Magnet

Many thanks Goran, Apologies again for believing your set up was as it is. In effect, the only ways your wheels can be as far back as they are , are:- (1) By design -so we need comments from other members with the same vehicle. (2) If yours is different, then explanations would be serious accident damage - which I think we can discount. (3) Significant wear/movement in suspension components - which you would need to discount. (4) Wrong subframe fitted as a replacement at some point. I can’t see that any issues with the air suspension to account for this. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. I must congratulate you on your English - well done Goran.

Where have you searched so far Justin? Kind regards, Gareth.

Sorry Goran, This isn’t the rear suspension set up I expected it to be - if yours is the same as the Quattro. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Goran, It’s a pleasure to try to be of a little help - if I can, without being able to look at anything. Can I just make sure that you are saying the rear wheel positions are like they were when you bought it 4 years ago, so really nothing has changed, but you are now aware of it and it now causes you concern. Would all of that add up to the situation as it is now? Since both wheels are similarly too far back, I would discount the view that the car had been previously accident damaged. My belief is as I said - I think someone has fitted the wrong main forward rear links - they are too long - although probably of the right design. I’m not sure whether you can obtain after market parts in Montenegro, but if you can, then it would be worth checking the dimensions of the confirmed correct parts for your model. Failing that, you would obviously need to seek advice at an Audi dealer. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. we assume there isn’t any excessive play anywhere - you say you can’t hear any noises to indicate that. Again, I am assuming that what looks wrong - is wrong, but perhaps someone who has the same model and year, could confirm that - or otherwise.

Thanks Martin, but whatever, my best answer is to ask the dealer. If you cannot talk to Aviva, then worry. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Martin, Welcome and thanks for joining. I think the reliable answer lies with the supplying dealer. Am I right in thinking the insurance questions are taken from comparison website? One point which would be very important to me to confirm ( apart from yours) is whether the policy covers the full purchase value of the vehicle, in the event of a total loss - most (all ??) do during the first year - but I would double check that. Also, as an addition to that, does the policy cover ‘ back to invoice value’ - which doesn’t account for price increases during the year, or replacement of like-for-like? Kind regards, Gareth.

Apologies for the useless response to these posts, but the complexity of these modern systems always leads to issues of discontent - proportional to the extra complexity. Harking back to the days of many cars not having radios, and the passenger complaining about that lack, the stock reply was ‘Just hold the end of the aerial cable and sing!’. Life was much more simple then! Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Goran, How long have you had the car, and was it like that when you bought it, or has it ‘looked like that’ since? My thoughts point me towards someone fitting the wrong forward control arms - the main horizontal lower ones which run from near the rear sill to the hub casting - i.e. they are too long. Please come back to us with more detail of the history of the problem Goran. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steven, Thanks for joining and posting your plea. Could you let us know if there is any evidence of unusual exhaust smoke, and if so what colour. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. Could you please complete your Profile.

Hello Richard, Welcome, and thanks for joining. Having come from the school of paying a little more for pads at discounts from main dealers, I’m probably not the one to advise you. However, I am trying out Brembo ( to good effect at the moment) on a non-Audi, due to not being too impressed with the dealer pads. In terms of discs, I have again used Brembo to good effect, and tend to stick with these - buying off EBay from reputable suppliers at competitive prices. Hope some of this might help. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Kristiyan, Welcome to the forum. One thing it wouldn’t be is a blown bulb - it wouldn’t illuminate at all. This could be a weak signal from one of the ABS wheel sensors or senders, but regrettably you will need to have the car diagnostically checked to give you a good indication where the fault lies. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello David, I this were mine, I would be visiting (not phoning) my nearest Audi dealer and enquiring there whether this part is indeed available as a separate part to the motor - my (pessimistic?) guess is that it isn’t, but you have to start by confirming or refuting that. Let’s hope I’m wrong. If I’m not, then obviously it’s a new or secondhand motor, but at least you will know. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Richard, Perhaps you could help us out a little here, and let us know where you have tried so far, and failed. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Tony, Do you know what make of springs are being used for the replacements? Are they being replaced as a pair? Kind regards, Gareth.

Great, so it was Ice Silver as I suggested Neil. Hope you don’t mind me mentioning, and it’s probably the photo exaggerating, but it looks as if a little more preparation maybe needed to get this into ready-to-spray finish. Good luck and kind regards, Gareth.

Thereby could be your best route then Steve. Find yourself a recommended gearbox specialist, and seek road test and inspection there. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hi Neil, I would nip the bumper, or any removable part - such as fuel flap - along to (1) S. Wales Autopaints at Newport, or (2) Autopaints who were on Penarth Road I think, but not sure if they are still trading. A reliable alternative would be Carpaints at the Cardiff end of the Bridgend Industrial Estate, and see Dale there - he will have colour chips. Probably easiest from logistics point would be to find a friendly localish bodyshop. They should be able to match it via. spectro and hopefully make up an aerosol or two for you. Make sure that whatever piece you take for matching has been rubbed back with polishing compound. Let us know how you get on Neil. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Neil, Agree that this isn’t the ‘normal’ label. Could be Ice Silver, but could be it is. Where in S. Wales are you? Kind regards, Gareth.

You could well be right Steve. I take it it was a gearbox specialist who did the gearbox service for you -? If so, my way forward would be to ask them to inspect and test it for you. Kind regards, Gareth. p.s. We take it this was a multi £100s gearbox service -?

Hello Nickie, I certainly feel for you with your string of bad luck. To cut to the chase, I guess you know you have to return the vehicle to the seller and reject it in writing, prior to 16th - it can be considered dangerous as well as not fit for purpose. To box it up, you should not concern yourself about what maybe wrong with it. A paid for professional pre-purchase inspection sounds a must before committing to any future purchases. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Charles, Welcome, and thanks for joining. My first port of call would be to visit - not ring - your local dealer and ask the stores chap if he could help with a print out of the build record against your VIN - just take in your V5, if you have confirmed V5 Vin and actual are the same. This should give you an insight into whether the vehicle was built with this facility or not. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Steve, Not a progressive answer, but has this issue occurred since the gearbox was serviced, and did this service involve diagnostic resetting? Kind regards, Gareth.

Could be well short of the mark Rob, but both garages may use ECP as their supplying motorfactors - ? Kind regards, Gareth.

Well done Joe - all in Welsh humour jest. I’ve had a great Friday out in my dotage - sure you have too. Kind regards, Gareth

You’re spoiling him Joe!