D2 Parts availability

[Cornershop]

One thought I've been pondering has been new parts availability on D2 A8/S8

Probably a well discussed topic however I couldn't find a thread discussing this.

I used to have an RS2 in 2006 (stolen and burnt out after 6m Ownership) and recall bits of trim were becoming NLA.

This could potentially put me off owning a D2 - should I be concerned?

Cheers
Shirish

[Singh]

W@nkers doing that to an RS2. Cnuts.

[tintin]

Amar's right, but that's the weird world we live in, sadly. In terms of D2 parts, I wouldn't let that stop me buying a D2, I've always been able to get what I want, though you may have to wait a bit for some parts: they're certainly better at getting parts than Audi dealers, in my experience.

[Cornershop]

Originally Posted by tintin

they're certainly better at getting parts than Audi dealers, in my experience.

'They' as in who? A8 parts?

Conscious my car will be used for family duty so potential for more wear and tear than standard

[Adrian E]

Depends how you want to maintain the car - because mine is low miles and virtually mint, I tend to favour buying new bits for trim etc because anything coming off a breaker has by definition probably had a harder life. Sticking bits off a 'well loved' car in visible places just doesn't seem worth the effort.

I am finding that bits are being regularly dropped by Audi Germany and UK - stuff I could buy a year ago you now can't. I still can't actually buy a lower handle shell (£10 part that fits in the bottom part of the interior door pull) for my drivers door as Audi don't make them anymore and nobody has one sat on the shelf....

I want a couple of bits of trim for mine at the monent and it looks like I'll be using Audi Tradition to source them (where all NOS parts go)

http://trshop.audi.de/konakart/Welcome.do

Their shipping costs are mental but at least the Euro has devalued against the pound since I bought a wood trim for the drivers door switch panel which didn't leave much change from £100....

I wanted to buy a new trim to cover the ECU box - just a rain guard really - which used to retail for £15. Now NLA and because it's RHD specific no stock on Tradition either

Mechanicals should be no concern but trim is definitely getting harder. The D3 won't be that far behind tbh

[IT]

Mechanical kit should be no bother to source new.

Trim parts are subject to what's left in stock, and 2nd hand is often a better way to go.

I wouldn't let part availability stop me buying one....

[tintin]

Originally Posted by Cornershop

'They' as in who? A8 parts?

Yup...

[Singh]

Audi need to take a leaf out of BMW's book on this, they promise to supply you whichever part you need for whatever model, no matter how old; even if this means commissioning a brand new supplier using the original blueprints which are stored in a vault at the Munich HQ. Benz do similar too.

[Adrian E]

Originally Posted by Singh

Audi need to take a leaf out of BMW's book on this, they promise to supply you whichever part you need for whatever model, no matter how old; even if this means commissioning a brand new supplier using the original blueprints which are stored in a vault at the Munich HQ. Benz do similar too.

Absolutely agree Amar - it's short-sighted and if you're going to try and hang your brand image off any past glories it kind of helps if it's not a struggle to acquire parts because the manufacturer can't be arsed to support them as they only want to sell more black edition diseasels, as that's where the money is.

You can walk in a Merc dealer and order a brand new genuine wing, or any other part you can think of, for pretty much anything back to the 70s. Prices aren't mental either.

[Singh]

Audi certainly have the resources...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-challenge-bmw

I'm receiving an award from the head Audi UK later in the year, if I get a chance, I'll ask him.