Gotta laugh...

[1781cc]

...at the lunacy of audi's modern engine arrangements and the lack of simplicity when doing something so simple as checking the power steering fluid level...

Take today's 45 minute debacle (excluding time spent driving to halfords midway to buy an extra long Phillips screwdriver...)









I know the mentality of your typical new S8 buyer would be to book it into the garage but that's stupid, part of the regular checks of ownership IMO but my god, why hide it under the right air filter, maf and housing, hidden screws, clips and so on... What a joke!

[s2driveruk]

Blimey that's crazy...on the plus side, the sound will win you over again in a few mins

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Complete joke for sure ...... but nice engine bay and of course ...... sound!

[S2central.net]

That would be a "first world problem" sir - I don't grumble (much) when faced with similar challenges on my B6 S4 - could be worse - you could live in Turkey... or Syria !!!

[Sleeper_Avant]

Being a Master Tech by trade I both agree whole heartedly with you about access to check the fluid, but from the design/assembly view, it should not need checked or topped up within the 5 year lifespan of any warranty period (aimed at lease vehicles)

now again another look at stupidity on these cars,
I serviced a 60reg 4.2 exec last week and NOBODY from ECP, Motex, Andrew Page, TPS could supply me with a pair of ait filters for any sooner than 2 days lead time!!!!!!

As you know, stupid thing is you have to remove the upper filter housings, filters and lower housings to access the plugs that were readily available from stock..........

Crazy world, just shows modern dealerships massively cutting corners even on the most basic of maintenance schedules.
my customer has just bought the car from an independent dealer, ex lease and needed discs and pads all round, 2 rear tyres had chords exposed in the centre of the tyres and had no repair work, but was back the next day as he wasn't happy about the level of dirt I sucked up when carrying out his free interior vacuum lol

[1781cc]

Yeah, I understand that things could be much worse and I am grateful for that, but putting that aside, as an observation on design/layout, its not practical at all.

Being a Master Tech by trade I both agree whole heartedly with you about access to check the fluid, but from the design/assembly view, it should not need checked or topped up within the 5 year lifespan of any warranty period (aimed at lease vehicles)

I had heard this, that its not meant to be even looked at until the 60,000 mile mark, but with all the power steering issues these cars have (engine pull to fix or if you are lucky, nearside wheel arch access) it seems prudent to check, especially as I have been getting the occasional weird ticking sound when turning the wheel.

Turns out the car was a little low on fluid so topped her up.

Its like the gearbox thing, sealed for life by Audi apparently, yet problems exist and are fairly common, thankfully this one had a full gearbox service and firmware update from Mackie Transmissions in Glasgow, but still, it seems that the manufacturer stance of "we know what we are doing, so leave it alone buyer" its a bit presumptuous when dealing with mechanical items and there is a growing failure list emerging with common themes.

I concur with the filters though, Audi Northampton had to keep the car overnight because they didn't have the filters in stock for the 60K service, despite it having been booked for 3 weeks before hand.

Your comment on the tyres is just shocking though, thats not cutting corners, thats negligent and dangerous