Horrible Experience with Town Audi's Service Department

[Leo14]

My turn.

So since I bought the car from them back in March 3 years ago, there has been a problem with the oil where it just eats it all up before/on 900 miles AT THE MOST. Usually it was more like 600-800 miles that I needed a quart. I have brought it to them many times with the light on, they have fixed every single little thing related to oil (to my knowledge at least) valve cover, pcv, purge valve, N75, even said the oil filter was just "loose" one time. There are others, but at this moment I can't remember.

At one point in time, somewhere around September 2010 I believe, they had said my carbonio intake was sucking up to much oil, later on they voided my warranty completely but after some arguing and explaining what the intake was they gave the warranty back and I think that is when they replaced the purge valve. Now, after bringing the car in AT LEAST once a month for oil problems over the passed couple years, they have determined I need to have my piston rings replaced (after an oil consumption test which I failed, light came on after 600 miles of driving) but heres where the problems consist with modifications/warranty work.

This is where I called up AOA and tried to get there help, Paulo wasn't much help to me at town motors and kept the conversations short. Same with Franklin. Note I have brought my car to them numerous times with my modifications and besides the carbonio incident, they haven't said a word about the modifications. So after not hearing from them after a week, I called Town Motors and they said my boost gauge did something, than they said my diverter valve (forge) caused my pistons to fail, I had that part installed this past October, than they accused me of drilling a whole in my intake manifold! WTF. After that argument, they told me that my tune caused my pistons to fail. Accusing different parts of causing my pistons to fail? Than they said that my car was heavily modified! This is where I laughed at the guy and said I have 3 "performance" modifications, and I also stated the tune was on the safest settings. Which it is.

Mostly have been talking to AOA and they called back today saying they aren't going to fix it under warranty due to the car being modified. For the first year I had the car, I had only did the carbonio in September. The tune I did at WF 17 and than the forge this passed October. Now in there defense yes, my car is modified and they cannot provide warranty work to a car that is modified, now I could be wrong here completely and have nothing to work with, or I'm right. Since the car had the problems since I bought it, shouldn't they realize there was something wrong the entire time? And how can they prove my modifications caused the pistons to fail? Isn't that how the whole thing works, won't fix the problem if caused by aftermarket parts?? I'm stuck in a hole now, they have my car still and theres NO way I can pay for pistons to be done, 18 going to school and no job. F*ck >< Will continuously update my post here, or just add new info to the thread, will possibly put up service records but not sure if I should

*Edit #1* Car had also been in previous accidents, proof is the clear coat chipping and the trunk was starting to rust in the corners and also clear coat was chipping, they fixed that though. Still, car was in an accident and they said it was CLEAN!

[Leo14]

They want me to pick the car up now, looking into some more stuff though.. going to see if they actually tested my modifications to see if they caused the pistons to fail, if not I believe they have no walking ground..

[ENV²]

Should've just taken it to a more mod friendly place after the first ordeal of BS

[apexit1]

Thats the thing, everyone touts town as a mod friendly place. Goes to show that mod friendly is relative. Once an expensive repair is needed that friendliness disappears. Good Luck OP

[Leo14]

Thats the thing, everyone touts town as a mod friendly place. Goes to show that mod friendly is relative. Once an expensive repair is needed that friendliness disappears. Good Luck OP

Exactly... Thanks

[Ritz]

This is the dealer in Englewood? Thanks for the warning. I was about to go over there and check out a D3 A8 they were selling.

Best,

[Leo14]

Well they used to be mod friendly ballz.. they did warranty work for me up until now, well besides the carbonio incident but yeah.

Yeah, don't buy shit from them somethings probably wrong with it. My car was apparently totally fine, but they were wrong. Or just lying.

This is the dealer in Englewood? Thanks for the warning. I was about to go over there and check out a D3 A8 they were selling.

Best,

[ENV²]

So is Jack Daniels the now mod friendly dealer?

[road race s4]

Personally I would never trust any dealer that says they are mod friendly. At the end of the day its all about the $$$ so they're out to get everyone. Why do you think everyone refers to them as stealerships? The mitsu guys call them Satan.

