dreaded coolant pipes

[IanH755]

It's Audi using cheap metal although every car maker in the world knows about corrosion so "dons tin foil hat" I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if makers like Audi deliberately used cheap metal on parts like this specifically to get large repair bills later on in the cars life.

Just think about it, how many little things like nuts/bolts/pipes/clamps etc which "should" be stainless steel are mild steel instead which, after 8+ years on the road, corrode to a failure and lead to much bigger repair bills. I'm sure very people wouldn't mind and extra £1k on a new car price if there was a guarantee of no corrosion!

[rs6_sid]

my fix is coming along with the research , it's just the festive period is slowing down me getting parts I need.

I'll keep all updated as it seems to be an isssue for us all and be handy if we can improve the reliability somewhat

[Jim Haseltine]

It's Audi using cheap metal although every car maker in the world knows about corrosion so "dons tin foil hat" I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if makers like Audi deliberately used cheap metal on parts like this specifically to get large repair bills later on in the cars life.

Just think about it, how many little things like nuts/bolts/pipes/clamps etc which "should" be stainless steel are mild steel instead which, after 8+ years on the road, corrode to a failure and lead to much bigger repair bills. I'm sure very people wouldn't mind and extra £1k on a new car price if there was a guarantee of no corrosion!

Accountants. If a £1 part will last forever and a 99p part will last just beyond the warranty period, the 99p part is used.
Most purchasers of new vehicles don't expect them to last forever, they run them for 3-5 years then buy another new one, they aren't bothered about what will happen to the vehicle once it's 10 years old. And Audi aren't that bother either - that's why you get the 'filled for life' bollocks about gearbox and diff oil. And that's a tune they've been playing for nearly 40 years, they said the same thing about Ur-quattro gearboxes.

[rs6_sid]

It all comes down to business strategy and the fact they make more profit selling parts than cars . At least Vw are very good at using the same parts across many cars thus reducing to parts cost to them making a higher margin.

Its the perfect business model supply a product and when it fails we are the only people who have parts

[pete2144]

Not sure where you're located

I'm in Essex if you want to inspect mine

My mechanic did a top job in my view

Be aware the small pipe was a 10 day order from the factory in germany when I ordered mine

Good luck anyway

Happy New Year....

have you got any pictures of your repair? Cheers.

[Stef92]

thanks for this very interesting topic,

can you please tell me at which wheel arch does this happen (when you are in the car)?
Left or Right ?

Is this the same whetever the car is RHD or LHD.?

[pete2144]

thanks for this very interesting topic,

can you please tell me at which wheel arch does this happen (when you are in the car)?
Left or Right ?

Is this the same whetever the car is RHD or LHD.?

RHD drivers side...

[rs6_sid]

I'll get some detailed pictures of the pipes them self and show the repair I plan on making and hopefully get some more repair pipes made up for anyone else interested

[pete2144]

I'll get some detailed pictures of the pipes them self and show the repair I plan on making and hopefully get some more repair pipes made up for anyone else interested

[rs6_sid]

Just a bit of an update i have had it into the workshop to size up the pipes , so I'm in the middle of getting something made up, if I was to make these up for people would people be more interested in an inexpensive silicone rubber hose or a more expensive stainless steel braided hose

[pete2144]

Stainless braided for me....

[rs6_sid]

i thought people would. i going have to get into them and see how feasible it is as the pipes run quite close to each other and the fittings that clamp onto each pipe may be tight if they have no give in them.

[longman h]

Stainless

[rs6_sid]

I'm working away for a week then I will be doing these .
if you could get a pic of your damaged pipes so I can check that I'm going to make it long enough
I don't want to go too long or it will be hard to fix the fitting onto the steel pipe as the chassis will limit accessibility

[Stef92]

Hello guy's,
Some news from a RS6 from France...and those pipes
I have checked the pipes on mine (83000 km), I was a bit afrais but in fact they seem in good condition :



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To avoir any start of rust, I have sprayed those with an an anti-rust spray + frameto with a brush