Owners with - brake squeal - please register your frustrations HERE!

[45bvtc]

My brakes remain 99% silent: I've only had two minimal squeals from the front offside this year and on both occasions it was not repeated. The brakes have remained 99% quiet since I first applied my 'fix' in February 2012 - when I first complained to Audi; so think on!

If brake squeal annoys you then do something about it; moaning to Audi UK won't!

Audi will provide a resolution as and when they're ready, and not before.

 

[Macdaddy]

Right a little update for you guys,

Went into complain at my dealer today about the lack of updates, They rang Audi UK and asked for an update.

The fault is listed on the agenda for the national UK meeting today and will be escalated to Audi Germany for the meeting next week.

There is still no official date for the fix to be released, It was for the end of March however ive been told thats highly unlikely now. It does mean that as its now been listed on the agenda for the German meeting that they will push the fix through ASAP.

Its also suggested that those affected will receive a "Goodwill gesture"

I have been offered another car if they could find one but we both agreed its pointless as it'll have the same fault. Advice is to keep the campaign going as it appears it is getting somewhere.

 

[45bvtc]

Right a little update for you guys,

Went into complain at my dealer today about the lack of updates, They rang Audi UK and asked for an update.

The fault is listed on the agenda for the national UK meeting today and will be escalated to Audi Germany for the meeting next week.

There is still no official date for the fix to be released, It was for the end of March however ive been told thats highly unlikely now. It does mean that as its now been listed on the agenda for the German meeting that they will push the fix through ASAP.

Its also suggested that those affected will receive a "Goodwill gesture"

I have been offered another car if they could find one but we both agreed its pointless as it'll have the same fault. Advice is to keep the campaign going as it appears it is getting somewhere.

WHOA!

I write regularly to a friend in Germany, a friend with authoritative AUDI contacts both in Frankfurt and Ingolstadt, and he reports that yes, Audi GmbH are aware of the brake squeal problem/complaints from owners here in the UK, and yes they are looking at the issue, but the unofficial view remains that with the number of RS3 owners complaining, and that's less than fifty here in the UK (check it out guys) then this particular RS3 issue is NOT at the top of their radar.

And you have to agree with that, what if it were your company?

As for Audi UK, unless you write to Martin Sander direct (I have) then it's doubtful you'll get a response from Audi UK, and if you do then it'll not be from Martin Sander (it wasn't).

You may well get kindly, seemingly generous 'Goodwill' gesture from Audi UK as many RS3 owners have, and I have: track days, Goodwood, subsidised replacement cars even; but the brakes on your RS3 still squeal, don't they? The problem hasn't gone away, has it?

What chance do you guys (that are driving squealy RS3s) have?

I hope I'm wrong! I hope Audi deliver and solve this annoyance! But I for one have ZERO confidence in the empty words delivered to date to me, and others, from Audi UK!

Brake squeal IS NOT a safety critical issue! It IS ONLY an annoyance! YOUR annoyance! Get over it or DO something about it yourselves! Don't wait for Audi GmbH! Even less, don't wait for Audi UK!

And remember, it was Audi UK that gave Jeremy Clarkson a NEW Audi RS4 to evaluate, a NEW Audi RS4 that had brake squeal!

Think on and enjoy the noise, or not; it's your choice!


AND remember that Audi have already done a 'fix' on the TTRS with NEW brake pads reported, etc., there's more TTRS's of course...

 

[Macdaddy]

Whilst i appreciate that 'some' have fixed the issue themselves, Others had initial attempts by dealers to fix the issue however the squeak remains. Now Audi specify that dealers do not try their own fix as they are working on it... Thats an official Audi stance.

Audi UK have also stated on the Facebook pages not to fix the issue yourself incase of voiding warranty with after market pads etc etc.

After spending around the 40k mark on a brand new car as many have i refuse to do any work on the car myself or pay for the work (unless it involves adding horses) as thats why i buy brand new, Safe in the knowledge that if something breaks then Audi fix it.

I certainly don't think owners should just 'put up or shut up', This campaign or awareness needs to continue until Audi sort themselves out and release the fix. If in the mean time i get a gesture of goodwill ie track days or what ever then i'm more than happy to accept this however it doesn't change the fact i want my brakes fixed.

