A3 8p buying advice

[dave_ph]

Hi all,

I’m in the market for an A3 currently as had to downsize due to being out of work (thanks Covid!)

I’m looking at a higher mileage car as my budget is around £5-6k. I’m aiming for an 8P3 where possible. Having owned an 8P2 and 8P3 S3 I know the cars quite well but never had higher milers.

I’m probs looking for the 2.0 tdi as I remember my tfsi was greedy with fuel at best in S-line or black Ed spec. Not too worried about 3 or 5 door. Has to be auto though as I love autos.

What common faults are there to look out for? I know on my old b7 A4 I had to do the infamous oil balance shafts. I believe the TFSI has these as well which can wear? Do the TDI’s have these? I understand the TDI went to common rail at some point which is more reliable, when did that cut over?

thanks in advance all

 

[Retroman]

The A3 had a facelift in 2008 and at that time the CR 2.0 TDI engines were introduced. In 2009 Audi replaced the older 1.9 non-CR TDI with a 1.6 TDI CR. The 2.0 TDI engines introduced a modified/enlarged/strengthened oil pump balance shaft mechanism from 2010.

In the lighter A3 body these CR engines are smooth and economical. Previous design issues causing DPF problems on non-CR engines seem to have been eliminated. My manual 2WD once hot, gives 50s MPG on A roads and 60s on motorway runs and neither burns nor leaks any oil between annual oil changes - hence I've kept it longer than I originally intended.

Oil pump balance shaft issue aside (see above) I am not aware of any particular niggles. I've had the usual rear wiper motor issue (motor replaced £60) and I've replaced a couple of the door lock mechanisms myself (£30 each ebay) - again a well known VAG fault.

 

[dave_ph]

Thanks for the info Its reassuring to know the balance shaft issue was addressed on the newer models. This was an expensive pre-emptive job on my old A4 (although cheaper than it going wrong!)

The A3 had a facelift in 2008 and at that time the CR 2.0 TDI engines were introduced. In 2009 Audi replaced the older 1.9 non-CR TDI with a 1.6 TDI CR. The 2.0 TDI engines introduced a modified/enlarged/strengthened oil pump balance shaft mechanism from 2010.

In the lighter A3 body these CR engines are smooth and economical. Previous design issues causing DPF problems on non-CR engines seem to have been eliminated. My manual 2WD once hot, gives 50s MPG on A roads and 60s on motorway runs and neither burns nor leaks any oil between annual oil changes - hence I've kept it longer than I originally intended.

Oil pump balance shaft issue aside (see above) I am not aware of any particular niggles. I've had the usual rear wiper motor issue (motor replaced £60) and I've replaced a couple of the door lock mechanisms myself (£30 each ebay) - again a well known VAG fault.