What have I done ?

[macpdm]

Today im thinking what have I done and I need some advice & encouragement guys. This is my year 2000 A3 1.8T sport it has 130k with FASH. I paid 2K for it with a couple known issues or so I thought. I knew the AC pump needed replacing I also knew it needed discs & pads on the front and a service. Having had it almost a week I now know it needs a lot of extra work and im feeling peed off. Mostly because I didnt pick any of this additional stuff up and Im wondering if there is any point in spending a lot of money to make it perfect. Im not very good with the spanners you see.

On the positive side the engine is so smooth & sweet and I enjoy driving it so I am torn as to what to do for the best ??

The car needs the following work in total:

Cambelt change
AC pump
Front discs & pads
Oil service
Replacement front subframe
Replacement front Bose speakers
Anti roll bar & bushes
small amount of bubbling on roof and at the bottom of drivers door


The car itself

Bubbling paint on the roof

Bubbling paint at the bottom of the door

Front subframe damage

 

[sportquattro]

A lot of that is stuff that needs doing on any car, the subframe I'm sure you could get from a scrapper or eBay and find a local garage to fit, the corrossion is common I'm afraid depending on age of car Audi might do a warranty job on it if you are lucky. You'll find it hard to sell with those issues so may as well bite the bullet and keep it, at least the engine is sound by what you've said.

 

[Wizza]

Roof bubbling is a common issue. I have it on mine aswell but not letting it bother me until i get round to getting it sorted. As mentioned above - speak to Audi reagrding paint warranty. Afterall the car looks standard and has FASH.

Front speakers are an easy change but again it's money that you didn't really want to spend.

What's up with the Ant-Roll Bar?

Looking at teh pictures both the interior and exterior of the car look in very good condition though - I would honestly be tempted to keep it if the engine is as good as you say.

Oil and Filter change should be cheap enough to do and again pads - but I'm sure if you have a garage a mate woks at they good do a good price on stuff like that.

Subframe - ask about to see if anyone has one on here.

 

[macpdm]

Thanks all
I contacted the seller and grumbled about the subframe and they offered to buy the car back but for 250 quid less than I paid for it and I had only had it two or three days.Thinking about it I lost over 800 quid when I sold my last car a volvo S70R after 10mths.

Regarding the anti roll bar there is a knocking from the front and the free audi health confirmed my suspicions. I guess if I spend the cash it will be a lovely car and as long as I keep it for at least a couple of years it will have paid me back I hope.

 

[macpdm]

A lot of that is stuff that needs doing on any car, the subframe I'm sure you could get from a scrapper or eBay and find a local garage to fit, the corrossion is common I'm afraid depending on age of car Audi might do a warranty job on it if you are lucky. You'll find it hard to sell with those issues so may as well bite the bullet and keep it, at least the engine is sound by what you've said.

I tried audi regarding warranty on the paint but they rejected the claim offering instead to pay 70% of the bill but I hadnt noticed the door at the time. I couldnt in all conscience flog the car onto somebody else in its current condition.

 

[sportquattro]

70% better than nothing and if youre keeping the car it needs doing so may as way get it done by Audi and have them pay 70%. the sub frame is a ****** but not insurmountable and you could end up with a nice car once sorted that give you many miles of smiles

 

[Inertiauk]

My roof and door look exactly like yours, its next on my list,

These cars are old and take quite a lot of upkeep, but I think its worth it, would you want to keep it for quite a long time once its mint ? if so spend the money, if not sell it on.
Thats the way I see it with mine.

 

[Endacy]

I've had my lower door reapired that had that issue. Unsure of cost because a few bits were done but it was probably about £150. New trim required too though which is about £50 per door (so don't take any others off 'just to check' - false economy as I found out!)

When you buy a car like this it's worth getting used to working on it yourself, it's very rewarding and most of the jobs you need doing are not tricky highly skilled jobs - you'll need a socket set, some spanners and screwdrivers for most of them.

Front brakes are always a good starting point for learning to work on cars, it sounds daunting but brakes are actaully very simple to fix and it feels like you've done a really big job once they're done. Front brakes don't need special tools, rear ones do.

