Contemplating a new 8....

[IT]

Originally Posted by ulfilias

And I just got back from looking at that D3 in Bedford. Bit of an odd set-up. Some people running from a yard at the back of some shops. Turned up on spec and had to wait half an hour and then they had to get the car out from in a load of vehicles.

looks in reasonably good condition and a fairly high spec of which I have a photograph of a build sticker to decipher. It's a blue/silver which is nice. The black roof is kinda cool and has a glass sunroof like my s8 did. The wheels have been refurbed at some point and are black but work quite well.

Interior is good, though there's the odd switch that shows a little white at the edges but probably wouldn't be too hard to swap. Don't know what the little pop out tray thing is on the dash, to the left of the parking sensor switch, seemed to have a velour insert?

The LPG system looks a very clean install. The injector work in the engine bay and wheel well tank look good. There's a hidden small port in the fuel flap, which needs an adaptor! Oddly the LPG button is in the glove compartment, but it's a switch with a plug rather than hard wired, so could easily be moved. Switching over there was a little rumble to the engine and the check engine light came on. They said that the light was normal and it did occur on my S8, but i'm not sure as i got rid of it with an exhaust sensor iirc.

The drivers door has dropped and there was a traction control sybol on and a headlight dip/bulb out warning, which on inspection is due to an LED fitted in the left headlight. They said they would sort these before sale, though wondered if the traction symbol was an ABS sensor due to the wheel refurb?

In checking other stuff I noticed that the aircon dials for the drivers side came up with passenger settings and vica versa. Am guessing it's a vagcom setting as I think the car has been out the country at some point from the paperwork (Polish LPG system i think)?

It's a nice car, fair bit of poke and handles well, though the sport makes a lot more difference than kick down seemed to. Not quite the scare the passenger difference that my S8 did though, more civilised.

Certainly a lot more interested in a D3 now than I was!!!

The drivers door has dropped?.... Agree with other the button wear is suspect, as is the incorrect air con settings, and last time I checked when a car leaves the country, the driver still sits on the side with the fixed steering wheel.... no need to change the aircon coding for that Also need to make sure the LPG conversion has a certificate, or is registered online. Some insurers won't touch it otherwise.

The velour lined business card holder is about the only normal thing from your report

I'd give it a wide berth, it doesn't sound like its going to get fixed properly in order to extinguish the dash warning lights....

I'd defo go and see a few others to get a comparison. I don't think this one will sell in a hurry.

[ulfilias]

The aircon had a booklet and so forth that was all signed up, so I don't think that there is a problem there!

It seems nice and solid apart from the drivers door which seemed odd, everything else shut nicely and it had been overhauled and touched up by someone recently who refubured the outside including the wheel etc. The white/wear was only a couple of buttons, one was steering wheel iirc.

The vin / milage / mot's that were there looked fine. There was an Audi service print out of a couple of pages going back to 95k which also tallied up!

Is it possible to clock these cars?

Would a European aircon part change the coding as agreed that it being swapped is odd!

Shame as it drove well and felt good there.... I believe that it's the elusive sport swb too.... The Car dial had Sport Suspension. Comfort /dynamic / auto.... Though lift was greyed out?

[Sir WIll]

No need for the V5 number for MOT information.

Its got a couple of gaps and its been hanging around for a while. I would take a look at a few other D3s to get an idea of what your money will buy you.

Vehicle make: AUDI
Vehicle model: A8
Date first used: 1 March 2005
Fuel type: Petrol
Colour: Silver




MOT history of this vehicle

Test date: 3 April 2015
Expiry date: 2 April 2016
Test Result: Pass
Odometer reading: 123,134 miles
MOT test number: 4467 4359 5052
Test date: 19 May 2014
Expiry date: 18 May 2015
Test Result: Pass
Odometer reading: 119,110 miles
MOT test number: 3686 5973 4173
Test date: 16 May 2014
Test Result: Fail
Odometer reading: 119,108 miles
MOT test number: 6273 8693 4112
Reason(s) for failure:


Headlamp cleaning device inoperative (1.7.2)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Test date: 1 May 2013
Expiry date: 1 May 2014
Test Result: Pass
Odometer reading: 115,073 miles
MOT test number: 4274 3132 3180
Advisory notice item(s):


Both front tyres wearing on edges

Screw in NS Rear tyre

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Test date: 2 May 2012
Expiry date: 1 May 2013
Test Result: Pass
Odometer reading: 105,495 miles
MOT test number: 6356 0312 2132
Test date: 1 May 2012
Test Result: Fail
Odometer reading: 105,493 miles
MOT test number: 9178 2282 2108
Reason(s) for failure:


Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Test date: 17 March 2011
Expiry date: 16 March 2012
Test Result: Pass
MOT test number: 3599 5647 1067
Advisory notice item(s):


Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

sound from front suspension when going over uneven road surface

Test date: 15 March 2010
Expiry date: 14 March 2011
Test Result: Pass
MOT test number: 9810 4427 0083
Test date: 11 March 2009
Expiry date: 10 March 2010
Test Result: Pass
MOT test number: 4922 9067 9068
Advisory notice item(s):


Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Test date: 7 March 2008
Expiry date: 6 March 2009
Test Result: Pass
MOT test number: 7027 9746 8053

[Conquistador]

Use this site to decipher the build sticker:
http://igorweb.org/equidec.aspx

I would personally steer clear of this particular car from what's been described. Too many small issues which potentially add up to a great deal of trouble.

There are and will be a fair few others in that sub-£6k price range

[mattylondon]

New listing on ebay, 2003, 4.2 Petrol, 100k miles. Seems tidy for a PF D3. Price could be lower.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281903107154

[mannyo]

is it me or does it seem that D3 prices are on the up, unless you want huge mileage its difficult to find anything in reasonable shape for less than 5K. Take the one posted by Matty, its older than my 3.7, has less spec and not much less on the mileage front than when I got mine but the price is 1K more than I paid more than 2 years ago.

you used to see a lot of 4.0TDis in the 4-5K bracket, but they've moved up into the 5-6K bracket.

Glad I got mine when I did, high spec, good mileage and less than 5K.

[mattylondon]

I'm with you Manny. Maybe owners are holding on to well spec early D3's if nothing is wrong with the car. I generally take a browse of 'recently added' cars and that one I posted seemed to fit ulfilias choice being a petrol 4.2