Magnet

Many thanks Neil, ‘….company car ……so thought it would have been done..’ Probably unlikely, since as far as I know, it’s not an official scheduled item. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ed, Probably best to send Glen a PM, since he hasn’t been on here for a few years. Hopefully, he may be using the same registered e-mail address. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Matt, Re. 2. - I should be able to help you via. checking with my Walker catalogue next week. Can you wait until then? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks for the update Gaz. For National Tyres read Halfords - same umbrella. I managed to get a good deal on a family member’s 4x4 with them some months ago, but ATS turned up with the best deal for Michelins for our A3. Hope that 2024 is kind to you as well. Kind regards, Gareth.

Great bit of luck Thomas. Thanks for letting us know. Well worthwhile making sure the under-bonnet latch and the cable are now well lubricated. Kind regards, Gareth.

Just to finish off this thread:- Quantum oil is a VAG exclusive brand, but is available at competitive prices from a number of EBay (for example) sellers. I choose reputable sellers rather than cheapest price. Although I believe it was blended by Castrol, I understand it is now blended for VAG by Fuchs. Trust this may be of help. Kind regards, Gareth.

If it’s one thing I leant along my way to dotage, it’s there no such thing as a daft question - daft answers perhaps, but……

Hello Neil, Welcome and thanks for joining. Auto gearboxes should benefit from an oil change around 75K, but even if it hasn’t yet covered that mileage, then it would be advisable in your case to get a specialist to give it a look over. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Lee, Many thanks for joining. Easiest way to gather the information you need:- There has been a number of posts on this topic, so well worth a forum search. Aftermarket wheel suppliers often have tabulated effects of changing wheel diameters. Summary - if you increase the wheel dia. you will need to decrease the tyre profile - with potential adverse effects on ride quality. Consult your owners handbook where you should find the appropriate tyre sizes for alternative wheel diameters. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Lee. Kind regards, Gareth. There will be other considerations such as offsets.

Hello Gideon, Looks great. Answers:- If you don’t want to pay Audi dealer price for a handbook, then search on EBay, or get seller to provide you with one - as should be the case. AdBlue:- Handbook will confirm yes or no, but I would guess yes. Spare wheel:- If the car isn’t equipped with a spare wheel, it won’t have a jack, but it should have a smallish compressor and a pressurised container of tyre ‘gue’ which you release into the flat tyre before re-inflating with the compressor. This is to be treated only as an emergency get-you-home procedure, and renders the tyre unusable. The seller should have ensured the car had a compressor and gue, so it’s a trip back there if not. Want to convert to the more reliable ‘space saver’, jack and wheel brace su stem -? Again search EBay, but you are likely to need the foam insert as well to store the Jack etc. Speaker in well ? You will obviously need to work out how to relocate that. Perhaps you could keep us updated Gideon. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. I can’t open your images.

Thanks, but do you have any connection with ‘Chip Express’ was what I was asking - I thought clearly enough.

Any connection Martyn?

Thanks Steve, What you were told is fine for normal annual mileages, but low mileage use does add more potential wear and tear, so annual services are recommended under these conditions. Not that we need to protract this, but cost saving is fine at the front end, and let’s hope it works out at the hand-over stage. When you were told 19k or two years, I guess they understood your low annual mileage. Re. The ‘first’ service and independent servicing:- It is understood that this is acceptable, subject to the service provider being VAT registered, uses authorised parts, and has the facility to log the servicing data on to the VAG’ database. Kind regards, Gareth.

You are very welcome John. If it were me, I would be walking in for a chat - rather than ringing - and trying get a general feeling whether you want to entrust the alignment to them. Good luck with your search. The forum’s Christmas wishes to you and yours. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. what I omitted to say was we were invited to return the car in 3 weeks for them to recheck the alignment. Thought that was good.

Hello Gregg, Many thanks for the Christmas wishes, and returned best wishes. Sorry to hear of your issue, and I might be a lone voice in suggesting not to remove the EGR valve. In knowledge that it has been parked up for a few months, I would be treating it to a few gallons of best fuel, keep adding some fuel additive, and use it an stretch it’s legs with reasonably high rev. runs, and see what happens. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Steve, No service plan and no servicing carried out. As said, it should be on an annual service regime, and I still find it confusing why you haven’t had it serviced - or the service alert hasn’t come up. My stab at an explanation:- the ‘brake fluid change’ you had around Nov. 2022 should have also included a ‘proper’ service. Whatever, the car certainly needs to have its overdue service done now. The effect of this oversight ( by the system?) - evidence of service history at hand-back is important, and if it were mine, I would be sending a carefully worded e-mail to the Service Manager at the supplying dealer, as evident of your intent to abide by the service schedule, but you are understandably guided by the alert. Apologies for not being able to alleviate concern, but I’m sure you appreciate the effect of ‘Full service history’ with all (leased) vehicles. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Steve. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. I’m surprised you weren’t enticed to take out a service plan with the lease agreement - were you offered this monthly plan, and declined?

Exactly as mine Grant - it could be a Welsh thing! Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks John, Most tyre retailers now have the (sophisticated) equipment to do 4 wheel alignment, but their ability to use it, and correctly adjust that alignment on a range and marques and models can vary from retailer to retailer. Many boast that their equipment is state of the art, but its correct interpretation and use is of paramount importance. Not that this is going to help you John, but my local ATS was once not the place to go due to high prices and off handed service. It’s all changed of late, and above all, the chaps there couldn’t have been more friendly and engaging with a family member, and were keen to show me the readings and what they were going to do to rectify the situation. I had confidence with them, and just as an added bonus, they have just come out cheapest and fitted a set of Michelin on the A3. Your local depot?? Kind regards, Gareth,

Hello John, I believe the recommendation still stands for Quattros - renew tyres as a set. Have you had the 4 wheel alignment checked? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Grant, Sorry for the potentially pessimistic response, but I literally tried all the suggested methods I could find pre-Covid, in an attempt to recode the ‘spare’ remote for the humble A3 - failed - but fortunately the key still opens and starts the car, so given up on any ‘non- electronic’ re syncing! Kind regards, Gareth.

Tried swopping wheel from front to back? ( with respect to rotation).:

Make of tyres John? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello John, Wheel bearing noises usually alter on left/right steering, as the load on the bearing is increased/ decreased. My hearing is poor, but it doesn’t sound typical of a wheel bearing to me. Kind regards, Gareth.

I’ve recommended Quantum oils on here more times than I care to remember, and repeating - believed blended by Castrol. My servicing schedule:- Quantum oil and Mann filter changed every year. Air and pollen filters changed every 2 - again Mann or Bosch. ‘Over serviced’? Definitely yes, since annual mileage is <7K, but I’m cheap on labour! All parts are bought ex EBay from reputable sellers at competitive prices. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Although DIY servicing is potentially to a higher standard, due to dealer constraints of time, do not ignore the financial disadvantage of decreased value on trade in, and the potential of losing more than you gain.

Many thanks Granola, Tyre pressures and temperature is indeed an important aspect, and I have found the variation to be quite a bit more than 0.5 psi/10 degrees (C?). Kind regards, Gareth.