Magnet

Hello Nathan from the Homeland, It might be me, but I’m a bit confused with the timeline on this. By what I can see, it fails on the 6th March, passes on 12th (just, but OK it passes), then fails again on another test on 20th March - why another test. You say the exhaust was leaking ( and this would certainly be a contributor to the high CO), but it’s difficult to get my head around why you would have presented it for an MOT with a leaking exhaust. The high HC is another worry, and I notice you have changed the oil, which is good. Plugs and plug gaps? A couple of questions Nathan:- How long have you owned the car, and if not long, did it come to you as a ‘project’? If you have had it some time, what has been the MOT history situation over the last couple of years? Does it have its original Cat? Aftermarket Cats. can often result in barely limping emission tests. Are you sure, the valve timing is spot on? I guess you are. If this were mine, I would be returning the whole thing back to ‘stock’ and going from there. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Peter, but where have you tried so far?

Hello R? Certainly +1 for Steve’s recommendation. Why is everyone still hell bent on using ECP despite having virtually discontinued -? their high % discounts on their ‘Retail price’, which generally ended up with the buyer paying more than they would have paid elsewhere? Another tip - but keep it to yourself!! - PinM often have a % discounts at the end of the month. I too have had superb service from them, and they are always my first port of call for any parts I need. Incase it helps, a family member is now ‘experimenting’ with Brembo following disappointment with genuine JLR parts - so far, Brembo are proving to be more efficient and longer lasting. Let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Why not fill in your name R, and your location - big place is England! We don’t bite on here, we just hope to come over as being helpful.

Great Mark, So there you go - a ‘multi set’ of drain plug sockets from the likes of Draper etc. would suffice - as recommended in my first answer post to your initial question. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Brian Appreciate you have seen the car, but have you viewed and studied the service history details - some/all? could be on VAG’s service system. We take it you have checked the on-line MOT history -? You don’t say what part of S. Wales you are, but is the car for sale in that area? Wherever the car is, it would be well worth getting a pre-purchase assessment carried out by an independent, close to wherever the car is. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome, and thanks for joining Michael. I’ve always used VAG’s brand - Quantum - and see no reason to try anything else. Check that the grade required is 5w/30. I always buy from reputable sellers on EBay, and order the Longlife 3. Would suggest using Mann or similar (German branded) filters, and yes, I would change every two years. I cover about the same mileage in a non- Audi, used only for summer months, and that is my regime for that car. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Niall, I very much agree with Steve, and I think it would be a good move to have the battery tested ( Halfords shops do it) before embarking on any other testing. Batteries get a hammering, and 4.5 years plus could be considered to be good service life these days. Worth getting the alternator output checked at the same time. It would be worth you coming back to the forum before committing to buy a replacement - if needed. Kind regards, Gareth.

Apologies. It seems I have frightened our Les away!

Hello James, The fundamental issue here is whether the battery is as serviceable as it needs to be. How old is it? Its condition is likely to be aggravated by short journey use - possible barely recharging the capacity necessary to start it in the morning. Does it have stop/start and is it working/ do you isolate it? Solar chargers? Probably well worth doing a search on their efficiency before diving into buying one. If it were mine:- I would be charging the battery overnight with an ‘intelligent’ charger, or take it for a 30 mile run, before getting it efficiency checked. Halfords stores will usually do this while you wait. This would be my first elimination check - unless the battery is near-new. If it is deemed to be below par, just come back to us before committing to buy. Perhaps you could come back to us with the question answers anyway. Kind regards, Gareth.

Same as the other other you are advertising Kyrie - price please.

Hello Kyrie, Could you please post the ‘genuine price’ you want for it please. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Jack and thanks for joining. Sounds like a nice project. You could try e-mailing this photo - with reg. no. and VIN to Audi Parts Direct at Cardiff ( part of Mon Motors - once Cardiff Audi). They should be able to indenting it and and give you a quote- usually with a bit of discount. Kind regard, Gareth.

Thanks for posting Damian, Could you please list the prices you want for them.

Thanks again Dawn, £7680 as a private sale price, or a dealer price? Yes, of course you could take out temporary insurance cover - at your expense - but you could well have ended driving this car without insurance, if you hadn’t checked Askmid! I guess it’s over to you now - buy, or not to buy?? Perhaps you could let us know what you decide Dawn. Kind regards, Gareth.

Can’t you measure it across the flats then, and work from there?

Hello Jubel, It could be potentially leaking externally from many areas, so really that just amounts to a guess. If it is due to an external leak then there is a high possibility that there will be visible evidence of this ( if accessible to the eye). No drips doesn’t necessarily mean no leaks, as the pressure will reduce as the engine cools. If this were mine, I would be carrying out the test I suggested, and if all is well there ( or particularly if not) get it thoroughly inspected and tested by a trusted independent. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for the update Dawn, Upshot is that you cannot take this car on the road, since it isn’t insured. Dealers could, since they would have motor trade insurance. Naughty to have it taxed and not insured - guess he will have an alert from DVLA soon! Of course, you can tax a vehicle, as long as it has an MOT, if applicable, and you no longer need to present insurance cover at the time of taxing. Price:- I would think your £8K would buy you a 2015, and roughly add about £1K to the Parker’s guide price for this lower mileage example, so my belief is that this car is indeed overpriced - by some! Private sales are fine, if you know the car and the seller, otherwise you take risks with the unknown, and little room for any come back. If I was in your situation, I think I would favour buying from a trusted dealer, where you have a warranty. Having said that, I would always advocate spending on an independent inspection before committing. Always ( in bold caps) request e-mailed copy of service history before viewing. Good luck with your search. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks again Dawn, The DVLA vehicle check will confirm whether it’s on SORN or not, but the all important aspect is if it is showing on the AskMid insurance database - you can check that out. Your average private owner would either have to have a ‘spare’ NCB to make it economical to retain insurance on the old car, once he insures the new car, or would need to take out a temporary additional cover, so it doesn’t necessarily follow that because it isn’t showing as SORN, that it is actually insured. If I were in your situation, I would most certainly be requesting e-mailed copy of the service history before going to view it. It’s surprising how full service history can disappear into the ether once the evidence is ask for. Re valuation:- what was the private sale value for the same model and year for the 111K mileage? Again, I don’t want to influence you, but it’s been often quoted that (as you say)…’ something doesn’t seem quite right..’ it usually isn’t. Independent inspection:- search Audi independents in the area the car is for sale at, and have a chat with them about inspecting the car prior to purchase. The seller’s reaction might be interesting! They might also assist with a reasonable valuation. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dawn-Marie, Since this is a private sale, you can obviously kiss goodbye to any warranty or come back. ‘Banging on about how well looked after it’s been…..’ Sounds salesmanish to me! If it’s that good, why is he selling it!? I take it you have requested and seen the evidence of its service history, and you are happy it is as comprehensive as the seller makes out. Garaged for the last month:- so can we take it it’s now on SORN, you will not be able to road test it , and you will be buying it simply ‘as seen and without trial’ -? £8,000 for a 10 year old 75K A3 being sold privately would seem to be in orbit territory to me - in fact oh blinking heck, to be polite, but I’m open to correcting on this. Can we take it you have checked out the valuation on Parker’s for example, to confirm what you are about to buy, is indeed sensibly priced? Re. Independent inspection:- ‘ only just been serviced …’ would not cut it with me as a reason not to have it independently inspected - serviced, may simply equate to an oil and filter change. Obviously your choice, but… Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Nick, As Stevey says. I been putting a dampener on anything to do with large wheels for some time, since the trend seems to be for the largest wheels and the skinniest tyres - because they look good. Yet, you cannot see the wheels when you are sat in the car, but you are the one who suffers the adverse ride quality. Add to the potential of harder sidewalls, probably XL etc. and everything gets magnified. An equally aged friend found the ride to be not to his liking on an S.Line with skinny tyres chosen for him by his children - it went back. Mind, I’d not be too happy about the expense of changing wheels and tyres, but… Interesting you mention Bridgestone, since I have been considering these on our non-Audi. For me, I want as comfortable ride as I can get from the tyres, and as much mileage as poss. so any recommendations are welcome. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Dawn-Marie, and thanks for posting. Nice to hear you are doing the homework before you commit to buy, and what you have been told was, and is correct. Incase it help, I intend to stick with the earlier 75k or 5 years - whichever comes first, since I just cannot understand the logic of an open ended time interval - except that it increases the risk of another wrecked Audi, and the sale of another one! If it were mine, I would be catering for replacing this now. Private sale? Have you seen evidence of the service history, checked the on-line MOT history, looked up the DVLA Vehicle Check to see when the last V5 was issued ( indication of owner change). Are you having the car independently checked before purchase? An Audi independent near to where the car is would be a good place to start. Last but certainly not least - I’m not sure if the 2014 TFSI engine was still within the range of model years which could be affected by the dreaded high oil consumption issue ( possibly up to 2015??). Stevey Y on here will be far more knowledgeable than I’m on this, so worth sending him a PM to see if he can help. Good luck, and kind regards, Gareth.

Who are ‘they’ Beany? VAT on top? Possibly 6+ hours? But that’s a guess. Whatever, they will no doubt have Autodata or similar to refer to to get a book time.

Hello Beany, How many hours have you been quoted, is the quote from a main dealer, independent, or local garage, and what is the hourly rate from the quote? Sounds like you have a ‘labour only’ quote and want to do some arithmetic to calculate the number of hours they are charging you for. Couple of points to bear in mind:- Do we recall you are supplying the parts? If so, your guarantee from the fitters will be limited. Also the garage may want to ‘add a little bit’ to make up for their loss of profit on the parts. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks for the very useful update Mike. Kind regards, Gareth. .

Thanks Les.