I forgot about this, found out what it was in the end, i stripped the front of the engine down and had a look.

Where the idler pulley on the tensioner has become smooth, almost polished as they do the belt was slipping over this when it was cold and brittle. The intermittent noise was the printed Audi lettering on the back of the belt rubbing over it. I roughed the pulley wheel back up again with some Emery paper so it would grip the belt and bingo no more noise as it's turning it not slipping over it from cold.

 

I also have the AWM 1.8T. Mechanics have told me the 120K recommendation is BS. Maybee 90K.

 

Maybe 60k, ask anyone and there grandma about the TB change and its RECOMENDED at
~60k

 

After many failures around 70k miles it is agreed in the Audi enthusiast circles that 60-70k miles is the appropriate time to change the timing belt and other parts.

 

For the AWM engine Audi recommends 120K. My mechanic told me they use a better tensioner in the 170HP engine. If you're chipped and rev alot maybee 60K.

 

Audi has never come to terms with the failure of the timing belt. Don't know how they still stick to 120k miles. Better safe than sorry.

 

Jest , I agree.

 

I got 91k on mine right now and she's goin in for a TB job on Wednesday...there goes a nice handful of change

(I'd try to do it myself..but its freakin -10 outside and I don't have a heated garage)

On the upside..she'll be all ready for a chip after wednesday

-T