Just replaced the air filter....
 

http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/o...379DCF5C2C.jpg

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http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/o...62C1D853BE.jpg

Is this normal accumulation of dirt? Looks excessive to me, given the FASH...

Jesus....that looks very excessive to me, but I'm a bit an@l.
What have you replaced with, same oem stuff??

Think there was a Wasp's nest in there too. Excessive to me. Even given my recent jaunt around France and back. I replaced it with a Mann filter. Looked like nice quality to me. Visibly very similar to the VAG one I took out.

It's a bit more dirty than mine, and your filter is a lot blacker. I've done 9k since last service. Yours I think is not excessive.

It's worth checking the rubber drain tube (last photo bottom centre) in the air filter housing as it may be blocked.

Cheers Matty. I gave it a good hoover and clean.

Was there not a date stamped into the filter?

I'd say it looks like it hasn't been changed in a while but it all depends on where your driving, I have noticed the d3 is quite good at scooping crap into the air filter housing, iv also noted what a crap design it is, my opinion is it hasn't been changed in quite a while, wouldn't be the first time any main dealer hasn't bothered changing all the filters.

Well my experience of main dealers and filters was less than ideal, they replaced the filters but what I can only assume is laziness was to pull the filter boxes out of there mountings to make access easier for one screw and didn't put it back, so the intake pipes didn't line up, and i also found the hose clip that holds the air intake pipe to the throttle body was left slack.

Anyway back on topic yes I would say they were manky, treat the ol girl to a fresh set

That must be so frustrating Del especially if the dealer is the one place where this simple job should be done with no issues whatsoever.

I went with Green Filters http://www.greenfilters.co.uk/ and since then, 3 years ago at least I'm just keep cleaning it every few months and its not far from as good as new, but in all fairness I'm not doing ridiculous miles or drive outside city streets and main roads.

From what iv seen posted about main dealers then they'd be the last place I'd go, I'd pick a specialised independent any day of the week, but unfortunately people not in the know think FASH is the best thing since sliced bread so people will pay extra for bad servicing :ROFL: my mate worked for Audi as a tech and he/they don't get treated very well and that'll reflect in the work being done.

I don't know if I posted it on here but there was an interesting test done on types of air filters, and unless the filter is a known weak spot or restriction then they didn't give enough benefit to outweighs the cons of the fact they let more dirt into the engine, I'll see if I can dig it up for you too have a read.

Here you go: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm