A4 Avant 1.9TDI Sport - Warranty or not to Warranty?

[jackreacher]

Hi - my first post so pls be patient!

I have just purchased an A4 Avant 1.9 TDI Sport (s line - couldn't resist!) from an independent VW/Audi dealer in Derby. The car has 68k on the clock and the dealership are servicing and MOT'ing the car. As the cambelt was due a change they have even done that... although they did not do the water pump or the other belts (sorry, not sure if there is one or more than one?) in that area. The Service manager told me they inspected the water pump and the belts and they 'looked fine'.

Anyway, they are supplying the car with a 3 month warranty as standard (free of charge) but I am able to purchase an additional 12 months warranty (to give me 15 months in total) for just shy of £170. The question is do you think its worth it??? I will only be doing about 10-12k miles in the coming year.

For info the warranty only covers failure or burn out of parts as opposed to any wear and tear - so the question is what major parts might fail in the next 15 months?

[Dozz]

Is it worth it hmmmmm just remember they don't cover wear and tear items. I just managed to squeeze some cash out of one company for a faulty gearbox but that was down to a mechanical failure if it had been the plates in the box which had gone I would of got zip. They then only paid up to the claim limit 500 quid price for fully recon auto box 1700 quid!!! I really only got a successful claim because the company I used are also recommend by the warranty company. Sometimes they send down a accessor to look at the damage which in turns you could be waiting weeks to get your car back. Stick the money in the bank in case anything goes wrong

Oh sometimes they have really silly servicing rules like you must change the oil every 4k even on normal servicing and not long life will get really expensive

[RickT]

Hi - my first post so pls be patient!

I have just purchased an A4 Avant 1.9 TDI Sport (s line - couldn't resist!) from an independent VW/Audi dealer in Derby. The car has 68k on the clock and the dealership are servicing and MOT'ing the car. As the cambelt was due a change they have even done that... although they did not do the water pump or the other belts (sorry, not sure if there is one or more than one?) in that area. The Service manager told me they inspected the water pump and the belts and they 'looked fine'.

Anyway, they are supplying the car with a 3 month warranty as standard (free of charge) but I am able to purchase an additional 12 months warranty (to give me 15 months in total) for just shy of £170. The question is do you think its worth it??? I will only be doing about 10-12k miles in the coming year.

For info the warranty only covers failure or burn out of parts as opposed to any wear and tear - so the question is what major parts might fail in the next 15 months?

Hi mate,

word of advice from experience,

The water HAS to be changed, these water pumps fail and will not last until the next cam belt is due..

The pumps only cost £30 ish and its a 5 hour job to fit.. so while its in bits you may as well get them to change everything.

Have a read of the issues i had on the below thread and the hassle.. ie having to take the front end of the car off...

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...?t=5913&page=5


RickT

[jackreacher]

Hmmmmmm... I told them on the phone to replace the water pump but they didn't listen!

Sounds like I should get the warranty, then if the water pump fails in the next 15 months/ 10k miles they are on the hook to sort it out... I think!

Cheers for the advice anyway!

Z.

[nickynibbles]

Hmmmmmm... I told them on the phone to replace the water pump but they didn't listen!

Sounds like I should get the warranty, then if the water pump fails in the next 15 months/ 10k miles they are on the hook to sort it out... I think!

Cheers for the advice anyway!

Z.

I'd get them to put in writing in which case that the pump wasnt changed because in their view it didnt need it. If it does fail within the warranty period then at least you've got the dealership as witness that the pump was fine when you bought the car & thus couldnt be wear & tear that caused the pump to break.

[Dave Avant]

And maybe they might change it as for £30 they might not chance it coming back.

TBH not changing the auxillary belts, water pump and tensioner seems a bit like a cheap job which thye don't want to pay extra for - how do they know it looks fine? Took it out and inspected the bearing - I don't think so. If the dealers change the tensioner and pump when they do a cambelt change then I would use that as good rule of thumb that it does need changing.

Also have a read of the warranty - some have limits and some won't pay labour or vice versa and some won't pay for wear and tear parts like clutches unless they have broke, which wear is more likely.

[jetset]

If you decide to go for a warranty...

Before getting the dealership's warranty, have a look around to see what other warranties are available. Quite alot available online. I have heard that Warranty Direct are pretty competitive and good.

No, I don't work for them.

[jackreacher]

Ok thanks for the replies.

In the end I decided.... NOT to go for the extended warranty.

So I just get the dealers standard 3 months warranty (again only for failure, not wear and tear) and also capped at £500. So watch this forum for any major problems... in fact I have a clutch question... time for a new thread!

[thepup100]

Hi Jackreacher,

Was just wondering how the car has been - looking at test driving the same car today (84k miles on a 54 plate).... Never owned an Audi / Diesel before... any advice / recommendations?

thanks.

[GeorgeE]

Hmm, looks like Jackreacher hasn't posted on here for about 5.5 years so you may be waiting a long time for him to answer - quite an old thread to dig up!