Worst Audi Dealer Experience? Warranty repair 1/2 day job is now 10 days and counting..

Lhasa2008

Lhasa2008

Registered User
Joined
Oct 2, 2015
Messages
136
Reaction score
73
Points
28
I booked my S3 in for the Haldex pump to be replaced under warranty at main Audi dealers.

Typically this is a 1/2 day job. Unfortunately my S3 has now been in their workshops for 10 days now and it not expected to be ready for another three at least. :rage:

The dealers have taken upon themselves to replace the camshaft seals "This is a very complicated job sir, and involves stripping your engine down". :rage:

There were no issues with the engine when I took it, only 30k and FSH. They have undertaken this work without my permission and without informing me in advance, and without letting me know how long it will take :rage:

Having read some of the other post on here with similar dealer issues, I am expecting the worse.. :disappointed:

Lhasa2008
 
1.8tfsi - starting issues - misfire and rough idle.
Car was in Audi main dealer's workshop for five months over a six month period.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008
Sounds abit like a bad excuse. Walk in and ask to see the service manager then ask to see the job cards and look at the DATE CREATED make sure this is the date you booked car in or before if they cant provide it there at it and dont accept a duplicate as this is a way they can say thats why the date CREATED is after the date you booked car in.

I could be wrong but this sound like something i have heard on a weekly basis.

(We are really sorry sir we are having issue with your car and are waiting on parts to arrive as there on back order. Or they having difficulty getting it to clear fault codes. This could be genuine but most of the time they have uaed your car as a donor car and need to buy there self time to then get yours fixed.

I hope iam wrong but this should help you find out if they are real or not

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008
Lhasa2008 said:
I booked my S3 in for the Haldex pump to be replaced under warranty at main Audi dealers.

Typically this is a 1/2 day job. Unfortunately my S3 has now been in their workshops for 10 days now and it not expected to be ready for another three at least. :rage:

The dealers have taken upon themselves to replace the camshaft seals "This is a very complicated job sir, and involves stripping your engine down". :rage:

There were no issues with the engine when I took it, only 30k and FSH. They have undertaken this work without my permission and without informing me in advance, and without letting me know how long it will take :rage:

Having read some of the other post on here with similar dealer issues, I am expecting the worse.. :disappointed:

Lhasa2008
Click to expand...

Is the car under warranty? If so, then I'd be thanking my dealer for taking direct action on something that they found was amiss. Don't complain about that.

Do you have a loan car? If yes, then they have not left you high and dry.

If it's out of warranty, and they've just started work without getting you approval of the costs, while not even supplying you with a loan car. Then yes, you need to complain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matt Titanium and Ormesome
I would be straight into the garage and looking to see where my car was /is and if they have stripped the engine and looking for damage they may be hiding ., I would not be happy , Escalate to Audi as a matter of urgency stating you are not happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008
Even under warranty, I don’t see why they shouldn’t have consulted you beforehand.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008
At the very most their communication needs to be improved. I know that part is annoying, but you wouldnt have said "no thanks" to the repairs being made if they had asked you beforehand.

May i ask why you are expecting the worst? you mention nothing about the standard of the work carried out. the dealer is being proactive, not reactive. They are great in my opinion,bar the communication issues! Even then, they are probably within their rights to preempt your response due to workshop space, effective time management and even customer satisfaction. Many of us, myself included, would proably be thanking them and not criticising them....

Of course, this reply only applies if the work is under warranty. if it is not then that changes the argument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bryant1998
Lhasa2008 said:
I booked my S3 in for the Haldex pump to be replaced under warranty at main Audi dealers.

Typically this is a 1/2 day job. Unfortunately my S3 has now been in their workshops for 10 days now and it not expected to be ready for another three at least. :rage:

The dealers have taken upon themselves to replace the camshaft seals "This is a very complicated job sir, and involves stripping your engine down". :rage:

There were no issues with the engine when I took it, only 30k and FSH. They have undertaken this work without my permission and without informing me in advance, and without letting me know how long it will take :rage:

Having read some of the other post on here with similar dealer issues, I am expecting the worse.. :disappointed:

Lhasa2008
Click to expand...

What the hell as camshaft seals got to do with the pre charge pump on the haldex controller?
They are taking the P for carrying out extra work without your consent.
Your right to question this with the service manger one if the reasons my Audi will not go to a dealership
 
Chris.D said:
Even under warranty, I don’t see why they shouldn’t have consulted you beforehand.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Previous day I was told "the engine is fine, nothing to worry about". Next day I've found out that they have pulled the engine apart without consulting me.
 
DW81 said:
What the hell as camshaft seals got to do with the pre charge pump on the haldex controller?
They are taking the P for carrying out extra work without your consent.
Your right to question this with the service manger one if the reasons my Audi will not go to a dealership
Click to expand...

:icon thumright:
 
DW81 said:
What the hell as camshaft seals got to do with the pre charge pump on the haldex controller?
They are taking the P for carrying out extra work without your consent.
Your right to question this with the service manger one if the reasons my Audi will not go to a dealership
Click to expand...

Again though, it all comes down to if the car is still in warranty or not. If it is, and they just left it (after spotting the issue) till something went wrong, and then you found out it could have been remedied months ago, you'd be even more P****d off, wouldn't you?

And what if the car broke down in the middle of winter leaving you stranded?

I think saying the dealer is taking the P, is frankly ridiculous. As Ormesome says, they are probably being proactive in the OP's response in approving the work (if under warranty) as who wouldn't?

But the dealerships communication skills are severely lacking. The OP should just turn up at the dealership, kindly request to see the car, and be talked through (by the master Technician) as to what the problem is, and what they are doing to the car. Storming in demanding to talk to someone and accusing the dealership of taking the P, will only make the customer look and sound like a right bellend.
 
  • Like
Reactions: josul and Ormesome
Ormesome said:
At the very most their communication needs to be improved. I know that part is annoying, but you wouldnt have said "no thanks" to the repairs being made if they had asked you beforehand.

May i ask why you are expecting the worst? you mention nothing about the standard of the work carried out. the dealer is being proactive, not reactive. They are great in my opinion,bar the communication issues! Even then, they are probably within their rights to preempt your response due to workshop space, effective time management and even customer satisfaction. Many of us, myself included, would proably be thanking them and not criticising them....

Of course, this reply only applies if the work is under warranty. if it is not then that changes the argument.
Click to expand...

I can only judge the standard of work when I receive the car back. Agreed, being proactive is great, but not when there is no communication, you've not been given any timescales and continually having to chase them for a response.
 
wab172uk said:
Again though, it all comes down to if the car is still in warranty or not. If it is, and they just left it (after spotting the issue) till something went wrong, and then you found out it could have been remedied months ago, you'd be even more P****d off, wouldn't you?

And what if the car broke down in the middle of winter leaving you stranded?

I think saying the dealer is taking the P, is frankly ridiculous. As Ormesome says, they are probably being proactive in the OP's response in approving the work (if under warranty) as who wouldn't?
Click to expand...

Yes, being proactive is a positive, if the work was necessary. However, after being told the engine was fine and that no work is needed, you do not expect to find out your car engine has been pulled apart without your consent.
 
Lhasa2008 said:
Yes, being proactive is a positive, if the work was necessary. However, after being told the engine was fine and that no work is needed, you do not expect to find out your car engine has been pulled apart without your consent.
Click to expand...

This was the point I was trying to make. Warranty or no warranty work how would they even know the camshaft seals had worn to the point of needing replacing. If they are being done under warranty happy days but I don’t see how the two parts are even remotely linked.
 
............the air con on my 2018 SQ5 has packed in. 2 weeks ago they had the car for 2 days & then decided it need a part which is on back order. Driving the car again now but it's not much fun when it's red hot & no air con.
 
RS3 S. said:
............the air con on my 2018 SQ5 has packed in. 2 weeks ago they had the car for 2 days & then decided it need a part which is on back order. Driving the car again now but it's not much fun when it's red hot & no air con.
Click to expand...

And is that a "worst Audi dealership" experience?? Seriously, what do you guys expect! Im not trying to start an argument but expectations of 5 star treatment, almost executive status and treats galore are not gonna happen when you buy a mass produced car! people are ranting like they have bought an exclusive Lambo or something! Both of the issues here in this thread are becuase the car has been opened up and a part is needed that either isnt in stock or work that wasnt scheduled needs to be carried out. It happens! its a car! they cant predict your problems! Inconvinient at most.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Flying Scotsman, josul, PieEater and 4 others
Main thing I found with Audi is they keep you on the road. A few years back I had an a6 with issues from the get go and when it was recovered the dealer had no courtesy cars to give me so called Audi UK and a new q5 got delivered to my door from enterprise in a couple of hours. Can’t argue with that. It was a nice enough car to have while they ‘tried’ to fix mine. Had a similar thing with a mini and parts were in back order and bmw delivered a new 3 series to me to use for 9 weeks till they got the part.
I think it’s moaning in the right way and to the right people helps. Audi customer service can be useless but get the right person and they will try and help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008, Matt Titanium and Ormesome
AlS3BE said:
Main thing I found with Audi is they keep you on the road. A few years back I had an a6 with issues from the get go and when it was recovered the dealer had no courtesy cars to give me so called Audi UK and a new q5 got delivered to my door from enterprise in a couple of hours. Can’t argue with that. It was a nice enough car to have while they ‘tried’ to fix mine. Had a similar thing with a mini and parts were in back order and bmw delivered a new 3 series to me to use for 9 weeks till they got the part.
I think it’s moaning in the right way and to the right people helps. Audi customer service can be useless but get the right person and they will try and help.
Click to expand...
Similar experience. I didn't ask for a courtesy car when mine went in for initial investigations due to the short notice they had to get it in. Couldn't fix it and we were going on holiday. They delivered me a car that night and were apologetic because it was a VW Golf and not an Audi.
They took an age to diagnose and repair mine but kept me in a range of practically brand new cars for months on end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008 and AlS3BE
Ormesome said:
so is it under warranty or not?
Click to expand...

