Wow, the double edge sword of low ground clearance. This weekend, in Tahoe, apparently I ran over a stick or a pine cone. Regardless, the entire plastic sound deadener/undercarriage guard was RIPPED CLEAN OFF. Yanked the left side wheel well guard off with it and most of the right side as well.

Anyone had similar problems? Think Audi of America will cover this?

thoughts appreciated.
Thanks,
Twain

Apparent oil leak from oil pan. Dealer takes a look and says their is a small dent and fracture in teh oil pan. I have not driven over anything, nor has anyone driven my car.

Oh yeah, dealer says this is a road hazard and won't be covered under warranty. ($350 to replace the pan...I know they reamed me..just glad to have car back)

Now here is the phenomena. There is a plastic oil pan cover that is like new - it covers the damn oil pan. Not a scratch on the *amn thing..but I was hit with something with enough force to dent the oil pan and create a slight hairline fracture through the like new plastic(the dent, is virtually imperceptible... must be less than 1/10 of a milimeter or less)

Service mgrsays "All I can tell is what I know and see". I ask to fathom what could have happened in light of the plastic shroud being untouched... and he says he doesn't know, "its very unusual, when i've seen this before, the plastic shroud is ripped to pieces and the oil pan is gashed and almost rippe off".

Got to tell you, I feel a bit taken but still glad to get car back. Seems like a big joke to/on me.

Saved oil pan and are considering sending to Audi to confirm structural integrity vs. hazard. Any thoughts? would like to forward to a materials engineer to provide insight into material integrity befor sending to audi.
On the plus side, they got the parts in for the "tie rod end" recall and they fixed that while the car was in.

On the last note, bogus side,in the amil box on Saturday, anothger recall notice for the "vacuum cylinder in the breaks or something or other".

That blows. I thought that Audi would cover these things. Wondering if you have the sports (lowered) suspension--perhaps the lack of ground clearance gives up too much for performance.
It is truly puzzling that the impact broke the oil pan but not the shroud.

I will let you know what I find out and what the experience is.

Also, right now the local porsche/audi/vw dealer (Carlsen in Palo Alto) is SWAMPED with Audi and VW recalls, by the way.