Coolant leak, is this a fair deal?

[Tommytwotickets]

My 2012 B8 S4 w/124xxx Miles has been progressively leaking a more coolant for the last 2 months or so that I could notice. A local shop quoted me $3400 to replace a coolant hose that's at the bottom of the radiator, and the thermostat. I replaced the thermostat, water pump, and pcv about 18k miles ago. They also suggested motor mounts to be replaced at $1500. I know it's a fair amount of labor but man that sounds a smidge high to me. They're a good shop, one of the few around the Raleigh, NC area that are familiar with working on Audis. I'm going to get another quote but does this seem out of line to y'all or am I underestimating how much work it is to get down to that hose and to the thermostat? I'm I'm also aware the supercharger needs to come off.

[LowKeyLoki]

My 2012 B8 S4 w/124xxx Miles has been progressively leaking a more coolant for the last 2 months or so that I could notice. A local shop quoted me $3400 to replace a coolant hose that's at the bottom of the radiator, and the thermostat. I replaced the thermostat, water pump, and pcv about 18k miles ago. They also suggested motor mounts to be replaced at $1500. I know it's a fair amount of labor but man that sounds a smidge high to me. They're a good shop, one of the few around the Raleigh, NC area that are familiar with working on Audis. I'm going to get another quote but does this seem out of line to y'all or am I underestimating how much work it is to get down to that hose and to the thermostat? I'm I'm also aware the supercharger needs to come off.

That’s f-iing insane amount for rad hose, cross over pripe, and tstat which shouldn’t need replacing if you did it 18k ago. Run from this shop man, find more quotes this place is trying to hose you.

The motor mounts are a reasonable price but everything else hellll noooo.

[Tommytwotickets]

Ok I was thinking the same thing, good to know I'm not crazy here. I know it's a lot of labor but still

[jbain2]

I agree. I’m not sure why the supercharger needs to come off for a lower radiator hose?

I used to live in the triangle area. There are a number of independent Audi shops to consider.


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[Tommytwotickets]

Well it also looks like it's leaking from the thermostat housing, and that is of course under the supercharger. But that's odd for it to fail so quickly when I replaced it 18k miles ago

[Nillious]

I got a quote from a reputable shop near Pittsburgh recently. It was carbon clean pcv thermostat water pump coolant pipes both belts and all gaskets required for 2800. So yea that’s insane. That was all oem parts.

[SwankPeRFection]

Well it also looks like it's leaking from the thermostat housing, and that is of course under the supercharger. But that's odd for it to fail so quickly when I replaced it 18k miles ago

It might be leaking from the front pipe putting that the thermostat barb goes into. That can happen. If it’s this, that front pipe swap can actually be done without having to pull the charger. It’s been a while since I did mine like that when I snapped the front overflow tank barb off, but I’m pretty sure belts came off, the coolant hoses and all the bolts were accessible and pipe pulls straight forward and off the engine. It does have to be put in service position for access though. Hoses can be swapped without having to be in service position, but the top part of the lower one is a bit tight to get to if you’re hamfisted. Lol

[Tommytwotickets]

Oh that would be really nice. Just called another shop that quoted me $300 for the lower coolant hose, but that doesn't include the flange, and my drive belt is moderately frayed so might as well get that done at the same time, but still on track for much less than $3500. I'm surprised they were able to look at me and tell that with a straight face

[Nillious]

Check your crank pulley. Frayed belt can be a sign of it falling. Just make sure it is ok before you finish the job

[Tommytwotickets]

It is a bit wonky looking. That's also not a big job though, no?

[SwankPeRFection]

It is a bit wonky looking. That's also not a big job though, no?

Not at all, especially if you’ve already got it in service mode. It’s just a few bolts that keep the stock one in place after you take the belts off.

[Tommytwotickets]

Other question is why do they not make a metal thermostat for the 2012 S4? And why would mine fail 18k miles after replacing? Don't really want to spend $2k to fix the plastic thermostat with another plastic one only to have it break again in another couple k miles...

[LowKeyLoki]

Other question is why do they not make a metal thermostat for the 2012 S4? And why would mine fail 18k miles after replacing? Don't really want to spend $2k to fix the plastic thermostat with another plastic one only to have it break again in another couple k miles...

There is a company that makes a t stat with an aluminum housing but the actual t stat is still plastic with a metal spring.

[SwankPeRFection]

Other question is why do they not make a metal thermostat for the 2012 S4? And why would mine fail 18k miles after replacing? Don't really want to spend $2k to fix the plastic thermostat with another plastic one only to have it break again in another couple k miles...

There is a chance the thermostat isn’t the cause of the leak, but the front coolant pipe they engaged on it could be. Without seeing it, it’s hard to tell. This is generally what you kind of have to deal with when manufacturers design shit out of plastic and more and more of it is happening every day due to bs bureaucracy shit.

Anyway, a bit of advice… don’t own a German car unless it’s under warranty or extended warranty or you know how to work on them yourself if you don’t have money to spend.