 

[elton121272]

Hi All,

Having started this thread almost 5 months ago I thought i would update on my position. Many of us have all shared our squeal experiences and indeed thanks to this forum we now have as close to a unofficial fix as you can get from our very own resident 45bvtc.

Furthermore, thanks to this forum we have stood collectively and without doubt magnified our concerns to Audi UK.

Personally I have spoken numerously with some of Audi UK's senior personnel and I do honestly believe that they are working on a fix and it will be imminent - by that I mean in the next 8 weeks.

For me, the principal was not to take the unofficial fix although I totally respect those that have....especially when they now travel in full stealth! My route has been pushing to Audi UK the many examples of squeal ownership from this forum.

In late January I made the conscious decision to serve a letter of formal rejection of my much loved RS3 with all its buckets and trinkets - which I have owned from new since 28th April 2012.

The options I asked for were:

1. A fix within Q1 and appropriate compensation.
2. A brand new replacement vehicle to same spec
3. A suitable margin of refund circa 20% and I would fix the car myself.
4. A full refund to what I paid.

To cut a long story short, i received a cheque last Friday for the full amount from Audi UK, the car was collected on Monday of this week and today the funds cleared in my account. Happy days.

Not necessarily the solution for everyone as my heart said no, but my head said yes.

I'm not leaving the RS family though and have already done a deal 😉 .....so by that I mean I will probably be back on this thread 😉😉😉

I have to say although I did find some frustrations with Audi UK, my latter experiences were professional and ultimately they offered better customer care for this unique scenario that I would anticipate from many other car brands.

Good luck and feel free to send me an PM's of enquiry.

 

[Vito]

if you want to look at the bright side, after all this Elton, you must be pleased you got all your money back, on the other hand it's a shame you haven't be able to enjoy the RS3 for what really is or what it should have been, but that's how things go sometimes, good luck on your next motor pal and thanks.:icon_thumright:

 

[45bvtc]

The number of Audi RS3's now being returned for refund appears to be on the increase, that's 1-confirmed and 2/3-possibles that I've heard of during this week!

Maybe Audi UK would like to comment?

 

[ice_cube99]

Doubt they will comment on this? Not what I want to be hearing before i pick up mine in two weeks time

 

[elton121272]

Doubt they will comment on this? Not what I want to be hearing before i pick up mine in two weeks time

I would be confident that there will be a fix in place by the time your squeal starts. I was sorely tempted with the new Ibis @ Bridgend Audi with very high spec @£43k but have managed to find a better one ;-)

 

[Vito]

Why is Audi letting all this happen is beyond belief.....

Can they not see they are making things worse by just ignoring us all, what does it cost to keep people formally informed ???

It's totally nonsense, should we really start to worry ? Are they hiding something ? Why is it taking so long, they have been testing

stuff for god knows how long now?

May be we should start thinking about something else to do in order to make Audi take notice ?

 

[Vito]

and it doesn't take much to work out the consequences on the value or residuals of the car if this saga carries on.

 

[L1ARR]

I would be confident that there will be a fix in place by the time your squeal starts. I was sorely tempted with the new Ibis @ Bridgend Audi with very high spec @£43k but have managed to find a better one ;-)

Come on Elton, spill the beans. What have you done put a deposit down on the new shape RS3 or what spec have you found lying around. Interesting to hear that Audi gave you a full refund without any arguments, what mileage did you complete in the car whilst under your ownership? Makes you wonder why Audi Uk aren't putting pressure on Germany to sort out a fix especially if owners are asking for refunds.

 

[Mr_Freeze]

May be we should start thinking about something else to do in order to make Audi take notice ?

I suggested something previously. Why don't 10-15 RS3's drive into a dealership and choke up the entrance way. Present our case to the by then annoyed manager and maybe invite the local press to attend. I guarantee this would bring their attention to the matter.

 

[Macdaddy]

Not a bad shout ! Involve a motoring magazine? I have a few contacts and could see if they'd be interested?

