Preventive maintenance on a new car?

[Simon50s]

My Audi A3 saloon is only several months old but I started to wonder if there's anything useful I could do in the way of preventative maintenance. I've had a ceramic coating so I'm content that the paintwork has at least some minor protection from everyday use. Of course I realise it's mostly for ease of washing but can help prevent any bird poo nightmares etc. I'm not going down the road of doing PPF on the bodywork, although doing some on the piano plastic inside sounds a good idea if I found somewhere convenient - has anyone done that themselves with any success?

For example I remember on some of my older cars that after a service they would often put a dab of grease in places such as the door hinges. My new car doesn't appear to have any noticable grease on the hinges. Is this worth doing? Does anyone else do this? Bonnet and boot too?

Any other minor things that people do, no matter how small.

Is there anything specific to the A3 saloon?

 

[NWHighlander]

My Audi A3 saloon is only several months old but I started to wonder if there's anything useful I could do in the way of preventative maintenance. I've had a ceramic coating so I'm content that the paintwork has at least some minor protection from everyday use. Of course I realise it's mostly for ease of washing but can help prevent any bird poo nightmares etc. I'm not going down the road of doing PPF on the bodywork, although doing some on the piano plastic inside sounds a good idea if I found somewhere convenient - has anyone done that themselves with any success?

For example I remember on some of my older cars that after a service they would often put a dab of grease in places such as the door hinges. My new car doesn't appear to have any noticable grease on the hinges. Is this worth doing? Does anyone else do this? Bonnet and boot too?

Any other minor things that people do, no matter how small.

Is there anything specific to the A3 saloon?

Hi, Much the same questions crossed my mind. However I lean more towards the mechanical preservation. Certainly I had a top grade ceramic coat applied to bodywork and wheels immediately the car was delivered. However I believe an in-between oil and filter change to be a positive step towards preservation, that's potentially where the biggest hit on your wallet is likely to come from. My tuppence worth, enjoy the new car.

Mike

 

[Simon50s]

Thanks Mike,
Yes, agree that the mechanical stuff is more important to long term running.
I didn't get my wheels done when I had the ceramic coat but next time I will. Those alloy wheel designs mean dirt gets trapped very easily!

 

[Vic20]

Based on my experience of owning an 8P for 15 years I did the following when I got my 8Y..

Remove each wheel in turn. Smear a thin film of lithium grease (Tefgel is best) on the mating faces of the wheel to the disc. First puncture I had, wheel was impossible to remove due to corrosion of the different metals.

Liberally brush waxoyl on suspension bolts and stud ends. Also the very prone to rusting brake disc protection shields on the edges and any exposed surfaces, being careful to not get any on the discs!

 

[RickyA3fsi2.0]

i know the Audi is new, i would recommend Waxoyl before the winter and salt roads phenomenon, Ceramic coating of the exterior and service the car (oil, filter, plugs) regularly.

 

[Simon50s]

i know the Audi is new, i would recommend Waxoyl before the winter and salt roads phenomenon, Ceramic coating of the exterior and service the car (oil, filter, plugs) regularly.

Do people still use Waxoyl on new cars? I used it many years ago on old cars when makers didn’t use good rest protection.

 

[RickyA3fsi2.0]

Do people still use Waxoyl on new cars? I used it many years ago on old cars when makers didn’t use good rest protection.

when i spoke to Mike about Waxoyl on new cars, he said there are customers who want such protection on brand new cars. Many new van and truck owners (company owners or individuals) keep Mike busy with Waxoyl contracts. When i had my 19 year old A3 waxoyled, it was the first time the wheel arches came off since probably factory and everything was cleaned, the surface rust removed and waxoyl applied. Lots of cob webs, leaves, mud, spider webs and 1 spider under the wheel arches. see pictures attached

 

[Simon50s]

Having a defa vu moment now. I remember seeing this post back in June under the Detailing forum and thought I'd left a similar comment along the lines of if I knew someone like that near me I would have got that done on my old A3 8P, but can't find the comment. Anyway, this Mike seems to be quite a good person to know.

I'm sure you can't have too much rust protection, but unlikely I would do this on my new car unless I knew someone like Mike near me. I suppose it depends on how long you intend to keep your car, how and where you use it and the cost of getting it done properly.