S3 8V Clutch failure after 22k miles. If this has happened to you PLEASE READ

Evening all, my first post. Just picked up a 67 plate S3 Sportback in nano grey. Been lurking on here for a few days and just noticed this thread so thought I’d put my 2 pence worth in...

I have just traded in a 3yr old Golf GTI PP manual. Had an issue with the clutch slipping in 5th/6th gear. Having done much research it’s quite a common problem and VW didn’t want to help as the car had done 16k and out out warranty (car was only 2yrs old when I 1st reported it but the clutch only covered for 6k apparently!).

In the end I decided to chop it in and pick up my S3. So far am absolutely loving the extra power and 4wd grip off the line! Hopefully many happy miles ahead.....
 
Mine started going at around 5k but that was with a DTUK fitted and intake and Inlet pipe.
 
Kris_fenwick said:
guys

Basically I'm having a dispute with Audi regarding the clutch they have installed on the current S3 8V manual.

My clutch has failed and as you already know Audi do not cover this under warranty as they state it's a Wear and tear part.

I have read on a number of forums that many others have had this problem so I'm just gathering evidence to prove that the clutch system being installed on this model is not of satisfactory quality/fit for purpose.

Can anyone who has had this problem with their Audi S3 Manual please post below and briefly describe the outcome and your dealings with Audi.

Thanks
Click to expand...
How are you getting on. Would love to hear. I have just started to give them some pressure on Twitter. They started off responding very fast to generic questions and now silence as they would have to admit that a clutch doesn't last as long as a set of tyres or brake pads.
 
I have had a new clutch at 5000 and I need another at 23,000 Not going to bother with main dealer. Get a Sachs one and you’ll never have to worry about it again.
Would like to hear feedback from main dealer as they challenged me with killing a clutch with 5k on said it was due to driver errror.
Then said the waiting list to book in was 4 weeks so I waited then they said my flywheel was blue. And I argued because they left me 4 weeks with a slipping clutch.

The reason I’m not going back to main dealer is the fact that Audi uk won’t admit there’s a problem with the manual clutch. (Yet the new s3 won’t be coming In a manual. funny that!)
So I’m gonna up rate it and stick my custom map back on and have it driving as it should do from factory!! Good luck to the OP keep us posted
 
Firstname /lastname
I was interested to hear they tried to fob you off stating they had tested the car but obviously haven't .
I would suggest you contact the ceo of the garage concerned in writing saying you want a reply immediately or at least in 3 days asking why they have done this and is it their normal practice to look after customers this way .
I would be wanting the work done for free and if not then up this to Audi complaints and face book twitter etc .
Do not let them away with this .
Good luck .......
 
Well I never though for one minute I'd be adding to this page, but alas this morning with 23011 miles on a standard engine I've got the dreaded clutch slip in the higher gears. Phone call to Audi tommorow to probably get fobbed off. Cars under second hand approved warranty. Not that that'll help with a supposed wear and tear part. Fingers crossed.
 
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Why don’t you S3 manual gearbox drivers not get together and contact the BBC tv consumer program Watchdog.
 
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It’s terrible Audi d
GW1 said:
Why don’t you S3 manual gearbox drivers not get together and contact the BBC tv consumer program Watchdog.
Click to expand...
I think they covered poor BMW alloy wheel quality a few years back.
 
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Well I phoned my local Audi dealership today and really have to say I was at an impasse. They gave me three options.
1. They test drive it, it slips, they remove the box see it's blued(shouldn't be in my eyes) I get a bill for the removal and refitment of the box with the option to fit their clutch or aftermarket.
2. . They test drive it, it slips, they remove the box see it's worn ( not sure why it would be after 23K) and again I get a bill for the removal and refitment of the box with the option to fit their clutch or aftermarket.
3. They test drive it, it slips, they remove the box find it has a hydraulic leak, they call Audi warranty and there's a bum fight over them agreeing it's a warranty issue, then i'll get a bill for the removal and refitment of the box with the option to fit their clutch or aftermarket.
Which ever way you look at it I'm bound to be out of pocket.
 