I had exactly the same issue once I bought mine, some jobs, bit of bodywork etc. and ended up keeping it for the same reason you stated - you can't sell it!! However if the seller will take it back less £250 that might end up being more economical but would you get another car you like as much for the money? Or perhaps add on the cost of repairs to this one that you'd have to do, add that to the money you'll get back - would you still get a better car or another with faults but now no cash to fix them?

 

[macpdm]

My roof and door look exactly like yours, its next on my list,

These cars are old and take quite a lot of upkeep, but I think its worth it, would you want to keep it for quite a long time once its mint ? if so spend the money, if not sell it on.
Thats the way I see it with mine.

Well yours is an S3 which is a bit more special than my 1.8T Sport but I do get your point.

 

[macpdm]

I've had my lower door reapired that had that issue. Unsure of cost because a few bits were done but it was probably about £150. New trim required too though which is about £50 per door (so don't take any others off 'just to check' - false economy as I found out!)

When you buy a car like this it's worth getting used to working on it yourself, it's very rewarding and most of the jobs you need doing are not tricky highly skilled jobs - you'll need a socket set, some spanners and screwdrivers for most of them.

Front brakes are always a good starting point for learning to work on cars, it sounds daunting but brakes are actaully very simple to fix and it feels like you've done a really big job once they're done. Front brakes don't need special tools, rear ones do.

I had exactly the same issue once I bought mine, some jobs, bit of bodywork etc. and ended up keeping it for the same reason you stated - you can't sell it!! However if the seller will take it back less £250 that might end up being more economical but would you get another car you like as much for the money? Or perhaps add on the cost of repairs to this one that you'd have to do, add that to the money you'll get back - would you still get a better car or another with faults but now no cash to fix them?

Valid points from all of you thankyou and as I drove into my office this morning I thought again this is such a nice car and it will be superb with all the repairs done. I think the last paragraph here though is the one that really does it for me and makes most sense.

 

[macpdm]

Right im going to PSi Tuning tomorrow afternoon for them to look at the subframe and depending on what they say I will then make my decision on the cars future. I do want to keep it as the car appears to steer straight so the damage does not seem to have caused any issues with tracking.

 

[Welly]

Fix it. Drive it. Enjoy it.

Simples.

The joys of the second hand car market.

 

[Wizza]

What Welly said macpdm - The life I've had with mine over the past two years I've actually got to the point where I don't want to sell it.

 

[macpdm]

The problem guys is that I have since shown the damage to two engineers one of them a VOSA inspector and they both say the car should be given back to the seller asap.In their opinion the car is unsafe and although the damage is fixable they are concerned about any further damage caused as a result of the considerable force needed to cause this.

Im a little gutted tbh as I like the car and I dont want the possible legal hassle but I have sent an email to the seller and await their response which Im expecting not to go in my favour.

 

[DaveA3]

sell it back if u can. its not worth it. A better one will come along mate. Theres always more and its definately not the last A3 out there

 

[macpdm]

Well I decided to bite the bullet and run the car into PSi Tuning this morning. They got it up on the ramp and agreed the subframe needs replacing but as thought the wishbone is not cracked however they would advise throwing a new one in just in case it has been twisted etc. Otherwise they say the car is straight & tidy!!

If I can get the seller to agree to the repair cost I am going to do a U turn and keep it.

 

[Welly]

Well I decided to bite the bullet and run the car into PSi Tuning this morning. They got it up on the ramp and agreed the subframe needs replacing but as thought the wishbone is not cracked however they would advise throwing a new one in just in case it has been twisted etc. Otherwise they say the car is straight & tidy!!

If I can get the seller to agree to the repair cost I am going to do a U turn and keep it.

Well, if required I have an S3 subframe in the garage which I can sell.

 

[macpdm]

Well, if required I have an S3 subframe in the garage which I can sell.

Thanks for the offer buddy.

The seller is coming around slowly so I am going ahead and getting the work done and the car will be perfect once done.I know they want my business but I cant thank the guys enough @ PSi for working with me to reduce the repair costs.

 

[macpdm]

Picked her up from the garage this afternoon and she drives lovely.No knocking from the suspension lovely strong brakes and ice cold climate control.Im very pleased but desperate to clean her now but man that sun is hot today and I have no shade.

 

[Wizza]

Good news with the car fella

 

[macpdm]

Good news with the car fella

Cheers buddy.

 

[macpdm]

A couple of pics having sweated like a bar steward cleaning it following 2 days of work on it.