Air Con condenser - design fault??
- Thread starter Kempysue
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This is a really important thread. I can't believe Audi UK aren't paying any attention to it ??!?
amped2,
That looks like an excellent job done. I don't suppose you kept a note of your exact measurements for each piece of mesh.
Did you need to remove any panels from the front of the car to do this...?
Did you just feed in the mesh from the front end...?
Would it have been possible to have fitted the tie wraps from the inside...?
Might go for this option myself.
Thank you,
Billy
That looks like an excellent job done. I don't suppose you kept a note of your exact measurements for each piece of mesh.
Did you need to remove any panels from the front of the car to do this...?
Did you just feed in the mesh from the front end...?
Would it have been possible to have fitted the tie wraps from the inside...?
Might go for this option myself.
Thank you,
Billy
No panels had to be removed,I did try to but when I got up to 15 screws and it still wouldn't budge I gave up.
Mesh was fed from one end carefully not to scratch the gloss grill hands where cut to pieces,also needed a hand to get it in.
There's no way of getting hands inside(well not my shovels) so that's why they are that way round.
The sizes are easy enough to measure and are just rectangular strips.they are all one piece apart from piece under the rings as there is a bar attached to grill that I couldn't get it past.
All in probably a 2-3 hour job
Looking good mate but just can't help thinking this just shouldn't have to be done to a prestige branded car, especially a German one. Where their engineer's meticulously plan and craft every thing. This certainly isn't what I thought I was buying in to when I switched to Audi.
I agree with you 100%.
For info, I spoke to Audi UK this morning and they said "This is the first we have heard about this issue with the condenser" - WHAT!!!perhaps it's the first that this particular operative has heard?!? I said that I know of many cases (look at the Audi UK Facebook page) so I'm not sure where she was getting her information from?? Perhaps an Audi cop-out?? She then said that there is no mesh or guard available for the 8V and any attempt to fit a non-audi approved system would invalidate the warranty (what warranty). So please be careful to remove your guard if you ever need to take your car in for service/repair!! (I'm sure Audi won't hesitate to invalidate any claim if they see a home-made guard)
I did suggest they innovate (as suggested by Billy) and modify the one they have for the 8P to fit the 8V.... she said that Audi won't do that unless they see a trend of failures.... so come on people phone up Audi UK and tell them about your failed condensers as they don't seem to think it's an issue?!!
I'm still waiting for a resolution to my issue despite not having driven the car for over a week - but on the plus side cycling to work is getting me fit lol.
I'm currently looking at the Mercedes AMG A-class as a substitute if Audi fail to satisfy my requirements!! That car has a nice beefy mesh guard built into the front bumper... nice of Mercedes to consider their customers eh....
Pretty large gaps at the bottom of a 3 Series BMW as well ......
.. and the condenser is much more forward ! You can see the fins!
.. and the condenser is much more forward ! You can see the fins!
I read this thread with a wry smile of resignation, it's just all so... familiar. My previous car was a 2003 Civic Type-R. When I bought it new I joined up to one of the Type-R forums and the big discussion point at the time was the susceptibility of the aircon radiator to stone damage and how people were trying to protect it, just the same as this thread. 
My own experience was that it was holed once in ten years of ownership and yes, it did cost me a few hundred pounds to have put right. I guess it's a compromise between risk and efficiency. If there's a genuine Audi grille available in other countries, I guess I might think about getting hold of one...
My own experience was that it was holed once in ten years of ownership and yes, it did cost me a few hundred pounds to have put right. I guess it's a compromise between risk and efficiency. If there's a genuine Audi grille available in other countries, I guess I might think about getting hold of one...
Steve et al,
There's a genuine Audi grille available for the previous 8P version. Why did Audi design, manufacture and sell this...? Was it original or retrospective after a number of damaged condensers and complaints...?
Either way wouldn't you have thought that Audi would have learned something and been proactive...and designed a similar grille for the 8V version...? To omit this from their bill of materials this time round is hardly the actions of a supposed premium brand. The word laziness springs to mind.
Thank you,
Billy
There's a genuine Audi grille available for the previous 8P version. Why did Audi design, manufacture and sell this...? Was it original or retrospective after a number of damaged condensers and complaints...?
Either way wouldn't you have thought that Audi would have learned something and been proactive...and designed a similar grille for the 8V version...? To omit this from their bill of materials this time round is hardly the actions of a supposed premium brand. The word laziness springs to mind.
Thank you,
Billy
Update on my situation:
Audi UK have agreed to pay 70% towards a new condenser and Audi Coventry are paying the other 30%. Basically they are only doing this because it occurred within the first month of owning it.
They said this is such a rare occurrence that it doesn't even feature on the radar of issues for further consideration. It turns out I've been very unlucky. I argued "what if it happens again in the next 6 months or a year, as I believe the design is flawed". They couldn't back up their claims with an assurance that if it happens again they'll reimburse me again.
So good news it's getting fixed but I'm anticipating a similar conversation again as it's bound to happen again with those gaping holes. Audi have refused to fit a grill because they are confident in the design of the car!!
Audi UK have agreed to pay 70% towards a new condenser and Audi Coventry are paying the other 30%. Basically they are only doing this because it occurred within the first month of owning it.
They said this is such a rare occurrence that it doesn't even feature on the radar of issues for further consideration. It turns out I've been very unlucky. I argued "what if it happens again in the next 6 months or a year, as I believe the design is flawed". They couldn't back up their claims with an assurance that if it happens again they'll reimburse me again.
