Shameful AUDI franchise behaviour

[adrian11]

If any readers of this have any suggested web forums I can post this on or better still journalist contacts who might consider be willing to publishing this in car magazines I would be very grateful.
Many thanks Adrian Knott adrianknott@akpartnership.co.uk


The details below show what a sham the Audi franchise system is in conjunction with Sytner and AUDI UK not only when it comes to complaints, but also in dealing with the problems with cars they sell to the public. It seems this is another case where AUDI have no power whatsoever over the behaviour of their dealerships and the treatment thereof of the customers buying their cars. This is an example where the actual business owner of an AUDI dealership should have addressed the problem(s) at the outset and settle fairly but instead they are prepared to take the customer all the way to court, only to lose as they hope the customers will give up during this expensive, stressful and time-consuming procedure. I personally was not prepared to be one of these customers and after two years was proved correct and will be getting the car back following a £20,000 bill and legal fees to be paid by Sytner/Audi.
I have given AUDI West London’s owner (Mr. Ray Campbell), Sytner’s MD (Mr.
Gerard Nieuwenhuys), and AUDI UK MD (Mr.Jeremy Hicks) plenty of opportunity in the last two weeks to apologise for their management of the case but have had no reply. I have now decided to try and make my case as public as possible.


MARCH 2003: “APPROVED USED” AUDI RS4 CAR WAS BOUGHT SECOND HAND FOR £36500 FROM WEST LONDON AUDI (25,000 MILES) DECEMBER 2005: BOTH TURBOS BLOW. PROBLEM IS PUT DOWN TO AGE OF CAR AND 70,000 MILES AT THE TIME. COST £2,371 FOR NEW TURBOS

JULY 2006: ONE OF TURBOS BLOWS AGAIN. CAR IS TESTED FOR BOOST LEVELS BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. IT IS FOUND TO BE "RE-MAPPED", RUNNING AT 23psi (25% over standard recommended by turbo manufacturers). AUDI WEST LONDON TAKES CAR BACK. MR RAY CAMPBELL, OWNER WEST LONDON AUDI AGRESSIVELY ACCEPTS NO LIABILITY FOR SELLING ME A "RE-MAPPED" AUDI RS4 ALTHOUGH HE LATER CONFIRMS A “RE-MAPPED” CAR WAS INDEED SOLD TO ME BY THEM.
AUDI WEST LONDON OFFERS TO PUT THE CAR BACK TO A STANDARD RS4 COMPUTER CHIP ONLY.
I PROTEST AND LOOK FOR EXPENSES TO BE REPAID; £3,000 AT TIME. SYTNER EVEN HAS THE AUDACITY TO OFFER ME A TRADE-UP VEHICLE AT A COST TO ME OF £30,000.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2006: MR CAMPBELL SUCCESFULLY PALMS ME OFF AND IGNORES MY CALLS FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILST PROVIDING VARIOUS REPORTS TRYING TO PROVE THE CAR IS FINE WITH INCREASED POWER AND BLAMING THE FAULT ON VARIOUS OTHER NON-RELATED MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. (THESE REPORTS ARE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCREDITED BY INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST.) I COMPLAIN ALL THE WAY TO SYTNER CHAIRMAN / AUDI UK. NO SUCCESS AT ALL.

SEPTEMBER 2006: AFTER THREATENING LEGAL ACTION ON THEM MR CAMPBELL ARRANGES FOR THE CAR TO GET SECOND OPINION AT GUILDFORD AUDI.
OCTOBER 2006: GUILDFORD AUDI SUCCESFULLY BLOWS ENGINE UP WHILST TESTING THE CAR. SYTNER EVEN HAS THE CHEEK TO OFFER TO SELL THE CAR (IN ITS WRITE OFF
STATE) FOR £5000.
MY LAWYERS BECOME INVOLVED AT MY EXPENSE. LAWYERS SUGGEST AN "INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST" REPORT BE OBTAINED; SPORTSTECH, NOTTINGHAM ENTERS NOVEMBER 2006

NOVEMBER 2006: SPORTSTECH INDENTIFIES GUILDFORD AUDI GROUNDED THE CAR WHILST TEST DRIVING AS THERE IS EVIDENCE OF UNDERBODY DAMAGE RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE.
FEBRUARY 2007: MUCH LENGTHY LEGAL PREPARATION ENSUES. LAWYERS ISSUE LITIGATION AGAINST WEST LONDON AUDI AND GUILDFORD AUDI UNDER "CONTRACTUAL BAILMENT". THIS MEANS NOT LOOKING AFTER MY CAR AND ESSENTIALLY SIEZING THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF THEIR LACK OF CARE. (IT HAS BEEN MOOTED BY SEVERAL EXPERTS THAT THIS DAMAGE CAN ONLY HAVE BEEN DONE ON PURPOSE).

SPRING / SUMMER 2007: MUCH DELAY BY SYTNER/WEST LONDON AUDI AND AUDI GUILDFORD’S LAWYERS.
SEPTEMBER 2007: SYTNER AUDI CONCEDES AND ADMITS LIABILITY ON BEHALF OF WEST LONDON/GUILFORD AUDI

OCTOBER 2007: GO AHEAD IS GIVEN TO SPORTSTECH TO REPAIR CAR. NEW ENGINE ORDERED (£14,331; SYTNER PAYS) PLUS (YET-TO-BE-AGREED) COMPENSATION.

AUTUMN 2007: DELIVERY DELAYED FROM AUDI GERMANY - I WAS ADVISED DELIVERY IN OCTOBER 2007 – THE ENGINE WAS FINALLY FITTED IN MARCH 2008.
MARCH 2008: SUBSEQUENT GEARBOX PROBLEMS ENSUE RELATING TO ENGINE SEIZURE.
FURTHER DELAY WITH SYTNER ADMITTING FURTHER LIABIILITY.

JULY 2008: NEW GEARBOX ARRIVES.

AUGUST 2008: WORK HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT AND CAR IS UNDERGOING FINAL COMPLETION CHECKS FOR DELIVERY THIS WEEK.
IT IS NOW OVER 25 MONTHS SINCE WE LAST SAW THE CAR.

[clem750]

Good on ya mate,I went into Newcastle Audi with 25 grand in my jacket and couldnt even get served as they just thought I wasnt good enough.

[LozW]

Well done for persevering. Most people would have given up long before you did. Did you have to buy another car too? I hope the dealer recompenses you for alternative transport too - not to mention the amount of time you must have spent dealing with all this.

[adrian11]

yes hopefully ill get the depreciation of my replacement BMW - 540i also,

[joca]

Very happy you showed them how to treat the customer.
Maybe they will learn the lesson.

[Isoproturon]

Never heard a good word said about Sytner.

You should sue them for the depreciation you have suffered during the time you have not been able to enjoy your car.

What a total and utter disgrace.