Time for a major, major service!

Adrian E · #1 7th May 2016, 08:16 AM

I've had my S8 for 5.5 years now, and it's 6 years since it's recommissioning service at a cost of almost £2.5k, paid by the previous owner.

In that time the car's done 32k miles and I average 4-5k a year in it.

In 2010 it had a cambelt change with all rollers and tensioners changed, new plugs, air filter etc etc

I'm planning on having the cambelt done again on time grounds, but unsure whether I should really replace all the rollers and tensioners again after that many miles when the original service life was quoted in mileage terms only at 75k IIRC?

In 2010 there's no evidence that the water pump and thermostat were changed, so they're definitely getting done even though the water pump appears to have now doubled in price since I got a quote this time last year!

Brake fluid will be done again, as that was 2 years ago.

I'm unsure what to do for plugs and air filter - both have done 32k over 6 years, so are short of the 40k replacement interval and the car lives in the garage so deterioration through exposure to the elements should be minimal. Do folks change the plugs at shorter intervals than recommended, as a rule, or leave till 40k? I've noticed the exhaust smells more of unburnt fuel on cold start than I remember, so perhaps indicates the plugs could do with a change?

I'm aware this is going to be a wallet busting service - I'm aiming to source the parts from TPS myself and get a friend to fit it all (he works for a specialist) - but I want it done right in terms of bits replaced, whilst not wasting money. I'm contemplating a change in the next 12 months and if I was looking to buy now I wouldn't touch a car that needed a cambelt unless the price reflected it.

Thoughts from long term owners, or those with detailed servicing experience?

Adrian

HPsauce · #2 7th May 2016, 08:21 AM

Personally I'd probably wait a bit longer, I thought 7 years was more the cambelt life and you "could" lengthen that if mileage is below average.

Though I would do "the full monty" with plugs, filters etc. - in for a penny in for a pound (times a lot!).

Not really sure why you are doing this now......

Adrian E · #3 7th May 2016, 08:23 AM

Audi recommended time interval for cambelt is 5 years - admittedly the previous owners left it to 8 years before changing! I was happy to extend it by a year based on my low mileage, but if I decide to advertise the car in the next 12 months without the belt done it's going to knock the value fairly considerably, I would've thought?

notorious · #4 7th May 2016, 08:32 AM

Since money is not an issue for true D2 owner I will change **everything** in front of engine that I can possibly put my hands on when there is access. Pump, thermostat, all rollers, tensioner, everything. Will look at pulleys and bearings, including alternator bearings. Inspect for slightest leaks and will fix them. All parts strictly genuine Audi.

BUT I will wait several years since the car has only done 32k miles and only 5 years after cambelt with all tensioners and rollers was changed. I assume you used all genuine parts for that. 5 years is not a problem for a genuine cam belt. And your mileage is nothing to worry about.

Genuine Audi cambelt will last 10 years and 120,000 kilometres, which means I will change it every 8 years and 100,000 kilometres.

ainarssems · #5 7th May 2016, 08:48 AM

When I first replaced belts (all belts) on mine I did just the belts, opened up roller bearings and put fresh grease in them. Later I saw 2 of the same design 32V engines where cambelt had jumped because tensioner damper was old and not working correctly. This scared me so I decided to replace mine and replaced cambelt again about 2 years later as it's cheap enough to replace as precautionary measure and could be very expensive if it fails, I think it was less then £30 for Continental belt. Second time around I re-greased cambelt roller bearings again but replaced 2 alternator belt rollers as they were past it's best. I will probably do cambelt and re-grease bearings again this summer even if I have only done 17k miles in 8 years. Have not replaced or done anything to water pump. Replaced thermostat once but not as part of belt changing as I have luxury of being able to replace it without belt removal on 32V. I do all the jobs myself so don't have to worry about labour costs, if I had to pay somebody for the job my strategy would probably be different.

I don't think spark plugs need replacing that often, I have done mine but they will probably be OK for 100k. I went for after-market NGK Iridium as they worked out cheaper than OEM and I believe they should be just as good or better and last longer than OEM.

Air filter I replace every year together with oil service even if I only do 1-3k miles, it's only like £10 or less for MANN filter.

Adrian E · #6 7th May 2016, 08:59 AM

The previous change was indeed all OEM parts - maybe I'm being overly cautious then?

HPsauce · #7 7th May 2016, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian E

if I decide to advertise the car in the next 12 months without the belt done it's going to knock the value fairly considerably, I would've thought?

Maybe, but by as much as it costs to do the work?

Not a thing I would do yet, and if I was selling I'd research the market first. You may find a potential buyer like Ainars who will be planning to do the work themselves and would prefer NOT to have recovery of third-party labour costs factored in to your price expectations.

I bought my current S8 knowing it needed all this doing and discounted the price appropriately, both buyer and seller were happy. But it did allow me to run the car for quite a a while first to decide what else needed doing, before confirming that it was worth spending all that money on it.
In fact I did get the gearbox fluid & filter changed relatively quickly (serviced by Audi so obviously never touched) but left the major service for a while longer.

MikkiJayne · #8 7th May 2016, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian E

unsure whether I should really replace all the rollers and tensioners again after that many miles when the original service life was quoted in mileage terms only at 75k IIRC?

I'm just gonna leave this here...

Always change everything! Its not worth the risk to skimp on a couple of bits. I've seen too many engines trashed by failed tensioners to ever consider anything else.

Also, I heard from Audi a couple of years ago that they had revised belt intervals to 60k / 3 years max. Is anyone else aware of that? I'd never leave one as long as 5, regardless of mileage.

Adrian E · #9 7th May 2016, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Always change everything! Its not worth the risk to skimp on a couple of bits. I've seen too many engines trashed by failed tensioners to ever consider anything else.

Also, I heard from Audi a couple of years ago that they had revised belt intervals to 60k / 3 years max. Is anyone else aware of that? I'd never leave one as long as 5, regardless of mileage.

I'm leaning towards doing everything for that reason.

I'm not convinced they've moved the interval that far - the service book states 80k, revised down based on experience to 75k/5 years when I last spoke to Audi to enquire. Due to my low annual mileage and more or less ideal usage (doesn't get frequent cold starts, barely gets used in winter, garaged so protected from temperature extremes) I'm comfortable with stretching it somewhat.

The original belt was fine on removal at 8 years old/36k.

HPsauce · #10 7th May 2016, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian E

I'm not convinced they've moved the interval that far - the service book states 80k, revised down based on experience to 75k/5 years when I last spoke to Audi to enquire.

I've got some earlier A8/S8 maintenance schedules with a much higher mileage specified, 105K miles IIRC.

See attached PDF from 1999, can't recall the source though, possibly USA? Note oil changes every 7500 miles, spark plugs every 30,000.