Last week, I asked for (and got) tips on how to overcome a problem getting a radiator for my 99.5 A4. Still no luck. To make things worse, Audi can't seem to figure out where my red-order has disappeared to. They refuse to make another shipment and have no idea when I'll get the part. This is maddening. Anyone got a route to the top? Surely Audi can't care this little for their customers? Can they?

I can't imagine why they don't have 100 A4's worth of parts in stock in the US? When it drops to say 50% reorder.....it doesn't take a rocket scientist(and quite a few are in Germany) to understand that this will work and keep customers happy. The Japs have this area to themselves. They will get any part to you in less tha 7 days max!

Well enough bashing...hope you get your radiator soon...tell the dealer to take it out of a new A4 !

I work for an Audi dealer. I feel your pain. Audi makes a hell of a car. However they tend to drag their feet when it comes to supplying parts. We had a part on Red Order ourself. It was a frame rail for a crash job. The body shop waited a month. Audi dropped the order. The shops customer accrued a $2,000 rental car bill waiting for their car to be repaired. Currently Audi has front brake rotors on back order (several months). We had to source outside suppliers for rotors. Whenever our manager calls Audi to inquire about backorders (or any part question) he is placed on hold. He has sat on hold for periods of an hour at a time. He recently attended a meeting and brought phone bills stating the time spent "comunicating" with Audi. Whenever I take an order for crash parts on current model Audis I cringe. I know something will be on backorder. Then I get the dirty job of having to explain the eternity the customer will have to wait for their part. Let us not mention radios. They fail all the time. Guess what? Backordered!
I would reccomend you call Audi customer assistance. The squeeky wheel gets the oil. Voice your opinion to them. You will get attention.
For ten years we handled SAAB. Unfortunately our owner gave up the franchise to build up Audi. SAAB has it all over Audi when it comes supplying parts.

Mike Stone
Audi dealer employee by day.
SAAB repair specialist and staunch SAAB owner

Hi Mike:
I read some of your messages on Saabnet recently on Audi vs Saab posts or whosoever but I am doubt some of your thoughts on Audi's parts delivery and stocks in warehouses.
My parents owned a 92 Saab 900S 16V in Canada (R.I.P) and they still own the 88 900i 8V, what I discovered with Saab's parts system is pretty disappointing in my area when I helped them bring the 900S into some pricey maintenance services.
We got 1 airbag warning light on, 3 check engine light on, 1 oil leaking & 1 wiring harnesses burned out at the rear tailights for the last year of the ownership before my sister R.I.P the car (1997-1998) after the car was out of warranty.
We have to wait....wait....wait....wait....wait....a long....long....long times before the parts reached the dealership and we can return that "wonderful" Saturn SL1 loaner. Mostly one to two months of wait.
The most horrible time was when the service advisor told the mechanics put the old airbag switch on in order to let us take delivery of the car because he "thinks" we don't care of the airbag light. The next day after installation my sister involved in a head-on accident with a Ford Tempo coupe. Luckily, she survived even though the airbag light kept going on and airbag deployed as usual. What if the airbag didn't deployed because of that airbag switch? My sister will be R.I.P as that car! Saab will have to take a big responsibility if anything happened with my sister and the result will be worsen than Audi's innocent unintentional acceleration decade ago!
What about current Volkswagen and Audi? My Jetta had a couple of rattling cupholders for the last few months and the dealer had the parts after a week. Same story when my A4 replaced a broken ashtray at the rear.
I don't want to start my Audi has better parts distribution than your Saab but I want to clarify to the Audi owners here that all Audi service are slow to response to parts, also not all Saab has all the "necessary" parts ready to install like the very important airbag switch.
Thanks of venting!
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0
00 NEW BEETLE GLS 2.0 OR TDI <-DECIDING
98.5 A4 1.8TQAS WETTED

...such parts for the A4 yet. I get most of the parts for my 90Q from Europarts or from whoever supplies my independent mechanic, because the dealer usually doesn't have what I need, and when they get it, it's twice as expensive. Places like Europarts carry factory parts; not cheapo replacements. Might be worth a try if you get really desperate, but getting Audi to pay for it may be a different story.

