I don't mind ticking, the TT had squeaky suspension, but my girl thinks the A3 will blow up if its not fixed!!! thanks for the help guys!!!

 

It sounds like a diesel do to the high compression and direct injection Mine does it but smooths out. I have the radio normaly around 5-9 and dont here it but I could be immuned after 3 yrs

 

as other posters have said thats FSI for you its normal.

 

Mine started making that tick/tapping noise at about 38,000 miles or so.
It was not as loud at first, but it got louder at about 40.000 miles.
You can only hear it when I first start my car, and when it's idling for a bit.
As I accelerate and drive off, the noise slowly disappears and is gone.

Since its been doing it for a while now, I decided to have it checked out when I brought my car in for an oil change at about 43,000 miles.

Since I am against bringing my A3 to any Audi dealer for any kind of service, my (German Vehicle Specialist) mechanic who does my oil changes and services my A3, had a look into it. He hooked it up to the diagnostic machine and thought it was related to the 40K service, but he didn't see or find any issues at all. He charged me for the oil change and said the car is absolutely in good shape and fine.

The noise has been a bit more quiet lately, but is still heard whenever I start my car as it begins to idle.

 

^ its the FSI fuel system, its normal frankly i ahve gotten used to it

 

I was initially concerned also. It is most noticable when I first start it, almost sounds like a diesel. However, that is partially due to the fact that I am in the garage and have the door open. If I rev it it seems to diminish and it is not noticable on the road. It is defintely not lifters.

Direct injection engines are prone to combustion noise. Here is a quote from an article on a new DI engine, "Noise was a particular challenge for direct injected engines because of the high pressure in the fuel-injection system, and engineers worked hard to address that problem...."

 

well I am experiencing the same problem and I took it in and they told me the same thing its normal for the 2.0t and it ticks . runs high fuel pressure from what they said but I still feel like it something else ?