Magnet

Hello Tony, I don’t see why you can’t buy them from Audi, or better still, get the selling dealer to order them from Audi, since they should have been with the car ( handbooks that is). If they order them then at least they will get them at their discount and no doubt you can compromise on who pays what. Service book? I think this car should have come with an actual service book - most don’t now - simply resorting to all service information being logged on the main dealer servicing system. It is possible to buy service books and request the servicing main dealer to retrospectively fill in the appropriate servicing detail. If this were mine, I would start at your local main dealer and ask for a service print out for the car. Proof of ownership may be necessary via. the V5 in your name. I guess this sale was not via. an Audi dealer - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Oleg, I think you are very wise in doing all the homework you can before considering buying this particular vehicle. Things to look for with Q5s in general? Sorry I cannot help you with that side of the enquiry, but no doubt owners on here will come along. This particular vehicle? No doubt you are aware that it passed its first MOT in July of this year ahead of its 3rd birthday in September. A little strange, but no doubt the car came into the trade back in July. Mileage then appears to be a little under 25K - low for a 3 year old diesel. How long has it been owned by its last keeper? Consult V5 and if possible contact the keeper. For sale at main dealer? If not, has it been part exchanged for another marque. End of lease sale? Main dealer service history checking? First registered in Maidstone area so good place to start. Good luck with your enquiries. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Andrew, I would like to think that the answer to your question lies (even) in the the most recent posts. This may not be what you want to hear, since it is human nature to ‘fall in love’ with the car you want to buy, and then seek reassurance that all is now reasonably well sorted. It would appear not to be reliably so. Sorry, but I would say buy at your peril. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. You should be able to send private messages to any of the posters to see what they would advise.

Hello William, I’m very much with Cliff on this. I and dare I say - possibly - Cliff will recall batteries failing with some degree of warning. Nowadays they seem to fail almost ‘catastrophically’ - appearing to be OK one day, and problematic the next. I see your car is about 8 years old, and if the battery hasn’t been renewed, then it’s likely it’s about done its time. Certainly get its efficiency checked, but I would anticipate it needs renewing. If so, record all the data off your existing one and have a look on line for a quality replacement such as Bosch or Varta. Suppliers such as Tayna, Battery Megastore will ship one out to you quickly. Personally, I don’t favour many of the other brands which might be available cheaper or dearer. Kind regards, Gareth.

There could be many causes of poor lighting, but if your headlights are.....’so hazy it makes it dangerous to drive’, then you must eliminate this haze.

Sorry, looking at the 2013 A6 you list under your profile.

Well ‘b’ you will know how effective the use of this kit has been. If it hasn’t effectively removed the majority of the haze then it has been ineffective, and the likely cause of poor lighting remains there. Has it removed the haze or not? If not you need to try something else. Have a look at YouTube videos etc. or try something like a G3 rubbing compound. It’s had work, but usually successful. What surprises me is that we are talking a 6 year old vehicle here - now that would be unusual, unless the car has been subjected to our cheap pressure lance waving car cleaners. Not so cheap when it affects such things, and brake components when wheel cleaner is applied. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Georgia, Straight from the school of simple things first - I would advise getting the battery efficiency checked first. Yes, I appreciate the car is only four years old, but all systems are now so dependent on the precise efficiency of all aspects of the battery’s efficiency. Batteries and service life:- so far this year, 15 month old (xxxx) battery failed - couldn’t even jump start it through the original battery! 3 year and 3 month old ‘prestige’ make with below spec. battery causing non stop/start and other issues. This is just based on my DIY year to date. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello ‘b’, When you say hazy, do you mean the plastic lens has become hazy, or are you talking about some other part of the headlight? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Huw, It could well be to do with linkage adjustment, but (just in my opinion) it is rare that the system would need to be adjusted - particularly twice. Getting it done for free a year after ? Um? I think this will boil down to the degree of goodwill which is extended. Bought from one of Mr Sinclair’s dealerships? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello James, Just a couple of points:- In my experience, the only place to go for information about recommended tyre pressures ( if not shown inside the fuel filler flap etc.) is the vehicle handbook, checking against wheel and tyre size, and number of passengers etc. Over inflation and tyre pressure warning? Good question. Does this system alert to over inflation as well as under? If not, it should do. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Owen, Obviously not saying this has anything to do with it, but Pagid is a brand name used by Euro Car Parts. Mintex was a once very well respected brand - now simply a bought out brand name. Re. your other suggested possibilities:- if master cylinder and or servo, why aren’t all (in caps) four wheels adversely affected? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Paul, Have you wandered into your local (long established if possible) motor factors and enquired there? They should be able to give you the aftermarket - Walker etc. - part numbers, which is likely to broaden your horizons. From my (earlier information) it appears similar in form to that fitted to the earlier 1989 to 1991 90 saloons which Walker list under part no. 64 15241. Kind regards, Gareth.

It all hinges on using good quality oils and filters. Cheap is just not good enough in my book particular when DIY = free labour costs!