Leevr said:
Well I phoned my local Audi dealership today and really have to say I was at an impasse. They gave me three options.
1. They test drive it, it slips, they remove the box see it's blued(shouldn't be in my eyes) I get a bill for the removal and refitment of the box with the option to fit their clutch or aftermarket.
2. . They test drive it, it slips, they remove the box see it's worn ( not sure why it would be after 23K) and again I get a bill for the removal and refitment of the box with the option to fit their clutch or aftermarket.
3. They test drive it, it slips, they remove the box find it has a hydraulic leak, they call Audi warranty and there's a bum fight over them agreeing it's a warranty issue, then i'll get a bill for the removal and refitment of the box with the option to fit their clutch or aftermarket.
Which ever way you look at it I'm bound to be out of pocket.
Click to expand...

So frustrating for you, it’s clear that these clutches are not suitable.
 
Tell Audi to stick there options up there **** and buy yourself a proper clutch and forget adout them.
 
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Thats not 3 options, thats blatantly giving you no "real" options. You would have to be mad to entertain any of them. Its the same with the Golf r and VW, its disgusting as its marketed as a performance car yet they want you to drive it like your gran.
 
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Has anyone had any success getting Audi to cover this under warranty yet?
I've got a manual S3, less than 2 yrs old - clutch has gone at less than 17k but suspect it wasn't right long before this.
Still drivable but car got recovered to Audi West London as they said this would be only way they would look at it before September!?
Heard from them today, they asked Audi UK who confirmed job is not covered under warranty which seem absurd.
Car is actually leased so spoke with lease company, they have asked for technical report, photos, details etc
Has anyone had any detailed feedback from engineer/garage about why they fail so I can pass this onto lease company? if they had enough info they said they will challenge Audi UK as they buy blocks of cars from them each year.

Cheers
 
Sorry, i honestly thought i had replied to this thread, i think there was another thread (probably more than one), i might of replied to that one.

the top and bottom of it was, I whinged to Audi UK, a lot, they assigned an incident manager to me, who's life i then made hell (it wasn't personal), after I started telling them that they needed to prove empirically that the clutch going was my fault they eventually caved in and just replaced it, at Audi's cost.

All i did was stick to my guns, however, the car had only done 10K miles when it originally started slipping, and i hadn't had it for that long. full disclosure, it's a business lease and we get lots of cars for our fleet through our local Audi dealership, so that might of influenced things.

the new clutch seems very robust, its not done 36K miles (in just less than two years) and i can honestly say I don't drive it any differently, i discovered unmolested it makes 420 ish NM peak torque (which is quite low down in the rev range) which may of effected the longevity of the clutch.

I personally think the clutches are weak (as a cost saving exercise) and once they go they'll get replaced with more robust ones, i cant prove that, but lots of manual golf R and S3 drivers have had the clutches go (i work with 2 guy's who own manual golf R's, and the clutches have gone on both)

Its a shame, but my next Audi will be an S-tronic as Audi seem to care less and less about manual cars now.
 
Update on mine - asked for detailed report from Audi West London to pass to lease company - Audi sent this over with email saying they had liaised with Audi Uk who now have agreed to do the work under warranty as a gesture of good will. Very odd

No detail in the report - literally just said ‘clutch burnt out’ - possibly why they have agreed to do the work.
 
My car went in last week....it’s a 2017 s3 saloon with 19000. I initially took it in 2 months after I bought it...clutch was slipping...and they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. A year later I took it back in....took the clutch out (£650 for the pleasure) and then basically told me it’s burnt out. Currently arguing with them because I refuse to pay for a new clutch. This seems a common problem...which Audi try and act like it’s the first they’ve heard of the issue. Lies. Seems the clutch isn’t fit for purpose on these cars
 
Mine lasted 45k and only gave up after going stage 1 but most are lucky to get to 15k. Its a joke as the car is marketed as a performer car, the clutch is not fit for purpose. The trouble is, its a waste of time getting another oem clutch fitted as it'll go again in no time.
 
26K now and I'm slipping in 3 - 6 With light application of the throttle. Can't accelerate hard at all now. Slips from around 2500 rpm. New Sachs clutch needed. Just gotta find someone to fit it.
 
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