Magnet

Welcome Lee, Thanks for being in touch. It’s time to do some serious homework to best protect your wallet. Car sales purchase or private? Mileage? Have you checked the on-line MOT history, the DVLA vehicle check to see when the last V5 was issued? If recent, it could (just could) have been in short term ownership - not a good sign. Forget about Apps and e-mail, or even phone calls, but wander into a local Audi dealer and ask if it is possible to have copy of the computerised service history. If it has been averaging <10k miles a year, then it should have had annual services. If more than that, it should have been serviced at around every 18k or 18 months - whichever comes first. Are tyres matching on the same axle, and do all tyres have near enough the same remaining tread? Your homework should now lead you to walk away with your hands in your pockets or commit to buy. If you are tempted to commit to buy, I would recommend you get the car inspected at a trusted independent, local to where the car is being sold. If you really want to achieve best results from it, I would treat their service as if it never existed - it’s likely to have been treated to the cheapest oil, and a filter from a certain three letter factors. Buy yourself new oil, air and pollen filters - by Mann or Bosch, and engine oil by Quantum ( VAG’s brand). I guess you have enough to do so far, so please come back to us when you have made a good start. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Sinead, The non opening fuel flap will be due to a sticking solenoid which activates the lock/unlock on the flap - access via the boot side panel. Perhaps WD will sort it, but fitting a new one would be your best bet. Please let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sorry Kes, Not understanding ‘…no filler plug exist’.

Welcome Sinead, It could be expected that they would all be on the same fuse, but….. Sorry not sure. Are you handy with a multimeter? If not, you would be well advised to engage an hour’s labour with a trusted auto electrician. Re fuel flap. Does lock, or doesn’t open? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Danny, 1.1 mA just cannot be correct. A normal ‘drain’ when everything has shut down would be around 50mA. Kind regards, Gareth.

Don’t forget to renew the auxiliary belt John. I use Gates.

Please let us know how you get on Sam.

Thanks Ian, thought so, but worth checking. I’m glad you are getting your priorities in order, and locating the filler plug first - then equally important, making sure you can remove it and have enough access to refill from that point, before removing the drain plug. Common sense does not always apply with such things! Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

What belt kit did you choose or intend to choose John? Kind regards, Gareth.

Sounds good Sian, Take it you have actually seen copy of the computerised service history, checked the on line MOT history, and when the last V5 was issued - ? Good luck and enjoy. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ian, Just to avoid any misunderstanding, are we talking manual gearbox or automatic? Kind regards, Gareth.

Apologies Glen, As a moderator, I see ‘hidden’ posts which you will not see, so yes, I was referring to that person whose post had been hidden. Silly me! Sorry about the confusion. Take care, Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello S ( could you let us know what your name is please - it’s far more personal to be able to address you). Anyway, first point- it appears that both 18 inch are XL rated, and these will obviously adversely affect the ride quality. I can see a number of 17 weren’t. I’m not sure where the narrow tyre/ better snow grip comes from. I must admit that theory is new to me, and can only run that to a limit of considering the grip on your bike tyre on ice, compared with the car tyre !? The choice of 225 or 245 and their associated profiles may be strongly influenced by price, which will be affected by popularity. Kind regards, Gareth.

Electric power steering on these Rhodel? If so, it would be worth getting the battery efficiency checked. Halfords stores should be able to do that for you. Please refer back to us if the battery proves to be substandard, before you commit to buy - if you have a respect for your wallet! Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Dan, Perhaps it would be useful to have details of what the restrictions of eligibility and use are involved with this form of insurance. Kind regards, Gareth.

You, my friend, are about as welcome as interference on our TV. Anyway, you have been warned.

Oh blinking heck - ‘….abandonment of proper road maintenance…..except perhaps in Wales’. We are fishing in the potholes over here! Kind regards, Gareth.

We don’t do anonymous on here - whoever you are. If you don’t even want to courteously introduce yourself, then that’s fine with us - we just won’t allow you into our welcoming forum.

Many thanks for an excellent review from Paul, which is far, far beyond expectation usage for normal owners - couldn’t wish for better. Thanks also to Keith for expressing his gratitude. The two don’t come together very often, so many thanks to you both. Keep us posted Keith, and happy hunting. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thank you Peter, ’So no I won’t apologise and I will use my caps any way I choose thank you’. That’s fine by me, with any dialogue you might select to embark on on anything apart from the Audi Forum. Your choice of how you behave is not down to you on here, it is directed at by the Forum, and unfortunately for you Peter, you cannot enjoy your free will on here. Since you don’t intend to adhere to the normal behaviour we require on here, I am now going to ban you from any future involvement here - indefinitely. Good luck with your future dealings. Thank you. Gareth.

Thanks Barry, Might, just might find that the belt was indeed changed contrary to what you were told. The computerised record should be the definitive statement. Kind regards, Gareth.

Possibly haven’t replaced it Barry, because Audi are paying!

Welcome Peter, What are you asking us to comment on/advise? Do you (in caps) want to keep the car or not? If yes, simply look after it until it expires - of course with the limiting factor of LHD. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Barry, Well worth doing a search on here under Timing belts and/or Cambelts. Audi have changed their change intervals. You will need to read, and form your own opinion and decision. I wouldn’t renew a water pump and refit the old belt - daft for the cost of the belt, but…. assuming it’s belt driven. Kind regards, Gareth.

Any A8 owners able to help Keith out? Many thanks, Gareth.