Infact, just Thursday, I called Europarts (619-451-0020) in need of a Differential Pressure Regulator (Bosch fuel injection part). Dealer wanted $356 for one, and Europarts had it for $171. Guess what arrived today? The correct, and new genuine Bosch part at my doorstep in a matter of a few days for half the price. The cool thing about Europarts is that if they don't have what I need, they will call other parts suppliers and not only try and find the part, but also the best price.

BTW, my understanding is that the OEM manufacturers make plenty of parts. What Audi doesn't buy, is sold to the other parts stores like Europarts. My guess is that your radiator is available from the OEM manufacturer (Beru, maybe), but Audi isn't getting it for you. Good luck! :-)

Charles

PS: Europarts is pretty much (if not entirely) a one man operation. Be patient if you ever call and the line is busy. It's worth it! Steve Schock is very knowledgeable, and a great guy.<ul><li><a href="http://www.europarts-sd.com/">Europarts</a></li></ul>

Unfortunate accident...

Thanks for your input. I really sympathize with you. I've put my parts mgr and the Audi cust. Service folks through the paces. Audi's response has been pitiful, but like you- my parts guy has been a savior. Parts are supposed to be in tomorrow, so I guess I really got off lucky- even if I don't feel that way. Thanks again, and good luck to you!

I have heared a few horror stories about Canadian SAAB dealers. From what I heared saabs were tied together with Saturn dealers after the 50% GM buyout of SAAB. The service went down hill from there.
No manufacturer is infallable. Lately it seems that Audi has been on the backorder bandwagon. We recently placed a bulk oil filter order. Our supply of 034 115 561 A filters arrived. These fit the 1.8 engine. We still didnot get our order of 078 115 561 D filters. These fit the 2.8 engines. Again my manager waited on hold for an eternity to find out info. Audi has back ordered the 078 115 561D filters. They said that they have a "limited" supply of these filters. Oil filters are the number one fastest moving part in a dealership. How can a manufacturer run low on these.
Back to getting hold of the Audi parts reps. it would be nice to be able to leave a voice mail. SAAB used this method. Most times the rep got back to you within an hour. Our manager has to spend valuable time waitng on hold. Unfortunately I get tired of having to listen to customers who are waiting for parts. It looks bad when you have to tell people that you have no answer as to when you will see their parts. I don't think Audi expected to sell so many cars. Audi has hit a home run with the current line of A series cars. Not to mention the TT. My sister is considering buying a S.U.V. I told her to look at a A4 Quattro. More comfortable, much safer, and better looking. Not to mention I could drive it now and then.

I agree Saab in Canada's service track records are extremely lousy in Canada after GM brought 50% of Saab stocks. Saab has always been a seperate dealership network here in Canada before the early 90s when the services were excellent.
I came from Hong Kong where a place flooded with luxury cars. Saab was one of the best selling luxury brand after Bimmer and Mercedes in the mid-to-late 80s; however, because of poor manufacturer communication with the dealership (I mean in Far East market). Saab's sales is going downhill even the excellent 9-5 couldn't save the brand! :< My dad still driving his old 88 classic 900i 8V over there and still not even a single problem. He is now thinking of getting an Audi TT coupe or A4 2.8QAS over there when the car is getting aged but we all think Saab is a very nice vehicle with lots of characters.
We only hope Saab's aftersales service will be getting improved in my area even though the sales department is first-rate. Maybe I should move somewhere before I start getting a 9-5 Aero wagon!
Tom
97 A4 1.8TQMS
99 JETTA IV GLS 2.0
00 NEW BEETLE GLS 2.0 VS TDI (STILL DECIDING)
98.5 A4 1.8TQAS WETTED