Hi Guys,
So I made the change from the BMW faithful and tried my luck with a A3 TQS that I had been lusting over for a while-Its my pre S3 ownership test! After five years of BeeM's and Cosworth's I got my first Audi in Nov 2011 and managed to get a complete bargin!
2001 A3 T Quattro, Grey, Non Leather Recaros, 132,000-two lady owners both only doing mototrway miles. Serviced at (Audi Portsmouth) for first 3 years, and then the same VAG specialist for the rest.. Even had a £1350 bill in Sept for coils and belts! It has the usual 'disfigurement' in the DIS and stereo. Its really clean and i gave £1600 for it-with a 3 Month Warranty!
But i bought it with the ESP light perm. on! It was one of the things on my list of things to do before the warranty ran out, but as im a motoring journo, im rarely in my own car and just couldnt find the time! Untill Monday night! I was driving back from Hatfield in Herts, giving the car a bit of a leathering and the EML came on! I shat myself, crawled home, and took it to the nearest VAG specialist. They put the car on the comp. and it came up as a fault between the Turbo and Throttle Body-which was 2 split pipe's and a VERY dirty T-body, After the pipe's were changed and body cleaned that fault cleared straight away.
The ESP however, came up as 'non communication of the Haldex control unit.' There is also a buzzing noise from the unit when you have the ignition on. From reading this forum on the run up to buying my TQS I understand that Haldex is a big ££ problem! The garage quoted me £787 plus £135 for the labour, filter and oil. I bettered this to £734 on staff discount. But I obv dont want to pay that!! The warranty people will pay £300 towards the claim, but that still leaves me with a bill I would like to make smaller!!
Is it worth getting a Recon unit? If not, is there anywhere that I can get this unit at a more reasonable price than dealer? From what I understand it is a very common problem with 4WD A3's? And on another note, is there a way to fix the DIS disfigurment?! Its just an annoying thing that catches my eye all the time!
Sorry guys, I know this is an over explained proplem but I just need a direct and swift resolve, as I have a time limit to claim the cost back from the Warranty. I adore my Audi, but it would be nice to have my 4WD+ESP working-especially with the current weather conditions!
Cheers guys-and Sorry for the essay!!
Daz
So I made the change from the BMW faithful and tried my luck with a A3 TQS that I had been lusting over for a while-Its my pre S3 ownership test! After five years of BeeM's and Cosworth's I got my first Audi in Nov 2011 and managed to get a complete bargin!
2001 A3 T Quattro, Grey, Non Leather Recaros, 132,000-two lady owners both only doing mototrway miles. Serviced at (Audi Portsmouth) for first 3 years, and then the same VAG specialist for the rest.. Even had a £1350 bill in Sept for coils and belts! It has the usual 'disfigurement' in the DIS and stereo. Its really clean and i gave £1600 for it-with a 3 Month Warranty!
But i bought it with the ESP light perm. on! It was one of the things on my list of things to do before the warranty ran out, but as im a motoring journo, im rarely in my own car and just couldnt find the time! Untill Monday night! I was driving back from Hatfield in Herts, giving the car a bit of a leathering and the EML came on! I shat myself, crawled home, and took it to the nearest VAG specialist. They put the car on the comp. and it came up as a fault between the Turbo and Throttle Body-which was 2 split pipe's and a VERY dirty T-body, After the pipe's were changed and body cleaned that fault cleared straight away.
The ESP however, came up as 'non communication of the Haldex control unit.' There is also a buzzing noise from the unit when you have the ignition on. From reading this forum on the run up to buying my TQS I understand that Haldex is a big ££ problem! The garage quoted me £787 plus £135 for the labour, filter and oil. I bettered this to £734 on staff discount. But I obv dont want to pay that!! The warranty people will pay £300 towards the claim, but that still leaves me with a bill I would like to make smaller!!
Is it worth getting a Recon unit? If not, is there anywhere that I can get this unit at a more reasonable price than dealer? From what I understand it is a very common problem with 4WD A3's? And on another note, is there a way to fix the DIS disfigurment?! Its just an annoying thing that catches my eye all the time!
Sorry guys, I know this is an over explained proplem but I just need a direct and swift resolve, as I have a time limit to claim the cost back from the Warranty. I adore my Audi, but it would be nice to have my 4WD+ESP working-especially with the current weather conditions!
Cheers guys-and Sorry for the essay!!
Daz
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