So good news it's getting fixed but I'm anticipating a similar conversation again as it's bound to happen again with those gaping holes. Audi have refused to fit a grill because they are confident in the design of the car!!
Great news Sue, really pleased for you.
If Audi are that confident in the design of the car, then they should put their money where their mouth is...and promise to replace any damaged condenser free of charge.
Pretty large gaps at the bottom of a 3 Series BMW as well ......
.. and the condenser is much more forward ! You can see the fins!
Snap! I have F30 320d and amazed I have not had issues with the amount of stone chips I have picked up. Surely one will hit the condenser I thought.
Glad Kempysue has been able to get a resolution. I think there will be more instances of this going forward from members....
That is exactly what I said to Audi and also that they are being extremely contradictory saying that they are confident in the design but are equally unwilling to back that up with any warranty. We just went round in circles on the issue. I'm going to write to Audi thanking them for agreeing to repair my car and that I accept on the basis that they are happy with the design and that they don't believe it will happen again..... Time will tell.
But in the meantime anyone who has been affected please contact Audi UK and tell them as they said there are hardly any cases of this happening?!
Update on my case, after having my claim refused, I wrote to Audi UK MD André. The executive office called me and advised that they'll round down my cost of repair from £709 to £500.
That's still pretty poor that you should have to foot any of the bill at all to be honest. Are you going to fight it further or accept that?
Agreed, that's a poor offer on their part. £0 and a free service for mucking you about would be more like it....
I think I am just going to accept. I have been fighting with them for 4 weeks now. It is getting tiring. I will just remember this episode when I come to change my car.
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Take it back and park it on the entrance to the dealership with a sign in so that everyone can see on entering the showroom. I'm sure they won't like that... Especially on a Saturday.
ColMariner
Registered User
Unlucky gjp keep pushing em!!
Great news for you kempysue, an lovely part of the country you live served a few years down there at Devonport, always hold special place in my heart as my son born at Derriford, good luck with your claim
Great news for you kempysue, an lovely part of the country you live served a few years down there at Devonport, always hold special place in my heart as my son born at Derriford, good luck with your claim
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I would urge anybody discussing this with Audi to quote the sale of goods act and that the car is potentially not fit for purpose.
Untitled
here it is, my "reduced" bill courtesy of Audi Bristol. I am so disappointed I have had to pay so much money in a brand new car fixing the air conditioning.
its a joke. it really is. I'm about to get my new car and am really worried about this. I cant believe a brand like Audi will let that happen.
getting this in the public domain (watchdog/papers/Radio 4) is a great idea... especially if a few of you that have had it happen get together.
What's more of a joke is that the response has not been uniform for all the cases. Just looking at the forum you can see each case has had a different outcome(some replaced free, some reduced, some nothing...)
I cant do anything as I have not got an Audi yet.. but if it did and this had happened I would be going nuts ..
I have sent my story to watchdog@bbc.co.uk
Who else would be interested?
I am no legal expert - but could I put in a claim against Audi in the small claims court?
Who else would be interested?
I am no legal expert - but could I put in a claim against Audi in the small claims court?
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Hi,
I bought an Audi A5 Sportback Black Edition with Quattro on the 19th March 2014. I've had the car for 10 weeks and the same thing has happened to me. I've been quoted £750 by Audi Tyneside. I spoke to a lady who's been dealing with my car since it was taken in and she said that the fault was very rare. She has seen it on one occasion 7 years ago and that I've been extremely unlucky.
I'm hoping for the same outcome as KempySue although I don't expect it to be a quick fix. Any advice? I hope I'm not coming across too cheeky but have you got copies of your correspondence with Audi that could potentially help me out please KempySue?
I've always wanted to own an Audi and I have a strong tie to their brand but this had severely soured my opinion of them. To echo someone else on this post, it must have happened to many more people that haven't joined Audi-Sport.net.
Regards,
David
I bought an Audi A5 Sportback Black Edition with Quattro on the 19th March 2014. I've had the car for 10 weeks and the same thing has happened to me. I've been quoted £750 by Audi Tyneside. I spoke to a lady who's been dealing with my car since it was taken in and she said that the fault was very rare. She has seen it on one occasion 7 years ago and that I've been extremely unlucky.
I'm hoping for the same outcome as KempySue although I don't expect it to be a quick fix. Any advice? I hope I'm not coming across too cheeky but have you got copies of your correspondence with Audi that could potentially help me out please KempySue?
I've always wanted to own an Audi and I have a strong tie to their brand but this had severely soured my opinion of them. To echo someone else on this post, it must have happened to many more people that haven't joined Audi-Sport.net.
Regards,
David
Definition of 'not fit for purpose' Citizens Advice - What is meant by goods not fit for purpose I do not feel that condenser damage by a stone comes under that remit...
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From your link:
"As well as being fit for their normal purpose goods must also be fit for any specific purpose that the seller told you they would be fit for."
I.e car was sold as having climate control with ac, due to design flaw fault is possible (through normal use) which will render this feature/system unserviceable. Hence not fit for purpose.
cuke2u you are not being helpful or correct so I suggest you quit niggling at people on this thread and move on.
I think I will try watchdog but I'm going to give them an opportunity to fix the problem once an email has been sent. Thanks robbo1million. Any help is much appreciated.
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Just to be clear as well sale of goods act states that the buyer must give the seller 3 opportunities to put whatever the problem may be right. Only then can any further action be taken i.e. Reject goods etc.
