Newbie needing guidance!
 

I'm starting to seriously look now for my D3 and I've got a pretty good idea of what I want to but having never owned an 8 before I would appreciate some guidance about a few things

Firstly, how prone are the TDIs to DPF failure? How robust are the turbos and injectors? I'm feeling that a petrol would be best for me but the carbon build up worries me (I'm looking for a facelift with MMI G3 so 2009 on)

I haven't got a long spec list but I would like a reversing camera. Can these be retrofitted and how much should I look to pay?

I would also like to stream music from my mobile, what is the most robust way to achieve this? Reading threads it would seem I need something called AMI fitted? Is this correct? And expensive?!

Sorry for asking stuff that has probably been covered to death, I just want to be prepared and give myself the best chance of not buying a lemon!

I've pretty much decided on a 2009 onwards, in black with black interior. Given my circumstances engine choice is less of an issue in all honesty but I do not want a LWB

Hello Davey,
DPFs were mounted quite far from the engine compared to newer designed cars which is not ideal - Mine lasted ~150,000 miles before the buildup of unburnable mineral was too much and had it removed.

Turbos, injectors and timing chain issues were sorted by 2007 so 2009 should be fine. If you want a reversing camera, you really need a car with a TV tuner, or the difficulty and cost rises quite a bit. Retrofitting is quite difficlut and expensive. dognmonkey website has a good install guide. Try and get a factory fitted one.

If you have an AMI in the glovebox, you can install a third part bluetooth receiver - I don't and so use one plugged in the TV tuner in the boot. The TV tuner has 2 AUX in channels which require £15 cables adding to the loom.

LWB is only 5" longer and not noticeable to driver, only the rear passengers' legs!

Good luck and good idea to get a 2008- model.

Thank you for your reply Snapdragon, it's all really useful for a newbie. I think a comprehensive buying guide for the different models is in order! Hehe, sorry to be new and all demanding!

DPFs make me nervous but I'll like something with no more than 100k on ideally so hopefully that should be fine. I guess given a choice i'd like a 4.2 FSI but they seem very few and far between for 2009/10. I am used to big engined petrols so that doesn't worry me. Colour combo is more important than engine, even though it makes me sound like a girl! :ROFL:

I think I'll stick to my guns on the reversing camera and maybe let my LWB prejudice slip a bit. I've never actually driven a LWB, I assumed it wouldn't handle as well, newbie mistake!

I'm actually quite relaxed about spec, beyond that, which is unusual for me! Let's be honest, even the most poverty specced 8 isn't doing too bad! But it needs that camera!

Can the AMI be fitted easily if it's not present or is it an expensive/impossible job?

I also have a question about the LED rear lights. Are they expensive to get replaced? I have seen a few cars with dead LEDs and I don't know how relaxed I should be about that?

Plus I need to find a really good VAG indie in south Hampshire as we do not have any on the island, only a main dealer. I want to get the car before I need it so I can sort any issues before it's pressed into service!

Thanks to everyone, seems a great place here and I'm glad I got here before I actually took the plunge!

So, a few points.

I'd probably be more worried about carbon build up in the 4.2 Fsi, than DPF issues on the Tdi.

The 4.2 TDI is significantly quicker, and more economical with higher resale value and typically better specs. Demand for the 4.2 Petrol on facelift is very low, hence the lack of examples to choose from.

AMI retrofit on 2G MMI (upto ~2009) was a doddle, where the later 3G MMI has it all built in. The aftermarket A2DP adapters tend not to work on the 2G AMi's though in my experience.....

Black with black is quite specific, does it have to be black, or would a dark colour work ?

The D3 was around from 2003 to 2010, with the facelift with 3G around for only the last year or so, making your choices quite limited really.... +++

Hi IT, thanks for your input.

I think I will hang out for a 2009 or 2010 example, the 3G is high up my (small!) list, mainly to make the car feel a bit more modern. So will the 3G just require an BT adaptor to be able to stream music through bluetooth right out of the box?

Black with black is 1st choice but I could be tempted by a dark exterior colour for the right car. Black interior is non negotiable though.

I have considered the 4.2 TDI but I have thought that I wouldn't really get the most from the engine and it would just be more cost for no real benefit, my motorway miles are fairly limited these days. However I can appreciate these would tend to have a better spec. This car is interesting:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...dd114tw&page=1

and if it had the camera I would be having a look!

Thanks for your advice, any and all is appreciated!

Another, a 4.2 TDi this time:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ke=AUDI&page=1

Got the camera, I could live with the colour and I like the two tone interior actually! But 2G MMI. Maybe I'm being too fussy!

I can't offer you any advice when it comes to Diesels, I'm known for hating Diesels and electric cars, I hate them with true passion :cool:

MMI 2G
AMI brand new with a good discount from Audi was £286 when I was buying one last time, power and optic loom + USB or iPhone/iPod cable would be approx £50.

Reversing camera can be retrofitted all in for as low as £350, but £450 is more realistic (used).
If you buy everything from Audi brand new it will come to approx. £775, but that's without the max discount, so it could well be below £700.

Thank you, it's really helpful! I'm loving it here and I haven't even got my car yet!