Audi TT - What to look out for?

actuar90

So, I'm pretty much decided on buying a TT from around 2005. It's the 1.8 turbo Quattro 180bhp ones I'm looking at.

I'm just wondering is there any known issues with these?

Is there any major work that needs to be done after X number of miles? Such as to the turbo, the quattro system or to anything else?

Also, what is the best/safest way to pay for cars worth a couple grand at the moment?

I've ready the sticky on things to check and it was really helpful.

Thanks

RandomUsername

The instrument console was a big issue with these, repair was big enough money at the time. Its worth doing a bit of research into how to test it for issues. Also regular haldex servicing would be desirable.

Atlantic Dawn

The 1.8T engines suffered from sludging of the oil in the bottom of the sump if regular oil changes didn't take place, leading to oil starvation. Try to get one with a history indicating regular oil changes or one that has had the sump replaced recently.

mickdw

I had a 180 quattro TT a few years back. No major issues but as mentioned, regular oil changes with the correct oil is the life of these.
The dash binnacle does give trouble but mine didnt. I know my rear shocks needed replacing at about 100k miles but that would vary greatly depending on useage.
In my opinion, there are pretty bullet proof cars and many parts are cheap for them due to being shared across the vw /audi range.
I did tend to leave the rear parcel shelf at home though as it rattled like crazy.

colm_mcm

Haldex oil needs to have been changed, AFAIK this is often overlooked

hairypigeon

Currently have a 225 quattro conv with 130k mls

agreed with all the concerns i have replaced the shock all the way round for less than 200e a corner incl. labour no cheap but definitely need to be done around that mileage

one thing that hasnt been said is the brake, abs and speed sensors. I'd recommend someone plugs in an error sensor to make sure you dont have a problem.

being honest tho they are cheap on parts and maintenance but i would recommend you shoot for the 225 as the internals are upgraded and more robust and cant image there will be much in the difference in price

Neilw

Known problems I had with one.

Wishbone bushings don't last long.
Xenon bulbs/ballasts give trouble.
Alarm siren can die.
Instrument cluster problems, gauges reading wrong.
Dead pixels in the display.
Ac switches are fragile, but can be replaced cheaply.
The centre console oddments lid can break.
Haldex controler can die.
Whining rear diff.

The engine itself is reliable once maintained with the correct oil.

I would advise to bring someone with vcds ( vw diagnostic ) to scan the car for faults while you're there.

George Dalton

In my experience these are far from cheap on parts and maintenance, I reckon the posters who have had that experience have been pretty lucky! Apart from regular service items they actually share very few parts with the rest of the Mk4 platform cars.

I find that the majority of these cars that come into our place for the first time are in a very tired state and are in need of some serious TLC.

Like most older cars a lot of them seem to be maintained only to a very basic standard and lots of wear and tear issues are ignored.

If I were you I would ideally be looking for an enthusiast owned car with a detailed history, especially recent history (last 2-3 years) The recent history is the most relevant on a car of that age. Service details from when the car was 2-3 years old are nice to have but largely irrelevant at this stage. You should be looking for evidence of work being carried out which is over and above your usual oil, fluids, filters, spark plugs etc.

In addition to what the other posters have mentioned here are some other common issues that we see with them regularly:

Faulty hazard light switches cause the indicators to go a bit crazy
Acceleration sensors for the traction control system fail and are pricey enough to replace
Front wheel bearings
Front and rear anti roll bar links
Rear coil springs regularly break
Balljoints, track rod ends and inner tie rods all wear
Steering racks can leak, especially if the incorrect fluid is used in them
Inner CV joints wear causing vibration under acceleration
Outer CV joint boots split
Clutches rarely last more than about 100k miles and it's a pretty big job to change it
Thermostats stick open on almost every one of them
Breather hoses split
Dipstick guide tubes break
Cam cover gaskets leak oil
Oil level sensors
Coilpacks fail
Fuel pumps get weak and eventually stop working completely
Air flow meters
Coolant temperature sensors
Handbrake cables
Turbos can seize
Turbos and manifolds crack on them all and over time the cracks become worse until eventually they start to leak and cause noise and poor running. Replacing a turbo on one is an absolute pig of a job as well.

Apart from that they are a grand aul yoke :pac:

mickdw

George Dalton wrote: »

In my experience these are far from cheap on parts and maintenance, I reckon the posters who have had that experience have been pretty lucky! Apart from regular service items they actually share very few parts with the rest of the Mk4 platform cars.

I find that the majority of these cars that come into our place for the first time are in a very tired state and are in need of some serious TLC.

Like most older cars a lot of them seem to be maintained only to a very basic standard and lots of wear and tear issues are ignored.

If I were you I would ideally be looking for an enthusiast owned car with a detailed history, especially recent history (last 2-3 years) The recent history is the most relevant on a car of that age. Service details from when the car was 2-3 years old are nice to have but largely irrelevant at this stage. You should be looking for evidence of work being carried out which is over and above your usual oil, fluids, filters, spark plugs etc.

In addition to what the other posters have mentioned here are some other common issues that we see with them regularly:

Faulty hazard light switches cause the indicators to go a bit crazy
Acceleration sensors for the traction control system fail and are pricey enough to replace
Front wheel bearings
Front and rear anti roll bar links
Rear coil springs regularly break
Balljoints, track rod ends and inner tie rods all wear
Steering racks can leak, especially if the incorrect fluid is used in them
Inner CV joints wear causing vibration under acceleration
Outer CV joint boots split
Clutches rarely last more than about 100k miles and it's a pretty big job to change it
Thermostats stick open on almost every one of them
Breather hoses split
Dipstick guide tubes break
Cam cover gaskets leak oil
Oil level sensors
Coilpacks fail
Fuel pumps get weak and eventually stop working completely
Air flow meters
Coolant temperature sensors
Handbrake cables
Turbos can seize
Turbos and manifolds crack on them all and over time the cracks become worse until eventually they start to leak and cause noise and poor running. Replacing a turbo on one is an absolute pig of a job as well.

Apart from that they are a grand aul yoke :pac:

Jesus that's a fair old list.
I ran my one from 6 year old to 8.5 year old to well over 100k miles and the only item on that list I had to deal with was track rod ends although I remember seeing a receipt for hazard light switch or something related to that in the service history from previous owner.
I must have been very lucky.

George Dalton

mickdw wrote: »

Jesus that's a fair old list.
I ran my one from 6 year old to 8.5 year old to well over 100k miles and the only item on that list I had to deal with was track rod ends although I remember seeing a receipt for hazard light switch or something related to that in the service history from previous owner.
I must have been very lucky.

The next owner probably got bankrupted by it in that case

mickdw

George Dalton wrote: »

The next owner probably got bankrupted by it in that case

Cheapest car I've ever owned tbh in terms of depreciation. I did hear the next owner had it parked year or so after so you might be right.

actuar90

Wow, so mixed experiences. Looks like it'll be bulletproof or completely fall apart
So I need to keep an eye out for:
Regular oil changes
Haldex servicing
Shocks
The dash binnacle (which I'm still not sure how to test for)

The car has approx 100k so I'm hoping that assuming nothing serious has gone wrong so far it may have avoided some of these problems entirely? Or is that being very optimistic?