Magnet

I wish you good luck and an acceptable outcome from the Ombudsman Simon. Just wonder if you are missing my point, but... Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Adam, Sorry to hear of your problem. Wondered if you could explain the sequence of issues which led you to breakdown - I take it the car did breakdown? - and what diagnosis the AA carried out to suspect the head gasket has failed, and if it has, why the car (engine) is not repairable. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Simon, Good for you. However, on a rather pessimistic note, I recently had to call upon the services of the Energy Ombudsman. OK, the service is straightforward to use, but as I understand (correct?) the service is financially supported by contributions from the major energy suppliers! In my case, I came off little/no better off than if I had not bothered. Motor Ombudsman?? I hope you have better luck. Perhaps you could let us know. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ali, Always a difficult one, since many (most?) car manufacturers will tailor their oil specification to their own requirements, and buy it in in large quantities. I notice your car is now over 20 years old, and I doubt whether the actual specification for that year is still available from VAG. Things have moved on. Could you confirm the car is automatic rather than manual? If automatic, I would be tempted to try to find an automatic gearbox specialist and take advice there. Perhaps you could come back and let us know. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Jamie, ’......very much the wrong spring..’ . It is possible to perhaps over react to that, and logically, they can opine that the difference was not significant enough for you not to have bought it, or indeed use it for 4 months, so it’s unlikely to come under the heading of a repair which must be treated with urgency. If this were mine, I would be approaching the selling dealer - in writing - outlining the issues and await their response. It would of course, be progressive to inform them that the car is going into an Audi dealer on 16th (big bucks to renew timing belt and water pump!?) and suggest you can request comment on your issues and obtain quotations to rectify. Perhaps you could keep us updated Jamie, Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jamie, To cut a longer reply short, it seems you and your local garage have probably diagnosed both issues, and all that is left to do is to discuss the repairs with the secondhand car dealer you bought it form - since the answers lies there. Main dealer or general used car dealer? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, ’...replace the struts....’? I would not think so, since your symptom description points to the tailgate not opening to the required height, rather than opening to that height, then dropping back. Daft question:- Have you replaced the battery on this car in recent times? I ask, since I am aware that with certain other marques, you have to ‘reset’ the electric windows etc. when the battery is replaced. If not, it sounds like a trip to the dealer/independent for recalibration?- unless someone else has the trick answer. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Abs, Thanks for posting, but you don’t tell us your name, or any information on your location - outside the UK? I can see you have posted your e-mail address. Perhaps not a good thing to do on an open-to-all forum. Personally, I would be asking Admin. to remove it if you cannot edit it out. Kind regards.

Hello Col, There is sort of good news, not so good news, and bad news. Good news first:- My advice with these things is to first get quotes from two different main dealers and an independent. You may already have done that, but if not, the good news is I have sort of done it for you, since we have a family member with a similar year car, and we are about to do that one. Continuing the ‘good!’ news, the main dealer quote was £595! The the ‘not so good news’ is that does not include the water pump renewal! ‘Including the water pump Sir?’ That will be £740. Why so high? Whole front of the car has to come off (well on this diesel one anyway) as I understand it, inc. radiator, air con., etc. In my book Col, there is one thing far more important in terms of getting this critical application done, than price. This isn’t a price is king job, but it is certainly a parts-quality is king job. If you shop around for best prices then you will certainly beat the above, but you are likely to end up with Brand X aftermarket parts being used and most certainly in terms of the water pump, you could well find yourself in significant difficulties by using an aftermarket one rather than a genuine VAG one, or even leaving your original one unchanged. If you are still intent on going down the most competitive price route, then there is only one aftermarket make I would use, but I would not (in caps) use their water pumps in preference to the VAG ones. Cost of VAG parts? If you are genuinely interested in buying the parts at discount, then I can advise you on where to try - I’m currently awaiting today’s delivery of the parts- but to be quite honest, I would not want these good folks bothered by just-as-a-matter-of-interest quotes. Apologies Col, if some of the main dealer quotes are known to you, but we have to assume they are not since you haven’t shared this information - and indeed quotes can vary from one dealer to another, and it’s always good to know of regional variations. Wherabouts are you Col? Location -England. Perhaps you can let us know what your experiences were which led you to ask this good question. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Trevor, If I go into ‘Latest posts’, there are advert headers for Intime Academy or similar - again in Chinese. Any info. on these? Kind regards, Gareth

