Audi Rip off - advice please

[MA3TDIQ]

So just got my A3 2.0TDI Quattro (57 Plate) back from the audi garage today and was absolutely shocked.

It went in to the garage because I had noticed exhaust fumes in the cabin to the point where it made started to make me feel sick - noticed the most when stood still idling at traffic lights.

It has not logged any fault codes with the engine with my VCDS or did the garage find any fault codes. I also never had any problems with engine management lights coming on.

They quoted me £1000 to have the seals and flaps replaced at the end of the intake manifold!

That cost does seem rather steep! I was thinking of getting a carbon clean of the engine to see if it would help for £100?

Anyone have any experience of this or how much this repair would be expected to cost?

 

[hollows wife]

would be cheaper to buy a second hand intake manifold . this is what happens to the runner .

but its not a £1000 to replace it

 

[Techen]

Try to avoid audi for doing stuff like that and find a local garage that knows there VW cars, My friend put his GTI into VW and they quoted him over 2,300 quids worth of un-needed work to be done before they'd change his timing belt. It's there way of making money

 

[mister.c.]

Where are you based? I had the intake manifold replaced from an Audi specialist (with reasonable prices and an excellent reputation) for less than half of that.

 

[c_w]

AUDI quotation will be massive as they will just fit a new inlet assembly that costs around £650.

I doubt it's the source of your fumes smell anyway; my 57 plate TDI has signs of leakage at the end of the flap spindle too, it's a tiny area of wear but as the car is boosted it does blow out of there a bit but doubt it would be ever smelt inside the car as a. the leakage is small and b. the bonnet is sealed (check you have the seal in place on the scuttle as without this you WILL smell stuff).

For my car I sourced an alloy inlet (original is plastic and the one that wears) but retained the flaps; they come off A4s and Passats of TDI 170 engine) and got a really clean one with new looking flaps and actuator for £80 off ebay. It bolts on with a new type gasket though some of the brackets don't line up perfectly but a bit of DIY makes it work.

 

[MA3TDIQ]

So I had another look at the job card and apparently they want to replace the seals at the end of the manifold and the gaskets. It still seems like a hell of a lot of money for just the seals and gaskets!

@hallow - I like that video you showed of the wobble with the manifold intake flap - Seeing that video almost makes me convinced that is the problem that I have! How do you get that fixed?

@mister c. - I am based in Edinburgh - anyone know any good other garages I can take it too that specialise in Audi's?

@c_w - I have ensured my bonnet is sealed. It was certainly a lot worse when it wasn't and I notice the smell more when standing next to the car when stood at the traffic lights. Apart from the horrible smell I also get a rough running engine.. This is very frustrating and feels like the car 'misses' all the time. I think it has something to do with the fuel to air ratio being wrong. It had all injectors replaced (as part of recall) and had a new fuel pump installed so I think it has something to do with the air system.

Could the engine be chocked with carbon? Im getting a carbon clean to see if it will make a difference - here's hoping!

 

[Techen]

I know a amazing guy in perth if your willing to travel, he charged me 375 quid to do my timing belt, Thats everything where is audi chargers over 600 quid

 

[voorhees]

You shouldn't be surprised at that figure whilst your sitting on a plush sofa drinking free coffee/tea,lovely looking and well dressed staff wondering about in a purpose built Audi showroom,it all comes at a price.
I found out the hard way and now I like making my own drinks and sitting on a scabby plastic chair reading old performance mags.

 

[Carefree69]

Exactly^^

You pay premium prices at Audi dealerships but only for the ******** that goes with it.

Find yourself a not so pretentious independent and get the same level of service but without the facade.

 

[MA3TDIQ]

You shouldn't be surprised at that figure whilst your sitting on a plush sofa drinking free coffee/tea,lovely looking and well dressed staff wondering about in a purpose built Audi showroom,it all comes at a price.
I found out the hard way and now I like making my own drinks and sitting on a scabby plastic chair reading old performance mags.

I do agree with that but it is difficult to find a good garage. Any has any recommendations for Edinburgh?

 

[hollows wife]

So I had another look at the job card and apparently they want to replace the seals at the end of the manifold and the gaskets. It still seems like a hell of a lot of money for just the seals and gaskets!

@hallow - I like that video you showed of the wobble with the manifold intake flap - Seeing that video almost makes me convinced that is the problem that I have! How do you get that fixed?

@mister c. - I am based in Edinburgh - anyone know any good other garages I can take it too that specialise in Audi's?

@c_w - I have ensured my bonnet is sealed. It was certainly a lot worse when it wasn't and I notice the smell more when standing next to the car when stood at the traffic lights. Apart from the horrible smell I also get a rough running engine.. This is very frustrating and feels like the car 'misses' all the time. I think it has something to do with the fuel to air ratio being wrong. It had all injectors replaced (as part of recall) and had a new fuel pump installed so I think it has something to do with the air system.

Could the engine be chocked with carbon? Im getting a carbon clean to see if it will make a difference - here's hoping!

to get rid of the flap wobble you need to replace the manifold , just get a good 2nd hand replacement.

 

[NEILGF]

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/a3-2-0-tdi-inlet-manifold.238049/#post-2392254

 

[voorhees]

@Brodster Any Edinburgh recommendations for headwork ?

 

[Shocker]

Exactly^^

You pay premium prices at Audi dealerships but only for the ******** that goes with it.

Find yourself a not so pretentious independent and get the same level of service but without the facade.

But it's worth it to see all the young lady's in the Audi little red dress

 

[mister.c.]

These guys do not appear too far away http://www.starperformance.co.uk/
At the Audi Driver awards they were voted best independent Audi service provider in Scotland.
Whilst I have never used them as I live in Yorkshire, Autotechnica in Hull is who I now use and they got a similar Gold award and they have been excellent with me.

 

[John@ECM-TECH]

I know a amazing guy in perth if your willing to travel, he charged me 375 quid to do my timing belt, Thats everything where is audi chargers over 600 quid

i was discussing the very thing re travel the other night wiih a nice Texan, 4 hours or 6? lol does not really matter to me. I have friend in Auz who drives 6 hours return fio his tea once a week lol

 

[John@ECM-TECH]

These guys do not appear too far away http://www.starperformance.co.uk/
At the Audi Driver awards they were voted best independent Audi service provider in Scotland.
Whilst I have never used them as I live in Yorkshire, Autotechnica in Hull is who I now use and they got a similar Gold award and they have been excellent with me.

Dyno too! Been there once. other side if the bridge?

 

[John@ECM-TECH]

There's autohaus in Edin but they never rang me back, ever, lol, so was deleted, and I ended up in Newcastle Revolution247, impressed to far with their pricing, the cars book in in two weeks, mod friendly Service too can have correct stamps, perfect.

I will let you know how at it turns out as am meticulous a hire car was £65.00 for the week from thd airport = sorted!