A2 Door Cracking

Mike

'Audi UK might not be able to help, as the car in question is a personal import, not an authorised one.'

That's strange because, before I boughtr my first new Smart in Nov 2000 (a LHD personal import) I checked with Merc UK whether it would be covered by its manufacturer's warranty in the UK. Their response was that their new car warranty was EU-wide, irrespective of how the car came into the UK.

Have things got worse warrant-wise in the past 10 years?
 
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Don't know Alan, but I did say 'might' - I'll pass the info on and hope for the best, but wanted the owner in question to know that they might be disappointed.

Cheers,

Mike
 
It shouldn't make any difference where the car is purchased, at least in the EU. I had warranty work done on my Lupo 3L in the UK and the car was purchased in Holland. VW doesn't treat imports any differently. Should be the same for Audi. The warranty is valid at least for the EU, if not further.

RAB
 
I thought the A2 was covered by a manufacturers 12 month, unlimited mileage warranty (which would be honoured anywhere in Europe) plus a further 2 year dealer warranty and roadside assistance which would only apply in the UK. The brochure actually stated
'All of these warranties and roadside assistance are free for all cars imported by Audi UK and sold by an authorised UK Audi centre' The way the brochure reads suggests the 12year body warranty is also administered by Audi UK and only for cars imported by them.

Cheers Spike
 
Currently all cars produced in the EU have a 24 month pan-European warranty by law. According to the VW website:

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warranty/factory/terms

only the third year of the authorised network vehicle warranty is dependent on the car being imported by VW UK. No such precondition is given for the 3 year paint warranty or the 12 year body protection warranty. I would have assumed it was the same for Audi.

RAB
 
spike said:
I thought the A2 was covered by a manufacturers 12 month, unlimited mileage warranty (which would be honoured anywhere in Europe) plus a further 2 year dealer warranty and roadside assistance which would only apply in the UK. The brochure actually stated
'All of these warranties and roadside assistance are free for all cars imported by Audi UK and sold by an authorised UK Audi centre' The way the brochure reads suggests the 12 year body warranty is also administered by Audi UK and only for cars imported by them.

Cheers Spike
Click to expand...

Not free at all Spike! The cost is included in the price. Had they been completely honest, it would have been something like this: 'The 12 month warranty applies whether you buy from Audi UK or import. The 2 year dealer warranty is optional if you import (it was for me with VW) but not if you buy from Audi UK. The cost of all warranties is included in the selling price.'

Much the same then whether you buy in the UK or from Europe except that you have more options if you import! Of course Audi UK would prefer you to buy from them and resort to dishonest means to try to influence you to do so. Unfortunately for most people it seems to work.

RAB
 
the grim reeper said:
If you have a crack on the door they should repair your door and do your hinge for free

Phil
Click to expand...

My A2 also has a short crack running from the hinge on the drivers door. My local Audi dealer acknowledges the fault but is not aware of any warranty or goodwill on a 7 year old 100k car.
The local VW body shop has fitted plates in the past but requires the job to be subcontracted by the Audi dealer. Is there a reference or anything that I should be quoting to the Audi dealer to point them in the right direction?

Thanks

Phil W
 
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philward said:
My A2 also has a short crack running from the hinge on the drivers door. My local Audi dealer acknowledges the fault but is not aware of and warranty or goodwill on a 7 year old 100k car.
The local VW body shop has fitted plates in the past but requires the job to be subcontracted by the Audi dealer. Is there a reference or anything that I should be quoting to the Audi dealer to point them in the right direction?

Thanks

Phil W
Click to expand...

Look at this thread, scroll sown to Skipton's post number 415 it gives you the full details that the dealer should have

http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5862&highlight=aluminium+fatuge&page=42

Hope this helps and keep us posted to see if they need a little push ;)

Phil
 
Hi folks

Sorry to be a total dunce, but I've just realised I have these cracks.

Car is 2002, and has 170,000m one it.

Do I just call the local audi dealer to do the work?

bba
 
Hi Mike,

Has anyone had an age limit on their car for doing the door repairs as Grimsby Audi are saying that cars over 8 years old aren't covered. My daughter is trying to get hers done by Leeds Audi but they say they are unaware of the problem.
 
Well, the plot thickens...

I've just had a call from Chingford Audi to say my hinges are not going to be fixed as Audi UK are no longer retrofitting/repairing doors as it is only cosmetic and it doesn't actually hinder the normal operation of the door.

Fuming as I am, what can be done?
 
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Skipton01 said:
Let me look into these developments and get the full story from Audi UK.

Cheers,

Mike
Click to expand...

Mike I can't see how they intend to get away with saying it is only 'cosmetic' it is obvious that the cracks will eventually get bigger and bigger leading to failure of the hinge area.

As I wrote on the original 'Aluminium Fatigue' thread yesterday, I have also been refused repair to newly acquired Huggie. :(


Cheers
Sarge
 
Thanks Mike, for all your help. I spoke to Audi UK customer services earlier and the lovely woman on the phone opened a new case for me and said she would get someone from tech to contact me back in a couple of days.

I gave them the TPL reference, and also mentioned the fact that Chingford Audi, when asked, wouldn't give me their TPL ref, however it did differ by 1 number ( ended in /9 instead of /1 ).

If you need any details Mike, just let me know.. I have two A2's that were due to be done by Chingford, along with my sister in Leeds and dad near Grimsby..
 
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@acolwill and Sarge, please PM me all the recent details of your dealings with the dealerships and I'll see what I can find out.

I do know that new door straps are now manual order items and that dealers parts departments can only order them to VIN numbers, suggesting that something has changed.

Cheers,

Mike
 
Door Straps

Hello All,
I am also going through this one at the moment. 6 months ago they replaced the door strap for free on the drivers side. Last week it is a chargeable item for the passenger side.. £57 notes to replace.
Cheers
 
In all honesty, you probably shouldn't have had the first one for free.

The issue with door cracking is nothing to do with a cracking noise, but a physical defect in the fabric of the door skin.

Door straps do wear, it's the plastic rollers inside that go. In this respect they're a wear and tear item, so not replaceable free of charge.


Cheers,

Mike
 
wheelz said:
Hello All,
I am also going through this one at the moment. 6 months ago they replaced the door strap for free on the drivers side. Last week it is a chargeable item for the passenger side.. £57 notes to replace.
Cheers
Click to expand...


£57 :eek:, they cost about £15 and you can change one (if you have some car knowledge) in less than 15 mins

3 screws, 2 nuts and one pin, bish bash bosh jobs a good un ;):D

Phil
 
Well, I agree with you Phil, although the price has gone up to nearer £20 now for the part and they're manual order only, so you can only get them with a valid VIN.

Cheers,

Mike
 
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