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Six years - and no, it didn't... 🤔

OK - I've escalated the situation. New gen Audi cam ordered (£780) - I'll have it fitted over the winter. It will pay for itself, if I'm having to pay for DPF regens frequently. I love this car, but it does strain that relationship at times... 😂🤣😂

Yep - works fine, and the tank is nearly full. Thanks for the tip, though... 🙂

Indeed... 🤔

So, I've just heard back from the guys at CAT Automotive. They've done a thorough diagnostic and - except for the DPF being blocked - nothing is out of parameters. CAT had the car to set it up after I had the replacement cam fitted last year. At the time they told me, and repeated today, that the BPW engines are notoriously finicky, and that fitting a non-original cam might throw up problems. In the last few thousand miles, the DPF light has come on maybe twice, but it always responded well to an 'Italian tune-up' and this cleared the light - apart from this time. So, they are going to clean the DPF, but it seems this may be a feature of using the car going forward...☹️ I'll get the car back on Monday - the total job will be £300. I'll report back when it's back home... Mike 😎

Well, I delivered it to CAT Automotive yesterday evening, they are looking at it today... 😎

So, I took the car out for an eight or nine-mile trip today - to get some breakfast... ...which was very pleasant. On the way home, in addition to the DPF light (which had been on from the get-go), I got the flashing glow-plug light, shortly followed by the check engine light. The triumvirate of misery... ☹️ When I got home, I plugged Carly in, and after 20 minutes or so, got the following result: The Smart Mechanic says: ...and goes on to say... So, it doesn't tell me much more than the light on the dash. My DPF is clogged and isn't re-genning as it should. No clue as to why... 🤔 It mentions a control unit - anyone know what/where this is please? Thanks, Mike 😎

So, I took the convertible out this morning, keeping it in normal performance before it warmed up. After about a mile, I got the flashing glow-plug symbol, and a reduction in power. 🤔 I got to my destination, and switched off. When I restarted, the DPF warning came up, but without the glow-plug lamp, and performance was normal. Now up to normal temperatures, I drove it at 70 in fourth gear for about three miles, but on restart, the DPF symbol is still there. I sat on the driveway with the engine idling, and Carly plugged in. It came up with an odd code - something to do with intermittent signal from the seat belt circuit, and not connected to anything about the engine, so I cleared and rescanned - clean...🤔 I'm going to take it for a spin this afternoon with Carly plugged in to see if anything comes to light. I spoke to my mate at Norwich Audi, who tells me that a forced DPF re-gen is £200 - but advised me to shop around. He also mentioned, in passing, that a new DPF was £2,500... 😱 So, I've got it provisionally booked in at CAT Automotive next Friday, for investigation. Their comment was that they need to see why the DPF isn't re-genning on its own, and cure that problem, rather than just addressing the symptom and forcing a re-gen. I'll keep updating this thread - but please jump in with ideas... Cheers, Mike 😎

Thanks. I have a Carly and will give it a scan…👍

Hi all, Not been here in a while, as the convertible is behaving itself... 😆 However, the other day, the DPF light came on, along with a beep. I dealt with it as I usually do, by taking the car up the three-mile bypass at 70 in fourth gear - an Italian tune-up. This has always worked in the past, but not now... 🤔 So, I bought a bottle of this stuff... ...which arrived this morning. I've put it in the tank, but haven't taken the car out yet. If it works - huzzah! - but what advice if it doesn't? 🤔 Cheers, Mike 😎

Hi James, My mate's reply once he got your reg no: "Hi Mike, yes A8 2004 newest version is the 4E0 260 805AG but can use any of those versions" Hope this helps, Mike😎

Hi James, My mate's initial reply: "Hi Mike, A8 2003-2007 4E0 260 805G goes to AC which then goes to AG so any of those numbers would fit Hope that helps track one down" But if you can DM me your Reg No, it should be able to completely confirm it. Cheers, Mike 😎

Hi James, Can you DM me your registration number please? I'll check with my Audi parts mate to confirm compatibility of the (many!) versions on offer. Cheers, Mike 😎

