Magnet

Thanks Nick. That sounds interesting. Does Audi confirm that? Perhaps you could let us know. Still something of a coincidence then. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Daniel, Thanks for joining. The vehicle is obviously still under warranty, and I would have thought it unusual for it to be consuming oil some year on. If this were mine, I would definitely not consider buying oil from anywhere other than an Audi dealer - and keeping your receipts. If you do find yourself having to have this investigated under warranty, the use of any other oil would simply dilute your case. Yes, I appreciate that the correct specification oil will be acceptable, personally, I just wouldn’t go there as a consideration. How much oil is it consuming, as a matter of interest? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Nick, Probably too simplistic a response, but since your issue started (18 months ago) when you had new tyres fitted, it would suggest it has something to do with the fitment/non fitment of the sensors on the valves. Were these changed at the same time, or did they simply reuse the old valves? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Nick, Thanks for joining. Your cambelt enquiry touches on a fairly regular query - particularly in respect of low annual mileage vehicles, although others have questioned the need to renew the belt at such a low mileage. My reply to that is that low annual mileages are normally covered via. short journeys which results in more stop starts that would be encountered on high mileage motorway use. The upshot is that the belt gets far more of a hammering in the 5 years. I appreciate that you question relates to the need to renew the water pump at the same time, and my personal view would be:- If you are getting the whole job done at Audi then I would say it’s reasonable to retain your current water pump, if your anticipated annual mileage is going to be what you are doing now. If you are going to get this done away from Audi, using quality aftermarket parts, then I would certainly not use an aftermarket pump, in preference to not renewing yours. Summary:- I don’t think you are putting yourself at too much risk by not replacing the pump. If not retaining the £300 in the bank isn’t of too much concern, and spending it on renewing the pump at Audi gives you peace of mind, then that’s great too. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Jonathan, Thanks for joining. Apologies, but it’s rather difficult to fully understand the exact set up without inspection/ part drawing, so advice will be restricted to those who have been-there-done-that. Could you let us know who has informed you that the ball joint isn’t (any longer?) available as a separate part? We might be able to suggest other avenues once we know where you have tried. Kind regards, Gareth.

Easy in hindsight Pete, but shame you didn’t question the EML before buying. Apologies, but my earlier advice still applies. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Roshy, Even a secondhand ( and probably damaged) bumper is not going to be cheap. My way forward would be to get a new piece of plastic fabricated to match the others and get it plastic welded on. Any reasonable bodyshop should be able to do that. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Pete, You are right in your belief that you should not be expecting these issues. I think you have to make a decision (now?) whether you are going to reject it or not, before the dealer ‘plays you out of time’ on this. Probably a pessimistic view, but you may have found the reason why the the last owner sold it. Do you know how long the last owner had owned it? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Pete, Sorry to hear of your issue. I think you will find you can now reject the car ( still within 30 days), since you have allowed the dealer 2 opportunities to repair it and they have failed. I would be taking good advice via. your local CAB, and make sure you record all the details and dates. Time is of the essence so you would need to move fairly fast, and with priority. Perhaps you could let us know how you get on. Kind regards, Gareth.

I hope you have some luck with the memory foam Simon, since the original base itself isn’t very deep and easily loses its ‘resilience’. I’m going to replace mine with one from a passenger seat - not too different ( I hope) from the contour of the driver’s seat. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Robbie, Probably a daft question and a daft price, but not available at Audi? Have you tried EBay Continental-wide. Last resort maybe to have yours suitably weld repaired. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Simon, You need to disconnect the battery and leave the car for half an hour before unplugging any thing to do with the seat. As a matter of interest, where are you getting your replacement foam base from? Not from Audi I take it, a c£345! The seat belt warning light is likely to be as a result of the saggy base, and you may find it will survive the replacement base. Kind regards, Gareth.

I’m glad I raised the subject then Ollie.

Hello Luli, Have you tried talking with LUK technical department? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Ollie, The joy of this is, you just don’t have to worry about it or try to diagnose the cause. The car will be under warranty and should be fixed via. the supplying dealer. However, one thing I would be cautious of :- the ‘dealer’ ( non Audi seller?) has asked you to book it in with with Audi ( dealer) rather than the seller booking it in. Since you are booking it in, the Audi dealer will understandably expect you to settle the bill before handing the car back. I guess you then have to pester the seller for your outlay-? Kind regards, Gareth.

Surely Omar if you (yourself, rather than the fitting garage) bought them, then you should have access to, or be able to get, a receipt which will have the part number of your current incorrect ones. Correct ones? Worth typing your reg. no. into on-line suppliers such as Parts in Motion - there are more. That should point you to the correct ones, but it would be useful to confirm their listing will be for a different part to what you have already bought. Any reason why you bought them, rather than the garage who you chose to fit them? Kind regards, Gareth.

Just wondering if you have bought it yet Lee. Kind regards, Gareth.

Is your an S Line? Make of springs you bought and part number? Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Omar, Did you buy the springs yourself, and if so from where? If they were fitted by a garage (recently?) then just return the car and ask them to fit the correct ones. Ensuring you ( if you are going to buy them-?) get the right ones should not be too difficult - via. the reg. no. and /or the VIN. Can you come back to us on this please? Kind regards, Gareth.

Possibly together with the wiper motor Chris, but not sure I’m afraid. Although checking fuses is a good starting point, fuses only blow due to an overload on the circuit - so the fault still has to be found. Have you tried pulling the tubing off under the bonnet where it connects into the jets, just to confirm fluid is not getting through. Washer fluid coagulated and clogs up the feed out of the pump - another possibility. Kind regards, Gareth.

You can’t fault that principle Richard - many thanks. Glad the forum has been of some help. Kind regards, Gareth.

Many thanks Richard, I thought they may have been on the car when you bought it. Cheapest option available to the seller at the time! Scorpion Verde? Not sure if this helps, but a family member has had these on a non-Audi from new, and replaced them with a matching set when the originals needed replacing. The second set has lasted longer than the first - probably due to now doing more motorway mileage, so they come with a recommendation in my experience. The current set ( which will need changing with like for like shortly) are marked M&S - Mud & Snow. I also have a similar set on our non-Audi. Good luck with it all. Kind regards, Gareth.

Hello Richard, Many thanks for your additional detail. It would appear that your current tyres are a lower profile than Audi recommend, and your proposed 255/40 size is what should indeed be fitted. Who fitted your current incorrect budget tyres? I could be wrong, but I fear that the slight increase in tyre profile from 35 to 40 isn’t going to give you that much improvement in ride quality. Changing wheel size to 18 inch and fitting 55 profile would be the better, but obviously far more expensive option. If it’s any consolation Richard, you aren’t the first to suffer harsh ride with the ‘fancy looking’ largest wheel option. When moving to 40 profile with your 20 inch wheels, make careful enquiries whether those tyres would be XL or not. Audi recommend XL for that profile, but that again makes for a harsher ride. Kind regards, Gareth.

Thanks Andrew, I wasn’t as completely clear on the current situation as I am now. Re. Getting the out-of-alignment meant sorted:- a trusted local body shop maybe an alternative/ additional route. Perhaps you could keep us posted on the outcome. Kind regards, Gareth.

No further responses. What I have found:- From Audi:- Two possible alternative part numbers, so would need to get the part number off the existing alternator - then hand over £1,300. Yes, £1,300! Current option- CP in Motion lists a Bosch at a tad over £250. They say it’s the right one, but time will tell when it’s ordered and we try to fit it. Kind regards, Gareth.