This may not be a fun to read I guess (apologies in advance).

I bought a Certified Preowned (CPO) 11 months ago from Audi of Oakland, CA.
Last week Audi mechanic in my town (midwest) told me a sound absorber
is missing (plastic guard below engine, to keep dirt/snow from engine
compartment). I argued to the Oakland Audi that it must have been
from the beginning, because had I damaged it I must have noticed (the
absortber does not comes off easily) and I did not change oil yet.
The Oakland Audi refused to take responsibility because so many (11) months
have passed, and suspects I am lying. The CPO checklist does not have a
check box for the absorber.

Do you think I can keep demanding the item from Audi of Oakland? I feel
that the item is a part of new car equipments so the dealer should provide.
The problem is that Oakland Audi does not have a proof that it was installed
at sale, and I don't have a proof either that I did not damage it.

One tip: don't trust CPO checklist. You still need to check as much as
you can. For example, the dealer ticked on a checklist for 3 keys. But I got
only two. So I asked for the 3rd one. They had to cut it new! (they
must have ticked without verifying 3 keys). Also the oil was dirty.

BTW the absorber costs $260. Thanks.
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updates 12/12/2007. As suggested below (thanks btw) I wrote to Audi America. Audi America called me saying 'there is nothing we can do on local dealers' except using my complaint for their internal record.

 

I'm not sure if it's a long shot, but you could try contacting Audi directly. I haven't had an issue like the one you're having, but I've found them to be really responsive regardless of my question or issue.

While not on the checklist, I think a dealer should at least work with you a little bit. Given that they'e in CA and you're not, they may have just decided to give you the finger over the phone. If you were still local and could pay a visit to the showroom, they might have reacted differently.(nodealer wants a guy in the showroom complaining about anything that might sound like shady business on their part)

 

so in 11 months you didn't change the oil?

remind me not to but a car from you. . .

 

Have put 4.5k over 11 mo. Audi in my town suggests 5k or yearly change considering the way I operate the car. Are you from the Audi of Oakland - your useless & irrelavant comment is intriguingly the same as theirs. You are good at wasting time.

 

Nope, I'm not from audi of oakland. I'm just a guy that likes cars. I mean nothing by my "useless & irrelavant comment ". You NEED to change your oil more than 1x a year.

Here's where the problem with your situation occurs.
11 months have passed. Anything could have happened to your sound absorber- it could have fallen off over a bump, someone could have taken it (not likely-but possible). So it's, in short, your word against theirs. Your NOT a local customer, they aren't likely to make any money off selling you another car or service so the likelyhood of them doing anything for you is slim.

You are correct about something. . . The CPO program is a joke. It's only as good as the dealer, and more specificly the service person, that does the inspection. When I bought my allroad, i flew 1300 miles to look at a CPO car that more warning lights go on during the test ride than lights on a Christmas tree. The car needed an air bag, suspension compressor, brakes, rotors and a torque converter. All on a car that was "inspected" and "certified" 7 days prior.

So to make my long post short. I appoligize if I offended you. Spend the $260 and be happy that you don't have to deal with this dealer again. $260 is a relativly inexpensive lesson to learn, be glad that your not fighting them over a pair of turbos, or a transmission. And CHANGE YOUR OIL. Even with very low miles per year, every 5 months spend the $70 for oil/filter. The 2.7T motor is NOT cheap