Just had 12 month inspection.........

[hop2407]

..... and the following are advisories. Your thoughts on my statements would be appreciated (and of course, well respected /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ok.gif )

1 - New wiper blades required - Was going to go to halfords and get some BOSCH ones - or are Audi blades something special (quoted £21 - guess this is without VAT)

2 - Front pads getting low. Suppose there's no questioning really however I'm guessing I have a sensor fitted and no lights have come on yet. Was going to go to another garage (not audi but they have done some quality work on my car before) - should I be asking them to fit AUDI pads or Ferodo or just go with what they use ?

3. The biggy.... Water Pump leaking. I know there's no getting round this and need to get it changed as soon as.. (I am keeping a close eye on reservour level). As above, are Audi water pumps something special and should I ask the garage (not dealer - quoted 3 hours labour !!! ) to fit AUDI part - or just trust them to fit a good one ? - I dont mind that Little bit extra if they have to order the Audi pump, as I'm not paying £90 p/h labour !!

 

[GregC]

I would not worry about the parts having Audi written on them too much personally.

Beware of the Water Pump - on some engines this is powered by the same belts that drive the cams - if the water pump seizes you can get valves hitting pistons. I don't know if this would apply to your engine.

Cheers,



Greg

 

[Kevint]

When my blades need replacing, I'm going to try a set of the areo ones, £50ish from VAG Parts with new arms.

Brake pads low, dealer tells me this almost as a stock answer it seems, last time they were "low" I got another 15000 miles out of them before I decided to have them changed (sensor still not kicked in).

Water pump, original part is only about £35 from Audi, so may as well buy OE and just get it fitted elsewhere. On my 1.8T ('99) the waterpump is not run off the cambelt.

Kev.

 

[hop2407]

Cheers Greg and Kev........ I like the price of that Water pump..... never had one fitted so didn't know what price they were....

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif @ your comment "last time they were "low" I got another 15000 miles out of them before I decided to have them changed (sensor still not kicked in)."

As for Comment re Pump seizing - can a leak cause this if water is constantly at correct level.

 

[jdp1962]

Audi wiper blades are "a bit special" in one sense, as they are the bendy ones, that flex side to side as they traverse the screen. That price you mention sound about right for a pair, before VAT. I'm not convinced they do a better job than a set of Bosch blades out of Halfords.

As far as the front pads are concerned, you should easily be able to check these visually. If they're not visible through the wheel spokes, then just remove the wheel & you'll be able to see the thickness of the pad through the gap in the caliper.

That price for the water pump is again, about right for an OEM, so you might as well insist on it, but the question will be whether you need to strip down the cambelt to fit it. You do on mine (but it's a 2.8V6, not a 1.8T) so when I had the cambelt replaced earlier this year, I got the water pump done at the same time. If they're quoting three hours, at a guess I'd say that includes a belt strip-down. You don't say what your mileage is, but I was wondering whether it might be worth having the belts changed at the same time. As the labour done is basically the same, it might prove a useful hedge against a future bill, unless of course your current belts have tens of thousands of miles left in them.

 

[MattS5]

[ QUOTE ]
When my blades need replacing, I'm going to try a set of the areo ones, £50ish from VAG Parts with new arms.


[/ QUOTE ]
£65.08 with postage so stuff that idea....

 

[hop2407]

Cheers JDP...... Car has covered 106k however the service book indicates a belt change (suspect it's the Cam belt) at about 70,000 miles. Dont know if there are any other belts that need changing ?
I'll still mentionit and if it's not much more - I may as well have it done

As for the pads - I'll have a look or ask the lads at the garage - they are very honest and would recommend a change only if they feel it's required.

I'll get meself down Halfords then for the Wipers......

 

[hop2407]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
When my blades need replacing, I'm going to try a set of the areo ones, £50ish from VAG Parts with new arms.


[/ QUOTE ]
£65.08 with postage so stuff that idea....

[/ QUOTE ]

Here Here matey.... Halfords will be getting my cash !!

 

[ajmackie]

little tip. i went halfords and paid £20 for some bosch blades ... very good they are.
but on ebay they are £10 for the sane bosch ones!

 

[hop2407]

winner - Cheers AJ, I'll have a look.

 

[AndyMac]

OEM Audi brake pads are made by Pagid, and yes a leaking water pump corrodes the bearing which will lead to a seizure. If it runs off the timing belt then it's engine rebuild time.
I had a leaky pump replaced by the Audi specialist I use 20k miles after Audi did my timing belt (and didn't change the water pump), and the thing was so corroded that you couldn't turn it by hand.
I'd been wondering why my 2.8Q had been struggling to idle correctly & stalling at lights, and turns out it was the water pump stalling the engine. After I had it changed (along with another new belt & tensioner) it was back to normal again.
Don't put it off.

 

[macca666]

[ QUOTE ]
.....

2 - Front pads getting low. Suppose there's no questioning really however I'm guessing I have a sensor fitted and no lights have come on yet. Was going to go to another garage (not audi but they have done some quality work on my car before) - should I be asking them to fit AUDI pads or Ferodo or just go with what they use ?


[/ QUOTE ]

AS said before regards pads.

Went for a AUDI service and was told I would need new pads within 2-3000 miles.

Looked myself and decided NOT ! !

Went for next service (10,000 mile later) only to be told this time that I would need them within the next 10,000 miles ? ? ?

Surprisingly enough when I asked them why they had told me I would need them done 7-8,000 mile ago they could not give me an answer.

Eventually done them and got stuff through German French and Swedish which were a lot cheaper.

 

[QuantumJohn]

Generally dealerships, not just Audi, will advise that you need brake pads doing if they do not expect to see you again until next year or whenever the mileage states you should go back for a service. As the service intervals for cars have gradually increased (I remember the good 'ol days when it was every 6,000 miles!) so the dealerships have got to be careful with the majority of owners - not like the careful ones on this forum - that never look under the bonnet and just take the car in once a year in which they may well have done 10 or 12k miles in.

John

 

[hop2407]

Thanks all very much - comments appreciated.......

Got the estimates from Audi........This astounded me:

Wiper blades £21.90..... Labour - check this out....£28.20........
£30 to swap 2 wiper blades...... is it any wonder they are called Stealers

And yes you guys were correct about the pump price - £37 (+vat) however £230 labour.......

Big /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ok.gif and thanks to you all - AGAIN....