Yet another oil cooler question (well a few actually)

[Audi Pardner]

Got round to getting the oil cooler off yesterday and I'm bloody glad I did. The crimped steel connector on the shorter pipe that attaches to the LH side of the cooler has a 1/2" split at the back that wasn't visible from the front when I got the grille off :shock, and the rest of the connector is very flaky at the back. It was replaced just less than 3 years ago so hasn't lasted at all well. I guess it wouldn't have been long before it started leaking badly if not letting go completely.


I spent half an hour with a Dremel carefully cutting through one of the connector nuts and managed to get it off OK, but as I half expected the thread on the outlet on the cooler is pretty badly corroded and the cone inside is a bit scabby. Having got this far I'm not going to risk re-using the cooler, so I've ordered a new one from Aberdeen Audi (£590 delivered compared to the £630 after discount at my local dealer or TPS). If anyone's interested, they have 2 left on Fleabay at this price at present.

I'll do an update or maybe a mini thread on the fitting of it when finished, as I've taken quite a few pics so far.

[rocket1]

yes that would be interesting to read. got my bumper off yesterday and noticed oil around the unions but havent been able to have a more in depth look yet as was pushed for time. was also going to try the dremel methods then see whats what. did you manage to undo the engine end of the lines from underneath the car (did you have to jack it up) or from above?? i,ve not removed the undertray yet either. also was the ebay seller you used called (malcsteed) if so i been watching that item too. thanks

[Audi Pardner]

Hi Rocket

I don't think you can get at the pipes from the engine bay, but it's easy from underneath once you've dropped the undertray, and they're towards the front of the block. Just make sure you've got the car properly supported

Before removing the cooler and pipes it'd be worth checking the back of the connector on the LH side with a small mirror to check its condition as mine didn't look too bad from the front. And yes, the eBay seller is malcsteed; I've used them once before and they've been very good.

[R1RS4]

Hi All, good reading

Just thought I would add the Audi part to all this:

This was quoted by Audi to me on 8/1/14

This is for the oil cooler, pipes and ancillaries total replacement

A079117021T x1 £551.09 (oil cooler)
A8E0117316 x1 £115.09 (oil pipe long)
A8E0117315 x1 £78.19 (oil pipe short)
A4D0260778 x4 £18.85 (do not know)
AN91044502 x2 £48.18 (do not know)
AN90175205 x8 £3.95 (do not know
LSLX3 x1 £16.62 (do not know)

Total without vat £831.97

Labour x3 hours £331.50 not inc vat

Still undecided on my way forward yet, I think maybe strip down first and take it from there

I did not include the vat as some get 15 % discount and others 20 %

[WillRS]

pretty much exactly what I paid to have mine done at Audi (£1400 inc vat) so least they are consistent

[Revolution]

Hi All

Hi All, good reading

Just thought I would add the Audi part to all this:

This was quoted by Audi to me on 8/1/14

This is for the oil cooler, pipes and ancillaries total replacement

A079117021T x1 £551.09 (oil cooler)
A8E0117316 x1 £115.09 (oil pipe long)
A8E0117315 x1 £78.19 (oil pipe short)
A4D0260778 x4 £18.85 (do not know)
AN91044502 x2 £48.18 (do not know)
AN90175205 x8 £3.95 (do not know
LSLX3 x1 £16.62 (do not know)

Total without vat £831.97

Labour x3 hours £331.50 not inc vat

Still undecided on my way forward yet, I think maybe strip down first and take it from there

I did not include the vat as some get 15 % discount and others 20 %

Don't forget the Forge complete kit is only £838.80 - http://www.revolution247.com/catalogue/ ... 4-42-v8-b7 - and we will deliver free or fit for a nice affordable £100.00.

All prices include VAT

CheeRS

Little Glen

[toyneg]

i noticed oil residues under my car this morning when leaving for work. put some cardboard under my car today and this is the result. i presume this is the dreaded oil cooler - i actually do have a refurbed unit at home that i purchased last year off another forum member - my question is should any decent garage be ok fitting this do you think or is it quite a specialised job?

[adsgreen]

technically it's an easy job.
Bumper and under tray off, undo power steering radiator and move out of the way.
undo oil cooler and attached pipes.
fit new ones and everything else.

