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Hi all, Apologies, I'm a new user and this post will probably go exactly the same way as the one below it, but I'd be remiss not to try; Below is a 1998 2.8 litre A4 quattro avant that needs some love, otherwise (just like the post below) it'll unfortunately get sent to the breakers. I personally don't know much about the car, I'm posting this on behalf of my father who is the one selling it. I've seen it turn over - as I understand, it needs a new battery though. It would obviously be a light restoration project, the passenger side door has been bumped into, as can be seen in the second image. I couldn't give you an asking price but bear in mind it'll get scrapped as a last resort. If you're interested at all, I can pass along my fathers phone number in a DM for you to discuss further. Many thanks!

You may well receive contra opinions, and that’s good, but I wouldn’t be mapping any 16 year old car without service history. You are not just talking all important oil and filter changes, but suspension wear and tear, and of course tyre brands and condition, before you even consider the affect on your insurance premium.

Glad you're working through this please keep us posted on how you get on.

I don’t know exactly how this works, so just pointing out a few of the pitfalls as I see them. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. Even if you’re not claiming against your own insurance, they need to be informed, or you’re in breach of contract, and insurers talk and share information. If it’s a cover thing and the terms of the policy wouldn’t pay out anyway, then that’s different. Again I suspect you’ve had that conversation already. As mentioned, avoid main Audi dealer. This is not their area of expertise. Some main dealers will have affiliated body shops, or even their own body shops to help prepare or repair cars prior to sale. They also use a host of other businesses for everything from refurbishing alloys to paintless dent removal. That said, you do get Audi approved bodyshops, ones where the franchise brand recognises the standard of workmanship and the business use OE parts, OE paint and observe certain repair processes. Details here: https://audiapprovedbodyshoprepair.co.uk/audi-approved-repairers/ For whatever reason this can’t be claimed against the insurance, then you’ll know it’s going to be expensive. On a 2025 S3 which probably retailed for around £40k, if you cut corners on the repair to reduce costs, then you’ll ultimately be hamstringed if or when you come to sell it. Without seeing the damage, it’s impossible to say how much. Even paint on a couple of doors you’re looking at a £1-2k easily. With new doors, they need to be built up, electrics, trim, even if you’re swapping over. Certain trim pieces, the bodyshop will just buy new, they won’t strip off parts and refurbish. Anyway, get a few quotes and build in a contingency budget. It’s often when work is underway you get a call because they’ve discovered something broken. Even things like alloy wheels could be bent and need replaced.

Thanks Darren, It will probably shock you to learn what Audi’s labour rate is. Worth checking if you don’t know. Have you investigated Audi’s prices for the list of parts you know ( in caps) you will need, and compared them with prices available via salvage breakers? If serious money is no object, and you just want the most direct route to getting it sorted, then just approach large scale bodyshops and pay your money. If you are prepared to invest some of your time in shopping around bodyshops, and talking with them, then the monetary benefits will emerge. Regards, Gareth.