Central locking 900 pound repair bill

[alexho]

Both of my passenger side central locking isn't working. Dealer told me its going to cost just over ONE grand to fix. It nearly give me a heart attack. My car has only done 26,000 miles and is 4 years old . I think its unacceptable for a car this age to get such a big repair bill. I just wish my car didn't have central locking in the frist place. Does anyone think I could get some discount off my repair bill from the dealer?

[mlarner]

Ouch! Go to another dealer/specialist auto-electrician? Where do you live?
Other forum members then may be able to offer suggestions.

2002 FSi SE, Ebony Black with Red Nappa Leather, 17" Sport Wheels, 2004 grill, Tinted Security Glass (+Road Angel)

[Kaine]

Ask them to explain the breakdown of the quote. A resonable question for such a big quote. Theres a chance that they are just quoting you a complete set of replacement parts, even though they may not be required. How much will they charge for an inspection and detailed quote?

Kaine

[hollyrescue]

I had this problem under warranty, it was the computer in the footwell that had to be replaced. Price for the computer I understood to be £400 ish. Where does the other £600 come from? A detailed quote is a must, not an estimate, a quote, there is a big difference.You could try an Audi specialist rather than a main dealer

[alexho]

#163;300 for the front central lock #163;300 for the rear + the computer. Can't go anywhere else now since they already carried out the work. i took the car in on monday ,first they said the front central locking needs changing and cost #163;300. I said ok go ahead to do it . Tueday they told me the rear needs changing too. I though fine , maybe i am just not very lucky to get this promblem.Wednesday they told me the main control unit needs changing as well another #163;400. I had no choice but go ahead with is as my MOT and road tax is overdue 1 month and I can't get a Mot without those door working. I just wonder how i could get some money back from AUDI or discount from the dealer , since they could have change the main control unit in the frist place instead of the otherway round

[runboy]

That is poor. I would ask for the old parts if they still have them-at least you have the evidence then. I suspect that if you asked them they would do both locks needing doing anyway so the computer was extra, but it could be that it was just the computer.

I would ask for Audi to contribute. I've said it before, but people presume that once one day over the warranty period, you can forget any help. Wrong, a product must be of resonable quality, and a car costing £14k should last longer than 4 years. Audi should contribute 50% at least.

Steve - A couple of A2's, then a Corolla, now an Avensis T3-X 2.0 Auto

[alexho]

How do I get Audi to contribute. Does anyone know who to write to?

[hollyrescue]

I agree with Runboy. I had this problem with a Kawasaki m/bike, in my letter I included a phrase, something in the order of "this is unsatisfactory performance for a product marketed as a quality product". It did the trick, ditto for a Honda CX500 m/bike with a leaking petrol tank after 2 years. They have to admit that either it is not a quality product, or major in x years is satisfactory. Good luck, you have nothing to lose but a postage stamp or two. Trading standards can help if an impasse is reached, so can motoring mags, Auto Express for instance. Go for it!

[Rob Earl]

What is the current situation? Have you paid any money? Have you accepted the work carried out?

Write a letter explaining the history of your complaint to the manager of the dealership in question, outlining the work carried out and the exhorbitant ammount of money charged. Explain why you think this is unnaceptable. Tell them what you would like as compensation (be reasonable). Also, give them a timescale that is reasonable to act on (14 days) and send the letter recorded delivery.

If this fails, small claims court might be your next move.

It's handy having a wife who's just started working for trading standards.

Don't drink drive! Not only is it socially unaceptable, it also harms A2's.
Was a Merlot Red 1.4SE petrol originally.
Now an Ebony Black 1.4SE petrol with Red Leather, CC, Symphony + all the previous options we had.

[runboy]

Also, I would think that a repair of that cost would get the likes of What Car? and AutoExpress interested. It may be worth thinking about contacting them. Do think about it-it could work against you as the dealer may just say 'oh stuff you if you are going to drag our name through the press'.

Be polite in your letter to the dealer and Audi and make sure you say how much you love their product and how you want to have your faith restored ready to buy another Audi product. If you tell them you don't want to see another Audi, what incentive do they have to keep you as a customer?

Steve - A couple of A2's, then a Corolla, now an Avensis T3-X 2.0 Auto

[alexho]

They said they can get the car done on thursday but later that day just before I went to collect the car they rang me to say they couldn't get the part. Have to wait till Friday. And today they didn't even ring me so I think they couldn't get the part again, but at least could have told me instead of me waiting the whole day. I didn't have any proper sleep since Wednesday because of it.
I have no choice but to ask them to get the work done , but haven't paid them yet since I haven't collect the car. I guess I will have to pay them when the work is done but to get my compensation later from Audi or the dealer where I bought the car from.
I have already contacted What Car? and they have offered to help me . Hope they really can.
Thanks you guys for the advice!!!

[alexho]

Collected the car today .Total cost of repair 830 pounds. They didn't even bother to clean the car . I think all they care about is to make money , doesn't care about customer service. This is the 3rd time I been to this dealership in Bristol and not once did they clean my car. So this time I just went back in and said " I have spent near to a thousand pounds here and didn't even get my car cleaned" So they just clean it right away. I am not ever going to go to the same dealer again. Sorry DAMON !! ( Bristol AUDI is own by Damon Hill Bristol Limited)

[hollyrescue]

Alexo. Pursue it, it only costs stamps at the moment.

[alexho]

Just finished writing the letter to the dealer I bought the car from , will post it tomorrow . Now starting to write another one for the Director of Audi UK .

