2015 A4 Cruise Control Failure

[George Atkinson-Clark]

I have  a 2015 A4 Avant Quattro 2.0TDI Technik. The cruise control has ceased to function and the Cruise Control and distance sensor light (which normally  lights green when engaged) is permanently red. My local independent VAG garage in Northampton have diagnosed the fault as the Radar Camera. They have quoted £3000 for a replacement. They say second hand ones won't work as the camera has to be programmed to the car. Can anyone help ? Is there someone who does reconditioned ones? Is the one on the car mendable?

Many thanks. George

[Steve Q]

Sorry to hear of this situation. I believe the garage are telling you the truth. Bit on the safe side you could always get a second opinion 

[George Atkinson-Clark]

Thanks Steve - actually this was the second opinion as our local garage suggested the same but recommended I go to a specialist to confirm. I was hoping there might be some work-around like a reconditioned unit or some sort of part exchange. As the car itself is probably only worth about £7k if everything was working, I am not keen to spend half the car's value on one bit.

[Steve Q]

Completely agree. Can you live without cruise control? 

[Magnet]

Hello George, 

How often do you use the CC?

I only ask since I’ve had our non-Audi for 3 years and I’m yet to use it despite doing fairly long runs. 
As you say, with an anticipated bill of c half the value of the car, can you do without it? 

[George Atkinson-Clark]

To be fair, not that often but I do suffer from sciatica in my right leg so it's quite useful on long journeys (Cornwall, Scotland, France etc)., but looks like I'll just have to live without it

[Magnet]

Thanks George, 

The acid-test question tsk yourself is:- 

Would you have actually turned the car down at the point of purchase if it didn’t have cruise control? 

The answer to this will dictate justification on the spend.

[George Atkinson-Clark]

Actually probably yes. But would definitely not have bought it (£10k in 2023) if it had CC but it didn't work.

Actually I'm thinking of changing it anyway as it's done nearly 100k miles. It's a lovely car but I don't really need the quattro, and it is really thirsty. Best I can get on a long motorway run at steady 60-70mph is abuot 45mpg

[Magnet]

‘Wouldn’t  have bought it if fitted but didn’t work’. Appreciate that and the likelihood of requesting the seller to repair, but that wasn’t the question! 

[Steve Q]

45mpg, wish my daily did that. I get no higher than 35mpg.