Magnet

Hello Tony, In addition to Steve’s comments, and appreciating the car is only 6 months old, what is your cleaning routine with the car? Kind regards, Gareth.

Price Liam please? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Oliver, Welcome and thanks for joining. Having had one in the family since new, and now sitting on 172k miles, I can assure you your car is absolutely as it was when new. ‘Drinking fuel on motorway trips…’ You will find that they aren’t that economical - around 38 mpg on steady speed-limit motorway driving, and about 33mpg around town. I don’t want to tempt fate, but despite that, I wouldn’t swop ours, judging by some of the issues listed on here with later models! What I would advise to preserve its hopeful longevity is:- Treat it to an oil and filter change. ( I use Quantum Longlife 5w/30 and change it annually - use a quality German filter) Renew the air filter every 2 years. All important - renew the cambelt ( and alternator belt) assembly unless you have documented evidence that it’s been changed within the last 5 years. Hopefully, if you look after the car, it will treat you well. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Chris, We now know you certainly know your way around car restoration, and although I can’t add much to my earlier recommendations, I’m sure you will have access to other specialised restorers who would be able to offer you the advice you need. Good luck with returning it to an acceptable condition. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Elaine, Hopefully not seen as patronising, but I do feel for you, since (to me) you seem to have fallen victim to your own patience - which understandably is now running out some 3 1/2 years down the line - most would have started shouting and making a fuss an awful long time ago, and perhaps this is where your patience may have let you down. Let’s hope Audi, and/or the dealership reciprocate your patience. I’m certainly not claiming the car isn’t suitable for short runs Elaine, but only that such usage does come with understandable downsides, possibly including the fact that the car seldom getting up to its optimum operating conditions. Couldn’t possibly comment on your last paragraph! - except I take it he will now be offering you his full support and assistance in getting out of this in the best way possible. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Pete, What years and models are you looking to display Pete, and what would be the total number you can accommodate? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Elaine, Sorry to hear about another issue with the car, and apologies in advance for what will appear to be a pessimistic reply, but I felt it may help to gather your homework and thoughts on this now 3 1/2 year old car, that you intend to report to the Ombudsman. It can be (rightly?) argued that you have ‘put up’ with this car for such a period of time, that it’s warranty expired some 6 months ago. Others might have put up an official complaint a long time ago. I could also be argued that this EVAP issue is a new issue which has occurred close to the end of its warranty period. On a positive note, if it occurred and was reported within the 3 year period, Audi should rectify this issue at their cost. I too, would not be too impressed with this car and its 10k service, but such low annual mileage can take its toll on vehicles used for short runs. ‘Business manager having a look at it’ could boil down to giving you the best part exchange offer they can come up with against the purchase of a new vehicle. As I say Elaine, apologies for the pessimistic views, but at least it allows food for thought. Let’s hope for an acceptable outcome - please keep us informed on how you get on. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Can we take it the car has now had 3 annual services at your Audi dealership?

Thanks Sully, I’m not sure if you are ‘talking your way out of this’ or not. As I see it, the car won’t be yours to decide what to do with, but will be owned by the leasing company or the company you work for. If you decide to add a Tuning Box to this new vehicle, then it would be sensible to expect that that will adversely affect/invalidate the car’s warranty, and the bottom line could be that you will then be held responsible for any resultant issues not covered by that warranty. You will also need to inform whoever insures the vehicle. A cynical old view, but if you want to arrive somewhere sooner for your business, then just leave a little earlier - sorry! Kind regards, Gareth.

Company car Jon.

Thanks for joining Chris. Your request for help is appreciated, but it’s rather unusual insofar as requests for renovations are normally aimed at bodywork and body panel requirements. My primary recommendation would be:- don’t entrust this mechanical ‘restoration’ to a ‘company’. The car is now 21 years old, and loosely comes under the heading a ‘classic car’, so if I were in your situation, I would be looking up a local all-makes classic car club, and joining that. Members there should be able to come up with some local recommendations of who to go to, and more importantly - who not to go to. Again, if it were mine, I would be getting that garage to give you a report on its mechanical condition, and highlight and prioritise a schedule of work necessary to bring it to an acceptable standard. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Chris. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ian, Welcome, and thanks for joining. My recommendations are:- Get yourself an owner’s handbook. You should find one on EBay. Can I take it you rang an Audi dealer rather than actually visiting their Parts Dept./ Advisor? I would be very surprised if they won’t sell you a litre of the correct oil - so for probably around £10 you will have the correct oil, so visiting will be the answer. Alternatives:- Contact Opie Oils - armed with your registration number. Refer to the Castrol website - again with your reg. no. I would think the correct grade maybe 5w/30 to VAG spec. 504, but that’s my guess, and guessing obviously isn’t acceptable - hence your very sensible question. If my assumption turns out to be correct, I use Quantum Longlife 5w/30 - believed blended by Castrol, and was/is a VAG’s recommended brand. Always available on EBay. I guess you will be using a quality German oil filter, and renewing the air filter at the same time, unless you have evidence of a recent change. Perhaps you could let us know what you find Ian. Kind regards, Gareth.

Try sending him a PM, since he hasn’t been on here for well over 2 years. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Richard, Welcome, and many thanks for joining. A bit of a nothing answer I’m afraid, but green lights usually simply tell you something is on and operative - green is not a ‘warning’ light - more of an indicator light. What it’s indicating is active ?? Kind regards, Gareth.

That equals on its very last legs Chris! Surprised you’ve got away with it for so long. Well at least you now have best options to buy its replacement. Incase it helps, I’ve bought an Exide - Premium ( didn’t go for cheaper Excel) from Tayna. Very impressed with the weight at least. Worth a look at? Let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

If you can actually remove the offending door card in situ. Kind regards, Gareth.

Have you tried National Tyres/ Halfords for their deals? We had a really good deal on a set of Pirelli Scorpion all season tyres recently for a family member’s 4x4. The previous set had performed so well that there simply wasn’t any debate about alternative brands. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Mark, The load rating of the Geolander is the same as your current Dynamo? (Chinese?) tyres - both 107. My guess is that Geolander might (in caps) also be XL although not stated to be. An interesting question now emerges:- can you have tyres which have the same load rating, but not guaranteed to be XL? My first port of call would be to e-mail your question to the supplier - they may well be marked XL, but that has been omitted from the written description. Let us know how you get on Mark. Kind regards, Gareth.

What happened about renewing the known-to-be-inefficient battery Harry? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, I would be surprised if the required specification wasn’t XL. Have you checked that, and whether your current ones are XL? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Carlos, Welcome, and thanks for joining. Would I be daft to suggest even the horn has to be coded in on this virtually new car? Kind regards, Gareth.

Great - thanks Andy. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Andrew, Can you do yourself and fellow members a favour, and state what you consider would be a reasonable offer please. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Drew, Have the brake disc shields been check - they usually rust badly and could become partially dislodged and flap about -? Just another guess! Can anything be felt at the pedal? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Stuart, The original poster hasn’t returned to the forum since a week after he first posted. I would suggest you send him a PM, in the hope that he is still using the same e-mail address. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Andy, No more than and educated (!??) guess. Permanently live ‘memory’ feed - ? You’ve gone a long way with this Andy, and I think if I was in your situation, I would now be looking up a localish audio specialist, and seeking advice there, rather than trying to pre-guess anything going forward. Kind regards, Gareth.