Senior Member
yeah, you definitel need to take it a step at a time....
as far as plugs...go to your local auto parts store....your plugs will cost less than 2$ a piece for the same part # as you listed above.....
you can also pick up your air filter and cabin filer while you are at the store....the cabin filter should run about $25 and your air filter should run ~$15....the cabin filter install will be very easy for you...you remove one little bolt and a clip...toss your old one and toss in your new one...a bolt and a clip later and you are done...it takes me less than 3 minutes and it couldn't possibly take a first timer more than 10.....and then the air filter is a similar idea....its basically just a few clips that keep the box shut, you just pop em, remove the old filter and toss in the new...
if you need washer fluid pick that up as well....
one thing i will admit is that i pick up a 4qt jug of full sy 5w-30 at wall-mart ($20) and a oil filter ($8) from the local auto parts store...and then i proceed to the local oil change place (mine is not a chain, but for oil it doesn't make a whole lot of a difference as long as you watch them)....
if you bring your own oil and filter to an oil change place...they usually have a set price for labor....at my place it is $15....and then i stand there and watch them do the job....I know it sounds lazy...It's just whenever i do it in my garage i get lazy about the oil dumping process...so, right now I have 2 tubs of old oil in my garage that need to be dropped off at the local drop.....
besides that....if/when you go to the local oil change place, you could definitely have them toss your new air filter in at the same time....
well, hope some of that helps...once again audidiy.com will help you out big time!
and audiforums is also here to help, but if you have any technical questions, pictures always help!
as far as plugs...go to your local auto parts store....your plugs will cost less than 2$ a piece for the same part # as you listed above.....
you can also pick up your air filter and cabin filer while you are at the store....the cabin filter should run about $25 and your air filter should run ~$15....the cabin filter install will be very easy for you...you remove one little bolt and a clip...toss your old one and toss in your new one...a bolt and a clip later and you are done...it takes me less than 3 minutes and it couldn't possibly take a first timer more than 10.....and then the air filter is a similar idea....its basically just a few clips that keep the box shut, you just pop em, remove the old filter and toss in the new...
if you need washer fluid pick that up as well....
one thing i will admit is that i pick up a 4qt jug of full sy 5w-30 at wall-mart ($20) and a oil filter ($8) from the local auto parts store...and then i proceed to the local oil change place (mine is not a chain, but for oil it doesn't make a whole lot of a difference as long as you watch them)....
if you bring your own oil and filter to an oil change place...they usually have a set price for labor....at my place it is $15....and then i stand there and watch them do the job....I know it sounds lazy...It's just whenever i do it in my garage i get lazy about the oil dumping process...so, right now I have 2 tubs of old oil in my garage that need to be dropped off at the local drop.....
besides that....if/when you go to the local oil change place, you could definitely have them toss your new air filter in at the same time....
well, hope some of that helps...once again audidiy.com will help you out big time!
and audiforums is also here to help, but if you have any technical questions, pictures always help!
1st Gear
the thing is, do you plan on keeping your car? or do you foresee selling it? the reason i ask is, when you try to sell your car, people run Carfax reports. And when a prospective buyer sees that most maintenance on your car has either been performed by non-european/chain shops or by yourself (unless youre a certified Audi mechanic), chances are, this will turn them off from buying your car and look elsewhere.
dont get me wrong, dealership service costs $$$ definitely. but you also have to look long term and see if servicing your car yourself would be soomething you would be comfortable with when potential buyers come knocking on your door.
dont get me wrong, dealership service costs $$$ definitely. but you also have to look long term and see if servicing your car yourself would be soomething you would be comfortable with when potential buyers come knocking on your door.
5th Gear
naw varsh is gonna keep the car. don't be afraid to do the oil change yourself. there's really nothing that can go wrong besides not enough or too much oil being poured in. just take your time with it and don't worry if your hands get dirty. when you look under the car, the oil filter will be on the driver's side right in the front and the drain bolt is like 7" behind it.
there comes my ol friend to my rescue.. thanks all for the trouble... i ll first change the plugs this week...and let ya know how it went...gotta go and bug a friend for the tools...
