What about your front axle subframe? aluminum or cast iron?

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Alex Hu

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Hi, dear friend
I'm from Taiwan. I own a 2015 a3 8v 40TFSI (1.8t). Recently I found my front axle subframe made of cast iron. I thought it should be aluminum alloy. I checked the part no. through online part catalogue. The cast iron one should be fitted on Golf or Octavia, and a3 ought to be aluminum. What about yours?
IMAG0631
 
Hi, Ric
Thanks for your reply. Good to know S3 with aluminum one (Part no. 5q0199369). According to the online catalog, a3 should share the same part. However, mine was changed to cast iron one (5q0199315). I wonder it's kind of cost down. Thanks for your sharing anyway.
 

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Have you had it from new, Alex? Could it have been replaced by a previous owner following an accident?
 
I got it new. Unless it was replaced by the dealer.
 
What makes you think it's casted iron? From the clean edges, thickness and welding, all suggested it's a stamped metal???
 
That can be checked with a piece of magnet. It will stick to cast iron but not aluminum. Besides, the part no.on my subframe can also tell.
 
Thanks for all your opinions. This is a really warming club.
 
Hmm.. I have no idea what material it is, but I can tell you it's definitely stamped and not casted, it might be iron, but it's stamped iron rather than casted, while 5Q0199369 is definitely casted aluminum. And quick ETKA search results in most of the A3 are with 5Q0199369G except for 2016-17 BR spec A3, it uses 5Q0199315Q as with many other VW//Seat/Skoda...
 
You are right. It's stamped iron rather than cast one. Thanks for correcting. ETKA search indeed showed that a3 should equip aluminum one, including mine which is 2015 model. That's why I 'm so confusing and try to figure out if it only happened to me.
 
Like Taiwan, ETKA doesn't have specific region info for Hong Kong either, and the Hong Kong spec is actually a mixture of Europe and China spec!! And sometimes, I guess the local distributor goes through retarded way to save costs, maybe it's a special request from Taiwan and later on Brazil caught up with it and start using iron too from 2016???
 
Wow!!!! Just happened to came across a post on another forum, this is a US spec '15 S3 and look what it is!! So apparently, some A3/S3 DOES come with stamped iron subframe!!!!

20751843588 f7737ff8c8 o


This is mine when checking the dogbone mount...
IMG 0607
 
Wow! I think that's a big issue. Audi seems making some cost down on production to remedy their loss on Diesel gate scandal. By the way, Audi has set a branch in Taiwan. They import cars directly and distribute them to local dealership for selling. So the orders probably are filed by Audi itself. I already made a customer complaint to Audi Taiwan and wait their response. Thanks for sharing. That really clarify something. Israel, could you share the link of the other forum? That would be helpful , thanks.
 
Don't think it's allowed to link to other forum? Just Google S3 Dogbone mount and you'll see it.. But what exactly are you gonna to complaint about?? Manufacturer changes spec all the time, and besides, ETKA wasn't supposed to be for owners and doubt you can go by that and complaint???
 
Interesting thing is that my local dealer informed me that mine should be fitted with aluminum one while checking with vin . Sounds strange, right? If Audi change the spec, a new spec would be found with my vin. If I need some kind of warranty about the subframe, such as corrosion, they will install an aluminum one for me because of the spec with my vin. Actually, the dealer told me that they will file a warranty for me. I do appreciate your caring and hope my next car will be S3 too.
 
Hi Alex!
First you need to find out which country your A3 was built run it through a VIN decoder.
I'm from HK and have a RHD 2014 1.8T Saloon, built in Hungary! Yup not German but has an alloy subframe.
File 000 1
Cool to know that the stealer is willing to warranty it.
 
Hello, Steven
Thanks for joining the thread and pointing out that it's kind of stealing. After all, Audi stated that a3 uses aluminum subframe for weight reduction on their website and catalog. Ironically, my a3 1.8t sportback was built in May 2015 at Ingostadt, Germany. Probably only models from 2015 were affected. If the warranty passed, I will share more information about it. Hope to build a case for other owners.
 
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