Audi Convertible Roof - Warranty issues

[Chris Nicholls]

Hi All

I'm new here but thought it would be helpful to see if I'm the only customer with Audi warranties.

I purchased my 3rd Audi S5 Convertible from new in 2018 including the extended 5 year warranty with a list price of over £60k. I do need to say that the car itself has been fantastic and the only downside of ownership has been warranty claims. 

After around 2 years I started to notice non-standard wear on the offside of the roof near the rear window which is always the first place convertibles start wearing. I contacted Audi Tamworth where I purchase the car from to get it repaired under warranty and they said I would have to pay £8700 or contact Audi UK to support any claim. I then contacted Audi UK who is it was solely down to the dealers discretion. 

I tried a second dealer in Nottingham who also had the same stance. 

Audi UK suggested I went through the Motoring Ombudsman which I did, it took over 12 months and after multiple mistakes (they said it was out of warranty at two years old)  they ended up supporting Audi Tamworth / UK. I've now given both Audi UK and Jardine Motors Group one final chance to put this right.

The facts

• The vehicle had ceramic coating and roof protection from new. 
• It was never pressure washed, I even use the 3 bucket system 🙂
• My only interaction with the roof was pressing the but to open/close
• All convertibles wear, but we also have a VW Beetle convertible with over double the miles where the roof is still as-new.
• It's only worn on one side and even after over 6 years the other side is still unworn.
• It was purchased with a 5 year warranty and less than 3 years old when presented to Audi for repair

My question is, have any of you had similar issues?

[Magnet]

Hello Chris,

Welcome, and sorry to hear of your issue. 
For me and other members to get this straight, can you please let us have confirmation on the following:-

(1) The car was less than 3 years old and still under warranty when you first complained to the dealer? 
(2) Do you have a record of the complaint date? 
(3) Have you got photographic evidence of the roof’s condition at that time? 
(4) Do the photos you have now listed show the roof as it is now, or what it was when still under the 3 year warranty? 
(5) Have you studied/ taken legal advice regarding this issue not being covered in the extended warranty?
Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Stevey Y]

2 hours ago, Chris Nicholls said:

Hi All

I'm new here but thought it would be helpful to see if I'm the only customer with Audi warranties.

I purchased my 3rd Audi S5 Convertible from new in 2018 including the extended 5 year warranty with a list price of over £60k. I do need to say that the car itself has been fantastic and the only downside of ownership has been warranty claims. 

After around 2 years I started to notice non-standard wear on the offside of the roof near the rear window which is always the first place convertibles start wearing. I contacted Audi Tamworth where I purchase the car from to get it repaired under warranty and they said I would have to pay £8700 or contact Audi UK to support any claim. I then contacted Audi UK who is it was solely down to the dealers discretion. 

I tried a second dealer in Nottingham who also had the same stance. 

Audi UK suggested I went through the Motoring Ombudsman which I did, it took over 12 months and after multiple mistakes (they said it was out of warranty at two years old)  they ended up supporting Audi Tamworth / UK. I've now given both Audi UK and Jardine Motors Group one final chance to put this right.

The facts

• The vehicle had ceramic coating and roof protection from new. 
• It was never pressure washed, I even use the 3 bucket system 🙂
• My only interaction with the roof was pressing the but to open/close
• All convertibles wear, but we also have a VW Beetle convertible with over double the miles where the roof is still as-new.
• It's only worn on one side and even after over 6 years the other side is still unworn.
• It was purchased with a 5 year warranty and less than 3 years old when presented to Audi for repair

My question is, have any of you had similar issues?

Hi you are better served going to a specialist and getting it repaired its much cheaper, as for Audi warranties they are printed on Andrex if you researched the site there are hordes of posters but the most obvious is the current one about the mild hybrid alternators gong bang, most of the dealers are not interested, Audi build quality and warranties have been heading down the urinal for about the last ten years.

Steve.

[Chris Nicholls]

Not sure what happened, I replied to this yesterday but nothing appeared.

It was :

I agree and unfortunately this will be the last VAG vehicle I ever purchase after the lack of support from the manufacturer. I've never had this issue with other manufacturers and BMW even replaced an engine out of warranty because they should have recalled them.  I can't sell it until the roof is repaired and I can't afford the costs even through a specialist so I'm going to persevere through the courts. It's taken over 3 years now due to delays from Audi and the Motoring Ombudsman who I genuinely believe only listened to the dealer. 

[Chris Nicholls]

16 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Chris,

Welcome, and sorry to hear of your issue. 
For me and other members to get this straight, can you please let us have confirmation on the following:-

(1) The car was less than 3 years old and still under warranty when you first complained to the dealer? 
(2) Do you have a record of the complaint date? 
(3) Have you got photographic evidence of the roof’s condition at that time? 
(4) Do the photos you have now listed show the roof as it is now, or what it was when still under the 3 year warranty? 
(5) Have you studied/ taken legal advice regarding this issue not being covered in the extended warranty?
Kind regards,

Gareth.

Not sure what happened, I replied to this yesterday but nothing appeared.

It was :

 

(1) It had been in a number of times where I mentioned the roof but it didn't have any fully broken threads. I finally booked it in specifically for the roof issue on 8th March 2021 which was still two months before the end of the standard 3 years warranty but also 26 months from the end of my extended manufacturers warranty.

(2) 8th March 2021

(3) The images above are from around February of 2021 and I also did a video showing how much it rubbed :https://youtu.be/N7x6XIKF2co

(4)See above, the whole is a lot bigger now and I have tried to stop it getting worse with wetsuit glue 😞

(5) This was within the initial 3 years warranty. My neighbour and a member or my family both work in courts and are in the legal profession, they have advised and I've also been to the CAB and have followed their recommendation to the letter which is why I ended up going to the Motoring Ombudsman as Audi UK recommended it. After I get the final response from Audi UK and Jardine Motors Group I then have to file a claim with the courts which costs £455 and I can only assume will take another year :(.

I do have an extremely detailed file on everything I've gone through and photos etc but I don;t want to bore you all with that. 

 

Thanks again for your quick responses.

 

Chris

[Magnet]

Many thanks indeed Chris,

Sounds as if you have a very structured and comprehensive history, and a forward plan. 
Since the photos are as it was in 2021, I must say I too would have been seriously dissatisfied with a rejection with that. 
Not wishing to add to your court costs concerns, could you check that you won’t need a professional report on the roof condition as shown in the photos, and the presence of that person at court on the day? As I understood it, that was certainly advantageous. 

Companies do not favour such actions, and it wouldn’t surprise me that your experienced neighbour and family member would be of the opinion that they usually settle out of court to avoid precedent. 
Just for background:- Not sure about the Motoring Ombudsman, but the utilities Ombudsman system is funded by the 6 or so largest suppliers! Independent? Depends how you look at it. 
Good luck, and we would be grateful if you could keep in touch as things progress,

Good luck and kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Magnet]

Hello Chris,

Wondering how you are progressing with this issue?

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Magnet]

Any update for us Chris?

It’s only via. updates and feedback that other forum members can benefit from.