Welcome to Audi A2 World

Zee007

New Member
Hi Everyone especially to all of You Audi A2 Lovers and Owners. I finally dont feel left out now and feel special being part of you all.
I have been reading this website for over a year and have been really wanting to own the A2 baby - Now I have finally bought one the 1.4 TDi.. jus so much in love with it. Friends think iv made a big miatake buying the A2 due to costly repairs?
Really surprises me how people out there dont appreciate or love this model, how can you not!
Really want to thank you all for being informative and posting your questions and answers. Really happy to be part of the A2 Family!
 
welcome mate! give us a bit more info about your car - a photo says a thousand words! I'm sure you'll get plenty of assistance with any issues that you encounter or questions that you have. Very best wishes, Robin
 
welcome mate! give us a bit more info about your car - a photo says a thousand words! I'm sure you'll get plenty of assistance with any issues that you encounter or questions that you have. Very best wishes,

welcome mate! give us a bit more info about your car - a photo says a thousand words! I'm sure you'll get plenty of assistance with any issues that you encounter or questions that you have. Very best wishes, Robin
Cheers mate :) its a 1.4 tdi (75bhp) 54 plate, with 133k on odometer. I was told by the seller that the Shock Absorber will need replacing as its common on A2.
Obviously being new to owning an A2 tdi what other things could you guys perhaps advice on that could be looked into making sure we getting the most life out of these beautiful A2. Thanks.
 
Engine-wise the TDI75 is well-known for reliability and longevity - you made a good choice there :) It's not without a couple of points of care though.

It's a cambelt engine, so the belt, tensioners and waterpump need changing every 5 years or 60000 miles. If you've no evidence that they've been done in that timeframe, get them done. While you're in there, the thermostat and temperature sender are also common issues, replace these only with genuine OEM parts since pattern ones are often poor quality.

Perhaps surprisingly, still keep an ear out for chain rattle and uneven idling/running. There's a balancer shaft due to it only being 3 cylinders and that's chain-driven, which also drives the oil-pump I believe. The chain and its tensioners and sprockets are known to wear and need replacement anything from 100k onwards, although many pass 200k without any symptoms, but chain failure can lock the engine.

Also keep an eye out for leaks from the nearside of the head, especially from the tandem pump which handles both the fuel and the servo vacuum. These can fail on higher mileage examples but more importantly before then, if you see evidence of a leak of diesel from underneath, it'll soften any of the rubber pipework at that end of the engine that it comes into contact with, which will then be inclined to bulge or split.

Other than that, monitor the usual brakes, suspension and exhaust. In your case you probably still have the original pressed steel lower suspension arms, these are known to rust out from the inside and fail - not something you want to happen at any speed. If they look at all bad it would be worth you knowing that they've been replaced with new, either the same style again, or the earlier-version cast ones which won't rust (but on which you can't change the balljoints if they go :rolleyes: ).
 
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Cheers mate :) its a 1.4 tdi (75bhp) 54 plate, with 133k on odometer. I was told by the seller that the Shock Absorber will need replacing as its common on A2.
Obviously being new to owning an A2 tdi what other things could you guys perhaps advice on that could be looked into making sure we getting the most life out of these beautiful A2. Thanks.
Concur with everything stated by @Proghound above. I did much the same as you - bought my first Tdi75 around 120k, gradually realised various bits and pieces (mostly brakes and suspension) needed some attention - mostly replacement bushings / drop link parts / bump stops and pads flanking springs / strut bearings and shocks, so those were all freshened up. Did the same on both subsequent 2 A2s that joined the family as it became obvious both from here and personal experience that these are the relatively cheap and easy bits and pieces that enhance the overall finesse of the car despite being the best part of 20 years old. Bits on the interior (plastics and seats) that wear aesthetically can be replaced (@A2Steve, @Clackers, @Ami among others for parts from end of life cars) or refurbished ( @jp.oog refinishes switches and related parts). Windscreen wipers arms and door check straps also wear, usually on the driver door first - which can be obtained from @depronman fully refurbished. If in any doubt about anything - ask - someone will be along soon with a solution or an idea.

