap on a bucket load of grease on them to stop them corroding, not to replace them.

As for suspension is it Newcastle Audi that are advising the H&R springs will invalidate? Funny that since they did caldy's with him supplying the springs for them to do. Fronts are a DRC de/repressurisation routine, no way around it if you want to keep DRC.

[Hozz]

I had them done under warranty on my B5 S4 due to them corroding if that helps.

[wolfgang]

Just had mine replaced under (extended) warranty. The initial problem was a slight oil leak from the oil cooler and the pipes were replaced as a precaution as was the oil cooler itself.

[bluenosewrx]

I had to pay for mine as well, got it done by a indie.

Mac

[sonny]

I had mine done last year, Audi paid 50% Good will. Cant grumble at that.

[Revolution]

Thats a good deal sonny - how much was the 50%?
Should mine be free as still under audi extended warranty......?

Are the pipes available anywhere or are they welded into the cooler - not really had a good look at it to be honest and sure Goodridge will make us something up but knowing RS4's they will be one off's....

Been quoted £1275 + fitting for a set of Audi SS+ springs for the avant - trying to lower it without invalidating drc warranty....asked them to double check price and what carat of gold they are made from

[sonny]

Cant remember the price Think it was about 500/600ish?, I had the oil cooler replaced too, so had it done together, to be fair the corrosion was not that bad, im mega OCD when it comes to the car so would rather have it changed out there and then instead of it busting on the road of even worst on the track. At the same time I had the expansion tank replaced too only £23!

[Pie]

Glenn,
Any chance when you get them replaced, ask Audi to keep the hoses (and oil cooler if that also needs replaced)?

The company I work for carry out maintenance on cranes all over the North Sea and have a lot of local suppliers who specialise in manufacturing hydraulic hoses.
If I can get hold of the OEM hoses, I could ask some of them to spec a replacement which will most likely be significantly less than what Audi are charging.
I doubt Audi would be willing to share hose ID, length and end fitting spec with anyone!

Similarly, we send radiators and oil coolers out to a local firm for refurb - usually comes in less than a few hundred pounds and this is for industrial sized units that measure the best part of 5ft square!
Would be interesting to let them see a typical corroded cooler and advise on refurb costs.

[sonny]

Pie, I kept my old oil cooler and hoses. Was going go do it up and sell it on ebay (replacing hose ends). Good idea.

[bluenosewrx]

It was my pipes that were corroded, not the cooler but the join to the cooler was so corroded they could not get it off without replacing cooler, think it was about 600 all in.

Mac

[Revolution]

Just got email through from Audi.....
Unfortunately we have attempted to claim the oil cooler through extended warranty previously and they send inspectors who will decline authority if the fault is due to corrosion.

Car has clicked over 60k miles now so guess they have a fair point as a lot of miles...unless anyone knows a way around this its going to get stripped and done by us....looks like a fun job!

Still got no reply on the cost of the spring kit so i can only pressume theyre £1,275 a set of 4 springs!

Glenn

[irvind]

So, a part that is known by Audi to corrode early (hence the recall procedure) is not covered by extended warranty, even though some others have had it replaced or had 50% goodwill? That's f*cked up.

[sonny]

So, a part that is known by Audi to corrode early (hence the recall procedure) is not covered by extended warranty, even though some others have had it replaced or had 50% goodwill? That's f*cked up.

It is crazy, there was never a recall on the oil pipe or cooler. There was a workshop campaign, that saw the the attachment of a double cable tie, this was to stop the pipes chaffing together, not corroding due to rust.

[Revolution]

ahhh, now explains it then.....
managed to locate 1 x pipe from a fellow member (thank you) and will be ordering the other pipe from Audi and do it ourselves.....along with the clip to stop anything going wrong again.

Still not found out what grade of gold the springs are made from £1,275 is an amazing price.