Technically they could void your warranty and deny your claim because your aftermarket mods are somewhat related to your engine. If you had a sway bar or rims they can't say those fucked up your pistons and your rings. But with the flash/intake/diveter valve they can say it had something to do with it? Can you still prove them wrong? Sure. Just make sure you do a lot of research so see what others have done in your situation or lawyer up and go from there.

[SLOWLANE]

Shitty situation to be in. The dealer is always going to find a way out of the honoring a warranty if they can. They are in a business to make money and blaming modifications is the easiest way to relieve them of fixing your car. I know a couple of people who have had their warranty voided in similar instances for mods. One guy in NJ had engine issues with his B6 S4 and they voided his warranty because he put on an R8 oil cap! How much bullshit is that??

Tough call because a lot of people want to mod their cars while under warranty, but have to deal with this headache when issues go wrong. I always keep stock parts in case i need to honor something big on my warranty.

[Leo14]

Personally I would never trust any dealer that says they are mod friendly. At the end of the day its all about the $$$ so they're out to get everyone. Why do you think everyone refers to them as stealerships? The mitsu guys call them Satan.

Technically they could void your warranty and deny your claim because your aftermarket mods are somewhat related to your engine. If you had a sway bar or rims they can't say those fucked up your pistons and your rings. But with the flash/intake/diveter valve they can say it had something to do with it? Can you still prove them wrong? Sure. Just make sure you do a lot of research so see what others have done in your situation or lawyer up and go from there.

True true.. Yeah I know, they can in every way void it but they need to show me proof the mods caused the pistons to fail. Magnuson Warranty act. Might have to lawyer up though as I'm sure they could do more about this situation than some 18 year old lol...

Shitty situation to be in. The dealer is always going to find a way out of the honoring a warranty if they can. They are in a business to make money and blaming modifications is the easiest way to relieve them of fixing your car. I know a couple of people who have had their warranty voided in similar instances for mods. One guy in NJ had engine issues with his B6 S4 and they voided his warranty because he put on an R8 oil cap! How much bullshit is that??

Tough call because a lot of people want to mod their cars while under warranty, but have to deal with this headache when issues go wrong. I always keep stock parts in case i need to honor something big on my warranty.

Yeah I know, and thats what bugs me so much.. it is still part of the job though..
WHAT!? For an oil cap!? And he didn't get it done through warranty after that? Thats such bullshit

I have stock parts too.. guess I should have put them on before I brought the car in, but that would have been such a bitch and a half :(


Anyways.. Picking the car up today, going to ask if they checked that my modifications fucked my rings and they will prob say no and say they don't have to.. oh well, will try to lawyer up from here. AoA didn't help after the dealership lied to them saying I was "heavily" modified

[Leo14]

I think my DV may be getting stuck now.. great.. makes the same noises it did when the clip wasn't connected, but it's connected. When I rev it sounds like the dv is getting stuck (I've never heard what a stuck DV sounds like)

*edit* not really sure if my dv is messed up or what, power loss is possibly from my piston rings going? Can't figure out the sound though.. on a positive note, just spoke to Franklin (has always been very nice and helpful) and said he wishes they could do the work for me since they get paid fully by AoA.. but once AoA heard modifications, they said to not do the work. Gathering service records etc and going to call/email AoA and try to sort this out! :D

2nd edit.. called town motors back, either they are lying to me or AoA because they said in person and over the phone they would like to do the work but AoA said no, but AoA told me it was a joint agreement between the dealership and them to not do the work because of modifications.. I guess it is to late for me, modifications are done and they know.. they said my modifications sped up the oil consumption test, and yeah.. Fuck. Parents were right, shouldn't have touched the car.


My last idea is to A. Go to a shop, have them check it out see if the modifications caused pistons to fail or lawyer up

[Unleaded20T]

Bring all the paperwork and service records from all the visits you made with the oil consumption issue prior to the modifications to a lawyer and let him sort it out for you.

[Coderedpl]

They have to actually prove it. They can't just say this and that and just walk away from it, they just don't think anybody will take it as far as lawyer'ing up.
I had similar issue with my Porsche brakes and CV boot, a fucking 2 year old would know that.

