The Audi Thread

[RogueTr00per]

On another note, are there any places anyone can recommend not too far from Century City (Cape Town) for an S-tronic gearbox service / oil change? My Audi is an A3 2010 1.8TFSI. Should be done every 60,000km right? Approximate cost? The workshop i've taken my car to for my coolant issue and normal service said they don't have the tool required to open up the S-tronic gearbox

 

[airborne]

One of the big ones in Cape Town is Triangle Gearbox Services I think, probably cost around R3-4k

 

[RogueTr00per]

One of the big ones in Cape Town is Triangle Gearbox Services I think, probably cost around R3-4k

Thanks, is it quite a normal thing for even a highly rated workshop to say they don't have the tool to do a oil change on an s-tronic gearbox? Apparently it's very expensive and a different tool to what is used to open a DSG gearbox.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Thanks, is it quite a normal thing for even a highly rated workshop to say they don't have the tool to do a oil change on an s-tronic gearbox? Apparently it's very expensive and a different tool to what is used to open a DSG gearbox.

Sounds like bollocks to me.

They likely just don’t want to do the work, or if the tool story is true they don’t have the automatic pump system to feed the oil to make it less of a hassle.

It’s one of those things where “you touched it last and now it’s broken” which is likely why they want to avoid the world.

Plenty of home mechanics do this job happily and don’t have expensive tools to do it.

Vast majority of the cost at any workshop for this job is the oil itself, not the labour.

****

Depending on your definition of “too far” Engine Techniques in Brackenfell is my go to.

Otherwise back in the day also had good service from Wackers there in Paarden Eiland.

 

[Neuk_]

Thanks, is it quite a normal thing for even a highly rated workshop to say they don't have the tool to do a oil change on an s-tronic gearbox? Apparently it's very expensive and a different tool to what is used to open a DSG gearbox.

S-Tronic and DSG are one and the same, there are different variations depending on the platform, but the A3 platform uses the exact same engine and gearboxes as the Golf. If they con do a fluid change on a DSG they should be able to do it on the same gearbox that is just labelled S-Tronic. I can understand them not wanting to though, double clutch gearboxes can be very finnicky things.

 

[airborne]

Sounds like bollocks to me.

They likely just don’t want to do the work, or if the tool story is true they don’t have the automatic pump system to feed the oil to make it less of a hassle.

It’s one of those things where “you touched it last and now it’s broken” which is likely why they want to avoid the world.

Plenty of home mechanics do this job happily and don’t have expensive tools to do it.

Vast majority of the cost at any workshop for this job is the oil itself, not the labour.

****

Depending on your definition of “too far” Engine Techniques in Brackenfell is my go to.

Otherwise back in the day also had good service from Wackers there in Paarden Eiland.

I did my Honda automatic gearbox oil, Honda wanted to charge R1300 labour, thats to undo the sump bolt, drain the oil and then top it up via the filler hole..

Does Vag still sell any models with CVT gearboxes?

 

[Neuk_]

I did my Honda automatic gearbox oil, Honda wanted to charge R1300 labour, thats to undo the sump bolt, drain the oil and then top it up via the filler hole..

Does Vag still sell any models with CVT gearboxes?

I don't think so, it was mainly Audi that used them and they discontinued using the Multitronic gearbox in 2014 switching to using the S-Tronic instead alongside manual and Tiptronic.

 

[RogueTr00per]

Ok i have feedback on my coolant issue. It's a leaking water pump / housing unit. Using an aftermarket brand it's going to cost me 4.5k (including 2 bottles of antifreeze + labour). They said OEM would cost ten times as much.

 

[TheChamp]

Ok i have feedback on my coolant issue. It's a leaking water pump / housing unit. Using an aftermarket brand it's going to cost me 4.5k (including 2 bottles of antifreeze + labour). They said OEM would cost ten times as much.

It's justa piece of metal, I would also not stress about OEM, it's a mechanical component, nothing much can go wrong.

R4.5k does sound steep for a water pump, I would call Goldwagen and hear what they say, it excludes labour if I understand correctly?

 

[Neuk_]

Ok i have feedback on my coolant issue. It's a leaking water pump / housing unit. Using an aftermarket brand it's going to cost me 4.5k (including 2 bottles of antifreeze + labour). They said OEM would cost ten times as much.

As @thechamp suggests, contact your local Goldwagen for pricing on a new water pump, OEM will certainly not cost 10 times as much though. I am not sure when the VAG group made the swop, but leaking/broken water pumps were a big issue 15 - 20 years ago when plastic impeller water pumps were around. I would change the water pump every 120k km's when cambelts were changed before they swopped back to metal impeller water pumps.

