Magnet

Thanks David, and apologies for my geography? Ways forward:- ‘Recently just bought’ :- did the car come with very recent MOT at the time of purchase? Was that MOT arranged by the seller? If yes to either or both, then you have 2 options:- Submit the car for another MOT at a station of your choice, but not one recommended by the garage who you used to assess it. Inform the seller of the issues found and ( if a trader sale) request they correct these defects at their cost - if the second MOT declares the components to warrant a failure. Perhaps you could keep us updated David. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome David, and sorry to hear of the issues with the car. Is it just the one garage who has inspected the car, declared these parts need renewing (both sides?) and quoted you for their replacement? We take it the quote you have received is for supply-and-fit, and if so, would you like to share that quote with us? If this were mine, there would be a couple of things I would want to do first:- (1) Get the car assessed by another ( perhaps independent Audi specialist) to confirm the work is required to be carried out now - and obtain their quotation. (2) I would question - at both garages - what brand of parts are going to be used. Vital information, since with some brands from a certain volume motor factor chain, you could well find your self repeating the work next year! (3) Is Denny in NI? If so, when did the car go through its ‘Government run’ MOT, and were these faults found then? Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Mileage David?

Mark, You are being warned for ‘Post and run’ tactics, whereby you post a plea for help, but don’t return to the forum to respond to questions asked. Any future posts will need to be considered by the Moderators before being shown. Moderators.

Hello Al, Air intake pipes I guess, in photo 1. Photo2 -? Have a look at LLL Parts website and you should find part numbers there as well. EBay would be a good source, and you can ask the sellers if they have what you want - search Audi A3 breaking - and limit it down from there. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sorry, but that is not ‘Agreed Value’. That is what you think (in caps) it is worth. Totally different things. Still, it’s not my car, not my expenditure and effort Edward, and I don’t think I can spell it out any clearer, so I wish you well with your belief that you are indeed covered for that value. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Ian. Have you owned the car from new? If not, I suspect that it has reverted to the location of previous owners, for some reason. Interesting. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sounds good Edward. So we take it that the £6,000 valuation has been agreed ( most important part) and confirmed with the insurer, rather than you just stating that you value it at that figure-? Under this ‘Agreed value’ insurance you would normally need to complete a Condition Form, and provide photos that the insurer would assess, before confirming that they would pay that amount out - without question - in the event of a total loss. Can we take it that process will form part of the insurance-?

Hello Michael, Regrettably you now have to be warned for employing ‘Post and run’ tactics, and not retuning to the forum to answer questions in relation to your advert. If you wish to post in the future, your post will have to be sanctioned by the Moderators before being displayed. Moderator.

You most certainly have done the right thing Lisa. Tyre pressures should always be set to the manufacturer’s specification. OK, pessimistic:- you will now suffer from harsher ride characteristics associated with large diameter wheels and ultra low tyre profiles. Tyre profiles as low as 35 usually dictate XL tyres, which are less flexible, and exaggerate that harsher ride. ‘Recently purchased….’ probably hold the clue why the tyre pressures at hand over were lower than recommended - the seller has attempted to improve ride quality for demonstration and sales advantage. Anyway, you have now done the right thing and corrected the pressures. Please let us know how you get on with it in the short term. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sounds good Edward, but the acid test:- Are you going to insure it for an agreed value or not? If you don’t, without doubt, you can quote as many adverts as you like, values of as many engines as you like, but there is no doubt that they will eventually win hands down on shear experience of dealing with such claims - and your knowledge bank with such issues will pail into insignificance. No one can tell you what to do, even if they know it is the correct decision, so you either insure your hard work and effort, or you take a chance - a big chance on your investment. I think we have all come across enthusiasts who will throw unbelievable amounts of money (and time) at a car, then get downright mean when it comes to insuring their asset. Daft, but true. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Edward, Interesting, and can be taken as ‘they are joking’, but well worth giving it a good coat of thinking about, and then enter your registration into the insurance comparison sites and see what valuation they place on it - frighteningly low for a ‘standard ‘ vehicle, leave alone one which has had thousands thrown at it. Now the horrible truth sets in :- irrespective of what has been spent on it, and what the owner ‘puts on it’ value- wise, this is what will be paid out in the event of a small amount of damage, and it being declared a total loss, unless:- The cars gets insured to an agreed value by a specialist broker. That is the hard fact of life! So after all the money has been spent on it, it will need a (significantly?) enhanced insurance premium to insure your asset is properly covered. Vital in my book. WBAC? But do they buy -any- car?? No they don’t, so it seems. They have an office at my local Asda, so wishing to sell my pre war car which I’ve owned for decades, I wander into their office. That surprised them, and they informed me that they only do inspections and final valuations on vehicles already valued on line, so I have to first get an on- line valuation. Oh, OK - out of devilment, I input the original registration number, and back it comes ‘ Registration number not recognised’ - although it’s on the DVLA system as Taxed, and on Askmid as insured. So end of road to be able to satisfy their procedure, so no, they don’t actually buy -any - car.

Hello Mark, Did you get any further with this, and what end of the premium/ budget end are you. Looking for?

Many thanks Forbes, Search out braided brake hose suppliers/manufacturers and make contact there. Please let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Darren, Sorry, but oh blinking heck - to be polite- I don’t know anyone who would fit part worn tyres to such a performance vehicle, but I do now! Basics first:- Do all four tyres have near enough matching tread depths? Are all four tyres the same brand and tread pattern, and load and speed ratings? Kind regards, Gareth.

Welcome Lisa, An approach which I think is logical:- (1) Look at the door sticker and check the tyres fitted to the car are the same as that on the sticker - for your wheel diameter. (2) Check the marking on the tyres to see if they are marked XL or not. (3) Check and note the brand/ brands of tyres fitted. (4) Check the actual tyre pressures and record them. (5) Check the recommended tyre pressures on the sticker for hopefully your correct fitted tyres. (6) Report back on findings. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Simon, Don’t give up yet! I’ve just searched EBay against the part number, and come up with a choice - OK some from Germany etc. but inc. Stratstone Audi at Nottingham at £88 each, and Parts in Motion’s Kilen brand ( never heard of that brand) at £58 each. I would have thought Febi would have done them, so worth looking up Febi/Bilstein Technical phone number and having a chat with them - I’ve done that in the past to good avail. Keep us updated Simon. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Did you mark the post as ‘Solution’?

Hello Simon, Not sure if you have asked the question about heavier springs of Parts in Motion - ideally over the phone-? My feeling is the answer will be no, and it’s likely the estate springs will be heavier than the saloon anyway, but ‘heavier than heavy’ ?? Might be worth looking at LLL Parts website to see if there are varying part numbers. Perhaps you could keep us updated on both avenues. Kind regards, Gareth.

Well spotted Brian. OK, extra cost but spend once and wisely. Many thanks for pointing this out. Kind regards, Gareth.

Apologies Renato - back to wheels. Some of the information you need maybe found on the label inside the fuel flap. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Michael, You were asked weeks ago to add a price to your advert, but you haven’t. Could you please now let us know:- Has the car been sold? If not, what is your asking price? Please don’t let the Welsh side down! Thanks.

Welcome Forbes, Pardon my ignorance, but are these pipes metal or flexible? If metal, could you give us the outside diameter please. A photo would be great, so we have a better idea of what you need. Why do they need changing? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Andy - understand, but sometimes life is about just living the dream, rather than just thinking too much about the dream. Kind regards, Gareth.

Normally attached to the inside end of the valve - inside the tyre. Your local tyre supplier will be your best source of specific information. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. I like to address replies by the person’s name. Would you be kind enough to amend your profile to include your name for us. Many thanks.

I take it Richard is referring to his petrol fuel consumption. Diesel rather better. This is some large vehicle - costly to buy - and I would have thought there would be few prospective owners who would be too concerned about fuel consumption, when all other costs are taken into consideration. Responses from members on here:- exactly what I was indicating Richard. It’s all very well for owners to post pleas for help, but would I be considered to be too critical to state that not subsequently helping others- such as Andy, in this case - is downright selfish. Having said that, it is what it is, and I’m totally in equipped to change it. Anyway, many thanks Richard for your contribution. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Steven, I now understand. Sounds like you need to take advice from a recognised and respected mapping specialist. If you do decide to investigate that route, it would be well worth having a word with your insurers before committing. OK, probably just me, but convertibles aren’t usually bought for performance - more for relaxing and smelling the flowers with the hood down!