Sorry Steven, no I don’t, but a visit as suggested, should result in some clarification. Recall?? If so beware! Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steven, Many thanks for joining in. Re. search engines and VIN s:- I think it’s fair to say they are reasonably accurate, but may be linking your particular car to the 2016 model year, rather than the date of first registration - which it’s unlikely to relate to. If this were mine, I would be paying a visit to your local dealer, armed with the V5 in your name, and enquiring there for a build record print out. I find the parts folks are the ones who tend to take their time and help out, rather than the service or sales personnel. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Lee, I’m sorry no one has replied to your post. As frustrating as this must be, I think that if this fell within the experience bank of those who try to help out on here, then forum members would take their time to respond. If I had an answer I would tell you, but I don’t, and to be honest, I don’t really have an answer to your last-line question either, but would support the forum principle that advice is generally given freely by folks who give their time and share their knowledge without any charge - and very often without any acknowledgement. Apologies Lee. Let’s hope your nudge prompts someone to help you out. Kind regards, Gareth. There you go - Mark has kindly come along while I was replying, so perhaps you could let us know whether his assistance has been of any benefit to you.

It’s not just me then Cliff. I have already brought this to the attention of Trevor who is one of the admin. folks, but the posts are still there. Just noticed that there is also what appears to be a similar advertising header - at least on my system. Surely these posts can’t be linked to some advertising sponsorship - can they!!? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Chris, Side lights or headlights? Or most unusual, both? Guess you have checked fuses and earths. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dell, Have you tried wanted adverts in publications such as ‘Modern Classics’, Classic Car Weekly, Classic Car Buyer - the list goes on? Also worth a try at Partsfinder, or similar online systems which link into breakers. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Dell, Can we take it that you have the car insured on a classic car policy on an agree value, limited mileage policy, and the need for the (independent?) valuation is dictated by a need to agree the value with the insurers/brokers? If so, as a matter of interest, who are the brokers/insurers? - since many (most) will accept a valuation form completed by the owner, and supported by photographs, if the valuation is under a ball park figure of £20K. Are the brokers questioning your valuation, and therefore asking for an independent valuation? I’m a little out of touch with the escalating values of some of these ‘modern classics’, but my stab at it is that your Audi dealer’s (salesman?) valuation of £7 to £8 is rather high - but I could well be wrong, and often am! I appreciate you have spent almost that amount on the car, but the hard fact is that car renovation is invariably a loss making venture, so your expenditure cannot be taken as a marker point for its valuation. A couple of avenues for you - if your broker is insisting on an independent valuation, is to seek out another broker who will accept a self valuation. Failing that, I would be approaching a couple of your regional (all makes) Classic Car Club’s and asking there if anyone would provide you with an independent valuation. Might also be worth looking at magazines such as ’Modern Classics’ who may well list condition 1,2 and 3 valuations for a variety of marques and models. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Femi, Are you talking about the tyres mentioned n the last post? If so, the poster mentions that they were manufactured in 2016 or 2017. Kind regards, Gareth.

Well done Keith, 225 is a reasonable width to somewhat compensate for the 40 profile which could be considered low. The acid test is of course, you were able to fully assess the ride comfort before committing. Incidentally - run flats or not? Run flats now seem to becoming the norm. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello George, I take it you are trying to buy secondhand -possibly a no longer available part? If secondhand, you could try advertising your Want on breaker’s systems such as Partsfinder (there are others) whereby your requirements get relayed to all participating breakers, who then contact you if they have the part you want. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ozgur, Worth Googling this fault code while you wait for answers - should help you better understand what’s probably going on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Rebecca, Getting there very quietly:- Annual mileage? (MOT certs./online system will tell you). Do the tyres wear evenly across the width of the thread? Make/s of tyres used - and size would be useful? Typical journeys made? - small mileages around towns, motorways, typical speeds, last-minute braking or gentle braking? Occasional rapid acceleration or not, enthusiastic driving around corners or not? You seem to indicate that fronts are wearing quicker than rears - correct? If so, how long do rears wear? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rebecca, Thanks for asking the question, but from the absolute minimum of information you give us, I think it’s going to be impossible to get meaningful replies. Trying to introduce a bit of humour into this, it might be worth visiting the doctor if you have an appetite for eating tyres! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello?, Since the original poster hasn’t returned to the forum since a week after he joined over 5 years ago, I think it’s unlikely that you will get any response from him via. your post. Worth sending him a PM ?? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Connor, If this were mine, I would simply be booking it in at the dealer and getting it sorted. You really shouldn’t have to concern yourself with why it isn’t working, and any degree of ‘DIY fiddling’ may just result in affecting your warranty. Kind regards, Gareth.