Well, expecting the worst, I returned the voicemail message to Andy at A4 Audi today. You may recall my '8 was in for a few jobs whilst I'm laid up after a knee op. The biggest job was to remove no:5 spark plug, which they'd tried in vain before. Andy was afraid that they'd either snap the plug or find a stripped thread, which would require the head off and sending to a machine shop to fix.
So, I'd been saving my pennies (after increasing the taxes on the serfs) and was prepared for an almighty bill (as I'd have the belt done at the same time, even though it's not due).
Andy was very apologetic and said that unfortunately.....
.....he was unable to charge me anything for this work! They'd spent a couple of days with loads of penetrating fluid and a long bar on the socket and managed to shift the plug with no damage!
So, just a replacement fan belt and, probably, a couple of new front calipers to pay for.
Now that's an honest garage prepared to go the extra mile!
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2002 Final Edition S8. Ebony black with Silver Grey leather and myrtle wood trim.
Current mods: solar sun roof, 20mm rear spacers, 15 mm on front, red brembo callipers, 6k headlights, rear view camera, engine remap, alloy dash dial rings, alloy navi rings, tt/phaeton pedal upgrade, (and custom matching foot rest) dension ipod interface & parrot hands free kit (both fully hidden), av input, tv in motion switched thro' PF switch in blanking plug right of steering column, Audi 'quattro' sill covers, repositioned centre console switches, radio clock, .
Planned mods: auto-dimming rear view mirror, dash cam (as steamship's), fit the ski hatch, refit philips drl's (or maybe not - nope, definitely not - horrible botch!).