Magnet

Or trusted local garage Russell - even cheaper? Main dealers now on c £200/ hr. -?

Hello Mark, Since you are not list in photos at this stage, I think it will generate interest if you list more details e.g. ( but not restricted to) mileage, when last serviced, service history, MOT, taxed or not, number of owners, how long you have owned it etc. Regards, Gareth.

Hello Russell, Whereas you may hope it’s a blown fuse, fuses blow to protect the circuit in event of issues, so it’s does just mean replacing the fuse and all is well. Sounds like following the above is your best bet. Please let us know how you get on. Regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Martin, and obviously your choice, and like all insurance cover - apart from the all important legal aspect - you don’t need any of it until you need it. Immobiliser? Isn’t - ‘factory fitted’ adequate? If not, what extra benefits are you going to gain for your spend? As I understand it, rural accident chances are higher due to narrow roads etc… House and contents insurance aren’t a legal requirement, but I guess you cover that risk-? Good luck with whatever you decide. Regards, Gareth.

Thanks Colin, Due to your low annual mileage and the fact that you intend keeping it, it’s most important that you get at least the oil and filter changed annually, rather than their ‘extended service’ schedule - which extends to c 18k or 18 months - which is too long for the mileage you cover. Do you know what servicing schedule the car is set on? To me, this thread demonstrates the importance of comprehensive detail, before offering advice on best servicing requirements to suit a particular set of circumstances. Regards, Gareth.

Thanks Robin, I would suggest mapping is put on the back burner until all TLC items are attended to. At that stage, you can judge whether the car will be safe and capable of being driven enthusiastically without thrashing the guts out of it.

Hello Martin, Seems a big spend to reduce the insurer’s risk - not yours! You should be fully covered for a direct replacement in the event of a total loss during the first year. I would be more concerned about getting GAP insurance sorted for year 2 - covering back to invoice value, to offset the shortfall between any insurance payout and replacing the vehicle. Regards, Gareth.

Hello Colin, What is the mileage/time intervals on your 2 year service plan? What is the current mileage, and what is your annual mileage? Apologies for all the questions, but how long do you intend to keep the vehicle? Answers to these questions will dictate what regime is best for you and/or the car. Regards, Gareth.

Hello Mike, I would be very surprised if you can simply buy the light cover, with these moulded one-piece light. Please let us know how you get on. Regards, Gareth.

Blinking heck Windsor, you don’t believe in wasting words, which is a shame since we don’t have any mind readers on here!

So you have booked an auto electrician then - whether he gets his hands dirty or not?

Welcome Windsor, What about a spoiler??

‘…mobile tec….’. ? An auto electrician would be my recommendations. These would be far more appropriate that a technician with a code reader.

Glad all is well again Dave. Regards, Gareth.

Hello again Rob. If you don’t know your way around a multimeter then I would suggest you steer well clear of any investigatory activity - You Tube video, or no You Tube video. The consequences could be that you end up wishing you hadn’t started to play around with it. You should have had a 90 day warranty with the car, so my number one recommendation would be, don’t fiddle with it, but report your low battery symptom to the seller, and request they rectify that issue. Please let us know how you get on. Regards, Gareth.

Double exclamation marks Chris. Why?

Apologies for jumping in. Both not working is unusual. However, simple things first:- Worth spraying the under-seat connectors a good spray of Contact Cleaner, then wiggling them, but DO NOT DISCONNECT them for fear of setting off the air bags. Regards, Gareth.

Hello Rob, Could you let us know what the parasitic drain (in terms of mA - we hope) is after the car has ‘fully shut down’ - some 2 minutes after being locked. Is the car new to you? Did you acquire it with that fault? Have you or someone else modified the infotainment system? Regards, Gareth.

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.

Welcome Robin, Before considering mapping, what mileage has the vehicle covered, and most important, when was it last serviced, and what was renewed at this service? Regards, Gareth.

In case it helps, I’ve used Brembo discs and pads to good effect on non- Audi s.

Car is old enough to suffer from fractured wires within the flexible harness section twixt body and tailgate. Examining the cables in there would be my first port of call. Please let us know how you get on. Regards, Gareth.

‘….dont know what make they (pads) are’. Time to bite the bullet and renew with a reputable brand -?

Thanks Alan, but we don’t need to speculate on the cause of the accident, or the need for off-insurance repairs. The OP doesn’t want to explain, and that’s fair enough. He now needs to be given best advice on how to solve his predicament, so would all contributors to this post please restrict your comments to positive suggestions in that respect. Many thanks, Gareth.

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.