A little FSI story

Phil FSI

Member
A little while ago when the days were warmer and bright, I caught a 5 hour train to pick up my first ever A2. It was beautiful. The paintwork had a lovely depth to it and once inside the smell of leather and cleanliness made me think with my heart..
The A2 appeared great on test drive and even though I had an open return train ticket just in case, I decided to pay the full asking price then and there and bring it home with me.
The A2 performed well right across the country. I got to know all it’s features and was so excited when it rained and I could use the pantograph wiper! I averaged 50 to the gallon and my back didn’t hurt anymore than it does in any other vehicle seat for that length of time. I was pleased.
Two days later I visited my friend 7 miles away and we looked in wunder at the spare wheel and took the bonnet off just for a laugh!
It was time to go home, an hours sunshine left and I was working the next day when, BLEEP!! ? ? appeared on the dash and the temperature gauge heading all the way up!
In shock horror I pulled over and turned it all off. What the heck!
What followed over the next few weeks was too upsetting to tell in full, but in brief, i had the car looked at and disaster, the head gasket has gone! And a couple of other things. I then had to contact the previous owner (private sale) and open a dispute with them. I had to get some consumer advise to see where I stood and I had to explain all of this to my partner. I felt so low, annoyed, cheated and confused.
I managed to get ‘some’ money back from the vendor towards the cost of repair.

Today ladies and gentlemen, after a week and a half of engine surgery, I finally got the phone call to say it’s fixed. My FSI is working!
I went straight to Tesco and filled up with the good stuff.
What can I say about the FSI performance. It was rapid on the way home, put a right smile on my face and the heated seat has now come into its own.
I realise this might all be short lived but all the work has a genuine guarantee on it and the garage have told me it’s all good now.
The history which came with car car and the evidence from the garage today suggests more than one failure which may have caused the gasket to fail.
I also had to have the electronic thermostat and water pump replaced this week despite them having been replaced not long before my ownership! Possibly a classic case of cheap parts.
So to summarise, it’s had it’s head pressure tested and skimmed, full set of gaskets including injector seals, new bolts, oil and filter change, full coolant change, new water pump and cam belt kit and a new electric thermostat. They also put on my brand new death pipe I had from Crew Audi.

I wanted to share this with you all just so you know another A2 has dodged death and lives on better and stronger than ever.

I think A2OC stickers are next.

Let the journey begin.

Phil FSI
 
Pleased all worked out for you in the end Phil and a testament to your faith in the car that you stayed with it. Hopefully the car rewards you back in return and you have many happy years of trouble free motoring ahead. Good luck and enjoy the ownership experience.

P.S. It is a well known fact that the A2OC stickers add 5-10 bhp, so they are a must... ?
 
Lovely story Phil. Happy you persevered and along with the care and attention lavished and the "good stuff" ;) the car is paying you back with smiles aplenty. Stick to the the 99 it's guaranteed to tease out a few horses. Sometimes it's not about money it's for the love and joy of it! :)
 
Moving story, buying any second hand car can be hazardous and a leap into the unkown. Sympathy with the repair bill, unlucky I have the impression the FSI is not unduly known for head gasket notoriety, yes other things but your garage sounds competent and expect they looked at those along the way. This FSI looks engine sorted and a few years of major problem free motoring to come.

Andy
 
Last edited:
I hate to play devils advocate but the seller may have genuinely not know there were any issues, unless of course you found some botch temporary fix when the repairs were being done. All A2’s are now at least 15 years old so anything can go wrong at any time ?
 
What followed over the next few weeks was too upsetting to tell in full, but in brief, i had the car looked at and disaster, the head gasket has gone! And a couple of other things. I then had to contact the previous owner (private sale) and open a dispute with them. I had to get some consumer advise to see where I stood and I had to explain all of this to my partner. I felt so low, annoyed, cheated and confused.
I managed to get ‘some’ money back from the vendor towards the cost of repair.

I’m afraid I’m also going to side with the seller in this case you are buying a second hand private sale car Phil it’s up to you to inspect the car the best you can this may or may not include an independent inspection ...in my personal opinion you are very lucky to get some money back off what could have been a very genuine seller ..it’s always been as far as I’m aware tried and tested wrote on the receipt...no warranty is given or implied on a private sale it’s why a lot of people wish to buy from the garage where you get minimum three months cover ..Paul
 
Last edited:
Bit like the guy who sold me my A2 with fully working OSS. Well fully working for a day or so after which the services of Kleynie were required and I was £400 poorer.
What is the expression? Caveat Emptor?
As Steve says - anything can go wrong with any A2 anytime. And some of them can be ‘moneypits’.
Glad your story has a good ending but many of us have shared your pain.....,
 
I will be writing an update/review to this thread in the next couple of months.
It’s nearly 2 years ago I bought my A2 so I will be giving an update on what 2 years of ownership of one of these cars has been like (for me).
I think the review will be more appreciated by newer members or people thinking of buying their first one rather than long term owners.
It will definitely go into expenses, some dramas, performance and handling and my overall thoughts.
Until then.
Happy A2in’ ?
 
I will be writing an update/review to this thread in the next couple of months.
It’s nearly 2 years ago I bought my A2 so I will be giving an update on what 2 years of ownership of one of these cars has been like (for me).
I think the review will be more appreciated by newer members or people thinking of buying their first one rather than long term owners.
It will definitely go into expenses, some dramas, performance and handling and my overall thoughts.
Until then.
Happy A2in’ ?
We've had our FSI for two years this month too✌️
Mac.
 
Back
Top