Dealer damaged my instrument cluster

[AnthonyA3]

10k and I'm starting to think I should have went with the WRX I was originally going to get. My steering wheel was stuck in the down position so they decided to replace the whole steering column and I got it back looking like this. Waiting to hear what they're going to do but I'm not holding my breath for a fix.

[Mikael]

No picture

[AnthonyA3]

Sorry photobucket is being difficult today

https://flic.kr/p/NxjW1b

https://flic.kr/p/NsM1S8

[diztek]

f*#k that. they have to fix that!!! if not, a call to Audi of Canada would be my next move.

[AnthonyA3]

It's looks worse in pics but if the sun hits it it also very noticeable

[gtg196w]

Good luck. They almost always deny they did it. Super frustrating. Unbelievable, since people don't take their car back and then decide to make some BS up after the fact. Make sure you complain to AoA if they deny. I think the clusters are over $1100 bucks retail...

[KingoftheWok]

The cluster is so prone to scratches. I try to avoid wiping it as much as I can. They may have simply just wiped with a dirty cloth that caused this.

[AnthonyA3]

Well I was expecting a fight but they're ordering a replacement cluster so kudos to them. You would think the tech would have been a little more careful and not left a screwdriver size scratch.

[audinator]

OUCH! Glad to hear they are taking care of it.

[rowlands57]

Seeing this kind of thing reminds me of why I have a hard time spending HUGE money on a car like an R-8 or the like. There is so much time and attention spent on design, build and etc... then you finally get the car of your dreams and bring it in for 'something' to be fixed and this kind of thing happens. Seriously, why are these people so careless? It's as easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that. I have had this kind of issue over the years at MB and BMW as well. They want to sell a premium product, charge a premium price but they just don't deliver on the back end. Sad really and I suspect my current Audi may be my last one much as I do like the vehicles I just cannot stand this kind of crap from the service end of the chain.

[AnthonyA3]

Seeing this kind of thing reminds me of why I have a hard time spending HUGE money on a car like an R-8 or the like. There is so much time and attention spent on design, build and etc... then you finally get the car of your dreams and bring it in for 'something' to be fixed and this kind of thing happens. Seriously, why are these people so careless? It's as easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that. I have had this kind of issue over the years at MB and BMW as well. They want to sell a premium product, charge a premium price but they just don't deliver on the back end. Sad really and I suspect my current Audi may be my last one much as I do like the vehicles I just cannot stand this kind of crap from the service end of the chain.

I was thinking about what if it was a high end Audi like a A7 or A8 would he have been so careless. I'm sure the fact that it was just a "cheap" A3 made him a little more careless when removing the trim around the instrument cluster lol

[diztek]

I'm this close to taking a quick video of my entire car before I hand the service attendant the key.

[S3Danny]

Seeing this kind of thing reminds me of why I have a hard time spending HUGE money on a car like an R-8 or the like. There is so much time and attention spent on design, build and etc... then you finally get the car of your dreams and bring it in for 'something' to be fixed and this kind of thing happens. Seriously, why are these people so careless? It's as easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that. I have had this kind of issue over the years at MB and BMW as well. They want to sell a premium product, charge a premium price but they just don't deliver on the back end. Sad really and I suspect my current Audi may be my last one much as I do like the vehicles I just cannot stand this kind of crap from the service end of the chain.

In my experience, dealer techs are barely a step above the techs working at Jiffy Lube. Quality independant shops seem to be much more above grade. Too many people buy into the perception that the dealer sells them and fail to realize that behind the "premium" branding, is just a garage like anywhere else.

[AnthonyA3]

In my experience, dealer techs are barely a step above the techs working at Jiffy Lube. Quality independant shops seem to be much more above grade. Too many people buy into the perception that the dealer sells them and fail to realize that behind the "premium" branding, is just a garage like anywhere else.

I totally agree with this. If it wasn't for warranty work they wouldn't have touched my car. Quality reputable garages that have the actual owner working on your car is hands down your best bet. Unfortunately warranty works means you hope they use lube when they f*** you.

[Cairo94507]

Every time I take one of my cars in for service I always insist the service adviser walk around the car with me to check it out and see there is no damage, dings, dents, scratches, missing parts, etc.

