£10k gbox bill on 4yr old Audi. Was it ever fit for purpose?
Discussion
Guys, thanks for the comments. The Audi tech did suggest that this type of modification is unlikely to create the fault in the box, but was unwilling to comment whether Audi UK would hang their hat on the you've modded it, your problem.
The S Tronic I believe is a DSG form and I don't know about the actual torque figure increase. When it was remapped I did ask for a 'mild map' that basically just massaged a little more from the car.
One point to note it, the guy I have doing my maps used to advertise in Glasgow Audi, the sales desks had flyers for his services to re-map your brand new Audi pruchased from them! The conversation I had with the sales team was about warranty and apparently (and at the time...) the remap wouldn't affect the warranty of the vehicle. I assume this is no longer the case.
At the point of purchase and map-work, I felt the reward was worth the 'limited' risk. I'm not a gambling man and from this experience it's not a career choice I'm about to divert towards.
On another point about the timescales, I did get a new engine (£1,600) and gearbox (£2,100) through warranty on my bike, which was 15months out of warranty, by those most excellent guys at Allan Jefferies in Shipley. My part of the bill was 20% of the labour. Which worked out at £230 for £6k worth of work. The bike was standard other than a sports exhaust. (I must add, the central scotland dealers had refused to take this case up for me, Shipley guys were a life saver experience for me)
I am presently waiting the dealer getting back to me, as apparently these guys are empowered totally on goodwill.
The S Tronic I believe is a DSG form and I don't know about the actual torque figure increase. When it was remapped I did ask for a 'mild map' that basically just massaged a little more from the car.
One point to note it, the guy I have doing my maps used to advertise in Glasgow Audi, the sales desks had flyers for his services to re-map your brand new Audi pruchased from them! The conversation I had with the sales team was about warranty and apparently (and at the time...) the remap wouldn't affect the warranty of the vehicle. I assume this is no longer the case.
At the point of purchase and map-work, I felt the reward was worth the 'limited' risk. I'm not a gambling man and from this experience it's not a career choice I'm about to divert towards.
On another point about the timescales, I did get a new engine (£1,600) and gearbox (£2,100) through warranty on my bike, which was 15months out of warranty, by those most excellent guys at Allan Jefferies in Shipley. My part of the bill was 20% of the labour. Which worked out at £230 for £6k worth of work. The bike was standard other than a sports exhaust. (I must add, the central scotland dealers had refused to take this case up for me, Shipley guys were a life saver experience for me)
I am presently waiting the dealer getting back to me, as apparently these guys are empowered totally on goodwill.
Do audi know if it's been mapped?
Yes, all Audi's have a 'QR Code' stored in their ECUs, as soon as it's accessed and altered, it's logged. Even if it goes back to standard, they know it's been tampered with.
The car remains drivable, but I will be avoiding city centre parking, plus I don't know if it will get any worse, or simply remain the same for the next 100k miles. It was a car i intended keeping for a while.
Also, yes, the box was perfect in every way, problem only occurred a few weeks after getting the gearbox oil changed. Coincidence or not?, I don't know, but it's the same dealer who has the car just now.
Yes, all Audi's have a 'QR Code' stored in their ECUs, as soon as it's accessed and altered, it's logged. Even if it goes back to standard, they know it's been tampered with.
The car remains drivable, but I will be avoiding city centre parking, plus I don't know if it will get any worse, or simply remain the same for the next 100k miles. It was a car i intended keeping for a while.
Also, yes, the box was perfect in every way, problem only occurred a few weeks after getting the gearbox oil changed. Coincidence or not?, I don't know, but it's the same dealer who has the car just now.
CraigT007 said:
Do audi know if it's been mapped?
I don't know, but it's the same dealer who has the car just now.
I can guess where it is! Part of the same group as Stirling and Edinburgh. Had poor experience with them very recently on a warranty and servicing issue with a RS3. I went to Perth after that (who is independent) and found them to be much more knowledgeable /helpful. They sorted out stuff misssed by the other lot and got the issue dealt with by warranty no bother.I don't know, but it's the same dealer who has the car just now.
I suggest a 2nd opinion outwith the one (or other 2) dealer networks in the central belt.
CraigT007 said:
Also, yes, the box was perfect in every way, problem only occurred a few weeks after getting the gearbox oil changed. Coincidence or not?, I don't know, but it's the same dealer who has the car just now.
Maybe, maybe not. I'd certainly be looking into it as a potential cause. Ask around on a dedicated Audi forum if anyone else has had a similar problem after having had the transmission oil changed. There are different grades of oil that can be used on the Audi gearboxes. A friend with an S4 had knocking at low speeds and was told that the gearbox oil should be changed. There were two option...
£75 standard oil from Audi
£500 for R8 Oil that would potentially stop knocks!
Take it to an indy and ask about changing the oil again. £100 max I would say. Car must be level!!!
£75 standard oil from Audi
£500 for R8 Oil that would potentially stop knocks!
Take it to an indy and ask about changing the oil again. £100 max I would say. Car must be level!!!
In response to the question in the thread title I would say that it was probably fit for purpose right up until you decided that you knew better than VAG what the torque limits of the box were 
As others have said, you're pissing in the wind if you expect any goodwill from Audi. It's quite probable that the extra torque from the remap at the very least hastened the demise of the gearbox, and in any case it gives them an iron clad reason to keep their wallet shut.
As others have said, you're pissing in the wind if you expect any goodwill from Audi. It's quite probable that the extra torque from the remap at the very least hastened the demise of the gearbox, and in any case it gives them an iron clad reason to keep their wallet shut.
