Magnet

Hello both, Nimbus also comes under code LZ7X, which may be the same colour under two different codes, or could be the same named colour ( but not the same colours) over different models on different years. I think I would follow the dealer route ( if no access to a local paint specialist) since the dealer will most probably have access to the build record from the VIN. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ewen, Most reliable source would be your local Audi dealer. It would be worth arming yourself with the VIN incase it’s needed. Kind regards, Gareth.

Well done Keith. These budget ( ooops - sorry) tyres seem remarkable to have not worn 1mm in 4,000 miles of motoring, including load and towing use. That should easily give you a 30K plus life expectancy. Great. As I see it Keith:- You either have tyres which aren’t up to the handling characteristics you would expect of them. You are not inflating them to the correct degree for the load conditions. You have as yet, undetected wear in the suspension/ steering components. The car may have a possible hidden history of incorrectly repaired accident damage. Or a combination of some or any of the above. As I see it, the next action is dependent on what you feel you want to do about its further investigation, since any without-car-examination will simply boil down to guess work.

Many thanks Jon, Apologies for a differing point of view. Budget tyres at 4K miles will be at least 1/3 worn, so any wheel alignment will certainly be evident by this time. If there isn’t any evidence of irregular wear then I would be leaving well alone, as said. OK, free check, but the temptation is to correct even minor discrepancies, and why would you if there isn’t any uneven wear. - as the poster has said? In my book, if a tyre is misshapen then the result will be a shudder, but again the poster doesn’t complain of this. Same with wheel balancing. I think you are right Jon in suggesting to get the car inspected ( for wear) despite the mileage. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. just noticed Keith’s reference to recent MOT - so another inspection? Ensure correct inflation for load and test again? Worth seeing if Keith can borrow another set of wheels and see what the difference is?

Hello Keith, Thanks for joining. If your car has only done an average of 4K miles a year, then your cambelt has had a hammering ( as we say in Wales) unless your mileage has been covered in irregular long trips. Short journeys, and particular if stop/start is engaged, will result in higher than normal stresses on belts, so yes, it does need changing at the 5 year interval. I would recommend you also have the auxiliary belt renewed at the same time. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, I have a non-Audi, and have to remember to switch the stop/start off every time I start the car, and I think I’m in danger of wearing the switch out! I think it is possible to do something with this one to ‘cheat’ the secondary battery, but I think that has downsides. This stop/start system is not to my liking, and is engineeringly averse, since the maximum stress on an engine is at start up. I notice your car is 2016 and is likely to be fitted with a replacement battery - if not, it’s probably overdue for one. The ‘benefit’ of the S/S system is that it is one of the first things to shut down as the battery becomes less serviceable, and does act as a warning to renew the battery! but…. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Ewan, If (in caps) this car has be resprayed a different colour then there will be glaring evidence at -some - point. Kind regards, Gareth.

Personally, if the tyres are seen to be wearing evenly, then I wouldn’t get the tracking checked, since the sales pressure will be on to adjust it even if it insignificantly out, and you and your wallet may be worse off. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Werner again, Apologies for being boring and repeating. Please check the oil level by my method, and you may even find that the level is slightly over the mark now - who knows. If you have used less oil in the initial period than the book states and it still worries you - as it appears to do - then simply report it to Audi, as Steve suggested you do ( so they have your concern on record - but you need to record that concern in writing). They are understandably going to infirm you that that is with acceptable limits - as per your book, and is likely to decrease. Peace of mind then?? Continue to monitor by my method and observe and record oil usage going forward. Address any concerns at that point. Sounds a simple procedure - to me. Does this satisfactorily deal with your initial question of whether some oil usage in the initial mileage period is normal? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Graham, We notice you have returned to the forum to read the response, and wonder whether you agree or disagree with the advice given. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ewan, DVLA use ‘broad brush’ colour band grouping (pardon the pun) and the chosen group may not truly represent the colour you think it is. For peace of mind, note the colour code and wander into a local car paint supplier and check the colour with them. Also well worth trying an internet search for the code as an easier alternative. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Werner, Whatever reference the book, makes to warming the engine - and are we talking warming the oil here rather than getting the coolant up to temperature (totally different degrees of ‘warm’)? Just to explain:- A ‘warm’ engine can be considered to be when the coolant reaches its N position on the gauge/display and that is when the coolant temperature is up to approx. 90 c At this point, the engine oil will certainly not have reached its operating temperature, and to reach that temperature, it could take a run of. at least 5 miles. In my book (and the pages are well thumbed and creased!) I only carry out an accurate oil level reading when the car has been standing overnight on level ground and I am certain that all the oil has indeed returned to the sump. I wonder if you would be kind enough to follow that procedure so your oil level assessments are truly comparative - and then report back. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Graham, Sorry to appear unhelpful, but it really doesn’t matter if anyone else has suffered this dangerous occurrence - you have - and even if they have, it doesn’t mean that their cause will be the same as yours. Please get this booked in to a (diesel?) specialist without delay, before you get involved in/cause a serious accident on a motorway. Apologies if this comes over as dictatorial, but your are responsible for your own and others safety. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Werner, If this were mine, I would be following Steve’s advice, and at least reporting it - nothing to lose, although I suspect a reaction of ‘ not abnormal’. Is the oil level only checkable via. the on screen display, or have you also got a dipstick? At least you should now be in a position to monitor the oil usage back to your ( in caps) determined level, which will eliminate the possibility that it may not have been fully up to the mark when new. Unlikely, but…. Hopefully a daft question, but you are checking the oil level before start up, following leaving the car standing on level ground overnight -? Kind regards, Gareth.

