s4dreamer Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Dropped my car off for service this morning, and when I got home I had a call from Audi saying that it was overdue for brake fluid replacement at £72 + VAT!!!! Apparently it needs new brake fluid every 2 years, so I asked why it isn't included in the AVS then. The answer is that not all cars have the same requirement for brake-fluid change, so they have it as a separate item. I appreciate that the brake fluid can get moisture in it, but I haven't noticed the brakes getting spongy at all, so I told 'em to get lost. I'll certainly have it done if it becomes noticeable, but I'm not paying £85 for a brake fluid change the car doesn't need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Apparently it needs new brake fluid every 2 years, so I asked why it isn't included in the AVS then. The answer is that not all cars have the same requirement for brake-fluid change, so they have it as a separate item. [/ QUOTE ] I'm off to Executive Audi at St Albans later on a 'secret mission', I will ask them the same question and see what answer I get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Had exactly the same call when my A3 went in for it's circa 30,000 mile service at the end of last year. Car overdue blah blah... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexLoach Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 Shock horror a dealer ripping you off! Why can't Audi sort it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Why can't Audi sort it out [/ QUOTE ] My recent dealing with Audi UK would suggest that they are not in the slightest bit interested in sorting it out, Customer Service rivals that of AOL, NTL and TIME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrb55 Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Apparently it needs new brake fluid every 2 years, [/ QUOTE ] Hi guys, My A3 1.8T is also due to have this done. I also have not noticed anything wrong with the brakes (car has done 12700 miles). Can anyone tell me if this is really necessary??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted March 10, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 I don't beleive that it's necessary unless you've noticed your brakes sfotening recently. My wife's car Golf went in for AVS around 9 months ago, and they too tried to get us to have the brake fluid replaced. Since then, there has been no noticeable change in braking, so I assume it's still okay. I'll have it done either as soon as I notice a change in braking effect or at the next service - whichever is sooner. The reason they want to change the fluid is that moisture can be absorbed into it over a prolonged period, which obviously compresses better than brake fluid and makes the brakes feel softer (or "spongy"). Obviously, your brakes are an important safety element in your car and you should respect them appropriately in servicing, but I think VAG are a little over enthusiastic in telling you to have it replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 I'm not on AVS so I get the interim service and then the najor one every other year. I went in recently for the biggy and I got a call saying "the car's two years old, do you want the fluid changed?". I said yes as the fluid does degrade. It cost me £74+VAT I have no idea why it's not included in a 24 month service! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted March 10, 2003 Report Share Posted March 10, 2003 s4dreamer, did you see my car parked up there??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 [ QUOTE ] The reason they want to change the fluid is that moisture can be absorbed into it over a prolonged period, which obviously compresses better than brake fluid and makes the brakes feel softer (or "spongy"). [/ QUOTE ] I always thought that it was the moisture boiling that causes the spongy brakes. Water is just as incompressible as brake fluid, it's just that brake fluid doesn't expand into very compressible steam at high temperatures. We do pressure testing of new pipework out here (offshore) using water at pressures of up to 800 bar (approx 12,000 psi). If the pipework is absolutely full of water, it only takes a few strokes of the pump to get the line up to this pressure. However, if there is any air in the line, it can take hours of pumping to get the line fully pressurised. Donald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted March 11, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 [ QUOTE ] s4dreamer, did you see my car parked up there??? [/ QUOTE ] Nope no S-cars at all - I always make a point of checking out what's in the car park in case there's anything interesting in there - very disappointing 'cos even the RS6 wasn't in. Hope they haven't sold it as I still haven't got around to a test drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted March 11, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] The reason they want to change the fluid is that moisture can be absorbed into it over a prolonged period, which obviously compresses better than brake fluid and makes the brakes feel softer (or "spongy"). [/ QUOTE ] I always thought that it was the moisture boiling that causes the spongy brakes. Water is just as incompressible as brake fluid, it's just that brake fluid doesn't expand into very compressible steam at high temperatures. We do pressure testing of new pipework out here (offshore) using water at pressures of up to 800 bar (approx 12,000 psi). If the pipework is absolutely full of water, it only takes a few strokes of the pump to get the line up to this pressure. However, if there is any air in the line, it can take hours of pumping to get the line fully pressurised. Donald [/ QUOTE ] Damn, caught out in the bullsh*t If your reasoning is correct Donald (and I have no reason to doubt it), that kind of implies that we wouldn't notice sponginess until the brakes got hot enough to cause the moisture in the fluid to boil. This ain't likely to happen under normal town driving conditions is it ? Thus I might not know that there was moisture in the pipes until I did some spirited driving (say at the Buxton meet) ? Hmmm.... anyone else got any thoughts on this ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Hmmm.... anyone else got any thoughts on this ? [/ QUOTE ] I guess the other consideration may be that excess moisture in the fluid could hasten corrosion of the caliper and cylinder components. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted March 11, 2003 Report Share Posted March 11, 2003 Ermmmmm maybe you use a different dealer then?? They had some S cars, 52 Audi S3 (Silver) X Audi S3 (Black) Y Audi S6 Avant (Black) 51 Audi S8 (Silver) Ermmm maybe somemore including mine! No RS6 thou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4dreamer Posted March 12, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2003 I was only looking in the area where people park for service - didn't check out the 2nd hand stuff Riz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted March 13, 2003 Report Share Posted March 13, 2003 Mine was there, maybe they had it inside or on a test run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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