Magnet

Hello Kevin, To cut to the chase, unless you have an overriding ( in caps) sentimental attraction to this car, any restoration will wreck your bank balance, and probably break your heart - and the bank balance bit would be assuming you are DIYing it rather than getting specialists to do the work. Harsh, but believe me it’s true - been there done it with a couple of classic cars. An alternative:- keep searching for a low mileage example and buy that oven-ready, much cheaper than you could renovate your for. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for posting Alex. They always seem to suggest leaving the oil reach the min. level before topping up to the full mark. I now sure how long you have had the car, to be able to judge it’s oil consumption, but I would suggest checking it at least once a week until you know how much it is consuming (if significant) over say 1K miles. Once you know the consumption, you can tailor you checking to suit. Personally, I never have waited until the level drops to the minimum on any car I have owned, but top it back up to the full mark when it’s say halfway twixt full and low. Correct oil? The handbook will tell you, and I’d be surprised if it wasn’t 5w/30 grade - to the correct VAG specification. I always buy Quantum Longlife 3 ( VAG’s owned brand name) - once blended by Castrol, but now by Fuschs. Available from a number of EBay sellers, or now on Amazon as well. Kind regards, Gareth.

This where Alex is likely to have as many varying opinions as responses! Family member had a Hankook fitted to his KA a couple of years back. Comparatively rapid tyre wear despite sedate driving. Kind regards, Gareth.

Strange, but as far back as a couple of decades ago, factors seem to have stopped supplying coolant hoses. This situation may well still apply?? Try Audi Parts Direct at Cardiff for some possible discount. They do mail order. Part of Mon Motors, which were Cardiff Audi. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sincere apologies Tony - overlooked the Isle of Wight bit! Are Westridge a full blown dealership ( where things might be over expensive!) or largish independents? Worth a call? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Tony, I feel I’m getting to the point of keeping on here, and it could just be me, but ‘……I will look up a garage with trained mechanics…. ‘ You must obviously chose to go wherever you want, but trying to qualify your statement - if it were mine, it would read ‘…..I will look up an independent VAG specialist ……’. As has been said ‘….garage with trained mechanics ….’ is likely to result in them fitting the best-deal-to-them battery. Good luck with this Tony. Kind regards, Gareth.

Daft question perhaps Ian, but any objection to getting a new one from Audi - except cost!? Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Ian, and thanks for joining. The car really does look great with you - well done you. Kind regards, Gareth.

You are very welcome Tony, but you do seem to be making a bit of a complicated job of this - ‘ I will carry on searching…’. Just pick up the phone on Monday, ring a local independent and ask for a cost to code in a new battery. ‘Thimble’ as our little stand up beings would say! ‘A garage to supply and fit…’? They will fit the best-deal-to-them-motor factor battery. Would you be happy with that? Anyway, this is getting a bit repetitive. Kind regards, Gareth.

OK Tony, so the Exide is out of stock at this supplier - there are others, such as Battery Magastore, etc. and which can be found on a Google search. Yuasa? A freelance neighbour mechanic commented some years ago about the predominance of used Yuasa batteries at garages he visited, so he wasn’t impressed, but things may well be different now. Re. ‘I do not know what to do…..’ ? I think the forum has given you advice on alternative suppliers for batteries, so you are now armed to decide what you want to buy. You have been advised that the new battery is likely to need coding. We have suggested that you make contact with a local independent, to confirm that and to quote you for coding. As I see it Tony, you are now armed with a plan to enable you to move forward to make a decision - I now don’t know what else we can do. Kind regards, Gareth.

So what was Tanya’s Exide quote, and how does it compare with your Yuasa quotes? Using the same code as on your current battery?? Not sure I would fully understand that, since the ‘intelligent’ system would treat it as it does with your current ailing battery. Confirmation/ true story/ quote lies with a local independent. Perhaps you could let us know on the above Tony. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Josh, Have you tried Aliexpres? You will probably have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery, but…. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Bel, ( the original poster). Did you resolve the issue after? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Tony, You appear to have done your homework, and you are wise to factor in the coding charge. Two remaining questions to complete the homework:- Have you checked the coding charge with a local independent? Have you e-mailed your registration number direct to Tayna Batteries and asked then for a quote for an Exide battery to the same spec. as your OE battery? Kind regards, Gareth,

I think you would be doing yourself a favour if you searched EBay for a (Haynes?) workshop manual - which should be available for a car of that age.

Hello Gary, The original poster posted and appears never to have returned to the forum. You could try sending him a PM in the hope that he is still using the same e-mail address. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Tony, Where are you getting your Yuasa quote from, how many years warranty do you get, and any reason for deciding on Yuasa rather than the OE Exide? Although your price sounds competitive, have you had a quote on an Exide from Tayna Batteries? I’ve bought a couple of competitively priced Exide batteries from them to good effect in recent months. ( no connection with this company). Almost certain it will need coding. Kind regards, Gareth.

Which one are you looking for in the photo - could you mark it? Would it be possible to canalise another hose of same dia. from another manufacturer? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Cindy, Have you checked availability with local and on-line motor factors? Kind regards, Gareth.

Not sure what refits to where? Did you just remove the broken section out of the rubber sleeved T piece, and push the existing (slightly stretched section) back into the rubber sleeve? Kind regards, Gareth.

What are you trying to tell us Ronald? Is this to support a theory that the odometer is correct, but the car was fitted with a refurbished gearbox which had covered a higher mileage -? You haven’t said when you bought it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Malcolm, To summarise:- For belted engines, the rule of thumb was to renew belt assemblies at c75K miles or 5 years - whichever comes first. (The last 3 words being of significance). It now seems that not only have VAG removed this time limit, but increased the mileage limit to c135K, so you can choose whichever camp suits your thinking. By the previous recommendation, you would be renewing the belt assembly this year at its 5th anniversary. As mentioned to Deborah, it’s well worth renewing the auxiliary belt at the same time as the cambelt. Please come back to us if things aren’t clear enough to allow you to make a decision. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. It would be worthwhile checking actual ‘new’ mileage recommendation with a couple of main dealers, since I’m going from memory - which isn’t as reliable as it used to be!

Your choice I guess, but it appears it has been subjected to some form of ‘mileage correction’ at some time, if the infirmation can be substantiated. Two things to consider:- The car will have a lower value due it it’s higher mileage. The car shouldn’t be resold with any indication that the odometer mileage is correct, so this will obviously limit its selling appeal, and again devaluate it. As I see it, you will have the option to reject the car within 30 days and to receive a full refund. Two things that remain unclear from your original post:- When did you actually buy it? What diagnostic system have you used that provides you with the data in your opening post? Kind regards, Gareth.

So have you yet attempted to get a service print out via. an Audi specialist? I did mention the possibility of a replacement ECU having been fitted. Sorry to be make a suggestion of bad news, but it looks like the reading on your odometer does not represent the distance this car has covered.

Hello Andy, One thing at might (in caps) aid your case is if it has full Audi service history. Does it? Kind regards, Gareth.