Dealership damaged leather on steering wheel

[Inrev]

Picked up my R8 from the dealership after getting it a fresh set of brake pads last Thursday night and noticed something odd on my steering wheel. At the bottom the leather has been scratched . I notice because I scratched it lightly when I first bought it and if I felt around i could feel it slightly but it didn't bother me.

Well I just noticed that there's a HUGE scratch besides it. No mistaking it now as I feel it every time I turn the wheel. There's no way I wouldn't have noticed it before going to the dealership because it's very easy to notice. The R8 leather is so smooth that you feel the irregularities immediately.

Called the department on Friday morning to ask about it they said they'd call me back. After not hearing back from them I called today and was told that it's not their responsibility.

Now tell me, what dealership denies responsibility when you drop your vehicle off at their service department?

Now there is no way I'll get my car serviced there and no way in hell I'll every buy another car from them. The thing is I like Audi cars a lot but I'll get my next ones at another dealership.

Very bad business sense in my book. Here are pictures, you can see the small initial scracth and the second bigger one.

I know it doesn't look that bad but it feels like crap every time I turn the steering wheel. It's like listening to a beautiful song and hearing the CD skip every once in a while.

Aside from replacing the leather do you know a way to take car of this sort of damage?

[smoothy]

Where are you located? What dealership, if you don't mind naming names?

[Inrev]

I'm not ready to name names yet. I'll want to setlle the matter first and then I'll see.

[AnOutsider]

I understand the position they're in (how can they know you didn't do it), but to not call back is kinda lame. Plus, with a car this expensive, at least give the customer the benefit of doubt.

What do you plan to "settle" it?

[Inrev]

I understand the position they're in (how can they know you didn't do it), but to not call back is kinda lame. Plus, with a car this expensive, at least give the customer the benefit of doubt.

What do you plan to "settle" it?

I'll go up the hierarchy first and we'll see. I won't get my panties in a bunch over what is probably a $200 or $300 repair but after buying rotors, tires, maintenance and my car from them they should give me the benefit of the doubt. They won't ever see a penny from me again.

The leather on that steering wheel is very fragile, you guys be careful.

[mstams]

I've done that before on another car. Most likely it was a jacket zipper scraping against the wheel when entering. Sorry to hear, but you should definitely press them to resolve the issue. Why would you lie about something like this after spending so much money at the dealership? Doesn't make good business sense to accuse the customer this way.

[smoothy]

Wherever you live, contact the Audi country head office and speak with the R8 section there. They may be able to lean on the dealership.

[OEMplus.com]

If you have an R-Tronic, we have a core return wheel here we could trade you for. Shoot me an email if you'd like to discuss it...

[Kubus]

He has three pedals... So doesnt look to be R-Tronic

[ianerrid]

Picked up my R8 from the dealership after getting it a fresh set of brake pads last Thursday night and noticed something odd on my steering wheel. At the bottom the leather has been scratched . I notice because I scratched it lightly when I first bought it and if I felt around i could feel it slightly but it didn't bother me.

Well I just noticed that there's a HUGE scratch besides it. No mistaking it now as I feel it every time I turn the wheel. There's no way I wouldn't have noticed it before going to the dealership because it's very easy to notice. The R8 leather is so smooth that you feel the irregularities immediately.

Called the department on Friday morning to ask about it they said they'd call me back. After not hearing back from them I called today and was told that it's not their responsibility.

Now tell me, what dealership denies responsibility when you drop your vehicle off at their service department?

Now there is no way I'll get my car serviced there and no way in hell I'll every buy another car from them. The thing is I like Audi cars a lot but I'll get my next ones at another dealership.

Very bad business sense in my book. Here are pictures, you can see the small initial scracth and the second bigger one.

I know it doesn't look that bad but it feels like crap every time I turn the steering wheel. It's like listening to a beautiful song and hearing the CD skip every once in a while.

Aside from replacing the leather do you know a way to take car of this sort of damage?

Amazing, I guess it's a UK car then ;-)