What should I look out for?

Keepersball said:
Hi All,

My wife and I have just inherited a 2004 1.6 fsi SEwith 25k miles on the clock. It was grandparent owned from new and has been serviced and looked after locally. Is there anything I should be looking out for or getting done to it? Thanks all
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Before the serious replies come along, perhaps look out for a place in a motoring heritage museum. It sounds as though it is a real museum piece.
 
You lucky people, can we have some photos please.
If eml light is on strongly recommend Pro Boost option from @A2Steve.
Drive it, enjoy it and accept the advice and help on this brilliant forum.
 
Get it to a good VAG Indie for a full check, VCDS scan, and service (unless done in last 12 months, and even then I'd have it done anyway).
Use only 98/99 octane fuel, such as Shell V Power.
If the scan flags up manifolds related problems, consider the ProBoost, but ask the Indie what he thinks, based on the scan. A 25K FSI, in original , and working order, is worth a bit of cosseting. Your are very lucky people!
Mac.
 
Welcome aboard and congratulations, I believe that's now the lowest mileage FSI in the club :)
@Jeetesh you've passed that with yours now, haven't you?
+1 for the ProBoost map to stop the cooling system plastics from brittling, and the manifold flaps from sticking.
Make sure to run it ONLY on 98 or 99RON fuel.
And if not already there, it wouldn't hurt to get acquainted with detailing products and techniques, an FSI that original will be a showpiece.
 
Thanks guys I’ll get it booked in - I’m up in chester any recommendations for VAG indies? I’m also gonna have to sort out scuffed alloys - grandparents were a little kerb happy hahahaha I’m hoping I’m able to become a long time member although currently fighting with the Mrs as she wants to sell and get “something newer” grrr ?
 
Proghound said:
Welcome aboard and congratulations, I believe that's now the lowest mileage FSI in the club :)
@Jeetesh you've passed that with yours now, haven't you?
+1 for the ProBoost map to stop the cooling system plastics from brittling, and the manifold flaps from sticking.
Make sure to run it ONLY on 98 or 99RON fuel.
And if not already there, it wouldn't hurt to get acquainted with detailing products and techniques, an FSI that original will be a showpiece.
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Welcome, and inheriting a 1 owner car that’s been in the family with a known pedigree is brilliant. Can we get some pictures please.

@Proghound my FSI is on 28.3k so only 3.3k ahead and will be going in for its MOT next week. Expected to do about 4K per annum but COVID has curtailed it to about 2.7k in the last year.

I thought there were a few low mileage FSI’s with members on here not to mention the unicorn that will be unveiled in the next few months.

Who else has a low mileage FSI within the owners club? @Darren C your is a fantastic one, I’m sure there are a fair few more.
 
Keepersball said:
Thanks guys I’ll get it booked in - I’m up in chester any recommendations for VAG indies? I’m also gonna have to sort out scuffed alloys - grandparents were a little kerb happy hahahaha I’m hoping I’m able to become a long time member although currently fighting with the Mrs as she wants to sell and get “something newer” grrr ?
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You're only about an hour away from WOM Automotive in Stoke on Trent. They're recognised as the experts on the A2. It might be worthwhile to give them a call. I understand that they have courtesy cars available if necessary.
 
Keepersball said:
Thanks guys I’ll get it booked in - I’m up in chester any recommendations for VAG indies? I’m also gonna have to sort out scuffed alloys - grandparents were a little kerb happy hahahaha I’m hoping I’m able to become a long time member although currently fighting with the Mrs as she wants to sell and get “something newer” grrr ?
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The commonly accepted ‘place to go’ for all things A2 is WOM automotive. I’ve first hand experience of the work they do and can’t recommend them enough. They’re near Stoke so not a million miles away from you.
 
Hi @Keepersball,

Welcome, from a fellow FSI owner.

That's sorted then, trip to WOM, for a look over and service (might include the big expense of cambelt replacement).

To return to your original question. I can think of two major items beyond normal servicing and age related minor TLC. The Achilles heel of the FSI is the input manifold which as a product of design clogs up. The second item is wishbones, with your 2004 FSI you will have fabricated steel construction which are well known to rust to a point of catastrophic and potentially life threatening collapse. (Earlier A2's had forged bombproof wishbones but Audi superseded them with the fabricated type, thought to be a cost cutting exercise). WOM will inspect both items and report.

Andy
 
Andrew said:
Hi @Keepersball,

Welcome, from a fellow FSI owner.

That's sorted then, trip to WOM, for a look over and service (might include the big expense of cambelt replacement).

To return to your original question. I can think of two major items beyond normal servicing and age related minor TLC. The Achilles heel of the FSI is the input manifold which as a product of design clogs up. The second item is wishbones, with your 2004 FSI you will have fabricated steel construction which are well known to rust to a point of catastrophic and potentially life threatening collapse. (Earlier A2's had forged bombproof wishbones but Audi superseded them with the fabricated type, thought to be a cost cutting exercise). WOM will inspect both items and report.

Andy
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I don’t know if I dare ask but what kind of cost for the big ticket items would I be planning for? Thanks in advance ?
 
