WARNING regarding Mods/Warranty at dealers

L33TAY

L33TAY

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Hi All

I have just taken my car into Audi as the steering wheel wasn't straight, this was the case when I picked the car up - and I told them it had been lowered (Which they said made no difference) however, when I mentioned that It had 4 wheel alignment done at the same time they changed their tune, and basically refused to do anything with it, saying it could NOT be classed as warranty work.

I obviously went mad and made a big scene, also got the service Manager involved and the dealership Manager, stating that I was disgusted in their attitude after spending 32K with them etc etc, and they said they would mull it over and make a decision today if they are going to do it or not!

I will name the dealership later if they don’t do it, so it will arm people on here for future warranty work.
Maybe they are getting more fussy now on what warranty work they carry out if a car has been modded, and also has made me think twice about getting the Evoms fitted, as that is a definite no no if they open the bonnet!!
On the way out the service guy said 'Its had an exhaust too hasn't it' to which i replied 'Yes, so does that affect the steering wheel not being straight too!!' - Tossers!!

Rant over:banghead::banghead::banghead: – let’s see what they say later!
 
Not standing up for Audi when it comes to service work, but trying to look at it from my own less-hot-headed perspective (easier for me to do than you!), I suppose there is some fair logic behind it. Imagine you had an independent garage remove your front bumper to fit an aftermarket intercooler, and they re-fitted the bumper out of line with uneven gaps. Would you take it back to Audi and expect them to rectify the poor fitment for free "under warranty", even though the work was incorrectly carried out by another garage who had nothing to do with Audi?

Perhaps I've missed something here, and it was an Audi garage who carried out the four wheel alignment? If so, I'm right with you and they are taking the mickey. I wouldn't put it past them! But if it wasn't Audi who did the alignment, and clearly didn't do it well, then I've got to say it shouldn't really lie with Audi to foot the bill for someone else's bad work.

Just my two pence. I'm so fed up with Audi servicing that I will do every last bit of work to my car from now on, unless buying the necessary tools for any one job would far outweigh their labour charges.
 
Yeah I agree IF the stearing wheel was straight when I picked the car up, but it was miles out, however, when I rang them to tell them, they said they could book it in but it would be 3 weeks until a courtesy car was available.

In the meantime I had the suspension done and the 4 wheel alignment, which actually improved it, but still not right.

If they don'd do it I will just take it to another dealers and not mention the 4 wheel alignment, but this particular dealer will not get any of my business going forward, and that will be a lot of business, 100K+ over the next year, so their choice really.
 
doing the steering wheel aint a big job tbh i dont see why theyre making such a fuss, its not even an hours work
 
I agree, they gave me the bullcrap that they would have to re-4 wheel align it, and its 3 hours work!!!
 
Sorry, I missed out on the fact that it was like that from brand new, before you got your hands on it. That really is not good, delivering brand new cars to customers, and the steering wheel isn't even straight. If it was out of line, it was out of line, be it 3 degrees or 30 degrees, they still have to go through the same work to correct it. Just another story of Audi trying to wriggle out of doing work they owe the customer then. Good luck with another dealership. Three hours?!
 
wtf they wouldnt have to re align it, they arent touching the suspension alloys or tyres etc, theyre just taking the wheel off and sticking it on 3 screws to get teh airbag out then a boly if i remember correctly
 
Yeah thats what I thought, I will be kicking off royal if they don't do it, i'm ready for a good fight!!!!
 
I think many of us have been through the same cr*p with them. It's like groundhog day each time you go back.

My latest issue took 6 days for them not to fix under warranty - after much moaning they're now paying for my local independent to fix it for me, so at least it'll get fixed properly.
 
Yep mate i feel for you! i had similar problems with Coulsdon Audi who after a service put a deep scratch into my leather seat...was not happy to say the least!! then they tried to say it was already like that and after weeks of "i'll get back to u on a decision", i had to call to find out they werent going to do it coz it was repaired earlier and is general wear and tear. I blew my top and went down there and made a big scene with service manger and garage manager but nothing was done. i told them i would not be going back to them nor will my dad or brother whom both own audi's too!
 
tbh something like a 4 wheel alignment, if done properly and by a VAT registered garage, will not void warranty work.

this used to be the case, but it's against business competition laws so it's now illegal for a main dealer to write off a warramty because it wasn't done with a franchised dealer.

my advice:

1. contact trading stanards. they may not be the ones to go to but they'll know where to point you if not
2. contact Audi UK. explain to them the situation calmly and hopefully they'll side with you. mention first and foremost that the car was like that when you collected it brand new
3. if you have a friend who's a lawyer get some advice from them. then tell the dealer you've contacted a legal representative due to the information you've been given by me above, and that you've contacted trading standards (or the relevant authority).

i'm sure they'll change their tune, but if NONE of that works take it back to the company that did your 4 wheel alignment. clearly if your wheel is to one side when you're driving in a straight line then you've not been aligned properly.
 
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Sometimes, I don't get it how when we change for let's just say.. changing the downpipe would merely cause the interior dome light to not work and they're blaming the downpipe kinda thing. I supposed they so-called not being mod-friendly or just being morons for not knowing the real deal of how things work. Maybe my example is too vague, but it's something like that.

My local dealer here doesn't like the idea of me changing bunch of parts already on my car and they said they might not cover it under warranty if anything happens to the parts that has been changed. Obviously I understood that but I said back to them about not covering warranty on something that's completely irrelevant like the downpipe and the dome light example. They just kept quiet so I hope they know maybe they can't just crap on anything.
 
