Servicing the 8 - DIY
 

Hi,

Well, ever since i visited the guys at Pitstart the other week, i've been motivated to service the 8 with them but mostly do the work myself. It's been only 6k miles since the 8 was last serviced but it was a year ago so worth doing.

I've got all the parts together for the service and all are OEM.

I will do this in 2 steps...some items at home (pollen filters, air filter, wiper blades) and the oil, oil filter, fuel filter, plugs with Pitstart.

Please see below the parts used together with the part numbers and cost (i paid with TPS) for reference should anyone else need them:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6...e4b67d23_z.jpg

021 115 562 OIL FILTER (X1) £6.20
101 905 615A PLATINUM SPARK PLUGS (X8) £59.75
441 201 511C FUEL FILTER (X1) £8.74
077 129 620D AIR FILTER (X1) £9.08
4D 819 438A POLLEN FILTERS (X2 - they come as a pair) £19.31
4A0 955 425B PASSENGER SIDE CURVED WIPER BLADE £10.22
S4B0 955 425 DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER BLADE £12.32

Excluding the wipers, i paid £125.

Just a few pictures of the bits i did today: pollen filters, air filter and wipers :)

Wipers: OEM versions are the nuts...i massively prefer these over the Bosch ones I've had in the past. The drivers side also comes with a much bigger wind spoiler than the Bosch one so I'll be stocking with OEM versions from now on. For those that don't know, the passenger wiper blade is curved and ensures you wipe all the way to the edge of the window. Although £27 for the set, it's worth every penny in my view and they perform better than any aeroblade or Bosch versions i've had in the past +++

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6...a56032e3_z.jpg

Pollen filters: The ones before were actually not OEM (they should have been from what i was told! :() - the difference is actually quite big as the OEM version has fewer but better quality ridges that are thicker than the non-OEM types. Don't scrimp on a few quid, get the real deal next time +++

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6...244ffe51_z.jpg

Air filter:

5 minute job and worth doing regularly...just look at the filth on the old one :p

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6...10c00497_z.jpg

The plugs, oil & filters will be next weekend's job if all goes well! :)

Oli

Good job, Oli. I really enjoy servicing my cars, it is about the only thing I know how to do. +++

Good to see OE being used.

I mostly always buy OE parts but usually from main dealer.

Tell me more about this TPS please

I thought OEM wiper blades are Bosch as well just not generic Bosch but a proprietary design for a specific car but might be wrong.

The prices look good I assume pollen filter price is for a pair, right?

The thing is that pollen filters are available as just a simple filter which is what your old filter looks like and filters with odour and harmful substance filtering(with activated charcoal) like the new one looks.

Other then that I would have gone for after-market Iridium spark plugs either NGK or Denso which would have been slightly cheaper as well.

http://www.thetradepartsspecialists.co.uk/

Supplier of OEM VAG parts for the trade at discounted prices, some of centres also sell to general public. Savings can range from 10-60% depending on part. Unfortunately most of the time I check for the part needed it is closer to 10% saving.

Thanks for that, one store only a few minutes from me so I will have to look into it +++

Oli, where do you source those OEM pollen filters for that cheap?

I thought a kit with 2 OEM charcoal filters is 4d0898438a and cost of the kit is somewhere between 50 and 100 pounds.

That's correct - I also found most parts being at around about a 10% discount but they will haggle in my view if you buy everything all at once. I got about 30% discount on the plugs for instance. Perhaps worth trying to arrange a national club discount anyone :D

That's correct, it is for the pair...there are 2 in the box.

Hi notorious - i got them at TPS and not sure why they would be so expensive where you got them but it may be worth giving them a bell.

Looks like tomorrow is the day to finish the outstanding items :)

Oli

I had the TPS rep arrive at my door this week, very helpful and set up an account. The best part is he stays along the street from me and can drop anything I require off when he is passing

I've ha n e-mail back from them saying "Thank you for your interest in the Trade Parts Specialists.

Please continue to use the site."

But i have no username or password so can't use the site.

I've had a TPS account since 2008. Lots of savings to be had.

They should call you within the next few days about setting up an account, ask them for a username and password then. If they do not contact you then you should phone your local branch and speak with them to start the ball rolling

So, i finally got around to doing the outstanding bits...fairly easy stuff really and I was able to be guided through the whole process and do things myself most of the time. I spent £160 incl VAT for hiring a mechanic for 3 hours to show me how it was all done and to teach me a few things...perhaps i would have spent less having it done but you I will now know how to do it all myself and i got free use of their ramp so bonus! +++

Just a few piccies of the outstanding things:

First off, the car on the ramp...you get a lot of space to put your stuff down on a work bench and the ramps are easy to operate.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6...09eb2460_z.jpg

1. Oil Filter Change - I'm glad i didn't do that at home as i wouldn't have had the tool to take the filter off - that's now on order for next time! Check out the old filter ...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6...0bd49479_z.jpg

2. Fuel Filter - the new OEM one was easy enough to fit...like David at A8 Parts mentioned, there can be a fair bit of pressure if you do it after it's recently been driven so worthwhile having a container underneath.

Old fuel filter:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6...0d14e1ed_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6...f3a51d44_z.jpg

New fuel filter :)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6...f6dc91aa_z.jpg

3. New Bosch Platinum Spark Plugs:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6...fe14cb7a_z.jpg

4. Finally, put new oil in - 8 litres of Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40.

I got to replace all the missing undertray clips and bumper clips at the same time so all in all, well pleased.

Car done after the service! :D

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6...02f4e54e_z.jpg

Driving off, it feels a tad smoother and overall i'm really pleased i got to do this myself.

For others thinking about this, i would highly recommend going down this route...you learn so much and it's really satisfying to know that everything is done to a standard that you want! +++

Oli

I almost always do things like this myself mainly because i dont trust other mecanics to do the job to my standard, taking pride in your job and not cutting corners, im also so fussy that when it comes to MOT time i wont leave the Testers side until the mot is complete an unsupervised car is risky when it comes to most garages, all too often they will string you up for stuff that is not needed and i point blank refuse to leave the car with them and your quite with in your right to do so +++ top right up oli

What special tool is this then :Confused:

great report on a great job Oli+++

as far as i know when i changed my oil it was only the cap of the plastic oil filter housing and it was a 26mm socket job no special tools for a basic service+++

Yes, correct...not really a special tool but at 26 mm, it was not a size i had in my toolbox! (Don't read anything more into that! :ROFL:).

Oli

Cheers for that - had me worried for a moment+++

It isn't :mad: - put a 27mm upto it and was short by around 5 mm - guess what, just doing mine and don't have anything that big:tuttut: