- Joined
- Jul 18, 2006
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 44
- Points
- 18
- Location
- Sussex, UK
- Website
- www.audiupgrades.co.uk
Morning All,
Well I'll get straight to the point. 9 months ago I moved jobs (and had a company VW Golf) and now I commute to work by train to London which is fine. I thought I could get away with not needing a car, but it seems the time has come where I can't take it anymore so I'm on the lookout. I've probably spent the best part of 3 months "looking" for a car on the internet/local papers but never got much further.
My heart has pretty much set on an Audi A4 1.8T Sport as it can come with a good elec pack, nice styling and relatively quick. I've done lots of research (as well as just read the first 10 pages of the A4 forum here!) and have a couple of questions on an A4 I went to look at last night near me.
It is a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T Sport in Silver with 98K on the clock. The cambelt was done at 80,000 and has had a service (by Audi) every 10,000 miles or thereabouts. Paperwork was very good, V5, MOT, Tax all there.
Bodywork and wheels were fantastic for a 9 year old car, no dents at all and the wheels had no curbing at all. Interior was again clean, no rips, smoker free and very clean. Nice stereo with 6 CD changer, Climate Control (which I really want) and all the other usuals... Its a manual by the way.
2 downsides. 1, the Airbag light is ALWAYS on. The guy said it could be nothing, but then I said it could be everything. The second problem is the computer display on the instrument panel (that shows MPG/TEMP etc etc). It works, but is very dull. Its like the lights arent fully working behind it (though I think its LED's).
Lastly, the screen also says "Service INSP" which I'm assuming just means it needs a service. It runs very well, is nippy and agile and all in all seems well looked after.
I've looked around and seen I can get a VAG-COM to connect to the car? to tell me fault codes etc and I've also bought an A4 mechanical/Dealer techincal manual off ebay for £4. (One of those ones that tell you every nut and bolt etc)
He wanted £3K for it, but so far I've pushed him down to £2800, but my concern is the airbag light and the computer dash lights/LEDS which I'd like working.
Just wondering what my options are. I can only see the following
1. Buy the car, take it to Audi and try and find the fault with the Airbag light and/or fault Lights/LEDS on the computer dash. Fork out the cash to get it fixed.
2. Buy the car, and dont fix either of the 2 issues... It WILL annoy me as its not right.
3. Don't buy the car and walk away
4. Buy a VAG-COM lead (USB), take my laptop, hook it upto his car and try and find the problem with the AIRBAG light before I buy it. I'd prob want the lead anyway. Downside to that is I have no idea how to work the VAG-COM software but I'm sure I could figure the fault code reading out. I would also need to ensure I download the right software for a 97 Audi A4 1.8T Sport and get the right lead to connect to the ECU.
I appreciate some of this may of already been covered but I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on a hopefully happy owner of a new Audi very soon.
All the best
Andy
p.s. Link to car I looked at: http://tinyurl.com/qf5sr
Well I'll get straight to the point. 9 months ago I moved jobs (and had a company VW Golf) and now I commute to work by train to London which is fine. I thought I could get away with not needing a car, but it seems the time has come where I can't take it anymore so I'm on the lookout. I've probably spent the best part of 3 months "looking" for a car on the internet/local papers but never got much further.
My heart has pretty much set on an Audi A4 1.8T Sport as it can come with a good elec pack, nice styling and relatively quick. I've done lots of research (as well as just read the first 10 pages of the A4 forum here!) and have a couple of questions on an A4 I went to look at last night near me.
It is a 1997 Audi A4 1.8T Sport in Silver with 98K on the clock. The cambelt was done at 80,000 and has had a service (by Audi) every 10,000 miles or thereabouts. Paperwork was very good, V5, MOT, Tax all there.
Bodywork and wheels were fantastic for a 9 year old car, no dents at all and the wheels had no curbing at all. Interior was again clean, no rips, smoker free and very clean. Nice stereo with 6 CD changer, Climate Control (which I really want) and all the other usuals... Its a manual by the way.
2 downsides. 1, the Airbag light is ALWAYS on. The guy said it could be nothing, but then I said it could be everything. The second problem is the computer display on the instrument panel (that shows MPG/TEMP etc etc). It works, but is very dull. Its like the lights arent fully working behind it (though I think its LED's).
Lastly, the screen also says "Service INSP" which I'm assuming just means it needs a service. It runs very well, is nippy and agile and all in all seems well looked after.
I've looked around and seen I can get a VAG-COM to connect to the car? to tell me fault codes etc and I've also bought an A4 mechanical/Dealer techincal manual off ebay for £4. (One of those ones that tell you every nut and bolt etc)
He wanted £3K for it, but so far I've pushed him down to £2800, but my concern is the airbag light and the computer dash lights/LEDS which I'd like working.
Just wondering what my options are. I can only see the following
1. Buy the car, take it to Audi and try and find the fault with the Airbag light and/or fault Lights/LEDS on the computer dash. Fork out the cash to get it fixed.
2. Buy the car, and dont fix either of the 2 issues... It WILL annoy me as its not right.
3. Don't buy the car and walk away
4. Buy a VAG-COM lead (USB), take my laptop, hook it upto his car and try and find the problem with the AIRBAG light before I buy it. I'd prob want the lead anyway. Downside to that is I have no idea how to work the VAG-COM software but I'm sure I could figure the fault code reading out. I would also need to ensure I download the right software for a 97 Audi A4 1.8T Sport and get the right lead to connect to the ECU.
I appreciate some of this may of already been covered but I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on a hopefully happy owner of a new Audi very soon.
All the best
Andy
p.s. Link to car I looked at: http://tinyurl.com/qf5sr