Keepersball said:
I don’t know if I dare ask but what kind of cost for the big ticket items would I be planning for? Thanks in advance ?
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I must admit that when I posted I had forgotten your FSI has only done 25k miles, so you can ignore the input manifold, it only becomes a problem from 60k miles but it will occur but most likely much later if your grandparent used 99 RON and not 95 RON, a big no no.

Cambelt £350 and same for forged wishbones, but I am guessing and they may not need doing.

Further on wishbones settle yourself down and read this

Check your front suspension arms people

Here are some photographs of the offside front lower suspension arm of my '03 reg 1.4Tdi A2 - after it collapsed while I was driving it, fortunately at low speed (as I was on a single-track country road, with passing places, and had just braked to let a car come from the other direction). Had...
www.a2oc.net

Andy
 
Keepersball said:
I don’t know if I dare ask but what kind of cost for the big ticket items would I be planning for? Thanks in advance ?
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As a fellow FSI owner and one with similar miles to yours, mine was a conscious purchase having read everything about these cars, I also owned a diesel A2 when they first came out.

Things to be aware of specific to FSI’s which may lead to big ticket items:
- The FSI’s biggest issue is carbon build up which in part is engine design, this is common to lots of cars with this tech of the era. This clogs the intake and associated components causing misfires and other problems. It is inevitable however it’s onset can be delayed by using 98/99 RON however the cure is either the FSI pro-boost solution or a terra clean. Realistically this has happened as early as 60k miles however there are lots where it’s not happened till 100k+ miles. Good pedigree and looked after low mileage FSI’s are the ones to have.
- Death pipe - this is the coolant pipe at the back of the engine. The FSI temperature runs at about 110 so this plastic pipe may go brittle over time. If it cracks and your coolant is deposited on the road stop immediately to avoid damage. Pro-boost reduces operating temperature which helps. No point changing it until it happens though. This could also happen on any car too.
- Misfiring - could happen due to a number of different reasons and on any car but there are lots of free fixes detailed on A2OC before you start spending on coil packs etc. Also a VCDS scan would help understand this.

These are the only things specific to an FSI that you need to be aware of. Others items are the same for any other A2 or indeed any other car such as timing belts, water pumps, suspension wishbones so don’t think for one minute they are specific to the FSI.

As I researched to death I’ve asked lots of questions and commented on most things FSI in the last 13m of ownership so have a read through my historic posts. For anything specific I’m happy for you to message me directly and I’ll help or point you in the right direction.

Don’t sell it as the FSI IMHO will become the most sought after of all A2’s and especially with low miles.
 
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Keepersball said:
Thanks guys I’ll get it booked in - I’m up in chester any recommendations for VAG indies? I’m also gonna have to sort out scuffed alloys - grandparents were a little kerb happy hahahaha I’m hoping I’m able to become a long time member although currently fighting with the Mrs as she wants to sell and get “something newer” grrr ?
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Another vote for WOM Automotive and for your wheels, I recall using the following outfit for repairs with good results.
Chester Auto Body Repair
Brymau 3 Estate
Block 3
Unit 3k
River Lane
Saltney
Chester
CH4 8RQ
 
Welcome aboard, sounds a lovely cherished example. Looking forward to the pictures in due course.

Plenty of excellent advice on this thread, from maintenance and items to monitor, through to the gentlemen at WOM as go to experts in the field.

l‘ll need to check what mileage I’m on now. Club socials like Skye have added to the numbers, worth every one of the miles covered for the memories that accompanied them mind. Fingers crossed the world is in a better place next year, socials can resume and we may get to see your prize at an event.
 
Jeetesh said:
- The FSI’s biggest issue is carbon build up which in part is engine design, this is common to lots of cars with this tech of the era. This clogs the intake and associated components causing misfires and other problems. It is inevitable however it’s onset can be delayed by using 98/99 RON however the cure is either the FSI pro-boost solution or a terra clean. Realistically this has happened as early as 60k miles however there are lots where it’s not happened till 100k+ miles. Good pedigree and looked after low mileage FSI’s are the ones to have.
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I'm a firm believer that the FSI responds well to regular full-throttle trips to the redline (provided that 99 octane petrol and high quality oil are used). Essentially, whether a car benefits from high load, high RPM driving seems to depend entirely on the car in question. Some cars can burn off carbon with these higher-temperature scenarios, but for others it actually seems to make it worse. At certain (low) temperatures, build up doesn't happen. If temperatures increase, this can shift the car into 'optimal' temperatures for causing carbon deposits. Further increases may then put temperatures in the range where they can now burn off carbon deposits. Temperatures around the valves in the manifolds are highly variable between different cars.

My feeling is that, since the FSI runs at a higher temperature than most other direct injection VAG engines (as far as I can tell anyway), the higher temperatures caused by high load high RPM driving may be able to push beyond the deposit range and into the burn-off range. Maybe this is just wishful thinking - I don't expect that anybody has actually tested this. However my FSI is now at just under 138,000 miles and shows no signs of misfires / being down on power (and has not had the Pro Boost map).
 
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