Advice

[LlewizZ]

Recently became the owner of an audi a3 2007 that has been sitting for a year or so just wondering if anyone has any tips or some advice as to what to look for that might need fixed or replaced due to it been sat for so long 

[Magnet]

Hello whoever-you-are.

You set this forum an impossible task by not even outlining the minimum of detail - not even your name! 
Could you start again, by including your name, location, vehicle details inc. engine size petrol/diesel, mileage,  history of service, when it was last serviced, whether any advisories on MOT etc. etc. 
I’m sure someone will then be able to help you, once you’ve helped us to help you. 

Perhaps you would also be kind enough to have a look at the forum rules. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 
 

 

[Steve Q]

Full service required. Possibly new battery. Diagnostic check for any fault codes. Why was it taken off the road? 

[TylerMFDurden]

Hi guys, i saw this post and decided to post a very similar question.

Any tips? 

My name is Tyler from Manchester and I decided to take a huge risk/gamble on purchasing an A3 for a very cheap price. No service history at all and only 1 key! The price was very attractive, and after getting a very good report from a pre-purchase mechanical observation, i deceived to part with the agreed price of £1,000.

Car details

1.6 FSI Sport - Petrol

Blue

5 Door

Manual

04 plate

No Service History 

MOT - June 23

118,000 miles on the clock

 

*** Notable observations from myself ***

 

Dented tailgate - its obvious that it has reversed into something big, or been hit by something big. I have found half a dozen on eBay for £50

Small dents and scratches - expected on a vehicle that age/price. 

Interior - Spotless

Windscreen - 1 single chip, looks deep. Needs inspecting by Autoglass.

Alloys - Quite battered but will purchase a set of 18 inches 5 twin spokes  once i have carried out the necessary work.

Tyres - Thread is not bad, the alloys i have bookmarked come with tyres with plenty of thread.

 

*** Feedback from mechanic***

 

Overall - solid car, requires service.

Gear box and clutch - both in healthy working condition. 

Underneath - good condition, axels springs all good.

Drive shaft - good condition 

Engine - no leaks visible, nice and dry.

Emissions - Very high and would not pass an MOT as it stands. Advised by mechanic and a 2nd and 3rd mechanic that i should check again once it has been serviced.  

 

I have been provided the following quotes for a major service.

Generic garage - £169

Audi - £320

German car specialist - £420

 

I was thinking that it would definitely be worth investing in major service from Audi or the German Car Specialist given the age, millage and lack of service history.  But i am keen to hear your thoughts. I was surprised to be quoted £100 less by Audi directly. I would of thought that they would be the most expensive option!

 

One last thing, i have been advised by the German Specialist that this model has a timing chain, not a timing belt. He advised they last a long time, sometimes the lifespan of the vehicle. And that it only requires replacing when there is an issue with it, which they will be able to identify with a diagnosis.

 

Sorry for the info dump! I thought it would be best to give you a full story!

 

Thanks in advance, and i’m happy to glad to of joined the community!

 

 

 

 

[cliffcoggin]

118000 miles would be fine providing the car has been looked after, however high emissions and a lack of service history make me suspicious. You may be lucky that a service will solve the problems, but somehow I doubt it, though I would be happy to be proved wrong.

[TylerMFDurden]

1 minute ago, cliffcoggin said:

118000 miles would be fine providing the car has been looked after, however high emissions and a lack of service history make me suspicious. You may be lucky that a service will solve the problems, but somehow I doubt it, though I would be happy to be proved wrong.

I agree, luck is a good word to use. Having owned multiple used cars, i have found that luck is vital. I thought it would be worth the gamble, as long as it gets me to the Summer, i will be happy with that. 
 

Will post my findings once i have had it serviced. 
 

Thanks cliffcoggin.

 

 

 

[Magnet]

Hello Tyler,

Many thanks for your comprehensive post.

If this were mine, I would be trusting this to a small trusted local garage with a request to give it a full service including a new air filter.

118k is relatively low for a 18 year old car, but some reasonable expenditure is inevitable. Spending more than you need to on a good service for this age of car would not make sound economic sense - hence entrust it to a local garage who you can talk to, rather than receptionists at larger dealerships. 

Stick some Redex or similar in it, and treat it to some non-supermarket petrol, and give it a good run before retesting the emissions. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[TylerMFDurden]

15 hours ago, Magnet said:

Hello Tyler,

Many thanks for your comprehensive post.

If this were mine, I would be trusting this to a small trusted local garage with a request to give it a full service including a new air filter.

118k is relatively low for a 18 year old car, but some reasonable expenditure is inevitable. Spending more than you need to on a good service for this age of car would not make sound economic sense - hence entrust it to a local garage who you can talk to, rather than receptionists at larger dealerships. 

Stick some Redex or similar in it, and treat it to some non-supermarket petrol, and give it a good run before retesting the emissions. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Hi Magnet, thank you for your reply. I take what you have mentioned into consideration.
 

My thoughts were that by taking it to a more reputable garage for a service, I would prevent any issues further down the line. Having the Audi certified stamp is not going to add/retain any resale value at this point, so you are probably correct with your suggestion to take the cheaper option. The £200-£300 i would save will probably go towards any repairs which are probably inevitable.

 

I will give the Redex a google also.

 

Cheers!

[Magnet]

Hello Tyler,

With no disrespects, what you are into here with a car of that age, is straightforward banger-momics. Spend as little as you need to, wisely. Get it into the hands of a garage you can talk to on the day, take advice from, and have trust in. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[TylerMFDurden]

30 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Hello Tyler,

With no disrespects, what you are into here with a car of that age, is straightforward banger-momics. Spend as little as you need to wisely. Get it into the hands of a garage you can talk to on the day, take advice from, and have trust in. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

I sold my car a couple of months ago which i had on finance because i have just purchased my first house. The new place needs abit of investments, so i decided to sell it, pay off the finance, and use the change left to get something to last me until at least the summer.

 

Thats my main priority, for it to get me through until the middle of next year. However, if it runs wells and doesn't cause a whole heap of issues, i would like to keep it and invest it slowly. Im no mechanic, but i am very much interested in trying to do as much as i can.

Thanks.

[Magnet]

Sounds good Tyler, so if budget and ‘hoped for life expectancy’ are relatively short, then my plan would be to go with the best servicing deal you can get from a small garage. Forget about the car having any ‘investment’ value, so spend wisely on whatever maintenance it needs to keep it running, and don’t over-pamper it with expenditure. Property should be an investment, but cars generally are not. 
It may be a bit of a come down from a modern lease car for which maintenance during the contract period is a necessity, but treat it with respect - improve it with minimum expenditure if you can, and it will probably do you well - within its lesser capabilities. 
Good luck and kind regards,

Gareth.