I called Audi a couple of weeks back, asking for parts and prices (e.g. brake hoses, splash guards etc) to aid me in the fitting of S3 brakes to my A3. The guy got less and less helpful until he refused to keep pricing up parts, AND said that they wouldn't give a warranty with any of the parts because they didn't recommend what I was doing! Talk about trying to force a working monopoly on their customers!!! It's hilarious doing things like supplying your own oil for servicing, their attitude absolutely stinks. Conversely, Ford were amazingly supportive about me fitting new wishbones etc to my gf's SportKa after it failed its MOT. I love Audi cars, but hate Audi dealerships.
 
it's sorta true tho.

my dad got the A3 1.6 brand new, and after that whenever we got the car serviced or whatever the salesman said hi to us etc. he'd give me the low down on new cars coming out and that sorta thing.

i got my 2.0T second hand (from an Audi main dealer), and my dad kindly let me use the old 1.6 in p/x. after he found out that salesman's shown no interest lol. obviously cos i'd not bought new i was no longer worth his time!
 
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A call to Audi UK should hopefully sort it out mate. I had an issue when the propshaft went on mine and Blackburn Audi refused to do it under warranty as the cluster had been changed. funny thing was it had been changed by Stoke audi. A simple call to Audi UK soon rectified it and they did it. Can't believe the ****** steering wasn't straight on a new car, id think that was dangerous.
 
Audi warranty is crap even if you don't mod the car. My post here is from when they refused to warranty worn leather on my car and said its wear and tear. Heres the official letter back from Audi HQ, note the headed paper like the rest of the rubbish they used to post me. I moved brand shortly after that and the difference is night and day. Nothing has been to much of a problem for BMW and even the steering wheel was replaced under warranty because of slight wear, the seat also have three times the mileage of our Audi and are still like new.
 
Just on the technical side of it you can just take the wheel off and straighten it but thats a bodge fix, the steering rack will still be off underneath. correct way is to adjust the rack then adjust the wheels so can understand the time they quoted.

That said they should not refuse to do it as it was like it from new. just my peneth worth.
 
Cheers for the responses guys, I spoke with them today and they still havent decided if they are doing it or not, as they were concentrating on the part that is slushing about in the dashboard that they cant find, so glove box out and all that - NOT impressed about that either, its a ****** new car with 1000 miles on the clock, and its falling apart.

I'll let you know the outcome tomorrow!
 
Hi all

Quick report - I'm not sure you will believe this - but here goes!!

I got a call today from the tossers at STOCKPORT AUDI (Avoid at all costs!!)

They say they have straightened the steering wheel, not sure what they have done yet, BUT, during the conversation with the muppet on the service desk, he stated that the mechanic took the car out, and he said he thought it was 'pulling to the right slightly'

Now, the car was perfect before it went in, so when I asked if THEY thought that was OK, he replied, 'You will have to get a track and camber done, and we don't know what the settings are for it from when I got it 4 wheel aligned.

So, basically, they are now saying its OK for me to drive a car away from the dealers that is pulling to the right!! Would you accept that?? (Ideal for pulling into on-coming traffic eh!)

Also, the lose thing in the dashboard, they said that they took the glove box out, and when they re-fitted it the noise mysteriously went, so I can guarantee that will be back.

So, in summary I am now further back to when I started, but at least my steering wheel is straight!!!

Any thoughts chaps?
 
Can't see what difference it makes to them if its been modded or not. They'll get paid by Audi for doing the work if its warranty anyway wont they? So its in their interest to keep quiet and pocket the money from Audi I'd of thought?!
 
Does anyone have the best number or email to get to the right place at Audi UK??
 
Well that definitely sounds like the kind of service I'd just love to pay £100 an hour for.
 
Just an update - Steering wheel is now straight and all is well with the pulling etc, They dis a re-alignment after me kicking off and also stating that the email was ready to be sent to Jeremy Hicks!

The loose thing in the dash which mysteriously disappeared came back after driving the car for 20 Mins, but worse!!!! (NOT HAPPY!!!!)So will be back in there at 8.30 Monday AM kicking off again!
 
best of luck matey. i'd definitely be asking for some sort of compensation. your time and petrol to and from the dealership isn't free
 
Cheers sub, dam right I will me thinks, this car has made my life hell since I have had it, i've spent more time in the dealers that I have driving it, so much so that I am on the verge of throwing the towel in and selling up.

I can't be doing with the grief, and haven't got time for it either.

Will be making a decision over the weekend, and hopefully if I do should still get what I paid for it with the discounts built in.

Would be good for someone as there is currently a long waiting list.

Cheers
 
which group own Stockport? sometimes this stuff is group specific. i can only commend Birmingham Audi (Lister's) and Leeds Audi (Sytner)
 
Stockport audi are are extremely useless, i had a service with them last year where they told me i had 5% on my rear brake pads eventhough i had new ones fitted 3 months prior. My car also came back dirtier than when i dropped it off in the morning with a sign in it saying it had been cleaned.....im going back there next week for a cambelt & water pump, i can see them finding more "problems" that need fixing.
 
Go to Preston Audi instead, they're not too far from you and the service is a lot better than any other dealer i've been to.
 
Cheers guys, the problem is getting a courtesy car out of these dealers, they are quoting weeks, so now means I have to put up with driving round with this annoyance for weeks to come.

Might ring round a few of them and see who has the shortest lead in time.
 
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