Spare wheel and jacking up advise.

[johnnydog]

Reading the B7 forum pages, it would appear the B7 also had a can of goo with a compressor.....

[CusterDome]

No worries, I completely understand your reasoning and yep, it seems like a bit of a 'touch wood' scenario with the aerosol and goo. Luckily I've never had to use one (oh gawd, I've gone and done it now...).

There's always the risk you'd be opening a can of worms, but if the space saver isn't OE it might be worth checking with your insurance that you'd still be covered if you had to use it.

[johnnydog]

That's a good point CD. I'll speak to them and check (although I've already bought it!!).

[johnnydog]

Well i for one am hoping that you come back and tell us it all works so we can get one.

I just presumed all space savers were the same?

Well, as Coolguy said, it all fits more or less fits like a glove.
I bought a secondhand but unused spave saver, part no. 8K0601027F with offset ET29, with a unused Continental tyre size T125/70 R19 100M, from a 2016 A5 S Line (the tyre was dated week 47 of 2015).
Removed the plastic storage compartment containing the compressor goo can, scissor jack and winder (the plastic was cracked anyway - presumably by some hamfisted technician as the expiry date is checked every service ) and the wheel fits neatly in the space sitting on the 'B&O' plastic frame. I experimented with other jacks, but ended up fitting the factory jack in the recess at the front of the space saver, in front of the battery bracket. I thought it wise to protect the jack, the battery bracket and the positive battery cables using an old towel. The sill lip slot on the jack fits snugly round the nearside end of the battery bracket, and the towel just helps to keep it all 'snug' as it isn't clamped. The jack winder handle wedges neatly along with the jack in front of the space saver; the wheel is secured by the same clamp for the compressor container, and the boot floor cover fits back as normal. I didn't bother with the 'goo', but placed the compressor in a bag in the storage area on the offside behind the wheelarch....just in case.
Very happy with it - not much point putting a photo on as it will look the same as Coolguys.....!

[AndyBrad]

nice one. where did you get the wheel from?

[johnnydog]

Bit of a tale there - I bought one from Wigan Breakers on Ebay (I wouldn't recommend that company at all - they were very abrupt and not helpful). It was listed with the part no. suffix F, and it looked 'as new' - I got it for £85. I had previously messaged them asking if it was the one shown in the pictures, which they confirmed, but when it arrived, it was an older rim and tyre, with a B suffix and it had obviously been run flat as there was evidence of this on the sidewall. I instigated a return through EBay and got a full refund.
The one I fitted was again bought off Ebay from Prime Spares in Edinburgh. Paid £72 delivered, and the actual one pictured arrived, which they had confirmed when I asked, and it is excellent.
Just checked their Ebay site, but unfortunately, they don't have any others listed. They were a very helpful outfit.
There will others on there, but ask the questions before you buy - I would, then you have some comeback if they try to fob you off with a worse rim.
I would say the newer the rim, the higher the suffix letter.
HTH.

[Gigadrill]

I had a similar situation with my old car. One time, I had a flat in the middle of nowhere after hitting a sharp rock, and the goo wouldn’t do a thing. Luckily, I had a full-size spare tucked in the trunk, so I was able to swap it out and drive to a trusted tire Shop without worrying about damaging my rims.

I’ve always been cautious about rim damage too, so I’ve made it a point to use a quality scissor jack, which I found on www.astrolift.co.nz. It’s a little more compact than others but sturdy enough to handle the job. It’s helped me feel more at ease when dealing with tire changes, especially with expensive wheels. I’m definitely leaning toward a space saver next time for the peace of mind!