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[Audi A3/S3] New engine required in Audi A3 2.0Tdi 170 on 2007 plate.....


Koala2106
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Hi guys,

Guess I'm just hoping for some advice or pointing in the right direction.

Long story short, my car broke down on 8th July and has been with a main Audi dealer ever since. They found no faults on the system and had originally told me it was fuel contamination.

After not being able to find the main fault they started taking bits off and found that the valves in the inlet manifold had broken and a couple had broken into bits and must have gone into the engine.

They have now finally removed the head and told me that the cylinder and pistons are damaged meaning I need a whole new engine which retails at £4000.00 :ffs:

They said they are looking into what thet can do but personally I feel that there must be a major problem if a 07 plate car thats done 80k needs a new engine and the manufacturer should pick up the tab.

Last of all the warranty I have is 5* AA cover which when you look at it only covers the st £1000 of a claim so not worth the paper its printed on.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Cheers.

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I had the engine on my R32 replaced after 65k miles at 4yrs old, covered fully by VW due to a porous block. The key thing to getting this was that the car was serviced by VW it's whole life. If you're car has a full Audi service history then there is a good chance they will contribute to the repair.

With regards to warranties, the detail is in the small print

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The car does have a full Audi service history and was serviced last at the same garage its is at now. With regards to the warranty you are dead right.

I would make sure the service manager is talking to Audi Customer Service with regards to getting goodwill to cover the balace between total cost and £1k warranty limit. If necessary contact Audi CS direct, if you feel you're not getting buy in from the dealer

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I would make sure the service manager is talking to Audi Customer Service with regards to getting goodwill to cover the balace between total cost and £1k warranty limit. If necessary contact Audi CS direct, if you feel you're not getting buy in from the dealer

I made contact with Audi CS last week after nothing seemed to be happening with my car and havent heard from them since. Tried chasing them today after being told I needed a new engine and held for 7 mins before having to hang up but was able to leave a message so waiting for a call.

I do plan to try and get them to cover as much as possible as I think it rediculous that it should need a new engine after this short time of its life but the whole experience has definately put me off Audi and the whole VW group (although cant believe any others would eb any better).

Thanks for the advice, it does help.

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Latest update from Audi UK is that as I didnt buy the car from an Authorised Dealer (i.e. a main Audi Dealer) then i am not a loyal customer (even though I got the car serviced at a main Audi Dealer and it has a full Audi service history) and there is nothing they cann do to help with the costs but I have to wait until tomorrow for an official reply.

Dont think I will be buying an Audi again.

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That'll be because it's not covered by an Audi warranty.

If there's ever been a break in the Audi warranty cover (if you buy from a main dealer, you get an extended Audi warranty if the car is over 3 years), they won't do anything.

It's fair IMO - although it's bloody hard from a customer's perspective.

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It's fair IMO - although it's bloody hard from a customer's perspective.

I seriously fail to see how it is fair that a 4 year old car needs a new inlet manifold and ENGINE!!

Audi made aload of money selling it in the 1st place and more again if they sell it a 2nd time after a traid in. They are obviously doing thier best (as all companies do) to make money but if the car was 8 years old then ok you just gotta live with it but a car thats only 4 years old is just crazy.

I would have thought Audi would be making some attempt to make rectify the situation rather than take bad press that thier cars are only good for 4 years. I have a kettle and toaster older than that.

And your right - it's bloody hard from a customer's perspective.

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The problem is that a car has got thousands of moving parts and the only way that Audi can stump up cash for it is if it's a "known". Without wanting to go all Rumsfeld on you, what you have is an "unknown known". They've got no idea who or how it's been driven.

No, I don't accept that an 80k mile car should dump its valves in the engine, but it's a mechanical lump.

Yes, I probably get that you've driven it carefully, but neither you nor Audi have any idea who had it before you and how they drove etc.

Don't get me wrong - I sympathise with you, but you'd probably (I say probably) get the same response whether you went back to any other vendor.

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If Audi won't pick up the tab then I'd defo consider moving the car to specialist, it will save you a packet over main dealer service rates.

Agreed. Keep pushing at Audi customer services though. They might make a contribution at the very least if you are firm but polite with them. Good luck!

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I agree that you would probably get the same from any company but Audi told me the valve failure was a part failure and could in no way be effected by anything external as it was a sealed part. As for how it has been driven I used to work with someone who had a Vauxhal Cavalier that finally gave up at just under 200,000 miles and had previously been a sales reps car which would have been thrashed by them and him.

With regards to the 'known, unknown known' you lost me. All I know is whats happened and Audi want to replace the engine.

I understand you are trying to be sympathetic but I still cant believe the poor level of service I have received from Audi as a whole.

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Not in Hampshire, but just over the border near Wimborne in Dorset - speak to Mel at Williams Automotive Ltd - Independent Automotive Engineers - Gary owns the place. They'd be happy to help you out. Have all the work on our daily drivers done there (they're German car specialists) and recently rebuilt an original RS4 engine for another member of Tyresmoke on my recommendation.

HTH

:beer:

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Is it an option to source an engine from a breakers yourself and have Audi or an independant fit it? It is a pretty common engine so you would think there should be an engine or 2 floating around from crash damaged cars.

As long as it has the same part number, Audi should fit a second hand one.

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Latest Update:

The AA warranty is going to cover the 1st £1k which apparently leaves me with £7225.25 to pay for a car that was probably worth no more than £8500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Williams Automotive have told me they cant help but SJB Autotech are willing to have a look but I need to get them some photos.

Has all left me feeling rather sick.

Edited by Koala2106
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And thats the five star AA warranty?

I'm guessing thats the AA's top warranty?

Absolutely f*cking disgusting if you ask me.

If SJB can't help you, I'd just use the 1k warranty money to buy a second hand engine, get a back street garage to throw it in as cheap as possible, and get rid of it.

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I think this is a really difficult one.

On the one hand I agree with the thread starter that a 4 year old Audi shouldn't be in need of a new engine - especially with a full main dealer history.

On the other, the official warranty is for 60,000 miles and 3 years - so the car is well outside of the mileage side of that and the warranty that has been put on the car isn't an Audi warranty which would have surely covered the cost of a new engine?

From a goodwill perspective I would say Audi should be offering to provide the labour FOC - but I must admit I think the cost of the engine should fall on the owner because otherwise they set a precedent of "why bother with warranties, we'll repair outside of warranty anyway".

Mind you, I also agree with Tipex that any high star warranty that covers only £1,000 for an engine - well it's clearly disgraceful. It does highlight the value of reading the small print of course though I have sympathy with the owner.

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I can see Audi's point although I can sympathise with you too. Audi should at least go 50/50 on labour.

There are a few 2.0 TDI engines for an A3 on eBay for around a grand. Make sure you get the right one (same engine code) I was quoted £400 to replace the engine on my S8 from an Audi specialist so it will probably be around the same or less for an A3. You could potentially be sorted for £1,500 or so and if the AA warranty coughs up £1,000 your only £500 down. You may even get a little scrap for your old one. There you go, I've just saved you over £6,700 to spend on your honeymoon!

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From a goodwill perspective I would say Audi should be offering to provide the labour FOC

Why, though? Why should they? They sell a car with a 3 year warranty for a good reason and if you buy one from a main dealer, you get an extended warranty, which is provided by Mondial, so Audi have nothing to do with it.

It'd be very different if you bought a new car from them every couple of years, but the cost to the business will outweigh any grief they may get from one customer, who will doubtless not buy another Audi again.

Not saying I'd be happy with that approach, but it's how I would read it.

Edited by Mook
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