[Kaine]

Alexho,

Really feel for you on this one. Well done on following the guys advice too. Personally I am guilty of just 'living' with things like this, and not putting pen to paper to take action. I hope you get a good response.

Kaine

[alexho]

Thanks Kaine and everyone who gave me advice. I think most people including myself would just paid up and think of just being unlucky. But I though I was really let down by these people. I can't let them get away with it this time.

[Will]

If I'm ever made redundant and have some money behind me I'm going to open up a new kind of Audi dealership.....a somewhat radical one when compared to most out there.....a dealership that cares about it's customers before, during and after the car purchase. Offers servicing at reasonable rates. Return phone calls. Does the work when promised. Talks to the customer on the level. How about it....any business partners? ;)

2004 1.4 TDi (90) SE, Cobalt Blue, Climate control, Cruise control, DIS, Sport seats, Winter pack, Symphony II.

[hollyrescue]

Dream on, you will get the Audi disease and be cloned

[alexho]

Audi UK offered 212 pounds but hoping to get at least 400 which is 50% of total repair bill. Am I being reasonable ?

[Will]

50% sounds fair to me and is similar to percentages I think I've read in www.honestjohn.co.uk in similar situations.

2004 1.4 TDi (90) SE, Cobalt Blue, Climate control, Cruise control, DIS, Sport seats, Winter pack, Symphony II.

[Rob Earl]

Push for the 50%. Thats not unreasonable.
What is unreasonable is for Audi to expect people to pay almost a grand for faulty centtral locking on a 4 year old car.

Don't drink drive! Not only is it socially unaceptable, it also harms A2's.
Was a Merlot Red 1.4SE petrol originally.
Now an Ebony Black 1.4SE petrol with Red Leather, CC, Symphony + all the previous options we had.

[hollyrescue]

50% is the minimum you should go for, I think that if you went to law you would win more, but there could be some expense attached to that. Even 50% means you are in for an enormous bill compared to the amount of work and parts involved. I think it's fair to say we are all behind you in this.

[alexho]

300 is Max Audi is offering , and said that they not going any further. Can't believe that their offers are so low." What Car? " has adviced me to take the money . What should I do now , guys ? If thats what I am getting I will never buy Audi again and definately not going to Bristol Audi to service my A2.

[ianjohnsonws14]

Options;
1 - take the offer.
2 - continue with letters/phone calls - will have little or no effect but you may be able to get them to use discouted parts prices in the calculation - after all they are just giving you some of their margin back.
3 - Go to press - they are advising you to take the offer.
4 - Small claims court - initial action may cause Audi to lift their offer but will cost you for the court documentation so may be no overall gain anything . If pressed home AND you win you risk the court awarding less than Audi's offer in which case you pay their costs - not a good prospect. If Audi win you are left with the legal fees AND the repair bill. If you are seriously considering this talk to trading standards/CAB first as they will probably have a view on likely success and cost.

As in these situations you are relying on merchantability and after 4 years the court's view may be that it was merchantable because it lasted 4 years. I would take the advice offered but it is your decision. Think it through and don't let emotion take the decision for you, that can be expensive - the emotion decision is not to come back to Audi!

Ian

1.4 Petrol Special Edition, Ebony Black, grey leather, heated seats, climate, opensky, five spoke alloys for SWMBO (Replaced a 2002 1.4 Petrol SE) Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 iCDTi for me.

[hollyrescue]

I would advise against option 4, but if you decide to go ahead the most it can cost you is the fee to bring the case to court, it was £60 last time I did it, I did several in my previous employ. You get the forms from the court, pay the fee, provide documentation of your case (essential, none of the "he said" and "I said" rubbish), the other side are asked to provide documentation in their defence. No solicitors are involved, neither are they allowed to be. You attend a room in the court building, the judge ,in a suit, turns up having read all documentation. You are invited to add anything to your documentary submission, the other side is invited to do the same. The judge makes a decision, both sides abide by it, loser pays the initial fee, all very civilised, and about 15 minutes in all.
Audi argument would be that these are published prices, he was informed before the work started, then complained when he got the bill. Yours would be, they charged too much for a newish car. If these are the facts and they seem to be, then work it out for yourself, which way would a reasonable and knowledgeable arbitrator (cos that's what he is) decide? A last resort IMHO. Myself I would go for option 2, be polite but firm, then option 1. If all else fails chain yourself to Buckingham Palce in a Batman suit, or get the entire A2 club parading down Whitehall .

[alexho]

Took their 300 pounds final offer today. As RAY from What Car? said, 300 pounds is better than nothing even though I am still very unhappy about Audi.
But I am very happy that I have got great help from RAY of What Car? Done a lot work for me to chase up Audi.

[hollyrescue]

A fair result in the circumstances, I hope you found the A2 members advice helpful.

[Rob Earl]

I suppose it's easy for me to say 'go for 50%' but I'm not the one gambling with getting any money back or not.
I suppose 30% is better than a kick up the jacksy but it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Don't drink drive! Not only is it socially unaceptable, it also harms A2's.
Was a Merlot Red 1.4SE petrol originally.
Now an Ebony Black 1.4SE petrol with Red Leather, CC, Symphony + all the previous options we had.

[hollyrescue]

Rob, true, but...... one learns from experience, the bad ones are more educational. I think we have all learned from this one. As you say, better than a kick up the jacksy, just.

[alexho]

finally got my 300 pound cheque today after 3 weeks Audi UK said they will sent me.