Just got a 2007 A3 1.6 Special Edition

[F2004M]

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

 

[Trevor]

Hi Chris...welcome to the Forum

As you have already identified that the cambelt and waterpump should always be replaced as a matter of caution, I think you're mostly there in realising that if you carry out routine maintenance with quality parts then the car should serve you many years without too many problems.

As regards to the oil specification, I would always use the best oil you can get for your budget....Mobil1 or Shell Helix Ultra are superb oils and around £40 for the amount you would need. 

Have a look at this section of the Forum as these guys will give you a good deal if you're buying for DIY or otherwise, their website will list the oil specs you need to know.

http://www.audiownersclub.com/forums/forum/86-opie-oils/

Cheers   Trevor

[F2004M]

5 minutes ago, Trevor said:

Hi Chris...welcome to the Forum

As you have already identified that the cambelt and waterpump should always be replaced as a matter of caution, I think you're mostly there in realising that if you carry out routine maintenance with quality parts then the car should serve you many years without too many problems.

As regards to the oil specification, I would always use the best oil you can get for your budget....Mobil1 or Shell Helix Ultra are superb oils and around £40 for the amount you would need. 

Have a look at this section of the Forum as these guys will give you a good deal if you're buying for DIY or otherwise, their website will list the oil specs you need to know.

http://www.audiownersclub.com/forums/forum/86-opie-oils/

Cheers   Trevor

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 

[Trevor]

I'm a big fan of Shell oils and have used them for years with no problems.  Interestingly, I always try to buy Shell oil in the supermarkets in France as it was so cheap to buy when the Euro was in our favour.

[F2004M]

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

[Trevor]

What variety of motorsport are you into?

[F2004M]

31 minutes ago, Trevor said:

What variety of motorsport are you into?

F1, sports car/Le Mans 24 

[Trevor]

Excellent!  I'm also a huge Le Mans / WEC fan (as you can see by my profile piccy), but unfortunately not so much of an F1 fan.

Do you go to Le Mans each year?  Shame about Audi dropping out of World Endurance Championship now...just leaves Porsche & Toyota in LMP1 now.

[F2004M]

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??

[Trevor]

I suppose the conversation about Le Mans is about Audi so that's okay 

I can imagine that the emissions scandal did have something to do with running out of money for racing...very sad really.

I would have thought it would cost around £300-325 for a specialist repairer to replace the lot. Not always best to go for the cheapest quote though.

[Magnet]

Hello Chris and Trevor, 

My good lady has recently acquired our daughter's 2006 owned from new, now 138k. A3 Sportback 1.6. This car has always run on Longlife Quantum 5w/30  as recommended by the VAG dealer where we get all the service items from. 

Now that it will only be doing modest mileages with us,  I've decided to service it annually and this time used Mobil 3000 5/30 fully synthetic ( to Ford spec.) which I get at Wilkinsons at £24 for 5 litres. Apologies for contradicting, but I would not use a 0w/30 in these cars, and I'm sure you will find that this is not the grade recommended by Audi for this car. Worth checking your handbook? This car has always run on Audi filters which we get on discount from Skoda Parts shop ( up north somewhere but the exact location evades at the moment). No connection with this business, but we have found their parts service is first class.

Re timing belts and water pump. This car has been on its second Audi cambelt kit since 110K. OK changed early, but not worth taking a chance. Again these kits can be obtained on discount, but if I was going to use aftermarket then I would only use Gates. 

Water pumps:- I would never use an aftermarket pump since there are too many stories of failure, often after short mileage. When thie belt kit was changed at 110K, the original pump was policy changed at the same time, using a main dealer part, which if I recall  was a reconditioned exchange unit.

Not sure if any of this helps.

Good luck and kind regards,

Gareth.

[F2004M]

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)

[F2004M]

On 11/4/2016 at 9:05 PM, Magnet said:

Hello Chris and Trevor, 

My good lady has recently acquired our daughter's 2006 owned from new, now 138k. A3 Sportback 1.6. This car has always run on Longlife Quantum 5w/30  as recommended by the VAG dealer where we get all the service items from. 

Now that it will only be doing modest mileages with us,  I've decided to service it annually and this time used Mobil 3000 5/30 fully synthetic ( to Ford spec.) which I get at Wilkinsons at £24 for 5 litres. Apologies for contradicting, but I would not use a 0w/30 in these cars, and I'm sure you will find that this is not the grade recommended by Audi for this car. Worth checking your handbook? This car has always run on Audi filters which we get on discount from Skoda Parts shop ( up north somewhere but the exact location evades at the moment). No connection with this business, but we have found their parts service is first class.

Re timing belts and water pump. This car has been on its second Audi cambelt kit since 110K. OK changed early, but not worth taking a chance. Again these kits can be obtained on discount, but if I was going to use aftermarket then I would only use Gates. 

Water pumps:- I would never use an aftermarket pump since there are too many stories of failure, often after short mileage. When thie belt kit was changed at 110K, the original pump was policy changed at the same time, using a main dealer part, which if I recall  was a reconditioned exchange unit.

Not sure if any of this helps.

Good luck and kind regards,

Gareth.

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... '

[Magnet]

Hello Chris,

As, you say, owners very often have a preference for a particular (premium) brand even though the specifications will be the same, and that is fine.

I terms of actual grades, I always favour first consulting the owners handbook, then checking with the main dealers what grade and brand they currently use, but again personal preference and perhaps experience of others, may suggest deviation from this.

In relation to the cambelt:- if the service book or checks at the servicing garages do not confirm an earlier cambelt change then this almost 10 year old car is well overdue for this work to be done - simply on an age basis. Of course, low mileage is fine, but does constitutes use where journeys have generally been short and infrequent, with more stop/starts than is normal. Such use can place belts under greater stresses than when it's running on song for extended periods, and again the rubber ages and becomes less supple and able to accommodate the more frequent start ups. Probably labouring the point, but we have the winter months coming upon us with low temperatures aggravating the situation.

If I were mine Chris, I'd be getting this done as a matter of urgency (if it hasn't been changed of course). Water pump as well? I would probably get it inspected and if considered serviceable then perhaps leave well alone. Otherwise I would only use a main dealer pump - never aftermarket for this critical application.

Enjoy the car.

Kind regards,

Gareth.

.

[F2004M]

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. 

[Trevor]

Good to hear you've got some jobs sorted on the car...just a case of keeping on top of the other bits and pieces.

You off to Le Mans this year Chris?

[F2004M]

1 hour ago, Trevor said:

Good to hear you've got some jobs sorted on the car...just a case of keeping on top of the other bits and pieces.

You off to Le Mans this year Chris?

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.