Daughter drives a 2003 TT coupe, about 130k miles

Had an overheat problem a few days back (4th major issue in 3 years). Car overheated in stopped traffic. Passerby helped her out a bit, told her the fan wasn't running. Towed it to shop, after $120 in diagnostics, the verdict is:

- Need new left radiator fan (duh - but reading other threads i guess that's not so obvious with these)
- Need to flush & refill coolant (apparently there's a special audi coolant to be used or the hoses & seals wear out?)

THey quoted me over $1250 for these 2 services - including $580 for the fan (just part cost, labor is more)

I'd order the part online at half the price & do the job myself - if i was there. But i'm in a different state (12 hour drive away), so i'd like to get my son to do the labor. But he's worried it'll be too hard or have surprises.

SO, two questions:

- Is there a step-by-step reference for replacing the left cooling fan? my one online manual doesn't admit it can be done at all, but does show remove/replace the radiator along with fans. Is that the only way it can be done?

- How important is it to do the flush & refill? They cited problems with hoses & seals if i don't ge the right stuff in there; is it true, or scare tactics to sell coolant at $18/quart?

 

PS - we are trading this car soon after it's back on the road; so long term reliability is not a factor.

 

Ya go to a stealership youll get screwed, g12 coolant is to help prevent corrosion, long story short, yes put g12, not sure why a radiator fan would have anything to do with a coolant flush so not sure why that would be necessary, and if you are flushing the coolant I would recommend replacing the thermostat, cheap and if the fan isnt the issue, and it is the thermostat, youll have to drain it again anyways... you already bought the fan buuut also check that it doesnt work by running your ac, should run the fans when you run your ac, also check the fuses on top of the battery, theres a little black box on top of the battery that I believe has fuses for the fans in it, if the fuses are good and the fans run with ac on then the fan control module may be your issue, if fuses are good and no fan with ac, should be the fan, replacment should be pretty straight forward, 4 screws, 1 connector, will prob have to remove the plastic engine guard under the car so... more screws... likely to be torx... may pull out from the bottom, so make sure you can jack it up high enough lol