As per the title ;-) yes fortunately. I purchased a 5 year factory warranty from new as part of the options selected.

However, I did receive a rather abrupt call from their customer services insisting that I did not have any warranty on my car and that the work would chargeable. When I explained I have a 5 year warranty, they also insisted that Audi do not do 5 year warranties.

After I suggested they should double check their records. I did eventually receive a further call a bit later apologising and confirming I was correct and that did have warranty.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KenL
Ormesome said:
And is that a "worst Audi dealership" experience?? Seriously, what do you guys expect! Im not trying to start an argument but expectations of 5 star treatment, almost executive status and treats galore are not gonna happen when you buy a mass produced car! people are ranting like they have bought an exclusive Lambo or something! Both of the issues here in this thread are becuase the car has been opened up and a part is needed that either isnt in stock or work that wasnt scheduled needs to be carried out. It happens! its a car! they cant predict your problems! Inconvinient at most.....
Click to expand...
...........maybe not the worst experience BUT i would expect a major company like Audi to be able to lay there hands on parts Quicker than 2 weeks !!!!!!. I don't think that is too much to ask!!.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ormesome
Lhasa2008 said:
After I suggested they should double check their records. I did eventually receive a further call a bit later apologising and confirming I was correct and that did have warranty.
Click to expand...

And there it is!. I bet, because they thought you didn't have the extended warranty they added the extra work, or damaged something on a test drive ?.(cant believe they had the cheek to do that without consulting you ?). That's why, they were saying you didn't have it!. Then after they found out you DO have it, IMO they have put you car on the "back burner"(put at the back of the jobs to do list) because they have to take the hit on the cost.

I could be wrong or wright ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008
Bittern said:
IMO they have put you car on the "back burner"(put at the back of the jobs to do list) because they have to take the hit on the cost
Click to expand...

Swear i read somewhere that Audi franchised dealerships make more money from warranty work than normal work?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandra and Lhasa2008
Ormesome said:
Swear i read somewhere that Audi franchised dealerships make more money from warranty work than normal work?
Click to expand...
I would be very surprised if this was the case. From what I have heard manufacturers will only pay the minimum amount required for warranty work and it needs to be pre approved....whereas with normal work the dealer is free to charge whatever they can get away with.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sparks43, TYb and Ormesome
Ormesome said:
Swear i read somewhere that Audi franchised dealerships make more money from warranty work than normal work?
Click to expand...

Manufacturers pay a much reduced hourly rate than an individual does.

They will still be making a reasonable profit, highlighting yet again how they totally rip off their customers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TYb and Ormesome
Lhasa2008 said:
As per the title ;-) yes fortunately. I purchased a 5 year factory warranty from new as part of the options selected.

However, I did receive a rather abrupt call from their customer services insisting that I did not have any warranty on my car and that the work would chargeable. When I explained I have a 5 year warranty, they also insisted that Audi do not do 5 year warranties.

After I suggested they should double check their records. I did eventually receive a further call a bit later apologising and confirming I was correct and that did have warranty.
Click to expand...

For the customer service advisor not to even know if Audi do a 5 year warranty or not, is enough to not use that dealership again. As said above, I did wonder whether the dealership have had a bit of an accident with your car. But then if they had, they'd have surely told you, or at the very least not tried to get you to pay for it.

Maybe you should call into the dealership and ask to see your car? If they refuse then you'll know something is up. You will then have every right to reject the car, and either seek a direct replacement, or the value of the car paid to you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lhasa2008
Thanks for the info. I wonder if there is some truth to the Warranty thing?

It's certainly odd how the dealer first said that the engine is fine and nothing to worry about, and soon as they knew it had a warranty started the engine work for which I was not made aware off.

