Fatbloke

Had a similar issue on the Skoda VRS. You can purchase a separate genuine actuator at a fraction of the cost. I think mine was in the region of £150 or less.

Don't know if you have kwikfit in your area but they will connect the Aircon to a machine that removes the old refrigerant and lubricants, does a vacuum test for leaks and refills the refrigerant and lubricant. If is still doesn't work they don't charge you. If you are sure it's this specific valve, where is that? Is it on the compressor pump? I got a brand new aircon pump for the VRS for £156 off eBay, fitted it myself and kwikfit recharged the system for £50. Aircon is running great. I would find out more about this valve. See if you can get a reasonably priced replacement and check out if you can fit it yourself or get an indy specialist or Aircon company to do it.

£470 !!!! They must think you are zipped up the back, especially for a first service. Get a quote from an indy and make sure they use the correct spec oil and genuine filters and they are listed on the invoice. For the 507 spec oil you can get Quantum (used by Skoda dealers and now made by Fuchs) or Fuchs for under £30 for 5 litres and I got genuine oil filters from an Audi dealer for just over £6 each. I use an indy specialist and my car gets an oil and filter change every 5,000 miles and inspection services at or before the recommended intervals. I will do the same with the Haldex unit and gearbox, correct spec/genuine oil at more frequent intervals. I would rather buy a used car from an "enthusiast" that's been well looked after with all the receipts etc than a vehicle thats had lots of miles between services over its whole life. The garage I purchased my low mileage vehicle from told me it was serviced around 100 miles before I bought it and Audi had a record of it. The oil was very black and Audi had no record of it. No way it had been changed. I have a trusted independent now so I know it's been done.

It's the same on mine. Self levelling but no washers.

The A6 washers are a spray and take 2 minutes to fit. I got a similar 3rd party set on eBay and they work great. Unfortunately I can't find the link but the genuine A6 ones fit. Note that the nozzle is square not round. (the picture is the genuine A6 ones from another site. not my picture)

I replaced the disks and pads all round on the Octavia VRS with Pagid disks and pads. They have been on for a couple of years now and have been really good.

Still not tried on the hills yet and it's still sliding about into ruts on hard packed icy snow but after seeing other cars just sitting spinning today (and having to shove them to get them going) and me having no trouble whatsoever, I am getting much more confident in the winter tyre / quattro combination. No probs going or stopping and just need to take a bit of care on the corners as normally required.

I have quattro and a new set of Continental WinterContact TS860 tyres and the car was slipping about quite a bit. It did go and stop but seemed to be sliding a little sideways when going round bends etc. Kind of twitchy. Expected better from it. I have a Skoda VRS (FWD) with TS850 winters all round too and it amazing. The only thing I can think of is that this is very different very powdery snow rather than the usual wet "sticky" snow. I haven't driven the VRS in this snow but the wife was absolutely confident when she drove it. I haven't tried the A3 on hills yet to test it further. Was quite wary about it so avoided Them but I want to try it now to hopefully get more confidence in it.

I have the same vehicle and will be getting Uniroyal's for when the winter wheels come off. Got them on a Skoda VRS and Porsche Boxster and they give good grip and reasonable noise levels. https://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s134p111670/Uniroyal_Tyres_Car_Uniroyal_RainSport3_Uniroyal_Rain_Sport_3_-_225_40_R18_92Y_XL_FR_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_C_Wet_Grip%3A_A_NoiseClass%3A_2_Noise%3A_72dB

Was it a 3rd party camera or genuine? What kind of cost is involved?

I use this in my Skoda VRS and A3 tdi. Shop about and you may get it a bit cheaper. This is also what the Skoda dealer's use. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quantum-Longlife-5W-30-Fully-Synthetic-Engine-Oil-5-Litre-Bottle/253386748394?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D49896%26meid%3Dfd41d23874924050a1eec57347565819%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D222183174678%26itm%3D253386748394&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

It trying to do a regen of the DPF. Take it a steady run up the motorway at above 2000rpm for 20 - 30 minutes for it to clear. If it doesn't get a chance to complete then the DPF fills up with soot and will eventually cause possibly expensive problems.

Currently have 16" Continental WinterContact TS860 tyres on the A3 for the winter. Have used the 830 and 850 tyres on other vehicles for several years and they have been really good too. Have used Uniroyal Rainsport 3's on other vehicles for several years. Will put a set on the A3 in the spring.

Winter tyres are great in all winter weather, not just snow. Full set of Continental WinterContact TS860's fitted on 16" alloys in Cairngorm near Aviemore.

I have used Uniroyal Rainsport 3's on my old Astravan, the Skoda VRS and the Porsche Boxster. They have been fine. Perform well, quiet and reasonably priced. Will be sitting a set for the A3 when I take the winter wheels off. Worth checking reviews.

It's a 2016, S Line, 2.0 diesel, 150, quattro.

It would be good to find out if there is one on sdcard for a 2016 model. How would I find out? Is there a part number I need or something?

Scandalous. It's a pity there is no alternative software that can overwrite the maps and run on the mmi and have cheaper or free updates.

Car was in at dealer's recently. They "reset" the handbrake and it's been better but still stuck once the other day. It's been alright since. The gear changes are very notchy in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and reverse but they reckon that is normal. I do not agree and will speak to Audi HQ about it. There's a very faint whine too. I have only heard it on a couple of occasions on a very smooth quit road. They said is from the haldex and is normal. The mmi and instrument cluster flicker intermittently but they didn't see it so I will monitor it. Is the whine and gear changes the same in other folks cars??

I think considering you can get free regular updates for other satnavs, Audi is a complete rip off merchant. This is my first and probably last Audi. I also have a Skoda VRS and it's a better, smoother, faster car. Perhaps, as was mentioned earlier we should be raising this with motoring magazines etc. You would think after the dodgy emissions scandal they would learn their lesson but it seems not. They need some pressure put on them.

I will get the ones from Audi to begin with but someone makes them for Audi. I just need to find out the make and part number. I understand what you are saying about 3rd party filters but for our Boxster, I was using filters from Porsche and discovered they were a Hengst E14H D77 in the Porsche box. They were less than half price for exactly the same filter. I will start using these now as they are what Porsche use.

Cheers guys. What oil filter does it need? Who makes the OEM one? I normally change the oil and filter every 5000 miles.

Hi All What oil is recommended for 8v 2.0 TDI 150? I have started using Quantum in the Skoda VRS and is is fine. That's what the Skoda dealer's use. What do the Audi dealer's use and would the Quantum be ok? It is 507 spec. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quantum-Longlife-5W-30-Fully-Synthetic-Engine-Oil-5-Litre-Bottle/262898752867?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40656%26meid%3D3a38d46e38cb4226a495433a2d6f53e9%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D261066122885 Cheers Dave

Thanks guys.