So tyre pressures checked and set to the appropriate load? Treads wearing evenly across the width? At 22k miles we would not be expecting wear to be an issue, but always worth checking. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Sarah, Many thanks, I too would be interested in the outcome, since my (pessimistic?) view points me to consider that the ultimate main influence is the amount of rubber between you and the road which can damp the effects of uneven surface - and you have shinny profile, reinforced sidewall tyres. I really hope your expenditure is going to match your expectations. It will be great to hear that it does, Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Mike, As far as the Terms and Conditions link your posted, It could be me, but it’s a bit of a (usual!) trawl to go through this, and to me, it appears to be what it say it is - Terms and Conditions, which concentrates on explaining what the terms used means, but seems to give very little detail about what is and ( most importantly) what isn’t covered. As I say, I may be missing something, but it wouldn’t surprise me that this statement is aimed at being an explanatory statement to cover another main document. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Keith, You now need to do your homework via. your original handbook and or the wheel/tyre size specified on the sticky label - sometimes on the back of the fuel filler door. You will need to double check that the size of tyres fitted are to specification. It’s not out of the question that ‘cheapest size that fits the rim’ are fitted at a point of sale. I would also question whether XL ( extra load) tyres maybe necessary under your load condition. Kind regards, Gareth.

But you aren’t a newbie Anthony.

Many thanks Anthony, Shame the original poster hasn’t returned to read any of the responses to date. Posted and not heard of since - go isn’t it!? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Keith, Brav…. tyres?? Manufactured well east of the Thames estuary? Could be a contributory factor. What are the load rating of these tyres compared with the handbook specification? We take it you have set the tyre pressures at the recommended level of the load. Can you confirm. Kind regards, Gareth.

Great Mike, No disrespects, but your clarification puts this into a completely different light, and yes we now under that the guarantee ‘extra’ above the cost of the jobs is relatively small, so indeed - why not. Being a cynical old so and so, it wouldn’t surprise me that the AA breakdown cover may only be Roadside Assistance, and not a ‘get you and the car home’ cover, but worth clarifying, and if Roadside only, can you upgrade it? Couldn’t agree with you more about dipping out of their kind offer! of the free MOTs for life. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Brian, Thanks for the post. Apologies for being a little confused but:- Your Audi dealer are quoting you £719 for the same 2 year plan as the original poster’s dealer is offering him for £1,800? Your £719 cost includes (in caps) renewing the cambelt - which would cost you £509 to get done as an individual item?? They are indeed still doing their ‘free MOT for life’ offer with cambelt changes then. Personally, I would avoid that like the plague. They will find things ‘wrong’! Somewhere back in time on here, you will find a post about someone with reported expensive resultant ‘headlight issue’ and a big bill. Can you come back to us on the above points? Many thanks and kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mike, I do understand your dilemma, and it’s probably just me, but an instant off-put to me is the ‘including MOT’. I think Audi did have a promotion some time back where they ‘gave’ a free MOT with cambelt renewals. Sounds good, but they have the opportunity to recoupe funds via. ‘ your brake pads need changing sir’ etc. I wouldn’t be for me, but we are all different. If £1,800 buys you peace of mind (and you can afford it) then peace of mind is priceless. If, like most of us, you are from the school of ‘exactly what do I get for my £1,800’, then unfortunately you will need to read the small print, since the devil is in the detail there - with phrases such as ‘wear and tear’ etc. etc. My feeling is you are hankering towards the ‘peace of mind’ option - simply because that’s what it provides. The experienced downside is that it may not provide what you think it will when needed, so just be prepared that it may not. Also, will it put you in total reliance with main dealers? Apologies Mike, since I don’t think this will help. The car is now 6 years old and ageing, and if it were mine, I would be concentrating my efforts on trying to find a trusted garage who can carry on doing the necessary work on your car and putting the £1,800 away for a rainy day - but I could be wrong. It might be worth asking for a take -away-to-study copy of the warranty agreement and see what reaction you get to that request. That may turn out to be a decider for you. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rory, Does the ABS light also come on with the Traction control light? Kind regards, Gareth.