Magnet

Thanks Sam - repeating :- It appears ( from the photo) that it’s an owner- added door protection strip and should not be the cause of any undue concern. Glad you have done on your homework and are otherwise happy with what that has provided you with. The point that would concern me (as has been mentioned) is why this 3 year old vehicle has been sentenced to auction rather than being retained for retail -? Pardon my ignorance but where are you based, and do you have access to the last owner’s contact details? Good luck with it all. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello John, With a view to best securing forum members interests, and so that they can better decide whether they want to be involved or not:- Are you going to be ensuring all insurance liabilities are covered? Will you just be meeting member’s out of pocket expenses, or will you be offering payment for their time and inconvenience. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Eric, Welcome and thanks for joining. Sorry to hear of your issue, but glad you will be returning it to the Audi dealer (where you had it serviced?). Apologies for the potentially pessimistic suggestion ( and I don’t have any undue support for the servicing dealers) but be prepared to be told that this doesn’t have any connection with the service work carried out - which is not unheard of, since the EHB is not really a serviceable function. Hopefully it can be easily rectified with some manipulation rather than replacement parts. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Eric. Kind regards, Gareth.

Sunroof on your car? Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Could you please complete your profile for us.

It seems you are referring to the ‘slide-on?) door edge protectors then Samanuel. If so, they appear to be just that, and probably something that an owner has added. Apologies, but I cannot add anything else if that is what you are referring to. Are you able to see the service history and history of ownership before bidding? Good luck with your proposed purchase. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Samanuel, Apologies for the poor response, I’m struggling to fully understand exactly what you are referring to - the areas you have highlighted appear to draw attention to the door shut gaps, but your text talks about a line going through the whole outside part of the doors. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, One parking sensor from a main dealer will probably cost you north of £100, but worth checking. I bought a generic one off EBay for our 2006 for less than £15, and it even had the VAG part number cast into it! It will need to be colour coded with an aerosol, but that’s simple enough. Reading back you say it’s unclipped, and if so, have you tried pushing it back in. If it doesn’t clip back, then it suggests the clips on the sensor have broken, and it will need to be replaced. Since it won’t/ might not clip back in, can you pull it out enough to disconnect it? If so, its replacement should be simple, and I’d be surprised if it needs coding. Why not nip it around to an independent - now that you are armed with the information - and see what they quote you. Same with bodyshop if you feel you want to. Let us know how you get on Mark. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jon, Welcome, and thanks for joining. Getting the alternator output checked would be a great point to start from. Halfords (shops) should be able to do that for you, and check the battery efficiency at the same time, although the battery efficiency will obviously be compromised if the alternator output is below par. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

OK. Unless you drive ‘enthusiastically’ ( in which case have a look at EBC), then Brembo seem to be good value/quality. My search always starts with reputable suppliers on EBay. You could also try Car Parts in Motion - I’ve used these to good effect, making sure you choose quality brands. Just come back if you are unsure. I’m sure you will get additional suggestions from other members. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Nigel, To best advise, are you looking to buy discs and pads as cheaply as you can get them, or are you looking for recommendations where to get good quality components from? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Mark, Are you talking about one of the parking sensors? Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. No offence meant, but ‘This pigeon was stuck in the front grille….I’ve cleaned it up a bit….! I know what you mean, but quite funny when first read.

Hello Dave, Gary is thankfully offering the same service explanation/advice as I am. The answer to annual ( which it should be at 9K) or Longlife really rests without asking questions - if you go for the quoted plan price. My bet is that if you ask them for an annual service plan, then ( understandably) the price is going to increase. As I said, if you are not going to be buying it, then you opt for the cheapest plan which will satisfy the conditions of lease. If you decide to buy it at the end of the lease, it will be under-serviced in terms of its best interest. Sorry to repeat the above Dave, but the decision can now only rest with you as to whatever you choose. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Peter, Head gasket should be fine at 40K - as should the cap, but worth a try I guess. Just a thought ( and it’s late in the day for thinking at my age! ) - oil cooler?? Worth having a Google-? Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Dave, Great that you’ve made your decision. The whether you eventually buy it or not would be important if it were mine, since with an annual mileage of only 10k, the car should be on an annual service schedule, and not the Longlife (c18k) schedule you will probably be paying for. If you won’t be buying it, you just need the most basic schedule that satisfies the lease - possibly just 1service even. If you end up buying it, you will have a car which has been potentially under-serviced for its best interest. I’m really amazed that this cover actually pays for replacing your tyres at the point where it becomes necessary to change them, but … you know, and would have double checked. It seems a little incongruous that this cover covers your tyre wear, but doesn’t/might not include brake pads and discs etc - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Peter, Half a litre (one pint) in 150 miles is significant, and I would have to expected some evidence of where it was going. One simple test you could try:- Pick a dry day - if you can! Take the car on a run or at least 5 miles beyond the point where the coolant has reached operating temperature - longer if you can. Stop the car at a safe point, and without switching off, get an assistant to rev the car to a steady 2000 rpm and hold it there for 2 to 3 mins. while you observe the exhaust smoke - looking for white condensation type smoke. If there is any significant smoke then it could indicate HG issues, which would need further investigation before stripping. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on Peter. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. I could be worth ‘investing’ in a new ( but only Audi) reservoir cap - can be the source of some coolant losses.

Let us know how you get on then Merlin.

Hello Dave, Welcome, and thanks for joining. I think to be able to give a considered opinion, we would need to know what your anticipated annual mileage is going to be -? It would also be useful to know if you are buying it on PCP, and whether you intent to retain it after the 3 year contract, or simply hand it back in. I would guess the tyre ‘insurance’ element simply covers damage to the tyres, rather than replacement due to wear, but we would need you to confirm that is the case. Perhaps you could comeback to us Dave. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Have you actually had sight of this service agreement?

Thanks Gregg, So Mal now has a number of useful responses via. the forum, and should be sufficiently informed to make a considered course of action. Shame he hasn’t visited the forum since he posted his plea for advice, so we have to take it he is still none the wiser. Kind regards, Gareth.

So to box this up:- You may have an Audi dealer within travelling distance -? If you go to that dealer and ask them to supply/order a thermostat they won’t sell it to you -?

Any luck yet Dale?

Thanks Victoria, but it would be good to have an answer to:- Can you go into an Audi or VAG dealer and buy the part from them?

So you don’t have an option of buying a thermostat from a VAG dealer - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Never heard of that make - China’s best?? Having had too many inefficient new-out -of-the-box aftermarket thermostats over the decades, I’ve long since resorted to paying the extra, and only buying main dealer ones. There’s something in my mind which points me to the possibility of two thermostats on some models, but I could well be wrong.

Hello Victoria, Welcome, and thanks for joining. What brand of thermostat did you use as a replacement? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Andrew, Sorry to hear of your issue. Can we take it the red ‘low oil pressure’ light came on you continued to drive the car for 20 minutes - or have I got that wrong? Kind regards, Gareth.