Don't even need to drain oil - you'll lose whats in the pipes and rad (not much) but the cooler pipes are above the oil level in the sump.

Worth protecting the new one with an anticorrosion setup.

[adsgreen]

Ok - details:
- Remove front bumper
- unplug electrical connectors from unit infront of radiator (3 connectors)
- remove front impact absorber bar (2 bolts)
- remove both left and right air ducts for aux radiators
- remove both side air ducts on main radiator (2 bolts each)
- remove power steering rad (4 nuts on rad, one on left side where pipes mount to carrier) and move out of the way (still connected)
- detach 1 clip and 4 bolts from cooler.

That's it.

I think 3 hors quoted by a dealer is quite a lot - I'd say it should be reasonably comfortable to do first time in under two hours.
Ok, granted, the hoses might be different but overall not a bad job all things considered.

[toyneg]

Ok - details:
- Remove front bumper
- unplug electrical connectors from unit infront of radiator (3 connectors)
- remove front impact absorber bar (2 bolts)
- remove both left and right air ducts for aux radiators
- remove both side air ducts on main radiator (2 bolts each)
- remove power steering rad (4 nuts on rad, one on left side where pipes mount to carrier) and move out of the way (still connected)
- detach 1 clip and 4 bolts from cooler.

That's it.

I think 3 hors quoted by a dealer is quite a lot - I'd say it should be reasonably comfortable to do first time in under two hours.
Ok, granted, the hoses might be different but overall not a bad job all things considered.

many thanks Ads

[toyneg]

has anyone been successful with Goodwill from Audi on this job? i am a real predicament on this, Audi quoted me £1520 - so took the car to a garage across the road from my work and they wanted over £1400! i could buy the parts myself and they would fit which would work out at £1186.00 with their £276 labour which seems excessive, plus they insist on replacing all the oil?!. undecided on the forge kit plus unfortunately too far away to take advantage of the £100 fitting.
Audi said i would prob get goodwill but unsure how much and plus i would need to factor in the cost if getting it to the garage which is 40 miles (they said not to drive it)
not really sure what to do with this....

[WillRS]

I assume you've spoken to camberley audi as you are in Hants ?

I paid about £1400 at them to have mine done and they definitely did not replace all the oil nor do you need to

I didn't get any goodwill from them when I had it done but their (fair I guess) point was that mine wasn't actually leaking and it was my choice to have it all replaced.

I argued long and hard with Audi customer services about this mainly because I only needed some new pipes not a cooler but of course as we know the two have a tendancy to go hand in hand due to the design. I got nowhere though and couldn't really push it any more as they (customer services) kept going back to the dealership who I have a good relationship with.

If i'd left it until it started leaking I may have had more luck - who knows. the goodwill is purely with the dealerships now and they do base it upon some sort of elgibility thing i.e - how long have you been a customer, how much money have you spent with them (or something along these lines - don't quote me!), do you have another audi etc etc.

[toyneg]

I assume you've spoken to camberley audi as you are in Hants ?

I paid about £1400 at them to have mine done and they definitely did not replace all the oil nor do you need to

I didn't get any goodwill from them when I had it done but their (fair I guess) point was that mine wasn't actually leaking and it was my choice to have it all replaced.

I argued long and hard with Audi customer services about this mainly because I only needed some new pipes not a cooler but of course as we know the two have a tendancy to go hand in hand due to the design. I got nowhere though and couldn't really push it any more as they (customer services) kept going back to the dealership who I have a good relationship with.

If i'd left it until it started leaking I may have had more luck - who knows. the goodwill is purely with the dealerships now and they do base it upon some sort of elgibility thing i.e - how long have you been a customer, how much money have you spent with them (or something along these lines - don't quote me!), do you have another audi etc etc.

thanks Will, I have mailed Rob to see what he says, i just have to factor in the cost of getting the car to them on a truck as they said not to drive it while it is leaking. will update you when i know more

[Audi Pardner]

I estimate that by fitting it myself the JHM kit and new cooler I need will be just over £1k. Not cheap, but only a bit more than the Forge kit at £948 including fitting that Revolution is offering (with only £100 labour which is excellent), and a whole lot better than the stealers will charge for a set-up that will need replacing in a few years time

[adsgreen]

for a set-up that will need replacing in a few years time

To be fair, if you fit it properly then it doesn't need to be a problem.