Hello Owen, I’m confused. You know you have an issue with the N/S front brake not releasing - that problem is not going to go away by any amount of brake rolling road testing. If your mechanic believes O/S is .....not working at all... then obviously this is a new issue. OK test will assess its efficiency, but as I say, will not do anything for the problem you have already highlighted. Incidentally, who fitted the new discs and pads, and what make were they? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Tony, Sorry cannot help with 1 for your model year, but I’m sure somebody will. Do you have a handbook? If so, this should point you to the correct original - assuming you want to return it to that set up. Re.2 - sounds very much as if the car has been subjected to short runs, and what you are seeing is condensation. If it were mine, I would be treating it to a good run of at least 20 miles, followed by an immediate oil drain, clean off the residue, fit a new good quality oil filter (main dealer or if not Mann) and refill with a good quality engine oil of the correct grade (5w30? please check). I only use Quantum Longlife 3 which was/is recommended by VAG. Garages would not have the time to take the car for such a run etc., so it would be best done as a DIY job if you have the skills. Re. 3. Probably no more than a poor/dirty connection. Worth investing in 1/2hr with an autoelectrician. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Harch, I think the forum needs a specific answer in order to offer any meaningful advice. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Harch, Could you let us know whether ‘does not start’ means the engine is not being cranked over by the starting motor, or it is, but the car does not start? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Owen, Sorry it didn’t work for you. When advising sight-unseen it’s always difficult to try to diagnose these/any issues. ABS unit? Possibly. I’m from the school of simple things first, which is fine if it’s on a DIY principle, but not so good if you are paying someone to look at the simple things! It it were mine, and if (in caps) I was examining the car myself at no charge to me, I would be checking that the caliper slides are properly free and the caliper carrier is free from any distortion. Also double checking the disc sits nicely on a cleaned and de rusted hub - garages sometimes/often don’t take as much care with this as a DIY person would, since time is money. Yes you can ask them to recheck these and other eliminating factors, but ..... Back to ABS units. Obviously this is where the costs comes in, and is replacing it going to guarantee to solve the problem? Yes it’s possibe it will, be let’s hope it doesn’t turn out to be another costly try-that experience. I could think about rigging up some trial brake pipework which would by pass the ABS unit supply to this caliper and do a quick trial-only test with that, but not simple, and would be costly if not DIYing, so I guess you are in their hands. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello John, I think you are absolutely right in saying there is likely to be mixed opinion on this. Mark’s dealer has probably given him sound opinion, but I wonder about the correct wording relating to ‘sealed for life’. If this means what it really says and the unit is indeed ‘sealed’ then Mark has been given the correct advice. If, as I think they mean - Audi does not have this on their service schedule - then all it means is that it doesn’t have (in caps) to be done, and it’s back to your question of whether to or not. I found the same very vague situation with the fuel filter on our 2006 A3. No service interval - which is of course daft. Not sure if any of this helps, so it might be worth keeping an open mind on it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Iain, Sorry to hear of your unfortunate experiences with the Q7. Unfortunate for you, and I’m sure the content of this thread will be useful to others. In order to make it more meaningful, it would be advantageous to have the thread title altered from your name to something more appropriate to the content, so others attention is drawn to it. Perhaps you could request ‘Admin’ to do that for you, or re- post it under a different title such as ‘ Unfortunate experience with Q7’ or stronger if you feel. Kind regards, Gareth.

Worth having an AA or RAC inspection Bob? Kind regards, Gareth.

Good luck with the intended sale Tony. Nice cars should only be bought and sold over a nice cup of tea - and cake as a bonus! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Rob, Sounds exciting. Not wanting to put a dampener on your intended purchase, but it seems from the ......’.I am buying ..on Sunday’ that you have made up your mind to buy the car, yet it appears ....’ seeing it in the flesh...’ that you have only seen photos of the car. As they say, love is blind, so I would ensure you take someone along with you who know his way around secondhand cars, and hopefully A8s in particular. FASH. Yes important and an asset, but not the be all and end all. If it were me, I would be trying to get a service print out for the car rather than just having sight of a few stamps in a book - which don’t tell you much. Warranty? You are very wise to take note of the ....apart from wear and tear ... part. That is where the devil hides. Everything wears in 8 years, so effectively the warranty can potentially be classed as being of no value. All warranties are insurance backed, and this one might be no more restrictive than any other, but of course the dealer will promote this one since he is likely to be gaining commission on your £500 payment. If it were me, I too would be getting excited, but trying to temper that excitement until all homework has been done and the car viewed by someone independent of the excitement factor. Good luck with hopefully buying it. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Owen, I’m sure you will appreciate that it’s always difficult to diagnose anything without examining the animal. Having read what you have said, I would be beginning to suspect the brake flexible hose on the offending side. These can deteriorate internally and as they break up, can effectively form a ‘one way flap valve’ which allows the pressurised fluid to move into the calliper, but not to adequately allow the pressure to be released. Just a stab Owen, but.... Kind regards, Gareth.