Lost

To be fair, Clifford, the work has not been something that has taken the car off the road, and it has been in regular use any time the sun is out (except when there's salt on the road 😱). The final step of identifying the reason for the interference, and coming up with the solution, was a sense of being determined to solve a problem. My mother was German - I think it's her genes that make me determined to make things work 😆 It was a lot more long-winded than I anticipated, but has made it a nicer place to be during a long trip. Mike😎

A very late update. If anyone else has done this, or is contemplating doing it, I have another piece of advice. I found that the image from the reversing camera was continually being interfered with, with lots of aberrations appearing in the image. After a lot of trial and error testing by my mate Dave (blessed with Mother Theresa levels of patience), we worked out what the problem is. The standard 12v system we were taking our power supply from was too 'dirty' - ie it also contained voltage signals to operate the CANBUS. This interfered with the picture. Our solution was to use the same supply to switch a relay, which, when triggered, gave the normal 12v from the source (the 12v power socket in the RH panel inside the boot). The result is - it all works perfectly - but I wish someone had written a cautionary tale like this for me to read before I started...🤦‍♂️ Mike🙂

Hi Mark, Going from the Reg nuber you DMed me, it looks like the pump is 028 130 115M There is a VW service kit 038 198 051D, which is suitable. He says a Bosch seal kit is available from Autodoc for just over £12. I hope this helps. Mike 🙂

Hi Mark, Do you have a clearer pic - or can you copy the part number (which appears to be embossed in the oblong recess) please? Once we can identify the part number, options should be easy to find. Cheers, Mike 🙂

Hi Christine, He's Norwich based, so you're a little out of his range, unfortunately. I should have mentioned that it brought the hood up like new, and the video I tried to embed shows water bouncing off and beading on it. I had it treated in 2023, and it's still really good (although the car is garaged, so it might not be a fair comparison). https://mikeo.smugmug.com/Cars/Convertible/n-Tcq75Z/23rd-March-2023-Valet/i-Tw9Pj8P/A https://mikeo.smugmug.com/Cars/Convertible/n-Tcq75Z/23rd-March-2023-Valet/i-6xJw2SS/A If you copy and paste the links above into your browser, you should be able to see the two (very short) videos... Let us know how you get on. Merry Christmas, Mike 🎅

The chap that valets my A4 convertible recommends Gtechniq convertible roof cleaner. This is a two-step process - a cleaner and then a sealant. He treated my car's top with it a couple of years ago, and it came up like new and really repels water. I'll try to put a couple of videos showing the water repellence... OK - I give up - trying to embed a video here is clearly beyond me...🤦‍♂️

Now sold 🙂

I still have them, but - if you read the thread - I can't tell if they are for an Audi 100 or an A6. When I bought them, I'm pretty sure the chap said they came off an Audi 100, but he also told me that they would fit either model. Having checked part numbers with Audi, they are not interchangeable, and I have no way of telling which car they will fit... Mike

Hi Patrick, I still have them, but - if you read the thread - I can't tell if they are for an Audi 100 or an A6. When I bought them, I'm pretty sure the chap said they came off an Audi 100, but he also told me that they would fit either model. Having checked part numbers with Audi, they are not interchangeable, and I have no way of telling which car they will fit... Mike

Precious few days that scream "Convertible" so far this summer. I took the old girl out the other day and the stumbling pick-up and misfire in cruise is back... 🤦‍♂️ So yesterday, on the recommendation of my mate at Norwich Audi, I dropped it off at CAT Automotive for a deep-dive diagnosis. They rang me this morning and told me that all the issues I am having comes down to the EGR valve that I replaced (with an aftermarket one). They recommend altering the map to effectively delete the EGR valve - the emission value it controls is not tested for in UK MoTs anyway. I've asked them to go ahead. Interestingly, the tech mentioned that they have come across aftermarket cams (like I had fitted) which are not designed to work with Diesel Particulate Filters, and told me to keep an eye on it. If I get a DPF light come up, I'll give the car an Italian tune-up on the A47 for five miles or so and then restart it... Looking forward to getting her back - standby for weeks of drizzle... 😆

So, to answer my own question, this would appear to be the part of the mechanism that ensures the seat returns to its original position once you've let someone into the back seat. The seat now just travels all the way back, instead of stopping at its original position. The reason I didn't spot this earlier is that I invariably have the passenger seat fully back, so it isn't an issue...