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Is it in London? On sale in St Albans so no doubt has seen its fair share of traffic! Don't havr the reg yet but will post it when the dealer sends some pix
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is there any evidence of services elsewhere?
is it very, very cheap?
Dealer going to do timing belt?
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Not especially cheap but cheapish. No evidence of other services. Think I will pass on this one. Thanks for your input.
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Harib - depending on the computer it may have only missed one service at 30-35,000 depending how it was driven after it's first service at 15k, so a it present mileage it may be just due it's 3rd.
That aside avoid.
After 2 years brake fluid is due, pollen filter is due after about 20,000 miles. I doubt these have been touched.
60,000 miles may also throw up some other higher mileage service items, such as fuel filters and it MAY require a cambelt at this mileage.
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Harib - depending on the computer it may have only missed one service at 30-35 000 depending how it was driven after it's first service at 15k so a it present mileage it may be just due it's 3rd.
Ah yeah of course, it may well have been on long life servicing, so it might not be as bad as I originally thought. As you say, I assume the cambelt will be just about due. Maybe... maybe.. if this was done as part of the service that VW would do, and it was dirt cheap it might be worth the risk. But I wouldn't :)
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Brake fluid IS due every two years, but unless the A4 has a known issue with its brakes, I wouldn't worry. The pollen filter... well change it! Somebody's not been very kind to the car, but to be honest, the only thing that really matters is the engine oil. If it should have been servied every 6k (4.2 V8), then run away very quickly; if it's on variable servicing and could be done ever 20k, then I really wouldn't worry. Most car engines are good for 300-400k miles; this one might only do 250k...
I wouldn't worry too much if it's cheap enough. If it's not cheap enough, then find a better one.
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Just because there is no record of the services doesn't mean it has not been done?
Get the name of the previous owner and contact them.
With this type of car, possibly ex-company or lease so really nothing to be gained by the driver in not getting it serviced (as the cost is probably included in the deal)
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Look on the V5 and see if the last owner is a business etc and contact them. Might be worth checking with an Audi dealer to see if its been serviced in their network - normally they have th supplying dealer on the plates as well which will help.
These engines are amost bulletproof so it wouldnt concern me too much that one has been missed so early on in its life. I managed over 25K between service on longlife with the same engine - having said that my commute has changed and its about 19K now.
It is due a cambelt - my last cambelt service was in excess of £600 and would have been even more if I had the brake fluid changed - which I didnt bother with as the last stuff had only been in 18 months.
If the garage are going to service it, then if its to the book then they will need to put a belt on it - I would also ask for a waterpump as well and pay the difference if needs be.
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It's TDI...
run away..
Bet it's noisy...
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You know what they say about free lunches.... Some valid debate elsewhere on HJ about longlife servicing, and I'm not qualified to speak, but even if it's only missed one service that's a huge amount of miles on one lot of oil. No Diesel engineer would advise buying it I'm sure.
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My 1.9 150 Golf manages to use up almost all its oil at about every 10K anyway, even though its on long life servicing, so it does get its oil 'changed' every 8 to 12K....
Still not sure about missing a service on these - but if its had every other service I would be inclined to delve further on it!
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And as for cambelt change etc.. I presume this is none too different to the same engine in the Golf, if so a good independent should be able to do cambelt and waterpump for £300 or so.
A longlife main service from my indie is £150ish, with a minor service being about £100.
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I would check with the garage that did the last service and enquire if there have been any other services recorded on their system. I bought a car that only appeared to have only 2 stamps in the service book, but when I contacted the garage it had 2 additional services on its records - so almost a complete service history.
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