Expensive hobby

[cherub72]

Hi, dropped the car into the garage today as it needed the sounder for the rear parking sensors replacing. it's also been making a bit of a knocking noise from the drivers side rear when going over bumps lately and a bit of a grumble while on full lock so I asked if they could have a look at that too.

Just had a call from them, the drivers rear shock is trashed mostly because the DRC pipe on the front passenger side has a big hole in it and had gushed out all the liquid out. New pipe and rear shock required along with the fluid and the cost of the re-pressurising the system.

The rumble at the front seems to be a CV joint or a bearing so that needs replacing too once they work out which it is.

On the plus side my parking sensors will work after all this is done, though I may be living on beans on toast for a few months

[geordie jay]

Beans on toast!!!! Try bread and water

[PetrolDave]

Just had a call from them, the drivers rear shock is trashed mostly because the DRC pipe on the front passenger side has a big hole in it and had gushed out all the liquid out. New pipe and rear shock required along with the fluid and the cost of the re-pressurising the system.

Don't be too surprised if they ring and tell you that the DRC valve block needs replacing as well, after a total depressurisation like that it's usually damaged.

[cherub72]

Yikes, just water for me then, not even going to be able to afford bread. Might have to sell a kidney at this rate !

Fingers are crossed for a nice working valve block...

[chris_m]

Personally, I think owning a car like this requires a 5k kitty for a rainy day. If you break into it, begin topping back up because you never know. 5k gets you nowhere. Should the worst happen and your tyres and breaks wear down the same time your cluch gives up and the DRC spews it's guts, that meagre 5k will vanish

[DAC]

Thought my day was bad with a service, re-pressurising the DRC, and I need to get a new radiator and rear brake pads, think I got of lightly O the joy of a RS4, on the up side the drive home was a lot better with the DRC working well.
Hope you get it sorted out ok cherub72

[marc1]

That's the way to look at it. Once it's done it will be awesome.

[cherub72]

I've got to leave it with them for a few days while I go off to Amsterdam. Hopefully when I get back it will all be working and the ride home will take some of the sting out of the bill

[Briggy]

If it helps, I paid £4,250 for a Porsche 944, almost exactly 3 years ago. All seemed good and the seller was really open and honest. I knew they would cost money to maintain, but once I realised that the clutch was on its way out and authorised its replacement, the cost of a major service, cambelt and water pump change, plus the inevitable unforeseen items meant I got a bill in excess of what I paid for the car! Now, 3 years on, that pain has been forgotten and my car is fully sorted, requiring just the usual consumables and it puts a smile on my face whenever I drive it. Just think of those tedious Mondeo drivers who spank 20k on a new car every 3 years and only get back less than half what they paid.

Good cars are good cars and as such, they hold their value.

Man maths is your friend!

[marc1]

Just think of those tedious Mondeo drivers who spank 20k on a new car every 3 years and only get back less than half what they paid.

And more depressivly, have to drive a Mondeo for 3 years! Probably diesel one too.

[Harris.]

I have a Mercedes Vito as my daily , done 60k in 12 months and only cost me around £800 for 2 services and tyres/discs

Why the RS4 sits in the garage and gets used as a toy . there isn't many people that can afford to run a Rs4 correctly . they are a money pit if you get a bad one .

[Gazzaton]

Quick question, are Audi garages the only ones with the equipment to repressurise the DRC system?

[DAC]

There's other garages like MRC, Unit 20 & so on . I used a indy garage just outside of Aberdeen to re-pressurise the DRC system, am sure someone on here can tell you where there is a good indy near you.

[ChrisW]

Personally, I think owning a car like this requires a 5k kitty for a rainy day. If you break into it, begin topping back up because you never know. 5k gets you nowhere. Should the worst happen and your tyres and breaks wear down the same time your cluch gives up and the DRC spews it's guts, that meagre 5k will vanish

I can vouch for this, ive just booked mine into unit 20 for discs/pads all round, 4x upper wishbones, an engine mount, investigate grinding noise from left wheels, a service and firing of KW adjustable springs. I don't think i'll see much change from 5k..

[geordie jay]

Im gunna upset people here but ferk it!!!!! You spend 20k plus on a rs4 and it spends most of its life in a garage!!!! It comes out only at weekends or when sun shinning??? Give your heads a wobble....drive it like it shud be driven everyday....then its getting used and i guarantee things wont go wrong as much when its driven regulary to standing in garage doing nowt apart from mice and spiders finding a new home