So, I've been fighting an ongoing problem with P0089. To make a long story short, I requested that the dealership pull my HPFP to check the cam follower. They agreed to do it for $100 labor on top of the $150 diagnostic fee I was paying them to tell me what the P0089 was for. On the positive side, I have no damage to the follower, cam lobe, or HPFP. On the downside, I now was into the dealership for $250 for nothing other than checking the car out.

So, since I needed a timing belt job anyway, I spoke with the service manager and he agreed to do the job for $1200 OTD (fairly consistent with their regular price and really close to what the indie shop I go to charges for the job), but waive all the diagnostic charges and labor for pulling the HPFP. I felt that was a good enough deal and needed the timing belt changed, so I gave them the go-ahead.

Wow. I don't know if they have to do a valve adjustment after the timing belt or what, but that car is now smooth as butter. Even at idle. It is an early B7 (late 2005, but model year 2006) and it has always been a bit rough--especially when cold. After the timing belt service, though, it's like a brand new car. It's pretty much as smooth as the 2015 A3 loaner they gave me for 2 days while they had my car.