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Used Audi A3 - Would you buy? At what price?

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  • 10-01-2012 9:54pm
    #1
    mighty magpie
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭


    I'm looking at a particular Audi A3. Grey, 2004, 140k miles, 2.0 ltr tdi, 140bhp, 3 door. Full service history with new cam belt, clutch and flywheel 6 months ago and a service in december. Alloy wheels and good condition inside and out and viewing and test driving the car.

    The thing i am worried about is the miles, would you buy this car? What price range?

    I've been told that the 1.9 ltr engine is much superior to the 2.0. What do you think? bit clueless here! :(

    Thanks in advance for any replies!!


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    #2
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    Well the injectors should actually be ok on that, plus the oil pump problems are not an issue for A3s. Check out the service history and gearbox. It should be priced according to the mileage.


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    #3
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users Posts: 5,540 ✭✭✭Leonard Hofstadter


    If you want an A3, buy a Golf or an Octavia. The same car for less money. The 2.0 PD TDI is not engine I would recommend to anyone who thinks reliability is even remotely important.


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    #4
    mighty magpie
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭mighty magpie


    EPM wrote: »
    Well the injectors should actually be ok on that, plus the oil pump problems are not an issue for A3s. Check out the service history and gearbox. It should be priced according to the mileage.

    Is there an known problem with these gearboxes, what should i be looking for?

    Could you explain the injector problem and why it should be ok on this car?

    Is it only the A4s that have the oil pump problem?

    Thanks


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    #5
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users Posts: 73,438 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    The a3 has its appeal, the Octavia may share a platform, but it isn't as 'nice'
    It usually won't appeal to your typical 3 door A3 driver,


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    #6
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    captainspeed wrote: »
    If you want an A3, buy a Golf or an Octavia. The same car for less money. The 2.0 PD TDI is not engine I would recommend to anyone who thinks reliability is even remotely important.

    What reliability issues? Any VAG with the Siemens injectors are now subject to a recall. If it's got the Bosch solenoid ones it should be ok. New clutch, flywheel. Some of the main diesel downfall items there. With injectors covered its a reliable choice.


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    #7
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    colm_mcm wrote: »
    The a3 has its appeal, the Octavia may share a platform, but it isn't as 'nice'
    It usually won't appeal to your typical 3 door A3 driver,

    A3 interior is a much nicer place to spend time imo if that floats your boat.


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    #8
    NickDrake
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭NickDrake


    Ya wondering myself about that 2.0 tdi as I am after a Passat and most seem to have the 2.0 now in the 07/8 range.


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    #9
    mighty magpie
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭mighty magpie


    EPM wrote: »
    What reliability issues? Any VAG with the Siemens injectors are now subject to a recall. If it's got the Bosch solenoid ones it should be ok. New clutch, flywheel. Some of the main diesel downfall items there. With injectors covered its a reliable choice.

    So injectors aren't an issue in this car?

    The price is £3,000, i think its a good deal and can't find a like for like golf for the same price!


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    #10
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users Posts: 5,540 ✭✭✭Leonard Hofstadter


    EPM wrote: »
    What reliability issues? Any VAG with the Siemens injectors are now subject to a recall. If it's got the Bosch solenoid ones it should be ok. New clutch, flywheel. Some of the main diesel downfall items there. With injectors covered its a reliable choice.

    Oil pump failure?


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    #11
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    captainspeed wrote: »
    What about the oil pump failing?

    Only on the transverse mounted engines afaik.


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    #12
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users Posts: 5,540 ✭✭✭Leonard Hofstadter


    EPM wrote: »
    Only on the transverse mounted engines afaik.

    And what kind of engine layout does anything on the PQ35 platform (A3/Golf etc) have:)?


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    #13
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    2.0tdi with the bkd engine code doesn't suffer f4om oil pump issues as it , the oil pump hasn't got a balancer shaft. I've a bkd with 160k on seems like a good engine to me at least.


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    #14
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    Btw i havent changed anything on my car except oil(LOTS) & belts and i drive it fairly hard.


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    #15
    mighty magpie
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭mighty magpie


    JJJJNR wrote: »
    2.0tdi with the bkd engine code doesn't suffer f4om oil pump issues as it , the oil pump hasn't got a balancer shaft. I've a bkd with 160k on seems like a good engine to me at least.

    It looks like the BKD engine code was the only A3 engine made in the years '03 '04 and '05 so this car won't suffer from this problem.

    Can anyone else confirm this?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A3#Engines_2


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    #16
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    JJJJNR wrote: »
    Btw i havent changed anything on my car except oil(LOTS) & belts and i drive it fairly hard.

    Did you get the injector recall yet on yours? I had a call about diesel pipes and they said some are getting injectors too. Official skoda Ireland recall. Presume yours is the same unless using Bosch ones.


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    #17
    mighty magpie
    Registered Users Posts: 981 ✭✭✭mighty magpie


    EPM wrote: »
    Did you get the injector recall yet on yours? I had a call about diesel pipes and they said some are getting injectors too. Official skoda Ireland recall. Presume yours is the same unless using Bosch ones.
    How would one tell if they are siemens or bosch injectors?


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    #18
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    Best way is ring a dealer with the cars details. They should be able to tell you.


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    #19
    passarellaie
    Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭passarellaie


    EPM wrote: »
    Best way is ring a dealer with the cars details. They should be able to tell you.
    or go to your local motor factor with the reg


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    #20
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    EPM wrote: »
    Did you get the injector recall yet on yours? I had a call about diesel pipes and they said some are getting injectors too. Official skoda Ireland recall. Presume yours is the same unless using Bosch ones.

    No recall on bkd injectors iirc, it just wont break!


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    #21
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    JJJJNR wrote: »
    No recall on bkd injectors iirc, it just wont break!

    How bad!


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    #22
    heate
    Closed Accounts Posts: 499 ✭✭✭heate


    It's a fine car OP far nicer to sit in than an octavia and is cosier than a mkIV golf.
    I'd pay as little as possible 140k miles perhaps €5kish.
    You may note that t that milage the interior should be holding up well and there should be a limited amount of on the go rattles


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    #23
    JJJJNR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭JJJJNR


    More info and engine codes.


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    #24
    R.O.R
    Registered Users Posts: 12,680 ✭✭✭✭R.O.R


    We had a 2004 A3 2.0Tdi on fleet that went up to 195,000km before it came back.

    Just had a look through the history and there is no note of any breakdown's, but the EML did come on a couple of times. No notes as to cause/solution though.

    Radiator fan was replaced at 136k and the Air Con compressor was replaced around 170k. Except for that it's only standard servicing & tyres - no note of a clutch replacement either.

    I collected that off the driver when he got his new car, and it was pulling like a train.


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    #25
    EPM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,822 ✭✭✭✭EPM


    JJJJNR wrote: »
    More info and engine codes.

    Excellent info. There's a similar thread at the moment on another vag forum but it's not as concise as that.


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