Subsequently have gradually started improving things on the Tdis - performance maps to have a bit more spark - 6-speed PTW box and bigger brakes from an A1 on the BHC car, refurbished injectors and turbo on the AMF car with new standard brakes, both of which have been big steps forward for their respective jobs of long distance motorway journeys on the one hand, and everyday running and commuting as well as winter wheels (using a custom low response map I knocked up to make driving on tricky conditions a bit more predictable). The 1.4i has been in almost perpetual incremental improvements to get it running properly over the past 3 years following a fair amount of neglect before our custody - but it does its job well enough.

To re-cycle a phrase that originated with 80s marketing for the 2CV - the A2 is not just a car, but a way of life.
 
Cheers Guys Really appreciate your help and support. I bought this due to doing alot of mileage for work. Although i was very tempted to go for a 1.4 petrol. Youv made me really happy knowing that i made the right choice. Obviously being an owner of an A2 its good to know things to look out for. Its worse when you don't know much about the car and some of the people around you who do not like A2 want to bring you down with disappointment like youv done the worst thing ever buying an A2. Its a bumpy ride on streets but on main roads spot on drive. Looking to get the shock absorber done on passenger side. Iv booked it in for service this week so will get that done. I have alot of paperwork including the wallet with the car service, my only concern was that i couldn't find any invoice on changed timing belt and water pump. The garage i bought the car from had taken this in Part ex so was as i bought. If its done 133k im sure it would have been changed?

I really love the fact that the A2 does not rust due to its special engineering of the aluminium frame, and keeps the shine of its bodywork paint. When you give it a car wash jeez its so beautiful looks brand new!

I love my Baby A2 and want to keep it forever jus love it!.. Want to do the best for it i can and im sure you all do my A2 family.
 
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Cheers Guys Really appreciate your help and support. I bought this due to doing alot of mileage for work. Although i was very tempted to go for a 1.4 petrol. Youv made me really happy knowing that i made the right choice. Obviously being an owner of an A2 its good to know things to look out for. Its worse when you don't know much about the car and some of the people around you who do not like A2 want to bring you down with disappointment like youv done the worst thing ever buying an A2. Its a bumpy ride on streets but on main roads spot on drive. Looking to get the shock absorber done on passenger side. Iv booked it in for service this week so will get that done. I have alot of paperwork including the wallet with the car service, my only concern was that i couldn't find any invoice on changed timing belt and water pump. The garage i bought the car from had taken this in Part ex so was as i bought. If its done 133k im sure it would have been changed?

I really love the fact that the A2 does not rust due to its special engineering of the aluminium frame, and keeps the shine of its bodywork paint. When you give it a car wash jeez its so beautiful looks brand new!

I love my Baby A2 and want to keep it forever jus love it!.. Want to do the best for it i can and im sure you all do my A2 family.
Unless completely out of reach it would be a good idea to replace both front shocks rather than one only as you have no idea of the condition of the matching one - with current 20% reductions or similar deals on Ebay (for instance- Parts In Motion store) well worth searching "front shock absorber Audi A2" to see what is available, and if those are being replaced it would be a good idea to do the strut bearings (ie https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23380603...del:A2&hash=item366fed007c:g:4LsAAOSw0c1g5MUg ) ARB bushes (Febi 37657 for the later 16mm version set probably suitable for a later car) and drop links (ie Febi 19518 - link down to under £10 each on Ebay in the same job). https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351223207970?hash=item51c688d822:g:OSQAAOSwoFBhZu1E ).

Sometimes when belt jobs are done a sticker (supplied with the kit) with the date of the change written on it is put onto the belt cover or somewhere nearby so it is worth looking around here, but as said above - if in any doubt at all, get it replaced. A belt job is a lot cheaper than a head rebuild.
 
Make sure that whoever works on the shocks knows where to jack it up - NOT under the plastic sills or the floors! One place is under the rear bushes of the lower suspension arms. Apart from that, look for the holes (which may still have large rubber grommets in them) where the posts of a 4-point lift can be inserted, this area has the strength to support the car's weight.
 
Cheers Guys Thank You So much will defo take on board what you have all advised on. This really has been massive help from you, feel more confident now cant thank you guys enough. Respect to my Audi A2 Family :)
 
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