Is it worth buying this Audi A3 2.0 TDI Quattro S Line 8P 2006?

[Fanboy]

Hey guys

Just wanted to know your opinions about this A3 I'm looking to buy tomorrow!

Any suggestions/opinions is appreciated as always

The car spec:-

2.0 TDI Quattro S Line, 170 Bhp
Manual
2 Door
Silver
FSH
90k on the clock
3 owners since new, last owner had it for 5+ years

The only problem is it never had changed the cam belt and water pump changed through its life up until now

Good point, has recently changed the clutch and dual mass fly wheel

The bodywork and interior isn't mint but clean for its age

The asking price is 4,500

What do you guys reckon?

Isn't it scary to go for it even if the cam belt hasn't been done, what if it fails any minute I drive it back, it's a private sale

How much would it cost to change both cam belt and water pump?

Any other things to look out for?

Is it still possible to delete the DPF, would it pass the MOT? How much would that cost to clean if I was to do so?

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ColMac]

I personally wouldn't buy a 11yr old car privately without having any proven vitals done recently. I bought my 9yr old A3 from a garage and he put a brand new Turbo on it on the MOT 2 days before I picked it up because he said it was almost knackered. I got an 07my A3 2.0ltr TDI S-Line 5dr for £4k and it's in Mint condition inside and out. An extra £500 for a 06 Quattro? Doesn't sound too bad but it sounds like your unsure yourself so my advice is to shop about buddy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ColMac]

Plus warranty buddy... when they fit the new turbo I had a few power issues. All done and fixed on warranty...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fanboy]

The seller seems quite honest, but again I'm paying 4,5 and it's not that cheap if something goes wrong

Do you know how much it would cost to replace the cam and water pump mate

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ColMac]

A Timing belt and Water pump kit can be picked up for around £200. Which isn't bad. But because of the work needed to replace them your looking at whatever a mechanic/Garage Hourly rate is. That's where most of the cost comes in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fanboy]

A Timing belt and Water pump kit can be picked up for around £200. Which isn't bad. But because of the work needed to replace them your looking at whatever a mechanic/Garage Hourly rate is. That's where most of the cost comes in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great, thanks for the help mate
Really appreciate it

Sounds like I shouldn't go for it unless I could have it for around 3,700 max to cover cam and water pump cost

Cheers buddy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ColMac]

I just searched for Timing belt and water pump for my vehicle. Unsure if a Quattro would differ in price in any way. I wanted an A3 since I passed my test and nearly went for some that weren't half the vehicle I ended up with for more than what I ended up paying. Always helps to shop about, buying from dealers will usually cost a bit more but as I said the MOT and warranty (imo) is worth the extra cost for peace of mind buddy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fanboy]

I just searched for Timing belt and water pump for my vehicle. Unsure if a Quattro would differ in price in any way. I wanted an A3 since I passed my test and nearly went for some that weren't half the vehicle I ended up with for more than what I ended up paying. Always helps to shop about, buying from dealers will usually cost a bit more but as I said the MOT and warranty (imo) is worth the extra cost for peace of mind buddy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Absolutely
No I won't go for it, after thinking about the overall costs... it's gonna end up expensive + the hassle to get parts and find a good garage to do the job

It's funny, it's been over a month that I sold my WRX STI and since then I couldn't find a single nice car that I'm looking for, but there was plenty when I had my Subaru...

Now I kind of missing my Scooby although it was expensive to maintain and run...

Cheers

 

[ColMac]

Absolutely
No I won't go for it, after thinking about the overall costs... it's gonna end up expensive + the hassle to get parts and find a good garage to do the job

It's funny, it's been over a month that I sold my WRX STI and since then I couldn't find a single nice car that I'm looking for, but there was plenty when I had my Subaru...

Now I kind of missing my Scooby although it was expensive to maintain and run...

Cheers

Haha, nice car.

I've had all heaps of junk (Nissan Micra, Renault Clio and a Renault Megane) so I was after a decent motor for a change. Always wanted an A3 so I've been looking at them everywhere for about a Year. But it's been smooth sailing so far, I'm yet to discover the financial burden of owning a luxury vehicle.. touch wood.

 

[ab1702]

Don't be put off just because it hasn't had the timing belt and water pump done. I've just bought the exact same car privately but a 59 reg and it has no service history with it because it's a repossession. The garage quoted me £500 and I'm getting everything serviced like oil change, filters etc etc and water pump and timing belt and the garage gets the parts so I don't have to mess about getting them..
You'll only have to pay through the nose for your service and timing belt etc if you take it to Audi to be done

..edit.. I've just seen you said it has FSH so you're not necessarily as desperate for a service as you are the timing belt and water pump doing. my garage quoted me £350 to supply and fit timing belt and water pump. If I were you I'd go to whichever garage you normally use in the morning and get a quote for timing belt and water pump and then get that knocked off the asking price of the car.