I took a 993 coupe we bought new in for a 15K service and when I went to pick it up from our selling dealership, they had crushed the rear valance in by parking it backwards into a stall and hitting the cement parking stop. They denied they did it, despite the service adviser saying he looked at the car that morning and did not notice any damage. Took me 2 weeks of fighting with the dealership before they stepped up and paid to have it repaired at the shop of my choice. Almost $3K worth of damage. These people are no different than any other shop despite working on relatively more expensive cars.

On another car, a brand new black Acura CL Type S, back in 2000, the dealership smashed the left rear corner of the bumper in while in their shop. Had to fight with them for almost 1 week and they finally pulled a brand new bumper off one of their unsold cars and put it on my car.

The moral of the story, always make them walk the car with you and note any damage. Upon picking up your car, inspect it carefully before you drive off.

[Blaine]

Seeing this kind of thing reminds me of why I have a hard time spending HUGE money on a car like an R-8 or the like. There is so much time and attention spent on design, build and etc... then you finally get the car of your dreams and bring it in for 'something' to be fixed and this kind of thing happens. Seriously, why are these people so careless? It's as easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that. I have had this kind of issue over the years at MB and BMW as well. They want to sell a premium product, charge a premium price but they just don't deliver on the back end. Sad really and I suspect my current Audi may be my last one much as I do like the vehicles I just cannot stand this kind of crap from the service end of the chain.

^ Reason #1 I'm done with expensive new car purchases. No more warranty or repair drama.

My next build is going to be a Custom 1969 Mustang Boss 429 replica with a 460 stoked to 521 with Jon Kausse heads. I'll keep the paid off S3 for a DD til it falls apart. No more car payments for me.

[rowlands57]

^ Reason #1 I'm done with expensive new car purchases. No more warranty or repair drama.

My next build is going to be a Custom 1969 Mustang Boss 429 replica with a 460 stoked to 521 with Jon Kausse heads. I'll keep the paid off S3 for a DD til it falls apart. No more car payments for me.

That is a brilliant idea for a 'fun car'. I see cars like that often on the auto TV channels but never considered on before. Thanks for planting that seed.

[Surf2602]

I'm this close to taking a quick video of my entire car before I hand the service attendant the key.

Huntington Audi on long island walks around with an iPad taking pictures of the whole car when you drop it off for service. They should all do that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TomPaul10]

Seeing this kind of thing reminds me of why I have a hard time spending HUGE money on a car like an R-8 or the like. There is so much time and attention spent on design, build and etc... then you finally get the car of your dreams and bring it in for 'something' to be fixed and this kind of thing happens. Seriously, why are these people so careless? It's as easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that. I have had this kind of issue over the years at MB and BMW as well. They want to sell a premium product, charge a premium price but they just don't deliver on the back end. Sad really and I suspect my current Audi may be my last one much as I do like the vehicles I just cannot stand this kind of crap from the service end of the chain.

they aren't careless. the techs are super efficient, and frankly the comment of " its easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that" is obnoxious to me because I work with these techs and they work extremely hard; some jobs that need to be done definitely require other things to be damaged at their exposal, but i do agree with no means they should have left it like that. bring it back and talk to the parts and service manager. and the last thing is be a douche, it never works out in your favor. But for some odd reason you do get stiffed then thats when you get aggressive with them and contact the Rep or AoA,

[AnthonyA3]

they aren't careless. the techs are super efficient, and frankly the comment of " its easy to do the job right as it is to make a mess like that" is obnoxious to me because I work with these techs and they work extremely hard; some jobs that need to be done definitely require other things to be damaged at their exposal, but i do agree with no means they should have left it like that. bring it back and talk to the parts and service manager. and the last thing is be a douche, it never works out in your favor. But for some odd reason you do get stiffed then thats when you get aggressive with them and contact the Rep or AoA,

The SA said it was the cleaners that caused the damage. At least according to the tech that's what happened........

[nothome17]

Have to be careful with at any shops. Brought my to the dealership, I wanted a transmission sensor replaced on my 2008 TL Type S. (The 3rd gear had 2 sensors). I requested that I would like to keep the old sensor and good thing I did. When I got the car back, they only gave me 1 sensor. So I asked them how many sensor's they replaced and they said only 1.

