SOS - need help w/Mother in Law's Audi in Alexandria

[superba]

Hi,

I realize this is a long shot.  I'm in California and my Mother in Law is in
Alexandria, VA.  I was there for a while years ago and have helped her along
with her 1985 Audi 5000 since her husband died.  I arranged a good place
with a wrench she liked, but after a couple of years, he left and went to a
Peugeot garage.  Another wrench took her over and ripped her off several
times, and, when she complained, they told her to go elsewhere.

She went to Heishman in Arlington and was satisfied with how they took care
of her, although it seemed to me that they charged a lot and did unnecessary
work from time to time.  Heishman recently split off their Audi group and
built a new facility for Audi only;  however, the people with which she had
relationships remained at the old facility that does not handle Audi.

Her car has 65,000 original miles on it, is totally cherry, and she had all
scheduled maintenance done at Heishman and their successor.  This week she
went for a Virginia State Inspection Sticker and they found that (1) her
"brakes were broke", and (2) "the turn signals _growl_ when a right turn is
indicated".  I think the brake pads are worn and need replacing, but I can't
decipher the _growl_.  Virginia State Inspection gave her a red sticker
meaning the car can't be driven without permission according to her.

She panicked and took it to a nearby tire dealer, Merchants Tire, and they
told her they could repair the brakes, but she'd have to take it to "Audi"
to get the turn signal repaired.  She took it to the new Audi repair
facility and they told her that the cost would be $700 for the turn signals
and brakes.  After she had taken a cab to her home in Alexandria, she phoned
to see when the car would be ready, and they told her that they weren't sure
when they'd get the part for the turn signal; the earliest possible date
would be Tuesday, 1.28.03.

Here's the squirrelly part:  The wrench at the new Audi facility has made
overtures that she should just sell him the car for the cost of the repairs
and buy another one.  He told her in the past that he wanted it for his
wife.  Let me be clear.  He offered her $1,000 for it but said that would
cover the repairs and she would net zero.

I have no stake in this.  She has had the car since it was new and loves it
but others tell her that it's 17 years old and she ought to have a new car,
blah, blah.  I don't want to see her or anyone else get ripped off by an
unscrupulous mechanic, and, if she wants to get a new car, she deserves to
be able to do it in her own time.

Anybody near Alexandria that could and would intervene in this?  It gives
Audi a bad name to have this kind of crap happening.  BTW, about 3 years
ago, I asked the list for help for her and got a few responses.  I've tried
to call them myself with no success.

Please contact me offline unless someone feels an answer is worthwhile to
post on the list.  I can be contacted offline at <superba at pacbell.net>.
Sorry for the long post.

TIA.

Cheers!

Jim Jordan