Ash
01-11-1999, 07:52 PM
Well had my 1.8TQMS in for its first service today (8000km/5000 mile). I had it done at the dealership that I bought the car from (Bramgate VW Audi in Toronto). I only had a couple of complaints:<br>-Strange "dots" on BOSE display. Disappear when ignition is turned off and back on.<br>-Right rear decklid speaker makes "rattling/ripping" noise under even low volume. A previous poster identified this as the speaker grille being too close to the actual woofer, and the woofer "slapping" up against the grille.<br>-Strange bearing noise when car is cold coming from the right rear side.<p>Well, according to the mechanic, he called the Audi hotline and determined that the crystals on the radio display "freeze up" in cold temperatures, and need time to warm up so the display problem is a common thing. Didn't someone here say it happens to them in warm weather too? Although I didn't notice that myself....<p>The "slapping" speaker noise was fixed by putting some foam padding around the speaker with the decklid off so the grille is lifted. I suggested this to the mechanic before I left saying that a "friend" (read fellow A4 orger!) had the same problem and fixed it thus. Things seem to have improved quite a bit after the foam was installed.<p>Was told that the "woowoo" bearing noise that occurrs at approx 40km/h is normal due to cold grease etc, and that there is no problem. Was he just trying to keep me happy?<p>Other than that, they did a nice job washing it (too bad there's as much salt on the roads here in Toronto as there is snow), and were very helpful/polite with everything. I was treated with respect (hey, I'm only 22, they probably think I'm a punk...and yes, I paid for the car myself for all you would be flamers! :-) ) and never did they give me the run-around.<p>I did happen to mention sythetic oil to the service advisor, and he said that they recommend not going to it until about 24,000 kms (miles?). When asked why, he said the "rings have to seat properly". As far as I remember, synthetic oil does not hinder the break in of an engine, is this correct? I asked my mechanic as he was hoisting up the car, and he gave me the same answer except he said he'd wait even longer! Okay, so is there something I'm missing here?<p>Anyway, they gave me a loaner for the day (98 Jetta GL), man has my A4 spoiled me or what! The Jetta had spongy brakes, steering wheel, terrible noise insulation...and absolutely no guts. My 1.8TQMS feels 100% better in the snow when compared to the Jetta, even though I'm still running the Dunlop Zs and the Jetta had all seasons.<p>Suffice it to say I'm happy with the service and treatment, but a little confused about the oil stuff. I think I'll just tell them to put it in next service anyway....<p>Cheers,<br>-Ash Silver 98.5 1.8TQMS<p>PS: The wipers/spray nozzles on the Jetta are in a word, AWESOME! They actually "spray" and the wipers always had a good contact patch...the A4s suck in my experience.