If the timing belt snaps before you get it home and to the garage then you must have some bad karma!!

 

[aqibi2000]

Changed the timing belt and water pump in my 170 quarttro Bmn at a total cost of £110 Inc coolant

 

[Nessy]

I had my cambelt and water pump done last week (BKD engine) by a very good local VW & Audi specialist using Genuine Parts sourced from TPS for £399, Audi wanted either £600 or £700 the last time I enquired.....
I did consider having a go at it myself but figured that as the parts would come to about £200 it wasn't worth the hassle when I could have it all done for £399.
IIRC for cars before 2009 the current recommendation for the cambelt is either 4 years or 70K (or is it 80K ?) miles.
Mine had only done 47K but was 5 years and 3 months since the last change so for peace of mind decided to get it done.
As it turned out, the belt was still in quite good condition but better safe than sorry.....
For a diesel car to be over 10 years old and to have never had a cambelt change would lead me to question how well the car was looked after during its life?
If previous owners have skimped on such fundamental maintenance issues as the cambelt & water pump, what else haven't they done?
TBH I don't think I'd buy such a vehicle.
If you do decide to go for it, I'd do as has been suggested and get the price of a belt & pump change taken off the asking price.

 

[Fanboy]

I had my cambelt and water pump done last week (BKD engine) by a very good local VW & Audi specialist using Genuine Parts sourced from TPS for £399, Audi wanted either £600 or £700 the last time I enquired.....
I did consider having a go at it myself but figured that as the parts would come to about £200 it wasn't worth the hassle when I could have it all done for £399.
IIRC for cars before 2009 the current recommendation for the cambelt is either 4 years or 70K (or is it 80K ?) miles.
Mine had only done 47K but was 5 years and 3 months since the last change so for peace of mind decided to get it done.
As it turned out, the belt was still in quite good condition but better safe than sorry.....
For a diesel car to be over 10 years old and to have never had a cambelt change would lead me to question how well the car was looked after during its life?
If previous owners have skimped on such fundamental maintenance issues as the cambelt & water pump, what else haven't they done?
TBH I don't think I'd buy such a vehicle.
If you do decide to go for it, I'd do as has been suggested and get the price of a belt & pump change taken off the asking price.

Thanks for the info buddy

No after little bit of research I decided not to go for it, it's very risky not only to buy it but reselling it as well

I'll wait little longer till a right one comes along

Cheers




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ab1702]

I don't see why you're saying it's such a risk when youve not even been to have a look at the car or test drive it.
You say it has full service history so it's obviously been looked after to some degree apart from the timing belt.
If you bought this car and had the price of the timing belt knocked off and then got it done yourself and also kept it serviced throughout the time of you having it then you would keep it having full service history so there would be no problem reselling the car at all.
Also for it to only have 90k miles on an 11 year old car is also below average.
Aslong as the timing belt doesn't snap between you picking it up and then taking it to the garage to be done then I personally don't see the problem here if the car were to drive fine on a test drive.

 

[Fanboy]

I don't see why you're saying it's such a risk when youve not even been to have a look at the car or test drive it.
You say it has full service history so it's obviously been looked after to some degree apart from the timing belt.
If you bought this car and had the price of the timing belt knocked off and then got it done yourself and also kept it serviced throughout the time of you having it then you would keep it having full service history so there would be no problem reselling the car at all.
Also for it to only have 90k miles on an 11 year old car is also below average.
Aslong as the timing belt doesn't snap between you picking it up and then taking it to the garage to be done then I personally don't see the problem here if the car were to drive fine on a test drive.

Thanks buddy

Yes it's a clean car and same owner for that long... seem good

But when I asked the guy he had no idea what was done to the car, now that sounds scary

Cheers

 

[SootySport]

Even worse when you have a look at a car and the present owner says it's been very reliable for the last 6 years. When asking what work/servicing has been done to it in during their ownership, they say -- "nothing"

 

[enc]

You're doing the right thing in not buying. There's tons out there at the price of this one.
Just be mindful of over inflated dealer prices ... FYI a cam belt at an independant would cost £3-400.

 

[SootySport]

You're doing the right thing in not buying. There's tons out there at the price of this one.
Just be mindful of over inflated dealer prices ... FYI a cam belt at an independant would cost £3-400.

Sometimes a dealer is more aware of the market price for a given car. I have found cars that are a better deal than buying privately, not always but sometimes.