 

[RogueTr00per]

It's justa piece of metal, I would also not stress about OEM, it's a mechanical component, nothing much can go wrong.

R4.5k does sound steep for a water pump, I would call Goldwagen and hear what they say, it excludes labour if I understand correctly?

4.5k will include labour and the 2 bottles of antifreeze. Does it still sound steep? I don't have the exact breakdown, i should have asked If i'm being overcharged a bit i can live with it, if i have to go somewhere else at this point then the time i will lose on work and billable hours will hurt me more

 

[RogueTr00per]

As @thechamp suggests, contact your local Goldwagen for pricing on a new water pump, OEM will certainly not cost 10 times as much though. I am not sure when the VAG group made the swop, but leaking/broken water pumps were a big issue 15 - 20 years ago when plastic impeller water pumps were around. I would change the water pump every 120k km's when cambelts were changed before they swopped back to metal impeller water pumps.

Yeah ok, they said this one is known to give issues, and it's half plastic half metal. My A3 is on 111,500km now, 10 years old.

 

[K4shy]

Hey guys I am not sure if this is the right place to be posting.

I doing some research to know if it will be feasible to pick up a 2014 / 2015 S3 or 2011 RS3. I cant seem to find much info online,
I want to know what could I expect in terms of service cost and maintenance costs since they will not be on motor plan?
And what should I look out for when looking at these cars?


Thanks

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Saying goodbye today
Time to look for a daddy car with more doors.

 

[TheChamp]

4.5k will include labour and the 2 bottles of antifreeze. Does it still sound steep? I don't have the exact breakdown, i should have asked If i'm being overcharged a bit i can live with it, if i have to go somewhere else at this point then the time i will lose on work and billable hours will hurt me more

In that case it's not that bad, from preliminary searches the pump is R1200 to R1500. Labour can be pretty intensive if there isn't enough space to work on around the engine, plus it's a proper workshop with bills to pay so I wouldn't hold it against them for a R4500 all inclusive price.

 

[PsYTraNc3]

It's justa piece of metal, I would also not stress about OEM, it's a mechanical component, nothing much can go wrong.

R4.5k does sound steep for a water pump, I would call Goldwagen and hear what they say, it excludes labour if I understand correctly?

Luckily it is (i think) mechanical in the a3 8p.

I just replaced the water pump in my 8v 2 months ago with a cost of R7.5k for a non-OEM.
Pricing from Goldwagen for the electronic pump was R6595 ex.

 

[Neuk_]

4.5k will include labour and the 2 bottles of antifreeze. Does it still sound steep? I don't have the exact breakdown, i should have asked If i'm being overcharged a bit i can live with it, if i have to go somewhere else at this point then the time i will lose on work and billable hours will hurt me more

I don't think it is that steep, if the water pump is in a similar place to previous A3/Golf generations it can be a nightmare of a job as you have to at least remove one engine mount, drop that side of the engine and remove a lot of covers and some of the cambelt hardware to get it out. My '05 A4 where the engine sat longitudinally we simply removed the entire front of the car to get to front of the engine.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Hey guys I am not sure if this is the right place to be posting.

I doing some research to know if it will be feasible to pick up a 2014 / 2015 S3 or 2011 RS3. I cant seem to find much info online,
I want to know what could I expect in terms of service cost and maintenance costs since they will not be on motor plan?
And what should I look out for when looking at these cars?


Thanks

Just get a warranty whatever you do.

I’d personally take the newer car (assuming mileage equivalence) and likely find the newer S3 is nearly on par with the older RS3.

Service and maintenance depends on where you are and who you use.

And don’t touch a car without a full service history.

 

[Neuk_]

Luckily it is (i think) mechanical in the a3 8p.

I just replaced the water pump in my 8v 2 months ago with a cost of R7.5k for a non-OEM.
Pricing from Goldwagen for the electronic pump was R6595 ex.

I am sure it is mechanical on the older A3/Golf platform, the newer ones are electric mainly due to cooling requirements of modern day turbo setups.

 

[Neuk_]

Just get a warranty whatever you do.

I’d personally take the newer car (assuming mileage equivalence) and likely find the newer S3 is nearly on par with the older RS3.

Service and maintenance depends on where you are and who you use.

And don’t touch a car without a full service history.

Agreed. @K4shy - Assuming you are in Jhb, I can put you in touch with a friend who besides being well know for his work on Subaru's, is becoming well know for his work on the 2.0l and 2.5l high performance VAG platforms like the Golf .:R, Audi S3 and RS3.