Oh no Disaster!

[Seez]

Having owned my 1997 (C4) A6 2.5tdi quattro for nearly a year and spending quite a bit on it already to do various bits and bobs, I have had the news back from my local VAG garage that to get it through the MOT it is needing £830 spending on it, the majority of which relates to:



Rear Axle bush block and bushes totalling some £380 + VAT for the parts alone and another 4 hours labour!!!!



What to do, should I scrap it or get it done, the car is pretty good alround, with 156k on the clock and fairly neat and tidy but a few scrapes etc.



What does anyone think?



I reckon the car might be worth £1,500 with an MOT so should I get it done or sack it and scrap it and move on to something else?



Any opinions on scrap value?

Edited by Seez on Thursday 3rd June 17:56

[AndyS2]

Get a second opinion. I changed a lot of the suspension bush's on the back of my S4 (C4) and they were nowhere near £380. Are they getting the parts from Audi? Try Euro Car Parts.
What the hell is a rear axle bush block anyway?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Car-Parts

[Seez]

No idea what the bits are to be honest, but I do trust the garage rightly or wrongly and have known them a long time.

They are saying they can only get them from Audi as no one else seems to make these bits for this particular car, which I can believe as it isnt the most common car especially in quattro variant...

Will try other places though, cheers for the info...

[Seez]

AndyS2 said:

Get a second opinion. I changed a lot of the suspension bush's on the back of my S4 (C4) and they were nowhere near £380. Are they getting the parts from Audi? Try Euro Car Parts.
What the hell is a rear axle bush block anyway?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Car-Parts

PS was your S4 an avant? Does that make any difference?!

[Dave^]

Better the devil you know...

I'd cough up the dough now, rather than having the hassle of selling/buying, then having to throw money at the "new" car too...

[Seez]

Dave^ said:

Better the devil you know...

I'd cough up the dough now, rather than having the hassle of selling/buying, then having to throw money at the "new" car too...

You might have the answer unfortunately, in the last year it has had four new tyres, all discs and pads replacing and various other bits and bobs, including confirming that it has had a new water pump and cambelt etc done 25k miles ago...as well as having the air con sorting out at a fairly hefty cost too!

[Dr G]

If you like the car and it does what it's asked to then I'd get it fixed. Replacing it is going to make a significantly bigger dent in your pocket.

[Olly]

As it's a 13 year old car, you could always get a good "used" bush from a breakers.

I did this with a rear diff bush on my Quattro last month, as Audi were talking 2 weeks to get the part & SILLY money......

[aka_kerrly]

Dave^ said:

Better the devil you know...

I'd cough up the dough now, rather than having the hassle of selling/buying, then having to throw money at the "new" car too...

THIS

Especially if you have replaced the cam belt, waterpump, brakes, tyres - realistically after you have had the bushes done then there is scope to do a lot of miles without problems. I always end up sticking with cars like this because i cant bare the thought of spending £1k just for someone else to enjoy hassle free miles! get it repaired and put it on 6month probation and see how it behaves.

dave

[Seez]

Update on the battle bus and with a few work arounds to minimise the costs it is going to have the work done to get it through the MOT.

It is a good car and very useful and as you say I would be silly to dump it now especially as nothing major has failed and it has had lots of new parts.

Plus it is a low mileage example at 156k which is low for these, it is probably good for another 150k!

If I get a new car it is likely to be at the 5k mark and cost me considerably more to run. So I am planning on getting out the polish and keep it going!

The car has had a thorough check over and the only things on the horizon are the front bushes although these are cheap and a cv gaiter which is fairly standard. I should be good for another 50k miles with oil changes hopefully!

Thanks for the replies...

[magpies]

I've just had my 2001 A4 in to the dealers for a new key and 2hours later found it up on ramps. They were giving it a 'free'check over and would send a report. I received the report with a complete list of checks and defects - my word were they thorough and picky. If they were to do everything I would have had a bill for £2800 almost what the car is worth. They are looking for work!!!!!!! admittedly somethings they found did need doing but some were cosmetic - minor dent in wing/corroded lower door rubbing strips, wheels with kerbing. I had all the essentials done (did some myself)for £400

Best get a second opinion by a local indy garage