a3 tdi sline quattro failed mot today

[LR_74]

My first Audi owned for nearly a year now. 55 plate A3 2.0 tdi quattro sline, it's done 139000 and used daily to get to work. Drove to Halfords test centre with 2 new front tyres fitted elsewhere. I was hoping it would sail through but that wasn't to be. One rear spring has snapped they recommend replace as pair i guess that's wise. Not the mot tester but another fitter said to me could you not hear the spring pinging whilst driving ? I couldn't and never had heard the clonking rear spring before but i could on the way home where the car will sit mot less until i decide where to take it next. I assume the spring was bad and the mot tester finished it off but it wasn't making any noise before i took it to the garage today. There are a few other issues which to put right for the mot been quoted around £500, i assume that's parts and labour. I really like the car looks and sounds good for a diesel anyway, but i can't help that think it's getting on a bit in years now and

continue to cost me more, it's due a service soon and think looking at the history the timing belt and water pump should be replaced. It's the 140 bhp engine.

 

[audismart]

I had a spring snapped on the rear, only found out when I changed springs and dampers all round, have to say it might be a false economy to just change the rear springs, you might be better off getting a bilstein B12 kit with springs and dampers and have them fitted, as your dampers could well be shot at 139k.
Bit harsh on the headlight alignment as they could have done that for you when they had it on the targets.
Front gaiter is common, just done one on mine last week, got an advisory last year at MOT, yours might be bad and flinging out lots of grease for them to fail it.
And a ARB drop link is an easy replacement DIY.
Get some prices from mike on the parts request and go from there.
The rear springs are easy to change too, 20min max.

 

[LR_74]

Thanks for your reply, good to know these are common faults, yes i might look to source the parts myself but i will have to pay for the labour. Yes i did think they could have sorted the headlight and that quote seems to be top end, i will shop around. Thanks again.

 

[smurfworth]

Rear springs snap on them all the time. Could always get a second hand set off a lower mileage car and they are easy to replace. All you have to do is undo 1 bolt at the bottom of the suspension arm and lower the arm down on a jack to remove the tension from the spring and it just falls out of its perch, do the same in reverse order to fit and you'll be good to go for very little money

Full set for £50 on eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=122383808788&globalID=EBAY-GB

 

[ab1702]

My first Audi owned for nearly a year now. 55 plate A3 2.0 tdi quattro sline, it's done 139000 and used daily to get to work. Drove to Halfords test centre with 2 new front tyres fitted elsewhere. I was hoping it would sail through but that wasn't to be. One rear spring has snapped they recommend replace as pair i guess that's wise. Not the mot tester but another fitter said to me could you not hear the spring pinging whilst driving ? I couldn't and never had heard the clonking rear spring before but i could on the way home where the car will sit mot less until i decide where to take it next. I assume the spring was bad and the mot tester finished it off but it wasn't making any noise before i took it to the garage today. There are a few other issues which to put right for the mot been quoted aroundView attachment 120449 £500, i assume that's parts and labour. I really like the car looks and sounds good for a diesel anyway, but i can't help that think it's getting on a bit in years now and View attachment 120449 continue to cost me more, it's due a service soon and think looking at the history the timing belt and water pump should be replaced. It's the 140 bhp engine.

I wouldn't have took it to Halfords in the first place, places like halfords and Kwikfit aren't the best and have targets to meet for sales etc so I'd doubt if half that work even needed doing.
I once had a free mot at Kwikfit because I got my insurance with them and it failed and they quoted me a few hundred pound tonpit right. I took to my local garage where I'd normally go and it passed with no faults apart from a headlight bulb.

 

[SootySport]

The car is 11 years old now and is due a refresh. Springs breaking on any car is common now, my 2010 a3 had twonew front springs just before I bought it.
If youcan't dothese jobs yourself then running acar is expensive, best to find a local Vag specialist to keep the bills down.

 

[LR_74]

I wouldn't have took it to Halfords in the first place, places like halfords and Kwikfit aren't the best and have targets to meet for sales etc so I'd doubt if half that work even needed doing.
I once had a free mot at Kwikfit because I got my insurance with them and it failed and they quoted me a few hundred pound tonpit right. I took to my local garage where I'd normally go and it passed with no faults apart from a headlight bulb.

Yes i'm not happy that the car has come away from the garage with a broken spring which is now audible over the slightest bump, it was fine before. I can't afford to pay halfords for the work and frankly i no longer trust them. I will look to buy the parts myself and get a friend to do the work.

 

[dp_motley]

I had both front springs snapped on my old car, Seat Toledo. I first learned it when the car didn't pass MOT. There weren't any clanking sounds at all, but when a mechanic took the springs off, they literally fell in parts, one in two and another in three.

 

[LR_74]

I guess once they started poking around with the car on the ramp for the inspection the rear spring then fell apart. After looking around and discovering the parts are reasonably priced to get it through mot there is no way i'm paying halfords for the labour.

 

[Marek196c]

nono, get away from hellfrauds, for parts best choices are ebay /euro car parts online got quite good prices, gaiter cover/protector should be cheap from here fast, good quality and cheap (got one replaced on mine for 1,5 year actually and is still like new). Springs or locally from scrap yard just for mot or via internet (in both cases change as pair), for quotes just look some independent guy, ask friends or call locally for quotes. Suspension arms wouldn't be cheap but is better to change them in pairs as well. and linkages.
Fast parts price:
-4£
-65£
-44£
Total of:113£ + labour.