Just not sure if i fancy my car towing away

Audi UK's office might be better than a poor dealer...... Unless of course they agree to us coming down and help us out.

 

[CatnipRS3]

I can't wait to blast round Wales on the 14th with you guys but I think we should scrap that and all drive down to Milton Keynes.



Oh! wait it's a Sunday!

 

[Macdaddy]

I can't wait to blast round Wales on the 14th with you guys but I think we should scrap that and all drive down to Milton Keynes.



Oh! wait it's a Sunday!

Any Audi dealers around where we are going? Could perhaps meet there to start with ? Contact the dealer in question first though.

 

[CatnipRS3]

Crewe, Cheshire Oaks, Anglesey or Shrewsbury....none of them really near.

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Not a bad shout ! Involve a motoring magazine? I have a few contacts and could see if they'd be interested?

Just not sure if i fancy my car towing away

Audi UK's office might be better than a poor dealer...... Unless of course they agree to us coming down and help us out.

Why would they have reason to tow you, we would be loyal customers who just happened to turn up on the same day to have a look at the new range of S3's perhaps. Wouldn't be our fault if we overloaded the carpark!

 

[Macdaddy]

I was thinking more about the blocked road scenario and the cops turning up.

Filling the parking bays whilst we check out the new A3 would be a real shame lol

 

[45bvtc]

Not a bad shout ! Involve a motoring magazine? I have a few contacts and could see if they'd be interested?

Just not sure if i fancy my car towing away

Audi UK's office might be better than a poor dealer...... Unless of course they agree to us coming down and help us out.

Listed elsewhere; I've already written to Chris Ebbs at AutoExpress twice after AutoExpress had written of an RS5 customers' list of woes and had asked, "We want to hear what you think".

So I wrote first on the 7th February 2013:
"Dear Mr. Morgan, Here's one to get your teeth into: owners of Audi RS3's have been complaining throughout 2012 (I know because I complained about mine in February 2012) about low speed (5 to 0-mph) brake squeal and Audi UK to date (Martin Sander (MD) included) have yet to provide an effective resolution i.e., the problem remains.

Note: the same brake squeal issue applies to the Audi TTRS, too (same Audi/Brembo brakes)

Now, while Audi UK claim they are waiting for Brembo to produce an effective 'fix' for this issue, Brembo themselves are advertising a replacement brake pad/solution; the advert actually says: "New Brembo Sport Pad For Audi TTRS & RS3. Fed up with squeaking factory front brake pads on your TT RS or RS3? We have an answer for you: the Brembo Sport brake pad set! Tried and tested cost effective pad upgrade available from APS.

Maybe you might ask Audi UK what if anything they are doing to resolve this issue on what are relatively NEW cars.

And brake squeal affects the TT RS too - same brakes of course."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then again on the 21st February 2013:
"Dear Mr. Ebbs, while the RS5 case study is interesting, sad even; you really do need to look at the brake-squeal issues being experienced by RS3 owners here in the UK, and the appalling response to owner complaints from Audi UK, Martin Sander, Director of Audi UK included."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having sent both, I then copied Martin Sander (21st February 2013), saying: "Dear Mr. Sander, My apologies, I should have sent a copy of my e-mail to AutoExpress magazine to you, too."

And guess what happens next? Mr. Craig Westwood telephones me (22nd February 2013) to 'describe' the then acknowledgement of the issue within Audi UK and Audi GmbH, a sincere but worthless conversation.

And guess what happens next? Mr. Craig Westwood telephones me (26th February 2013) to invite my wife and I to the Goodwood Festival of Speed courtesy of Audi, etc…

And guess what happens next? Nothing!

So write to the magazines by all means, and then copy Martin Sander at Audi UK, and you may get a courtesy call from an Audi UK customer relations' person, but it'll not stop that brake squeal!

 

[45bvtc]

I would be confident that there will be a fix in place by the time your squeal starts.

I wouldn't!

 

[ex911driver]

Some Car magazines are already complaining about the RS6 suspension knocking ,so might be an idea to inform them.

 

[Mr_Freeze]

John, can you post Martin Sanders email on here please?

