Problem with DRC and Steering - help!

[Awd4]

Hi all,

I brought my 2007 RS4 to Audi South Dublin yesterday with that noise coming from the front shocks and in the steering.
The full service was due also (81,000 kms / 50,000 miles)
I got very bad news from them later on.
This is the list of faults they've noticed:

- Front disks and pads to be changed (1 disks is actually cracked) - €1340
- brake fluid - €87
- Full service + Diagnosis of DRC and steering faults - €600
- 8 sparks plugs to be changed - €213
- Tyres repair set out of date and to be replaced - €?

now for the very hard bits:

- 2 front shocks leaking, to be replaced - no good will; despite mentionning the known problem with DRC and that they even replaced the shocks for free to one RS246 members in this very same garage in January 2011... I upped the tempo a bit and they will come back to me today
- steering needs further investigation, but they are worried that the steering rack might be damaged. They are insunuating that the car got a shock or a hit!.. now, I love this car to bits and am the only one driving it , and it never 'hit' anything (paths or pot-holes). Since the noises from the shocks started, I drove it very little and extremely carefully.

I expect the worse from them at this stage and would be prepared to take the ferry and come to have it fixed in the UK (East Coast preferably).
Can you recommend a good place? I heard a lot of good stuff from Unit20 in Liverpool?
If Audi wants to charge me for the shocks, where can I find the copy of the letter concerning the UK extended warranty?

many, many thanks for any help you may give me!

[pisquano]

Hi all,

I brought my 2007 RS4 to Audi South Dublin yesterday with that noise coming from the front shocks and in the steering.
The full service was due also (81,000 kms / 50,000 miles)
I got very bad news from them later on.
This is the list of faults they've noticed:

- Front disks and pads to be changed (1 disks is actually cracked) - €1340
- brake fluid - €87
- Full service + Diagnosis of DRC and steering faults - €600
- 8 sparks plugs to be changed - €213
- Tyres repair set out of date and to be replaced - €?

now for the very hard bits:

- 2 front shocks leaking, to be replaced - no good will; despite mentionning the known problem with DRC and that they even replaced the shocks for free to one RS246 members in this very same garage in January 2011... I upped the tempo a bit and they will come back to me today
- steering needs further investigation, but they are worried that the steering rack might be damaged. They are insunuating that the car got a shock or a hit!.. now, I love this car to bits and am the only one driving it , and it never 'hit' anything (paths or pot-holes). Since the noises from the shocks started, I drove it very little and extremely carefully.

I expect the worse from them at this stage and would be prepared to take the ferry and come to have it fixed in the UK (East Coast preferably).
Can you recommend a good place? I heard a lot of good stuff from Unit20 in Liverpool?
If Audi wants to charge me for the shocks, where can I find the copy of the letter concerning the UK extended warranty?

many, many thanks for any help you may give me!

the sense of my post "Audi Dealers Review Database " was exactly that but it's too early stage

sounds like you are going to leave a fair amount of cash to these guys... I would seriously think twice and get a secondo opinion elsewhere

[Scatman]

Sounds like you're the victim of typical Irish 'Stealers'

I'd kick up stink, a lot of it too! I have heard that the DRC job was done in an Audi dealer in Kildare under warranty. Audi has extended the DRC cover to 5 years or 70,000 miles (I think).

If you actually do end up having to pay for it (which hopefully you won't!) I'd probably go for the KW V3 setup instead of OEM DRC.

Keep me updated! I'm hoping mine never fails....

[Awd4]

thanks a lot for your answers, much appreciated

still haven't heard from them, I will ring and see what's the story...
so far I have only agreed to pay for the service + diagnosis (€600)
I will get the full report off them and seek quotes elsewhere, definitly.

But they will have to repair the shocks for free, if not I will start screaming at them very soon...

[DazN]

I had my front DRC replaced not long ago by Audi in Huddersfield and I know this is NOT a warranty or a recall issue, the garage are under no obligation to fix it free of charge but they should do it after speaking to Audi UK under a 'good will gesture', meaning it's free.

My car had 51k on the clock and was just over 3 years old (57 plate), it does have a full Audi history which I am told you need.

Tell the garage that there's a lot of stuff of the Internet about DRC and you know it's their call. Also mention it's been on Watchdog on the BBC!!!

