A7 3.0TDI Engine Rattle

[Uxair]

Hi All

I'm in dire need of help and having searched the forum for my specific problem without avail I am compelled to create a new thread hoping for any assistance and guidance while also duly apologising if I have missed any such threads or listed in the wrong section altogether.

I recently bought an 2015 A7 (facelift) from a company. It was part of their fleet and came with FASH. It is relatively high mileage with 138K and the last service was only 2 months ago at 136K. I made a stupid mistake and in my infinite wisdom bought the car without viewing as I was unable to travel so took their word for it as they seemed rather genuine and arranged for collection and delivery via a transport company. The car was delivered on the back of a truck last week and I immediately regretted the purchase when it was started and rolled down the truck onto my drive.

Upon contacting Poole Audi yesterday (where it has been maintained throughout) it transpired that the car was brought in for engine noise not too long ago and they sent me an email to confirm that their diagnosis was that it requires a new camshaft, timing chain and tensioners at an estimate of £4K - £6K based on a 'listening assessment'! As bad as the rattling is this too is preposterous... And I'm not entirely sure if it even is all that...

The actual noise itself is VERY loud constant rattling and grinding both on start up and while driving and varies in intensity. It sounds extremely scary. My VCDS shows no errors and there are no warnings or lights on dash.

Mark at IVS Huddersfield says he can't identify the fault nor can he do this job and has to be done by a dealership. Has advised I don't drive it at all.

I understand and appreciate this may well be a big job but any help pointing me in the right direction to a competitive garage / individual locally in Huddersfield will be highly appreciated. I've been to 3 garages so far and they can't seem to establish the source of this horrendous rattle. All were in agreement though that it is louder at back of the engine towards the passenger side...

I've booked it in with Peter Ellam Motor Engineers for Thursday for their diagnosis too and holding my breath again...

Has anyone else experienced this issue and could they please guide with the fix if there is one...

Thanking you all in anticipation.

Uzair

[jonathanfenton]

I think I’d be demanding my money back if they had had that diagnosed and sold it without disclaiming it to you!

[Uxair]

I did yesterday and they said they will get back to me today. Ideally I'd like to keep the car and get some sort of partial refund or pay towards the work. They said they can possibly agree on that but will let me know today. Fingers crossed.

[jonathanfenton]

I bought the same car recently and whilst mechanically it appears sound with FASH the exterior seems to have been poorly maintained. Ex lease cars are such a gamble. It had been detailed to hide the damage to the paintwork and now as I’ve been washing and waxing it’s true colours are staring to show where as the A3 I bought as a 3 year old ex lease is still looking amazing and comes up better than the A7 and the A3 is now 13 years old!

Can’t assist on the noise sorry but hopefully you get reimbursed for it.

[Crasher]

£6k is about the typical cost IF done before actual failure, it is an engine or gearbox out job, whichever way the tech prefers to do it, for me engine out. If they jump its new engine time as the damage is catastrophic, a genuine unit is £10.5K plus installation. The cause of this is the stupid long life oil chnage intervals, modern oil does not protect the chains. There are two TPI's pertaining to chain problems with the EA897 engine, 20433172/1 and 2041591/6, you should get your garage to follow these two to properly asses the job to use as evidence for a full or partial refund. Being as you live inside the M25 I am not sure investing in a non EU6 complaint diesel is a good idea.

[Uxair]

I just received a call back from them. They offered to give me a £1000 refund and requested my bank details for an immediate transfer of funds. I've said whilst I appreciated this I'd like to get an estimate from an independent specialist garage (not dealership) and then get back to them. They said if I do that then they can split the bill 50/50 up to a capped limit of £1200 as a gesture of goodwill.

Any help or recommendations for a credible specialist garage anyone please?

@jonathanfenton The car is immaculate cosmetically. Haven't been so lucky mechanically though. Sigh.

[Uxair]

Woah!!! :'(

[jonathanfenton]

Well Crasher is your man and if he says it’s around the £6k mark he won’t be far off. I’d be asking for a refund as it was mis-sold to you. Unless you find a local indi that would do it as a side project in between jobs which will lower your labour bill. My local guy is a generic mechanic and I’ve seen an A6 down to its component parts, engine in a million pieces and he said he was doing it in his spare time something to do with a plastic part in the EGR that had broken free and was inside a cylinder. Should have seen the state of the pistons.

Good luck!

[Uxair]

£6k is about the typical cost IF done before actual failure, it is an engine or gearbox out job, whichever way the tech prefers to do it, for me engine out. If they jump its new engine time as the damage is catastrophic, a genuine unit is £10.5K plus installation. The cause of this is the stupid long life oil chnage intervals, modern oil does not protect the chains. There are two TPI's pertaining to chain problems with the EA897 engine, 20433172/1 and 2041591/6, you should get your garage to follow these two to properly asses the job to use as evidence for a full or partial refund. Being as you live inside the M25 I am not sure investing in a non EU6 complaint diesel is a good idea.

Woah!!! :'(

[Crasher]

Message me the reg number