RS6 back from service

So I finally got the DRC factory recall work done on the RS6.. That took far too long. first the AUDI server estimate was 5 hours.. that turned in to 5 days (over a weekend) because they did not have the parts. Why tell me the estimate was 5 hours then?? lame, so I did not take the loaner because I was driving my R32.

So I goto pick up the car and no joke the steering wheel is pointing at the two O'clock position.. I ask and they say that the alignment was not included in the recall work. WTF!!?? "oh we had to replace your tires but the air is not part of that service". You can't replace suspensions without re-aligning a car.. so I figure screw then I'll take it to a tuner to get the alignment done. 5 minutes down the freeway and I get a crazy warning light (turned out to be the headlight leveling failure light) and the traction control lights come on. Okay.. Pull over check tires.. look up the warning code. Ugh I have to get wife and daughter to airport in an hour. I go home and after an airport run in wifes car call Audi and they tell me to bring it back. Did they even test drive it??!!

Turned out that the technician forgot to connect some sensors to the suspension. That made the headlight levelers fail, the traction control was tripped because I was going 70mph while turning (since the steering wheel was so out of whack). They say that they can do the alignment but its $400.00, but they'll give me a coupon for 100.00 to make it $300 or so. Okay. A few days later (after taking the loaner and beating the shit out of it), I get the car back and the steering wheel is straight and I head out.

At some point in the next 2 weeks something goes wrong and suddenly the steering wheel is pointing at two O'clock again and there is rattling. I call the good ole boys at AUDI and they say " that should not happen, can you tow it in?" Goddamnit!!. NO. So I drive it on back streets down the peninsula and they don't have a loaner. The guy who is giving me a ride home says that they don't go that far. I tell him then you need to get me to some place that can get me home or I'm coming home with him for dinner. He takes me home.

Two days later I get a call that they can't work on the alignment because I have aftermarket equipment. (Kmax strut mounts I think.) They will gladly replace them with factory for a mere 1200.00 no including labor. Holy christ these guys suck balls!.

So I drive my R32 for a week or so and take to to Griffin Motorwerks in berkeley, ca and they a) know the issue, b) have any parts needed just in case, c) can do an alignment all for 350.0. also they ended up having to reset the steering program so to reset where it thought center was (probably how audi got it straight the first time).

Now its sweet again. Never going back to Carlson audi again.