No chance of good will. Audi will just say the map made unspecified and unwarrantable changes to their known good & proven settings and that will be that.
The map is very unlikely to have done any damage to the gearbox, but the fact that ECU settings could run components past their tolerances is all Audi will need to deny any goodwill.
The map is very unlikely to have done any damage to the gearbox, but the fact that ECU settings could run components past their tolerances is all Audi will need to deny any goodwill.
CraigT007 said:
One point to note it, the guy I have doing my maps used to advertise in Glasgow Audi, the sales desks had flyers for his services to re-map your brand new Audi pruchased from them! The conversation I had with the sales team was about warranty and apparently (and at the time...) the remap wouldn't affect the warranty of the vehicle. I assume this is no longer the case.
This sort of thing comes up pretty often...Manufacturer warranties on new cars have legal protections. A manufacturer can't disclaim warranty on a car because of modifications, unless they can prove the modifications directly caused the fault. They also can't (currently - who knows post-Brexit) insist you use them for servicing (see block exemptions).
Extended warranties are a whole other kettle of fish. Typically these are insurance contracts underwritten by a third-party even if they are brokered by the manufacturer. These warranties typically have much more onerous terms (because they can) which certainly would invalidate cover for modifications. The difference here is that this is a contract you're signed up to willfully - so if you break the terms that's on you.
The point here is that Audi could advertise mapping services for brand new cars because they don't have a choice about dealing with remapped cars under new car warranties, though they're still likely to try and blame the modifications for a failure where possible.
I'd be confirming that it had the correct oil and to the correct level before committing to any remedial work. (Even to the extent of having it drained/refilled by someone you can trust).
A friend of mine has a Jag and ended up with the same symptoms after changing his gearbox oil - he went to great lengths (and expense) to get the right oil but screwed up on the refill/level check process. It was fine for a short while then rapidly deteriorated.
He got it back on the ramp, filled it to the correct level (it's a complex, messy procedure) and the car is fine now.
I know the 'boxes are completely different - however, it's always worth checking the simple (cheap) things first before replacing major components.
It's unlikely that the whole box is beyond repair - that's just what Audi would do.
A friend of mine has a Jag and ended up with the same symptoms after changing his gearbox oil - he went to great lengths (and expense) to get the right oil but screwed up on the refill/level check process. It was fine for a short while then rapidly deteriorated.
He got it back on the ramp, filled it to the correct level (it's a complex, messy procedure) and the car is fine now.
I know the 'boxes are completely different - however, it's always worth checking the simple (cheap) things first before replacing major components.
It's unlikely that the whole box is beyond repair - that's just what Audi would do.
Agent XXX said:
Must be that excellent German superior quality and reliability that people go on about.
Very reasonable repair prices too.
Another superbly balanced contribution after that recent classic:Very reasonable repair prices too.
Agent XXX said:
People that think german cars are of a 'superior quality' to others are deluded t*ats
My experience from the past is this dealership were no help what so ever on injector and HP fuel pump failures on my A4 a few years back. I done all the leg work with Audi UK and eventually got a form of goodwill, both were known faults across the range although the car was just out of warranty by months.
I started using Perth Audi - Glasgow Audi is under a 10min drive for myself - and they were great. Part of the cameron group and couldn't do enough.
I suggest you push for the goodwill yourself as the dealer won't assist, theis is only my opinion based on previous experience where they didn't fight my corner.
good luck
I started using Perth Audi - Glasgow Audi is under a 10min drive for myself - and they were great. Part of the cameron group and couldn't do enough.
I suggest you push for the goodwill yourself as the dealer won't assist, theis is only my opinion based on previous experience where they didn't fight my corner.
good luck
Edited by CSK423 on Friday 17th February 13:00
nickfrog said:
Agent XXX said:
Must be that excellent German superior quality and reliability that people go on about.
Very reasonable repair prices too.
Another superbly balanced contribution after that recent classic:Very reasonable repair prices too.
Agent XXX said:
People that think german cars are of a 'superior quality' to others are deluded t*ats
CSK423 said:
My experience from the past is this dealership were no help what so ever on injector and HP fuel pump failures on my A4 a few years back. I done all the leg work with Audi UK and eventually got a form of goodwill, both were known faults across the range although the car was just out of warranty by months.
I started using Perth Audi - Glasgow Audi is under a 10min drive for myself - and they were great. Part of the cameron group and couldn't do enough.
I suggest you push for the goodwill yourself as the dealer won't assist, theis is only my opinion based on previous experience where they didn't fight my corner.
good luck
You, me and a few others I know. It's Perth for me every time now!I started using Perth Audi - Glasgow Audi is under a 10min drive for myself - and they were great. Part of the cameron group and couldn't do enough.
I suggest you push for the goodwill yourself as the dealer won't assist, theis is only my opinion based on previous experience where they didn't fight my corner.
good luck
Edited by CSK423 on Friday 17th February 13:00
I woudn't put it past them to have filled the gearbox with the wrong oil - really!
Edited by Nors on Friday 17th February 13:10
jhonn said:
I'd be confirming that it had the correct oil and to the correct level before committing to any remedial work. (Even to the extent of having it drained/refilled by someone you can trust).
Agreed, i think i read that the DSG box requires several top ups at varying temperatures over a period of time to get right so a quick drain and refill wouldn't be right. Cupramax said:
The 3.0tdi is the highest torque engine that Stronic gearbox gets fitted to, and youve remapped it to more. Audi fit the 8 speed ZF torque converter auto to the BiTdi (next more powerful engine) for a reason apparently...
Auto boxes have a max' torque rating for normal service life. Remap probably gave increased torque (why else would you remap?) and shortened that lifespan.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff