Many DIYers on board?

[boombastik]

Yeah i got my cousin to stamp the book after all he charged me 2hrs labour as well which i dont mind paying for since he did change 4 plugs and 2 tyres and drained the engine oil and replaced the filter i did the rest

my car had full audi SH up to when i purhcased it from a local garage and they serviced when i bought it and used their own stamp so i didnt see the point in using audi for the service now when my cousin (BMW trained) has all the facilitys

[chris_m]

Yeah same with mine. Was stamped up by Audi until 40k but then changed. I don't plan on selling up anyway. I fancy coilovers at some point too so will give that a go.

[TonyHayers]

Yup. Plenty of DIY-ers here - why I love it. Experience, IMV, is overrated.

I think at this age of car, risk is fairly low. There's plenty of cheap spares around on ebay and the like. If I'd have bought this thing new at, what, £50k-odd and under warranty I wouldn't be doing anything like the same stuff!

[chris_m]

The bonus of doing it yourself is that you get to take pride and be more thorough instead of some 2 bit mechanic loose on it. No offence to any 2 bit mechanics out there lol. Silly thinks like missing bolts out on engine covers and not renewing certain bits and pieces etc. Like Don said, a Diy section may be a good idea. I will log everything I do on mine more than likely.

[Surrey Sam]

There are some DIY threads in the stickied FAQ section at the top, I did a spark plug renewal one. Just create the thread and post it. Once done, report it and then PhilT can add it into the FAQ section.

I should post another on fixing the door handle rattle which inflicts some cars.

[mark260684]

I do all my own repairs. Since I've had my RS i have done a full service, rear disc and pads, fixed the leaking oil pipes to the cooler by making custom braided goodridge oil lines, fitted a couple of sensors, de-coked the manifold and fitted new headlight bulbs (was a bigger job than I expected)
I've found that once you get over the, that's a large amount of money and engine in a small hole scenario they are like all audis pretty straight forward to work on. One thing I will mention regarding the de-coke be carfull of the driver side flap arm on the manifold it runs under the fuel rail and I snapped mine when lifting the manifold off. Was lookin at nearly 3k for a new manifold as they don't sell the arms separate. Luckily found some alloy ones in the states and got them sent over.

[chris_m]

There are some DIY threads in the stickied FAQ section at the top, I did a spark plug renewal one. Just create the thread and post it. Once done, report it and then PhilT can add it into the FAQ section.

I should post another on fixing the door handle rattle which inflicts some cars.

Cheers, I will have a look in there. Somembed time reading!
When I first got the car I lost a handle. I didnt notice it rattle mind but it fell off and didnt realise.

[chris_m]

I do all my own repairs. Since I've had my RS i have done a full service, rear disc and pads, fixed the leaking oil pipes to the cooler by making custom braided goodridge oil lines, fitted a couple of sensors, de-coked the manifold and fitted new headlight bulbs (was a bigger job than I expected)
I've found that once you get over the, that's a large amount of money and engine in a small hole scenario they are like all audis pretty straight forward to work on. One thing I will mention regarding the de-coke be carfull of the driver side flap arm on the manifold it runs under the fuel rail and I snapped mine when lifting the manifold off. Was lookin at nearly 3k for a new manifold as they don't sell the arms separate. Luckily found some alloy ones in the states and got them sent over.

As you say, I guess they are like any other car, just a little more sophisticated. I was more concerned about the engine management side. My mate has a decent diagnostics machine should I need it, I will have access.
I will have to look out for that flap arm you mentioned. I am a bit heavy handed sometimes, I really will have to take care. Is it made from plastic? 3k, jesus. How come you can't get them anywhere?

[mark260684]

Audi supply all the manifold parts other than that. I'm pretty heavy handed at times he se the breakage. Yeah they are made of plastic and apparently get brittle with age. It is quite a long job the first time you do it, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time. You need to get a pair of intake manifold gaskets but there not expensive.

[chris_m]

Audi supply all the manifold parts other than that. I'm pretty heavy handed at times he se the breakage. Yeah they are made of plastic and apparently get brittle with age. It is quite a long job the first time you do it, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time. You need to get a pair of intake manifold gaskets but there not expensive.

There's always something aint there... I might even look into changing it while i am there if I can source one of those alloy ones. I am booked in at mrc on the 21st so have until then. Evenings only mind but I am sure I'll manage

[mark260684]

This is where I got my alloy arms from. I couldn't find any in the uk. Delivery was 3 days and that was over the weekend.

[chris_m]

Where did you get them Mark? Do you have a link for them? Cheers.

[mark260684]

Sorry meant to stick the link in
http://store.034motorsport.com/intake-m ... 3-72165045

[chris_m]

Ta very much Mark.

['R'e'S'pect_4]

Yes do all my own stunts (car maintenance ), always have.

When I got the RS, as it was a long term purchase, I decided that going to Audi to get a stamp in the book was not 'good value' IMO, especially when you hear some horror stories, wasn't for me !

If I did have to sell it, my argument is a stamped book just tells you it has had and oil and filter change basically, doesn't tell you for example something major e.g. a motor replacement.

To do an oil change and spark plugs is just as easy if not easier than the average car !


Those alloy arms are very nice! shame Audi didn't do it first time around. It is the type of thing I'd buy and keep in incase they did break.... group buy anyone