Help please!

[Pete Dennison]

Hi all

Bought an 08 plate A5 last month and guess what it has the oil consumption issue (3L in a month) garage never told me about it, it has 2 months left on warranty and they have said that they will have a look at it? But it can only be fixed with a rebuild right? I have contacted Audi who are doing an oil consumption and diagnostic test this Tues.

What to do? Should i try and get my money back?

Any help greatly appreciated 

Thanks 

Pete

[Magnet]

Hello Pete,

Sorry to hear of your issue.

What mileage have you covered in the month - which have resulted in the consumption of 3 litres of oil? 

Dealer saying ‘they will have a look at it’ can equate to just that. Rectifying the problem may be another thing, and the potential resolution of its high oil consumption is likely to extend beyond your guarantee period, at which point you are most probably going to be stuck with it - like it or not. 

Dependent on the mileage you have covered in it, I would be seeking professional guidance towards getting the car rejected and having your money back. CAB should be able to advise you on how you go about it, but I would suggest you don’t ‘go it alone’, if that is what you decide to do. 

Re. the dealer not telling you about it - you have to be realistic and understand that they were unlikely to have known, and if they did, they would not have bought it in via. the previous owner - who did know! There are dodgy dealers, but fewer than dodgy owners who offload their troublesome vehicles. 

Hope some of the above helps. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Pete Dennison]

Hi Gareth 

Thanks for the reply, i have covered 500 miles since i bought it.

Can i still get my money back? I purchased the car on the 28th Aug and it has a 3 month warranty

Regards 

Pete

[Magnet]

Hello Pete, 

Thanks for coming back. If the car has consumed 3 litres of oil in 500 miles then this is ridiculously high and totally unacceptable, and renders the car unfit for purpose. 

I would definitely be making an appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau without delay. I guess you have informed the dealer - in writing (an e-mail will do) - of your dissatisfaction with the car.

Kind regards, 

Gareth. 

 

[Pete Dennison]

Yes i have e mailed them, i will make an appointment with CAB on Monday.

I live in Basingstoke and the dealer is in Leicester so its about a 3hr drive they are expecting me to take it to them on Monday so they can have a look at it?

Been reading that they have to have one go at fixing it but i cant see that happening. Only got two months left on warranty so dont want it dragging on.

Thanks so much for this

Will keep you updated along the way.

Pete

 

 

[Pete Dennison]

Ive also been chatting to a guy who had Audi do a complete rebuild free of charge or heavily discounted with a full ASH.

My service history is all Audi bar one but it is quite sporadic.

Think my money back option is the best idea but fearing a horrible dog fight with the dealer.

Im gonna put it in for the Audi consumption test and go from there

Regards 

Pete 

[Magnet]

Hello Pete,

Complete engine rebuild FOC on a 12 year old car?? Leicester on lockdown - so legally allowed to go there? 

Sorry to put it as I see it, but buying a 12 year old car (sight unseen?) a 3 hour drive, away does very little to satisfy the logistics of any kind of warranty. Yes, I must agree, I too would not envisage this being an easy road to resolution, but... 

To take some positives:- You should get some meaningful advice from CAB, and I would be asking the Audi dealer to give you a comprehensive report (on payment?) on their investigation. This should stand you in good stead with the seller - particularly in these troubled and restrictive times. 

Good luck with this.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Just to stress:- I would go down the route of the Audi dealer’s comprehensive written report of the oil consumption, together with an estimated cost of repair. I think it would be reasonable to argue that due to these troubled times and restrictions into lockdowned areas, that this should suffice as a reasonable alternative to allowing the seller to inspect/rectify the issue. If the dealer wishes to spend the estimated money on repairs, then I guess you have to accept that, but I’d be very surprised if it proves to be an economical proposition.

[Grumpy daddy]

I know an absolute fantastic VAG engineer. His name is Chris 07876 256710

[Pete Dennison]

Hi all 

Quick update, Audi have inspected the car and they need to replace the breather valve to rule it out before they do the consumption test.

Shall i contact the dealer i bought it from to let them know and go ahead with it, Audi said they may cover 80% of the cost depending on service history. I guess its weather the dealer is gonna foot the bill?

Engine mount is leaking excessively as well isnt that a MOT failure?

Ta

Pete

[Magnet]

Hello Pete,

In my book, you must inform the seller of the Audi dealer’s findings and seek their advice regarding payment. They may reasonably request you return the car to them for their examination - believe this has been discussed and the distance involved renders this impractical. 

Engine mount leaking?? 

Kind regards, 

Gareth. 

[Pete Dennison]

Thanks Gareth 

Ive emailed the garage with the report and asked what the next steps should be.

With regards to the cost it says around £650 for the valve change and consumption although will seek clarification from Audi on that.

Yes n/s engine mount leaking is that an mot failure?

regards 

Pete

 

 

 

[Pete Dennison]

Dealer saying they wont give me a refund, thinking of now going with Audi and going for the valve change and oil consumption test, the service advisor said shes 95% sure it will fail, guess it then comes down to my service history as to whether its gonna cost me a fortune? Feel like the dealers getting off lightly though!

[Magnet]

Hello Pete,

I feel for your plight, and if anything good come from this, then your situation may spell out to others, the totally impractical implications of buying vehicles (on line) at a considerable distance from your home. Effectively, you can kiss goodbye to a guarantee - in practical terms. 

Having said that, this is where I see you are:- 

You have an Audi dealer who wants you to spend a lot of money to perhaps (in caps) minimise the oil usage, and to confirm its oil consumption. You have a very vague hope that Audi UK may (in caps) part fund the potentially high cost of any rectification work. 

You don’t have any knowledge of whether the previous owner had attempted to make a similar claim from Audi UK, and either had given up on the idea, or indeed had failed. This needs to be investigated. 

You have a seller who understandably wants the car back to evaluate it, and presumably attempt to repair it, and it is legal requirement that you allow him that option, before formally rejecting the car, (if he fails) and then claiming your money back. Practically, he has you over a barrel, since that option is not really viable due to the distance involved - and of course, you know you will be at his mercy if you do. 

Sorry to put this bluntly, but despite no fault on your part, you are effectively stuck with a vehicle which is not fit for purpose, but legal redress is going to be dependent on you handing the car back to the seller with all the impractical implications that follow. It isn’t on your doorstep, and progress chasing will be severely hampered. 

Options going forward:- 

Check with Audi UK as to whether there is any history of claim of high oil consumption with this vehicle.

Contact a recommended local Audi independent and seek their specialist advice on how to proceed, and how to gather and present the necessary evidence to the seller. 

Get a price from We Buy Any Car. 

If it were mine, I would not be throwing good money after bad, unless I had some positive proof that the oil consumption was going to be significantly reduced as a result. 

My eventual bottom line would be to take the hit and part with it, if you don’t get any positive vibes from an independent. 

Good luck and kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Jedi Black]

Just wondering what the outcome of this was ?

[Magnet]

Hello Richard,

Thanks for joining the forum. 

Just wondering if your interest in this stems from having the same issue with a vehicle you own.

Perhaps you could let us know. 

Regarding a response from the original poster - he joined and last visited the forum within under two weeks, almost 4 months ago. 

I would suggest it would be better to send him a PM.

Kind regards,

Gareth.