• Welcome to ozAudi.com If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the Forums Rules by clicking the hyperlink.

    Note that you are required to register before you can post.

    If you experience a problem logging in, drop me an email to admin@ozAudi.com and I'll sort it out for you.

    To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

RS3 transfer box problem

X

Xristo

Member
Hi all, I've had drone/vibration coming from the rear when sightly accelerating at cruising speeds. It's subtle but annoying. Nearly 2 days at Audi trying to diagnose the problem, turns out the transfer case is causing it as it's not sending power to the rear diff properly.

Researching further, seems to be a common failure on RS3. A brand new replacement is $11k fitted by Audi. Anyone had their transfer box repaired?
 
Just today had same diagnosed on my S3. MY14, only 66000km and never tracked or launched, only does about 5000km/yr now that I've retired. Mechanic says it s only second one they've ever seen go .

Not happy. As all the used ones will be substantially higher km's than my car (so could fail in a couple of years) and a new one from Audi is about $7K, I'm thinking of going with a rebuild kit, should be under $2000 in total incl labour.
Starting to fall out of love with Audi.
 
White S3 said:
Just today had same diagnosed on my S3. MY14, only 66000km and never tracked or launched, only does about 5000km/yr now that I've retired. Mechanic says it s only second one they've ever seen go .

Not happy. As all the used ones will be substantially higher km's than my car (so could fail in a couple of years) and a new one from Audi is about $7K, I'm thinking of going with a rebuild kit, should be under $2000 in total incl labour.
Starting to fall out of love with Audi.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear or your issue.
I think the type / timing of issues such as the one you face can be common to many Euro, higher spec/tech cars when they are out of warranty, probably one of the reasons why we traded our 6 year old RS3 (only 45Ks) on a new RSQ3 last year!
As an example, during the time of our ownership of an AMG C63 several years ago, we heard some frightening stories of out of warranty issues with that car,..head studs etc.
I suppose if you know that the rest of your car is in good shape, you like the car, and you do locate a reputable repairer/shop, even if it turns out to be an Audi Dealership, if you were keeping the car for an extended period, the cost of the repair may not be so much of a "burden" / issue, becoming "diluted" over time.
I think that if you do get the issue fixed, it's important to get it "fixed" properly, so that you have no further issues with that part of the car in the future.
But I'm definitely NOT belittling your issue, & wish you well in finding a satisfactory fix.
Pickles.
 
Last edited:
As a further follow up to my original post, in case someone in the future reads this thread. I had the transfer box repaired with new bearings, as well as new bearings fitted to the rear diff (cost $4k). It was ok for a month or so, but the problem has come back. Repair does not seem to be the solution
 
Xristo said:
As a further follow up to my original post, in case someone in the future reads this thread. I had the transfer box repaired with new bearings, as well as new bearings fitted to the rear diff (cost $4k). It was ok for a month or so, but the problem has come back. Repair does not seem to be the solution
Click to expand...
Very sorry to hear that, I suppose the obvious question is, what are your thoughts now. I note that you thought that the problem went away for a while, but has now come back, so would that give your mechanic some idea of what the real problem is, as what He did, did seem to fix the issue for a while?
I think the problems of cars out of warranty is not confined to Audi, it seems to me that "repairing" broken parts doesn't happen so much these days, as "replacement" with an equivalent new part is the usual path, but prompt availability of spare parts, if you can get them, can be an issue too.
 
Last edited:
Yes, the transfer case in my S3 was replaced with another from a wrecked TT, unfortunatle higher km than my car but in very good condition my mechanic tells me. My failed case was not woth takinga risk on as the beraings seemed shot so I didnt want to go witha rebuild kit. So far it is running as it should, fingers crossed.
 
I had the same issue a couple of years ago. Similar quote from Audi. My independent mechanic and I tried to source a used bevel box from a wrecker, but, even though we found wreckers with RS3s and TTRSs in their yards, none of them had the required part. Ended up buying a new one, which is two revisions newer than the original, so, hopefully, improved and more reliable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top