[Leo14]

Bring all the paperwork and service records from all the visits you made with the oil consumption issue prior to the modifications to a lawyer and let him sort it out for you.

Thats what I've been wanting to do! But I'm still trying to get it checked out and see if it is actually the piston rings, I just have a funny feeling idk.. If, by some reason, it isn't the rings and is turbo related, can I do anything? Since they would have been lying if this happens.. or will they just turn it around on me and be like well your tune, dv and intake probably caused it.

[Leo14]

Dropped it off at Caste System Performance today.. having it checked out, compression test, etc.. will post back once I hear from the shop.

[Coderedpl]

Dropped it off at Caste System Performance today.. having it checked out, compression test, etc.. will post back once I hear from the shop.

Keep us updated!

[Leo14]

Picked it up a few hours ago, he found oil in my driver side intercooler, ran a compression test said everything was fine #'s were around 200 or something like that, some gunk around the pistons though.. he wasn't sure, possibly carbon???????? He also stated that he saw some oil near the intake/turbo side, going to get this all on paper and give AoA a call and than go from there.

Oh yeah, he said PCV again as theres a newer revision that I don't have.. took the cap off with it running, misfires/shakes etc.. the usual signs of a PCV going. Guess these stupid f*cking PCV's don't last even a year. Quick question regarding warranty, even though my warranty was voided and they wouldn't do the piston rings, you guys think I have some leverage here?

[Leo14]

First I would like to thank Stokes, because without him. None of this would have happened.
Dropped it off yesterday at Jack Daniels in upper saddle river and they told me..
HPFP, LPFP, cam follower, camshafts, intake flap motor, breather valve(pcv), misfiring, and there is more that I can't remember. Now for the big question... is it covered? Yes :D besides deductible and some fancy filter. I don't care about that though =P Ahh finally some good news! I'll post back with a formal report when I get her back.

[kristokes]

I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

[sfdxsm]

Interested in hearing the end story. Jack Daniels is a little bit of a hike but if they are mod friendly, I might consider them for work if I start modding.

[Leo14]

Interested in hearing the end story. Jack Daniels is a little bit of a hike but if they are mod friendly, I might consider them for work if I start modding.

Mmmm they first few things they asked me were what modifications were done, as long as they dont cause the problem/cant prove it, your good.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

[Rodmar]

Man after reading the first post I was getting worried for ya LOL.

[Coderedpl]

Mmmm they first few things they asked me were what modifications were done, as long as they dont cause the problem/cant prove it, your good.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

Key words.

[Leo14]

Man after reading the first post I was getting worried for ya LOL.

Haha thanks man, theres still the worry though that my piston rings still need to be replaced, but I can only hope that all this fixes my issues! :D

And yes, thank you for pointing that out Piotr.. they NEED TO PROVE that your modifications caused said problem. On paper

[Leo14]

Got it back yesterday, will post what they fixed later


Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

[Leo14]

5 Page invoice, heres what they did.. btw everything was covered under warranty besides the fuel filter =P

Before I brought the car in, CEL was flashing upon startup/stalled. Fuel pump failed, GFF/Guided Functions (?) Fuel lines replaced, entire camshaft/cam follower, oil change, oil leaking from crankcase breather valve (replaced) Lock carrier loosen + Fasten, oil change, HPFP, fuel unit(?) 1 8E0-919-051-CN. Filterelem, intake flap motor, pressure regulating valve.

Theres a bunch more stuff on here, if needed I can edit this post with pictures of the invoice. Changed spark plugs today as well, seems to be running fine, doing a follow up with JD. Reporting back to them after 1000 miles or min oil light.

[kristokes]

I'm glad everything worked out for you, Leo

When you get a chance, post up the invoice with details of the work they did. Be sure to blur out your personal information though.

[Leo14]

Invoice

[Ryan516]

The outcome of your situation is pretty epic. Im glad you were able to sort everything out with minimal money out of your pocket.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk

[Leo14]

The outcome of your situation is pretty epic. Im glad you were able to sort everything out with minimal money out of your pocket.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk

Yeah it is! Thank you! It was a crazy ride they took me for.. but on to newer and better things now.