either that or have a sticker made that fits ontop of the old battered one that gets a polish... and now that I've said that i know a sticker company that has both the skills and the right tools to make them...
I'd much prefer these actual stainless steel metal ones than stickers, that would be too tacky - the main aim was for them to be both practical and better looking; but I'd be up for a group order, in the right shape, of metal ones with the S-line logo. Similarly I have a sturdy plastic bumper German made lip protecter, rather than the sticker material you can buy, even from Audi.
Yesterday I went through my paper work... my service book is full, has been for a while but I have the reciepts (which I've yet to collate), so I bought a new old stock one, and a self service stamp, now that I'm doing it myself. I'd actually lost the code to the old Symphony II as well, even though it's no longer fitted, so I obtained it for about 8 quid, and added it to the manual inside cover, for completeness. Since the records are incomplete, I thought I'd cross reference with the MOT history and any other records (very sparce, no invoices). I've yet to gather my own, for the 102,000 + miles in my ownership but it's around 12 or more services (somewhat less frequent than the 6K changes I had in my head); 2 cambelt/water pumps, and the KMB hex/balance shaft upgrade; new pulleys at the front all round, except for the alternator; new radiator; A/C compressor/heater matrix; EGR and ASV valves; new discs all round x 2/new calipers x1; lower front control arms; 2 new wings and a set of refurbished Ronals; new clutch/DMF/slave cylinder at 220K; not including countless cosmetic stuff already talked about. Apart from this no other major mechanical work has been done or failed on the engine especially.
The MOT history was horrifying. Not in what failed, it only ever failed on tyres and bulbs literally, with advisories on worn tyres, discs/pads and slight chipped windscreen; with the one fail exception of a broken rear spring at around 120k - that answers my question: they are around 150K now but not original; the only other significant advisory was the front worn lower control arms. What was shocking from the service book, was two periods where it seems to have gone over 30K between any service!!! Maybe there were others between those periods and the owner forgot to have the book stamped - I've done that myself but the ragged condition continually of the tyres (often down to the beads) and brakes seems to suggest not. The car had LL (20K) services by Audi up until around 80K. then another at around 96K; then only two more up until 172,415, when I bought it. There is no mention anywhere of a single cambelt change, neither by Audi at 80K nor after, before I did them.
It's completely remarkable this car has ever survived. It would certainly be scrap now too, if I hadn't bothered with the preventative of the KMB mod. I can only assume, and judging by the relatively unworn condition of the interior (never been smoked in for example - the ashtrays are like brand new and I only replaced the lighter cos it didn't work and to look complete) and most of the exterior; that it was carefully driven, at least, or it's a Friday car, or whatever. I've honestly never had any real issues mechanically; no MAF, tandem pump, injector, glow plug or turbo issues; no rough running/ idling, no renewed engine mounts etc. Almost always smooth, quiet and reliable; always has started on the button, winter or summer, idling smoothly and revving through the gears without flat spots. Oil pressure is spec too and only uses about 1/2 to 1 litre of oil in 6-8K; which all suggests the cams and bearings are still good; obviously not having a DPF helps but that is besides this example. Don't get me wrong, I've spent many times what it's worth keeping it well maintained, and recently I've had the money to go out and spend 6-10K on getting a far far better car; so I don't know why for the life of me, I've kept hold of it so long; except some cars are just lucky and just right and although you should never get attached to a car, you do.
But the real point of all this - and the service records don't matter much, since I'm going to give this car away one day, and it'd fetch very very little, with or without - is that it kind of gives the lie, in my case at least, to the 'calculated obselence' theory behind Audi's manufacture; at 275,000, with a lot of neglect in it's history; that should be well past it's sell-by/service life in anyone's book, I reckon.
, and I'm keeping the original for the car back.