Good luck

[Awd4]

thanks a mill, mine has a full Audi Service History too, thanks God for that,
am awaiting their phone call... fingers crossed

[Steve_C]

DRC letter from Hick is attached.

[Awd4]

thanks a million Steve_C, really appreciated!

still waiting for them to contact me though, not sure if it's a good or bad thing, they still have my car so it looks like I will keep their courtesy A3 1.4 TFSI for the week-end...
if they refuse to change the shocks under guarantee or as good will, I will indeed produce this letter..
will keep you guys posted

[adzpz]

Sounds like they'd like you to trade up - rs3 sir?

Would defiantly get a second opinion on all that - seems unlikely that all that could go wrong at once.

[PetrolDave]

Sounds like they'd like you to trade up - rs3 sir?

Most of the reviews of the RS3 are less than complimentary

[Awd4]

Well, RS3 thanks, but no thanks...

And for all these problems, I agree, I only did 12,000 kms since the last service in June last year, and very careful kms since the noise started last week...
everything was spot on when I got the car back last year... and this year, paf!.. that list...

Rang the garage this afternoon, they were still awaiting an answer from Audi Ireland, so I sent an email to the garage with the DRC letter, mentionned the 2 Irish cars that got the job done complementary and even BBC Watchdog... but close of business today, still no news. Another nail-biting evening...

I told the secretary to email me the complete list of faults as per computer reading and her detailed quote, with that I am definitly going elsewhere for double checks.
In the meantime, hopefully they will replace these 2 shocks complementary and do a serious 50k miles servicing which I agree to do with them..
as per the steering, she still had no definite news from the technicians...

[colmac]

I have just got my B7 back after being at Audi for two weeks, in this time they replaced rear crankshaft seal, which had just started to show a leak, front shocks, recharged the DRC, fitted oil cooler pipes and front door seal. The car has just covered 30K and i was on my last weeks of extended warranty! Really happy I paid 900 for the service which included front pads /sensors and wiring loom? & MOT. The garage were very helpful and could not fault them, even got a new S line (with a FULL tank of fuel) to drive about in, great service!

[Awd4]

I have just got my B7 back after being at Audi for two weeks, in this time they replaced rear crankshaft seal, which had just started to show a leak, front shocks, recharged the DRC, fitted oil cooler pipes and front door seal. The car has just covered 30K and i was on my last weeks of extended warranty! Really happy I paid 900 for the service which included front pads /sensors and wiring loom? & MOT. The garage were very helpful and could not fault them, even got a new S line (with a FULL tank of fuel) to drive about in, great service!

Sounds like there are still some reasonnable Audi garage out there, that keeps me hopeful...

[Awd4]

Ok got some news on the steering front, one of the bolts was loose and they cleaned threads and applied lock tight and torque bolts, carried out road test and all perfect.
pfeeeww.. at least that's OK

the full service has been carried out and ingnition coils been replaced under warranty, so that's OK too

still waiting to hear from Audi Ireland to replace the 2 leaking shocks (front and rear on driver's side, is this unusual?)

their estimate to carry out all other works, including Front disks and pads replacement, 8 spark plugs, brake fluid change is 2,340 euros

the car is ready for collection but am stuck at work till 7pm so won't be able to collect till Tuesday morning.. anyway, is it wise to drive with the 2 faulty and noisy shocks?

should Audi refuse to grant anything on the shocks, I would consider installing 4 bilstein. Anyone out there did that? Is Bilstein a good option? Do we loose all Audi waranty then? And is it the end for all these DRC troubles?
sorry for my very limited competences in the matter.. and thank you very much for all your help so far!

[edge]

I had my two shocks changed for free at Audi South Dublin(Sandyford). There master tech was over from Germany, gave the car a clean bill of health bar the two minor leaks from the front shocks. I asked about him about the 5 year warranty and he said that it was only in Germany, a slight mini discussion he said that one of the girls would need to check with head office in Germany. I drove home, the car was still under warranty from the garage I bought her from, Audi called me the next day and it was done for free.

I had an alloy repaired up there recently and had them check the rear suspension.... all good. Nothing was said that if there was any issues that it wouldn't be covered etc.