Think I'm done :( [UPDATE: or maybe not]

[Graze]

As a I'm a new rs4 buyer, I am worried about this issue too. Can you give me some advice when going to view one, how will i ever know? From what I have read, isn't it just pot luck?

take someone who owns one with you for the final test drive (someone from the forum will volunteer I'm sure if you ask) and get it checked out by a specialist independent audi mechanic

and good luck - you'll love it once you get it!

Graze

[TonyHayers]

The above is misleading.
The bit about 'any fault in six months' etc...
This is not true.

My guess is that the tony is referring to the revised sale of goods act.
However and this is key - the actual legislation refers to parts that are not reasonably verified at time of purchase.
So if the gearbox goes bang or something like that the you have a case.
If with the drc there is an obvious symptom such as a leaking shock then sorry - you are bang out of luck.
A good rule of thumb is that if you need to remove parts or jack the car up on a ranp then its not reasonable to inspect.
Something like a leaking shock is obvious.
So IF the shock isn't leaking when purchased but the leaks a month later then you are on shaky ground.

The sale of goods act is NOT a warranty.

No idea tbh. Just what trading standards told me when I described situation in detail. What you describe makes sense though. In any case, we're in agreement that a warranty is always best.

[TonyHayers]

Also, in my experience it is not unusual for the rear or the car to be sitting lower than the front.

In fact it is NORMAL for the rear to be lower than the front.

Hehe, that's good news - I had a follow-up question about that as the rear definitely sits lower than front on mine now. So I should clarify that the ride height should be even laterally but not necessarily front to back. Cheers.

[sonny]

As along as the chassis is level then you are good (from jacking points). Measurement from corner of side strip/fender is a good indicator.

[adsgreen]

As along as the chassis is level then you are good (from jacking points). Measurement from corner of side strip/fender is a good indicator.

Can be a bit misleading - I've found the drc to be incredibly sensitive to how level the ground is. To test it I parks up on what I believe to be suitablly level floor and there was a big difference in the left and rear wheel arch gaps.
"crap" thinks I... but to be sure I turn the car and park it the other way round.
Come back later and the situation is reversed - kinda what I'd figure if the group was ever so slightly off.

[sonny]

As along as the chassis is level then you are good (from jacking points). Measurement from corner of side strip/fender is a good indicator.

Can be a bit misleading - I've found the drc to be incredibly sensitive to how level the ground is. To test it I parks up on what I believe to be suitablly level floor and there was a big difference in the left and rear wheel arch gaps.
"crap" thinks I... but to be sure I turn the car and park it the other way round.
Come back later and the situation is reversed - kinda what I'd figure if the group was ever so slightly off.

This is what was explained to me. I have a drive on a slope and my street has is on a gradient, so I have never been able to play with level ground settings, other than that in the pits. This leads me onto when I tested it with my trolley jack. All jacking points was same height, this was same for DRC and coilovers, even though the front and rear arches was different (as per standard). So what "if" there is a difference to jacking height, is there some give between a few millimetres?

[rs4Mav]

Only too glad to have helped restore your faith in the car ..

Hi all
I have just read this thread with great interest and really pleased that TonyHayers managed to get his car sorted.
I only purchased my 1 owner 19000 miles RS4 in Feb, and sadly noticed a knocking / clunking on the front end after a couple of days of ownership, only when on the down side of speed bumps though. After a lot of disagreement with the garage that i purchased it from, i managed to get both front shocks replaced at an Audi main stealers FOC. This reduced the noise quite significantly but not completely, and over the last few months it is almost back the same as it was. So it is now booked in again, but this time probably at my expense. I am holding my breath that it is, and probably was before, the top and bottom links causing the annoying clunk noise. What i am trying to say is, without forums like this, and peoples postings, you don’t know who is to be trusted and who isn’t. The knowledge and expertise of some just arnt known to everyone, so if not sorted this time by Audi my fav car ever will be going to Unit 20,
So cheers to you all, and all the best for the new year.

[rs4Mav]

Well the stealers eventually fixed the clunking, it just needed the DRC system putting to the correct pressure (shame they didn’t do that last year when the fitted the new front shocks).
Sadly had to drive round in a diesel A6 Avant, was brand new though

[scaghead]

Glad you got it sorted fella..