I just got a 2023 A4 avant which is excellent. 

I have noticed a slight height difference (around 1-1.5cm) between the wheel and wheel arch on the rear drivers wheel.

I took it to Audi who put in on a ramp and checked it over. The technician said it was all fine and just was slightly more worn (around 0.5cm difference) that the other springs/coils etc. Just to leave it as is.

Is this normal? Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks, Paul.

I'd say even 1 cm. difference is significant on a two year old car. Not necessarily dangerous, but suggestive of something misplaced or badly worn that needs investigation.

Welcome Paul, and thanks for joining. 
I could well be wrong, but doesn’t the Avant have air suspension on the rear?

When you say ‘I just got..’ did you buy it from an Audi dealer - the same one who declared it OK? 
If so, I would be getting it checked at a trusted independent or another Audi dealer.

Regards,

Gareth.

Overlapped with Cliff’s post. 

Hi chaps, thanks for responding. 

Im pretty sure its springs from what the technician said but not totally sure.

I purchased the car from Audi Oxford then took it to Audi Farnborough to look at the rear suspension. 

I will get it checked again as I agree that this doesn't seem normal. The car has done 22k.

Thanks again for your help, Paul

Thanks for coming back on this Paul,

As a matter of interest, were you provided with a copy of the computerised service history of the car, at the point you bought it -or at least did you have sight of it? 
I ask, since if it does indeed have rear coil suspension, whether it might already have suffered a broken spring, and just one has been replaced rather than replacing both - as is the norm -?
Just a thought.

Regards,

Gareth. 

 

Hi Gareth, I have a copy of the history on the app. It’s only had a service and nothing else I can see. It hasn’t even had an MOT yet.  It’s a bit frustrating as I don’t want to make a fuss as it’s only noticeable now I’ve seen it, on the other hand it cannot be right. I’ll go back to the dealer again and get them to correct it. Thanks again, Paul. 

Actually reading your note again that would make sense that one has been replaced. This could explain when Audi checked it, the technician said it was all perfect. 

24 minutes ago, Audi54 said:

 I don’t want to make a fuss as it’s only noticeable now I’ve seen it, on the other hand it cannot be right.

Please make as much fuss as is necessary to get the springs changed, if springs they be. Springs should always be replaced in pairs. Every competant garage knows that.

Genuine VAG springs are colour coded as there are multiple variants, so there should be a series of coloured dots on them. Aftermarket, pretty sure won’t.

if the car has a towbar, then potentially there your answer, however in defence, the tow hitch weight is max 80kg. In my experience, and I’ve owned 4 avants over the years is the fronts go, not normally the rears.

Quick scan under the car will confirm.

It seems you are measuring correctly, but just to double check:-

Adjust tyre pressures to the correct pressure and ensure the car sits on level ground.

Measure from wheel centres to the wheel arch lip.

Never take measurements from ground to wheel arch.

Possible that spring could have been changed by an independent or local garage and not recorded on the data base, but as Cliff points out - if it’s a non air suspension.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

The can has no tow bar and the Audi technician said all the parts were genuine Audi when he inspected it.

I have checked the pressures and checked on different road surfaces to ensure flat. I measured from centre cap to wheel to top of arch and it's 2cm different. 

He said that with it being the drivers side and the petrol tank being on that side it had just 'worn quicker'  not sure if he was referring to springs or maybe it could be air suspension. The car is a basic model though so I suspect its springs.

Anyway I am going to go back to Audi. Thanks so much for all the advice and tips. Much appreciated.

Paul.

Ok, a bit more of a trip, but best to return it to the dealership where you bought it. They were the sellers, and the responsibility to sort it out rests with them. 

We still have not established whether the car has springs or air bags. Put your head under the car Paul and look.

A4 is springs, including A4 Allroad. 

It’s all booked into Audi next week. If it’s helpful I’ll share the results. 

1 hour ago, Audi54 said:

 If it’s helpful I’ll share the results. 

Please do.

Which Audi Paul? 

Local. Driving to Oxford and then waiting for a whole day just isn't practical. 

When it all sorted I will post with results in case anything similar happens to anyone else. 

So it’s back to the same dealer who previously declared it as being OK then? 
If so, and they again declare it as acceptable - which is highly likely - what then?

Regards,

Gareth. 

18 hours ago, Audi54 said:

Local. Driving to Oxford and then waiting for a whole day just isn't practical. 

Impractical, or just inconvenient? You must have a lot of money invested in such a young car, so surely it is worth investing a day of your time to put your mind at rest. Personally I would not bother taking it to the local Audi dealer. Instead I would find a local independant garage which will not have a vested interest in maintaining good relations with Audi UK.

Thanks for the advice but this is not the first time I have dealt with a product that has an issue; or a car dealership.

It is booked in to a local Audi dealer and will not be collected until the issue is resolved.

As I have mentioned, I will relay the results after in the event it helps someone who may have a similar issue at any point. 

 

Um, thanks Paul. Good luck with getting it fixed, as opposed to ‘there’s nothing wrong with it’. 

Hello Paul,

Just wondering what the updated situation now is with the problem.

Regards,

Gareth. 

Gareth, it’s not been easy but I am close to a solution. I will come back as promised with the end result. 
 

All I will say at this point is (and readers may already know this) if anyone has an issue with an Audi dealer, get Audi UK involved asap. To date they have been exceptional. 
 

I’ll be back…