 

[PigPen]

I thought I read somewhere that the squeal went after warming the brakes up? I just drove 200 miles to Newbury and they started squealing as soon as I got to the first set of traffic lights?

 

[Macdaddy]

I thought I read somewhere that the squeal went after warming the brakes up? I just drove 200 miles to Newbury and they started squealing as soon as I got to the first set of traffic lights?

Its not there while they are hot, but as soon as they cool in traffic it returns

 

[PigPen]

Bummer! Not you the brakes!

 

[45bvtc]

John, can you post Martin Sanders email on here please?

PM sent: 'some' administrators delete an email address...

Not sure about Photo's mind, so this is him....


View attachment 13161



****** SCAREY....

 

[Mr_Freeze]

Thanks John,

Neil

 

[elton121272]

Come on Elton, spill the beans. What have you done put a deposit down on the new shape RS3 or what spec have you found lying around. Interesting to hear that Audi gave you a full refund without any arguments, what mileage did you complete in the car whilst under your ownership? Makes you wonder why Audi Uk aren't putting pressure on Germany to sort out a fix especially if owners are asking for refunds.

Still finalising deal so would prefer to wait until she is collected hopefully next week. She has buckets though ;-)

When mine was returned to Audi she had almost 7k on the clock.....as I said she was the best car I have owned and left me in A1 condition but to get the full £42k back was just too tempting but justified considering the frustration of ownership.

.....sorry for the short reply, on a MTB cycling venture in the Scottish Highlands! Will reply to all PM's on my return.

 

[CatnipRS3]

She has buckets though ;-)

Either he's getting a TT-RS or he's starting seeing a woman in her 40's who's had 6 kids!

 

[Macdaddy]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!

 

[45bvtc]

PM sent: 'some' administrators delete an email address...

Not sure about Photo's mind, so this is him....


View attachment 13161



****** SCAREY....

The more I look the more I think it ALL in the expression; it's as if Martin's saying: "what brake squeal?"

And then: Oh! that brake squeal!

But I like brake squeal! I'd like more brake squeal! Oooh! just the thought of brake squeal up and down those Alpine passes!

Love it! Love it! Love it!

 

[CatnipRS3]

View attachment 13161

He looks like Jim Carrey

 

[elton121272]

Either he's getting a TT-RS or he's starting seeing a woman in her 40's who's had 6 kids!

almost signed up for TTRS Plus but after test drive - which was as good as the RS3 - the practicality in he rear just wouldn't do for a 3 yr old. So it had to be another RS3 as her indoors would go 'radio rental' if I went for a 40 year old Burd!

 

[robbiemac]

He looks like Jim Carrey

Dude...... like it's him, especially out of me, myself and Irene

 

[tcardio]

Flame me for entering this thread late in the game but the replacement caliper can be found at Carbotech. The bobcat is rotor friendly and can be exchanged for the racing pad with no need to rebed. it doesn't squeal and when Audi does find a fix, just put in the old ones and have them serviced without worry about warranty issues. Peeps are running these pads over here on the TTRS and no squeal at the wheel

 

[CatnipRS3]

almost signed up for TTRS Plus but after test drive - which was as good as the RS3 - the practicality in he rear just wouldn't do for a 3 yr old. So it had to be another RS3 as her indoors would go 'radio rental' if I went for a 40 year old Burd!

Nice one Elton! :thumbsup: now what colour?

 

[Moschops]

Nice one Elton! :thumbsup: now what colour?

Black...

 

[Steve220]

My mates RS3 was squealing from the brakes, apart from covering it up with copper slip as much as you want, the problem is the compound of the pads. All my previous Evo's did this and it's due to the nature of the calliper and the pad in it, it will inevitably come back. I changed the pads for XP8's and all has been resolved... Plus it stops better

 

[robbiemac]

I contacted Audi customer services today for an update..... They confirmed the fix is now available, usual chatter about parts and availability. They are due to call me Friday with my date/slot to bring the car in, I've posted in here to resurrect the thread. It looks like good news at last, I registered with Audi customer services my complaint as you all know some months ago and as such I'm in the top half of a very long list......