[forbiddenbeat]

In my experience, the techs are usually decent - it's the SA's that suck. I had my car in yesterday, and the SA next to me told a customer he had to replace rotors if they were replacing brake pads (a complete lie). My SA told me my creaky door seals were "breaking in" and the noise would go away at 15k miles (it won't - they should have lubed them).

[AnthonyA3]

At this point I just want my car back lol. I've been stuck driving a Q3 and now they gave me a B9 which is like driving a tank, terrible car.

[diztek]

At this point I just want my car back lol. I've been stuck driving a Q3 and now they gave me a B9 which is like driving a tank, terrible car.

how long have they had your car?

[AnthonyA3]

how long have they had your car?

It's been in the shop 4 times for for four full days since I got it in August. Got it back today but it's going back. They tried to fix it by buffing it out. When the sun hits it I can still see it. New cluster was ordered but it will take two weeks to get here from Germany's. I actually left with the car because I thought they fixed it but as soon as I opened the windows and the sun hit the cluster it was all still there.

[jiannu]

It's been in the shop 4 times for for four full days since I got it in August. Got it back today but it's going back. They tried to fix it by buffing it out. When the sun hits it I can still see it. New cluster was ordered but it will take two weeks to get here from Germany's. I actually left with the car because I thought they fixed it but as soon as I opened the windows and the sun hit the cluster it was all still there.

for your trouble I would have asked for the 3d cluster....lol


just curious which dealer? .......so I never go there!

[AnthonyA3]

for your trouble I would have asked for the 3d cluster....lol


just curious which dealer? .......so I never go there!

Haha ya no kidding. I'd rather not name and shame because it's 5 min from my house and I'm planning on getting a tune soon.... Just in case. They've been good about it but not so good because of the damage and that they should have just straight away replaced it.

One good thing that came out of all this is that I got extended test drives with the two cars I was thinking about replacing my wifes car with next year. The Q3 and B9 were both terrible in my opinion. Hopefully when they redo the Q3 in 2018 they use the TFSI from my A3 and change the God awful interior. The B9 was comfortable as hell but I felt 50 driving it.

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[tekmo]

which dealership in Toronto did that?

[TomPaul10]

The SA said it was the cleaners that caused the damage. At least according to the tech that's what happened........

THIS this this. They are careless, and the microfibers and rags are used improperly and they create swirls right of the bat see it time and time again when I was working their.

when I bought my car their, they cleaned it; went to lunch came outside and just admired the new car and saw swirls created and 3 micro scratches on left side of rear wheel well.

My money is on the cleaning dudes went to town with a microfiber or some sort on the cluster. SO unfortunate

[jpy1980]

10k and I'm starting to think I should have went with the WRX I was originally going to get. My steering wheel was stuck in the down position so they decided to replace the whole steering column and I got it back looking like this. Waiting to hear what they're going to do but I'm not holding my breath for a fix.

I came from a 2015 WRX. Had issues with that car along with some dealer issues as well. All cars and dealerships will have issues.

I had an idle issue with my WRX and went to the dealer 4 times to fix it. They kept attempting to fix it till they said it was normal. Was going to lemon law it till I tuned it and from there it was fixed, fast and fun.

Then my wife didn't like that I had a tuned boy racer WRX, so I got the s3.

I do miss shifting myself but the overall ride and quality is eons better in the s3. Plus with my Eurodyne tune in my s3, its soooooooooo fast. Haha

Stick with your Audi, you're not missing out. You did well.

[AnthonyA3]

I came from a 2015 WRX. Had issues with that car along with some dealer issues as well. All cars and dealerships will have issues.

I had an idle issue with my WRX and went to the dealer 4 times to fix it. They kept attempting to fix it till they said it was normal. Was going to lemon law it till I tuned it and from there it was fixed, fast and fun.

Then my wife didn't like that I had a tuned boy racer WRX, so I got the s3.

I do miss shifting myself but the overall ride and quality is eons better in the s3. Plus with my Eurodyne tune in my s3, its soooooooooo fast. Haha

Stick with your Audi, you're not missing out. You did well.

Haha thanks. I love my A3 it's just been in the shop too much so far. Ya my wife kinda also vetoed the WRX because of the rocket boy looks lol