DIY - How to save your oil cooler

[Mɐʇʇ]

We'll all be fine as long as nobody tells me I need R8 coils.

[Mr Footlong]

aRSe.... The garage called me today and told me that they didn't think things were going to work with the DIY route.

I left a Dremel with them, long flexi arm attachment and a number of made-up heavy duty cutting discs, as my plan was to gently cut twice (180 degrees) into the steel connector end on the rad hose, down to just where you could start to see you were coming down to alu thread, then crack/spread with a big flathead screwdriver to leave the alu thread in pretty well mint condition. I have done that before a good few times and it works brilliantly most of the time. It sounds like they tried the normal way with tools and brute force and say it isn't budging, but seem loathed to try my way.

They then informed me that the other pipe that goes over the top and to the other side is shot too and where it loops back in on the OS, is rubbing against the Wagner shroud. I can't blame the garage for not wanting to properly have a go at this, they are good guys overall and I have used them for years.

The fact is that I simply have no time to do any of this myself, can't take even a single half a day of work, nada, so I feel they have to just go the ridiculously expensive route with OE replacement....

TL;DR, does anybody have easy access to all of the VAG part numbers in order to by the replacement oil cooler and supporting pipework etc? Thanks.

As much as I love the old girl, I am starting to contemplate doing a "We buy any car", as I reckon sod's law, this will be the first of a number of big expenses on her, she has been far too good over the years and nothing big has gone yet!

Looks like I will have a complete DIY kit ready to go for anyone that wants to buy it....

Thanks.

[Mr Footlong]

Looks like this is what I need? Details given from the garage

Pipe number 3 (long pipe) 4B3 317 816C £243.96
Pipe number 4(short pipe) 4B3 317 815B £238.94
Cooler 078 117 021D

Going to go hunting and also see what TPS Tonbridge can do for me, assume they will still deal with me. /EDIT, Nope, TPS Tonbridge can't sell to the public anymore.

[Shoppinit]

Why don't you get them to bypass the cooler with standard hoses and fittings until you can sort it yourself. You can dremel it when you get a spare few hours in the comfort of your own home that way and fit it back in when convenient. It's winter now, and less need for cooling.

[Shoppinit]

Part numbers are here:

https://audi.7zap.com/en/rdw/audi+rs6+r ... 17-317079/

Check your VIN range, there are a couple of variants.

This is the other variant:

https://audi.7zap.com/en/rdw/audi+rs6+r ... 17-317078/

[Shoppinit]

For best OEM prices, I'd ask Geoffrey at CONTACT@VAGDISCOUNT.COM.

You could try Classik's vag discharge fella for prices.

[Shoppinit]

This seems "good value" but I don't sprechen Deutsch.

https://www.rscarparts.de/oelkuehler-rs ... rholt.html

[Mr Footlong]

Thanks for all the help guys. After TPS telling me no dealing anymore and me just not having the time to do this myself, I am just going to bend over and let the garage have at it for £1750 (for a fcuking, fcuking, fcuking radiator and some hoses fitted!).

Shopp, the OCD in me doesn't like seeing rads that have been supposedly overhauled, at 70% or so of the cost of new, with thick paint over the heat exchanger fins and they didn't even bother straightening bent fins, has me twitching. There are one or two on eBay that are going for £500+ and look really pants.

Thanks again though everyone and once I have her back and the repair kit that I bought, I might just take a pic and slap it up here in case someone wants it.

[Shoppinit]

Yeah, it's crap. Frustrating that they didn't want to try the dremel surgery.

Better see what condition mine is in.

[Shoppinit]

Can't your garage get trade discounts at TPS?

[Mr Footlong]

They only use TPS and normally don't rip me off at all to my knowledge, but I will see if they are prepared to tell me what markup they are making on the rad.

There are currently three of each of those parts above available in the country I am told.

I'll get them to keep the old oil cooler and if it is usable, I will Dremel her and keep spare to sell on to anyone if needed.

[Shoppinit]

You can buy the rads online for about £970. Not sure about the hoses.

/edit: hoses same price as the ones you posted.

[Mr Footlong]

Yeah, I don't think the guys are having me over a barrel tbh. I have given them the go ahead to replace the lot. It was actually only three sets of hoses available in the country, the rad is on 21 day backorder.

Have asked them to do a Gearbox service at the same time since I am already being gaped with a couple of big, hairy fists.

[Mɐʇʇ]

Make sure they save the old bits please - the cooler, that is. Not fussed about the hoses
If nothing else, we could do an RS246 refurb kit on any old ones with a pre-modded cooler and premade hoses for the next person....on an exchange basis or sommat. I dunno.

[Classik]

This seems "good value" but I don't sprechen Deutsch.

https://www.rscarparts.de/oelkuehler-rs ... rholt.html

They speak good English, and the good thing with this particular one (that I've been lurking too for the same reasons=leak on the 'other'side) is that it has been 'upgraded' with better threads.