Buying Audi a3 tdi ???
Turbo Mini Forums

Im looking into buying a Audi a3 tdi 2003+. Just wondered if anybody has anything to look out for? im undecided on weather to get a DSG Gearbox, sport or s line ??
Any thoughts

This shape

I'm on my second 8P A3.

s-line suspension is deffo v.hard so if you want comfort stick to standard or sport.

Last one was a 1.9TDIe and to be honest it was a good capable car with top MPG (bit sluggish i suppose).

The PD170's have been having injector recalls recently with lots of follow up problems. Also watch out for the DPF's on these.

The early 2.0tdi's also suffered from cracking cylinder heads.

www.audi-sport.net is a good website for info on what to watch out for.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Nothing major wrong with these at all FSH is a must, the 2.0 diesels can suffer with injector faults but so can almost all modern diesels

Also watch out for mapped tdi's apparently the turbo's on the 140's aren't capable of a lot more than standard for very long.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Edited by minimole23 on 20th May, 2012.

I don't know I'd it's the same on modern car diesels but the modern tractors inject on the exhaust stroke aswell to reduce nox emissions, this makes them visibly smoke.

we looked at the A3 as an option when we replaced the wifes car. I'd personally hold out for the S-line as they tended to have more of the option boxes ticked for some reason.

They can suffer from duel mass flywheel failure (don't most moderns!) and the EGR valve can bugger up if its only been used on short journeys

make sure the turbo is in good nick as the variable vains get blocked up with carbon when they get older same as volkswagens

[quote=Rob Gavin,20th May, 2012]we looked at the A3 as an option when we replaced the wifes car. I'd personally hold out for the S-line as they tended to have more of the option boxes ticked for some reason.

Was looking at an s line as they have everything that ive been looking for, but heard there abit hard.

Any thoughts on the DSG gearbox??

also with the DSG box make sure it goes to audi to be serviced... I know a guy that had a garage put the wrong oil in and it fucked the box, aparently they are very sensative to this and have a special oil.

Cheers guy's so Audi FSH a must then.

deffo what i'd look for,

a replacement dsg box is a shade under 5k btw.

I wouldn't be put off by a car that has been serviced by a specialist.

As for the DSG box, the place i get mine serviced claimed they were pretty good if looked after correctly

Joe do you still like the gearbox? or would you buy a manual if you could? im worried that ill like it for a week then get bored

One of the blokes at work has 180k on his a3 tdi dsg

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

Its a golf with a fancy body kit, get a golf it won't deprecaite as much :)

Not wanting to shat on german build quality but I met one of the wife's (to be) cousins at a funeral a month ago. He sell's Audi's at a main dealers and drives an Alfa!

We bought a golf GT Sport instead of the Audi and to be honest, the finish inside and the quality isn't as good as the Audi - In honesty, I wish I'd bought the Audi.

As for depreciation, I'd disagree to an extent.

Having worked for an vag tuner for the past year or so common problems i have seen are dpf problems with the sensor failing and having to buy a new sensor and force a regen and the turbos failing at about 80k if the turbo does fail i would recommend getting a replacement genuine item as ive fitted a few customer supplied monkey one and the car never drove the same other than that brilliant car

You could easily change the turbo in under 3 hours just remember to change the oil feed line so anyone charging extortionate amounts i would avoid

Chris, the car wasnt mine, I only had a quick go in it to get my opinion on what was up with it,

X2 with dual mass, mine started to rattle at 115k other than that was a very nice car mine was 2.0tdi make sure you get climate, computer and steering wheel stereo controls reaching across to volume knob is annoying.

Right where do i start!