Senior Member
I would just recommend buying the parts yourself and installing them...you'll save a pretty penny by replacing the parts yourself instead of taking it to a shop or stealership : )
3rd Gear
Spark plugs, brake fluid flush, cabin/oil filters,oil change - All for $420
0.o holy ripoff batman. an oil change with filter is $35 if you use mobil1. cabin filter can be changed if you feel like it, its $10 and you can do it as long as you have 10 fingers. sometimes you dont even need that many. spark plugs are $20-30. the only thing you might not be able to do yourself is a brake flush. that might be $100 bucks and you can have midas do this, just tell them to put the right fluid in there. a break bleed is a break bleed. not much they can F up.
there i just turned that $420 into $170 for ya.
if your timing belt has not been changed in the last 70k miles, or ever, you need to do that now. its not a job you can do yourself if you need help replacing a valve cover gasket.
fixing a timing belt BEFORE it breaks is about $300 for the parts and anywhere between $400-800 for labor.
fixing a timing belt AFTER it breaks is anywhere from $2000 to $3500 depending on the damage. its worth it to do it now, it only has to be done every 60-80k miles.
and always replace the accessory belts and water pump while your in there doing the timing belt.
0.o holy ripoff batman. an oil change with filter is $35 if you use mobil1. cabin filter can be changed if you feel like it, its $10 and you can do it as long as you have 10 fingers. sometimes you dont even need that many. spark plugs are $20-30. the only thing you might not be able to do yourself is a brake flush. that might be $100 bucks and you can have midas do this, just tell them to put the right fluid in there. a break bleed is a break bleed. not much they can F up.
there i just turned that $420 into $170 for ya.
if your timing belt has not been changed in the last 70k miles, or ever, you need to do that now. its not a job you can do yourself if you need help replacing a valve cover gasket.
fixing a timing belt BEFORE it breaks is about $300 for the parts and anywhere between $400-800 for labor.
fixing a timing belt AFTER it breaks is anywhere from $2000 to $3500 depending on the damage. its worth it to do it now, it only has to be done every 60-80k miles.
and always replace the accessory belts and water pump while your in there doing the timing belt.
thanks so much all of you... am gonna do the plugs, cabin/air filter changes on wednesday and oil on thursday (Though i might not do this myself). The timing belt, water pump have been done, so no need to mess with that. Maybe the brake fluids on Friday. And i think i have a hard steering, it sure aint smooth. So will a normal power steering fluid flush help?
Site Moderator
Stay away from the drive-through oil shops like Jiffy Lube... I personally know two people that had their transmission oil drained by mistake at these types of places.
Changing oil is the easiest thing on the list! Drain, replace filter, add oil... And removing the filter is made easier by removing two screws that hold the coolant reservoir in place. Move the reservoir a little bit down and you can get your hands in there from the topside of the car. No oil dripping in your face as you try to get the dang filter out.
In regards to your steering - does it make a noise when you turn the steering wheel? Do you know what type of fluid is currently in the system? Audi's need mineral based fluid, not petroleum based (which is typical of most cars). Pentosin CHF 11S is what you want - not always easy to find locally but widely available online. Audi steering is fairly stiff compared to many cars anyways - so you likely don't need a flush - but make sure it is not low.
Changing oil is the easiest thing on the list! Drain, replace filter, add oil... And removing the filter is made easier by removing two screws that hold the coolant reservoir in place. Move the reservoir a little bit down and you can get your hands in there from the topside of the car. No oil dripping in your face as you try to get the dang filter out.
In regards to your steering - does it make a noise when you turn the steering wheel? Do you know what type of fluid is currently in the system? Audi's need mineral based fluid, not petroleum based (which is typical of most cars). Pentosin CHF 11S is what you want - not always easy to find locally but widely available online. Audi steering is fairly stiff compared to many cars anyways - so you likely don't need a flush - but make sure it is not low.