F2004M

Runs great, recently had the timing belt and water pump changed as a precaution and all fine. However I have noticed a grinding noise when braking on the drivers side at the rear (louder when the car is cold or just off the drive) Yesterday I had the car washed and noticed there was a clicking noise when breaking, along with the grinding noise at breaking. The clicking wore off but seemed to be related to the car having being washed. I had the breaks looks at looked at by an indy and they couldn't spot anything, any ideas?

Cheers! The cambelt which came off wasn't in too bad a shape giving it's age (10 years) and the cost was fine. No I'm afraid, I will be sat infront of Eurosport with a six pack of Redbull keeping tabs I have a new born so ideally I can't make too many distant trips, 2018 is looking more likely when things have settled at home.

So finally got around to getting the cambelt and water pump changed (official audi parts) which cost less than I thought. There's a 'hiss' when depressing the clutch but the car is still on it's original clutch (10 years old, 59k) so I'm guessing that's done well. I can also hear the alternator slightly but that's a 150-200 quid job so nothing too catastrophic should it go any time soon.

Hi Gareth, Thanks again for the input, doing a bit of searching it looks like one A3 owner who underwent a service appears now to be using 0w30; Forgive me for quoting another forum: Source: http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/ultimate-final-8p-oil-thread.221763/ ' ...last year audi used Shell 5w30 on mine, this year they have switched to Shell professional 0w30 they told me that is the new high performance engine oil they use...just a little info... '

Hi Magnet, Thanks for the well detailed out reply and good to hear the car is still going at 138K :-) Mine has 52k but I am tempted to get it booked in for the cambelt and water pump asap. It was lasted service according to the hand book at 50K so may wait a while for decided on oil source (however I am bit fan of Shell)

Hi Trevor, Yeah it's a shame, I know someone who went to this years and said it was amazing (last lap, the Toyota dying a slow death!) Can't help but feel the whole VW diesel scandal pretty much killed Audi's program (fave car was R18 e-tron) We should probably save these for private conversations but what the hell. Do we have know what the approximate cost of a water pump and cambelt change are for a A3??

F1, sports car/Le Mans 24

I'm the same, i use Helix Ultra Professional AML 5W30 in my 320D and noticed the car was quieter. Motorsports fan here and so naturally I quite like Shell and the amount of effort they put into oils and lubricants. Will go for Ultra Professional AV-L 0W-30 in the next service for the A3

Hi Trevor and thanks for the warm welcome. I'm a 320D owner (boo) and understand that if you look after something it will tend to look after you. I got the A3 as an upgrade on the wife's Clio and was trying to get a feel for the in's and out's of A3 ownership. Shell Lube match suggests Helix Ultra Professional AV-L 0W-30, does anyone have experience with this particular oil? Thanks

Hi All, I just got the wife a A3 1.6 Special Edition (2007). The car has a full service history and drivers well, I know I may need to look at changing the water pump and cambelt but is their anything else I need to look out for? Any particular oils when servicing? Any tips welcome, cheers