How big a bill?

[Danthus]

The other week in the snow and ice I managed it hit a curb with the front left in the A4.

No warning lights on the dashboard, parked up and checked the wheel and apart from a scuff on the alloy no other obvious damage, everything looked in line, no damage to the tyre and the tyre and it has been properly inflated and stayed that way. Drove off everything felt fine, no vibrations and no noises.

I found a straight road, centred the wheel, took my hands of and the car travelled straight and true.

Since then the car has hardly been used, twice if that I think.

I went out this morning and above 30 I heard a noise, similar to the noise you hear when someone drives on a flat tyre. The faster I went the worse the noise was, there was no vibration though and if I took my hands of the car travelled true and straight.

So how long is a piece of string, tracking, balance or a big bill for some serious suspension?

 

[Scania]

Sounds like (at a guess) the impact had made one of the wheel bearings give up the ghost, perhaps?

 

[EvilDreams]

It might be the plastic wheel arch lining has been cracked/come loose. That's what happened to my brother (besides some suspension damage) when he kerbed his car in last year's snow but that was responsible for the same kind of noise.

 

[Danthus]

I will get it booked in.

The impact was particular fast, the doors hadn't automatic locked so of the top of my head that makes it less than 8mph.

 

[Scania]

I will get it booked in.

The impact was particular fast, the doors hadn't automatic locked so of the top of my head that makes it less than 8mph.

So your saying it was a fairly high impact speed?

I agree with you getting it booked in, and do it as a matter of urgency.

 

[Danthus]

Excuse my bad typing, it wasn't a particularly fast impact, less than 8mph as the doors had not locked automatically.

 

[Danthus]

Right the car is with Audi, they have just phoned.

They want circa £1250 for a new wheel, alignment, tyre and wheel bearing and labour.

Is that about right price wise or should I be looking at some independents?

 

[Firestar_3x]

What Age A4 is it?

And in a nutshell no thats far too expensive.

 

[DM]

Break it down wheel off ebay 100 quid.
Tyre 100 quid.
Alignment 100 quid
Wheel bearing and labour guess 100 quid.

 

[Firestar_3x]

All depends how old the A4 is, however i'm shocked the wheel bearing has gone and nothing else is bent.

 

[Danthus]

It is a 59 plate.

The wheel is bent/buckled as they describe it.

 

[bledd]

Ask another garage

Sounds expensive

 

[Firestar_3x]

It is a 59 plate.

The wheel is bent/buckled as they describe it.

Personally i'd buy a new wheel (not from the dealer unless you have to), get a tyre online from one of the many tyres sites, get this fitted to the car.

Then take it to an independant for an alignment, when he's checking asking him to feel for play in the wheel bearing.

£100 - £150 for a wheel
£80 - £130 for a tyre
£35 - £50 for an alignment

 

[Danthus]

Where can I source an OEM wheel from, will it have to be through the dealer?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Odds are ebay but you want an OEM wheel not a copy.

 

[Participant]

Get a second opinion. Most places do geometry checks for free and my local tyre place charges £35 for four wheel laser alignment.

 

[Scania]

Sounds best part of £1k over priced!

I'm glad my diagnosis was accurate (for a wild guess!)

I'd hope to pay no more than £300 for that repair, but not from a main dealer.

 

[Danthus]

Where can I source a wheel form though, I am struggling for a part number.

The wheel is an 18" 5 Spoke.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Phone Audi, speak to parts, say you need a new wheel, give them your reg number, ask what style it is, ask for a price, say you need to ring around, hang up.

Complex stuff indeed!

 

[Scania]

'Phone around a few local breakers yards, or have a look in Autotrader for a specialist Audi breaker.
As for the wheel,Firestar_3x sums it up.