I'll find out more on Tuesday.
 
So finally got my car back and had the Haldex pump replaced under warranty. £609.01.

Prior to the dealer confirming the car had a warranty, there is a advisory note to say 'Checked oil leak on turbo, wouldn't advise any further work, recheck in 12 months'

However after confirming the car actually was under warranty, the dealer decided without consulting me that they also needed to undertake the following warranty work.
'Removed camshaft and resealed area. Oil leak between cylinder head and camshaft cover. Requires stripping and resealing' +£2051.28!

I'll let you decide if there is any basis to the post from @Ormesome above.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ormesome
Lhasa2008 said:
So finally got my car back and had the Haldex pump replaced under warranty. £609.01.

Prior to the dealer confirming the car had a warranty, there is a advisory note to say 'Checked oil leak on turbo, wouldn't advise any further work, recheck in 12 months'

However after confirming the car actually was under warranty, the dealer decided without consulting me that they also needed to undertake the following warranty work.
'Removed camshaft and resealed area. Oil leak between cylinder head and camshaft cover. Requires stripping and resealing' +£2051.28!

I'll let you decide if there is any basis to the post from @Ormesome above.
Click to expand...

To be fair to the dealership. They were going to keep an eye on the leak, thinking you didn't have a warranty, and the cost would be quite high. Upon realising you did indeed have a warranty they stripped down and made good the leak.

I don't think I'd be complaining too much. Well, not at all really. The only thing I'd probably have said to the dealership, is that I wasn't happy with their communication skills, and a full explanation at the start would have been welcomed.

But main thing, is that your car is fit and well and back in your possession.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reggieboy71, DW81, Matt Titanium and 2 others
wab172uk said:
To be fair to the dealership. They were going to keep an eye on the leak, thinking you didn't have a warranty, and the cost would be quite high. Upon realising you did indeed have a warranty they stripped down and made good the leak.

I don't think I'd be complaining too much. Well, not at all really. The only thing I'd probably have said to the dealership, is that I wasn't happy with their communication skills, and a full explanation at the start would have been welcomed.

But main thing, is that your car is fit and well and back in your possession.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great dealership carrying out expensive warranty work to have the car right, and I'll bet Lhasa was also kept in a nice car whilst they did it.
Think most people would decline repair of an oil or coolant leak at dealer prices if it was barely detectable and they had to pay for it out of their own pocket.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wab172uk and Tej13
wab172uk said:
The only thing I'd probably have said to the dealership, is that I wasn't happy with their communication skills, and a full explanation at the start would have been welcomed.

But main thing, is that your car is fit and well and back in your possession.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Biggest issue was complete lack of communication, which was feed back to them. I was also expecting a further call, but never received that either.
 
Matt Titanium said:
Sounds like a great dealership carrying out expensive warranty work to have the car right, and I'll bet Lhasa was also kept in a nice car whilst they did it.
Think most people would decline repair of an oil or coolant leak at dealer prices if it was barely detectable and they had to pay for it out of their own pocket.
Click to expand...

I'm still skeptical about the extent of the oil leak. I would expect an independent Audi specialist would have completed the same repair for substantially less price. Unfortunately I didn't get a nice car while they had mine.
 
Lhasa2008 said:
I'm still skeptical about the extent of the oil leak. I would expect an independent Audi specialist would have completed the same repair for substantially less price. Unfortunately I didn't get a nice car while they had mine.
Click to expand...

What car did they give you? Worst case it was a boggo A1. But that is still a decent car in the grand scheme of things. It's not like they gave you some clapped out Renault Clio with 250,000 miles on the clock
 
Lhasa2008 said:
I'm still skeptical about the extent of the oil leak. I would expect an independent Audi specialist would have completed the same repair for substantially less price. Unfortunately I didn't get a nice car while they had mine.
Click to expand...

I'm sure they would, and most people would still be reluctant to pay to fix a minor leak, and it would still be there when they sold the car.
Did you decline a loan car? I know there is an excess if it gets damaged when you have one and they always say there will be a charge for insurance but at bill paying time they've never charged me yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Dealer experience when buying vehicle
Replies
12
Views
2K
neil stait
N
mike price
Facelift Had the worst experience ever !
Replies
32
Views
5K
mike price
mike price
Daveotto
Dealer diamond cut alloy repair cost and quality
Replies
13
Views
13K
Daveotto
Daveotto
S
Is there a single split tailpipe (1-1, not 2-2) diffuser for the A/S3 8V?
Replies
3
Views
866
swgdesign
S
R
Audi Connect - Updating for last 2 days ?
Replies
9
Views
1K
Silky-S3
Silky-S3
Top
Back