Audi TT Mk1 Buyers Guide Including Common Faults And Issues

[@Hatchet25]

Absolutely brilliant video! I've had my 225 for nearly 14 years now. Mine has 190k+ miles and everything in this video is spot on!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks James appreciate the comment. 190k miles of pleasure I’m sure haha. Bet it’s been awesome having it for 14 years. Such brilliant cars on the road.

[@Hatchet25]

@@TheParrottBros 😁 it's been an experience alright. I've never been bored driving it though and every time I get out and walk away....I always look back and admire it.

[@TheParrottBros]

James Finn that’s how you know you’ve brought the right car! That glance back 👌🏻

[@butett8732]

I have 2 and wish I could own 3 more! My 2 grey babies: kzbin.info/www/bejne/joGlmWuloquNf7c

[@superb8024]

Do you have a problem with the oil consumption? I heard that this engine likes to "eat" oil.

[@happy2help1]

Really useful pointers here, especially for first time tt buyers. Just like to add a couple of minor things. The covers on the climate control switches are often either missing or broken and replacements are extortionate. Also the bose amp regularly fails and as a consequence the music only gets to be heard from the front speakers that are driven from the head unit.

[@TheParrottBros]

Man Shed funny you should say that when I brought my car it was missing the left button cover. £20 for a tiny button cover!! Felt like I’d had my pants pulled down when buying a replacement 😂. The Bose thing is a great shout, I’ve not had that issue before. But makes sense and when it works it’s very good so worth checking. Thanks for watching and commenting as always dude 👍🏻

[@mckav2358]

I dont own & never considered one until wheeler dealers then found ur libary 200,000 miles=321,000 kms Thats incredible & ur car looks amazing

[@TheParrottBros]

Mc Kav The Audi TT community really is a great one, plenty of help and support out there between the Facebook groups, the forum and friends. If you don’t mind doing a little bit of maintenance yourself then they are a brilliant car. Thanks my car is slowly becoming great again haha

[@steffenscheibler5849]

Another common issues on TT MK1 (now that they are all older) is the throttle body position sensor becoming inaccurate. You can only really tell on a test drive. Possibly with a fault code if it gets too bad. When you drive the symptoms are that pushing the throttle a little bit produces a lot more power/acceleration than you expect...where pushing the pedal 25-33% can already essentially give you full power, so that pushing the pedal more seems to not do anything. This symptom will eventually lead you to a P1335 (Engine Torque Monitoring 2 Control Limit Exceeded) when driving with partial throttle. This is because the ECU thinks you throttle is quite closed when in fact it is actually open...this in turn means your turbo will make boost which your ECU isn't expecting and so it throws this fault. When thrown, your ECU will not allow you to open the throttle or rev over ~1200. Basically you can limp off the the side of the road...or be a man and turn the engine off and on again whole driving. Other issues in the engine bay I've encountered often now on MK1 TTs are the intake temperature sensor getting inaccurate. This is ESPECIALLY true with open/cone air filters when combined with not converting to a catch-can system for the PCV. This doesn't produce errors typically, but when your engine thinks the air going into it is 50C with the other TT MK1 sitting next to it saying 20C then it will affect the fuel trim. It can cause slight hesitation when going to full-throttle and also the higher temps will make your ECU retard timing a little which will kill some of your power. I suppose if the sensor gets completely clogged with dirt it might throw a fault. Typically it doesn't as driving with full-throttle sort of prevents too much build-up so it just shows a higher temperature and kills some of your power.

[@Hazelthenerd]

This is a big help thank you for being so detailed, This is one of my dream cars, finally looking at getting one this year hopefully

[@TheParrottBros]

Oliver Rose thanks for the kind words. Good luck on getting a TT, any questions drop me a message

[@jgw58]

This is a really helpful, and really well presented, guide to what to look for in a used Mk1 TT. I'm currently looking for a used 225 TT and my budget means that most of the cars I'm looking at are around 20 years old and have done around 100K, give or take - I'll be looking at them more closely than I would've done if it wasnt for your guide. So, many thanks!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks for the kind words, this guide should allow you to avoid the bad ones and allow you to get a deal hopefully On a nice one 😊

[@VaderMonkeyGaming]

Thank you very much for this video, I'm currently on the look out for a reasonably priced MK1 TT. This video has given me the confidence of knowing what to look out for. Thank You again.

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you for the kind words, there are still some gems out there you just have to look a little harder, good luck and if you need any help you know where to find me

[@julianr9873]

Hi, any chance that you could extend your videos to include the Audi TTS range. Your extensive technical knowledge of TT's will, I'm sure, apply to many aspects of the TTS as well.

[@philarmstrong439]

Spent a good few hours watching your TT guides, will be collecting my 225 TT next week, thanks for all the invaluable info.👍👍👍

[@TheParrottBros]

Wicked, what colour and spec did you go for? Any questions drop me a message

[@philarmstrong439]

@@TheParrottBrosThanks, It’s a Grey BAM 225BHP Convertible, just had Cambelt & Waterpump done, comes with a stack of history, will be watching plenty more on your Channel soon, cheers.

[@TheParrottBros]

Phil Armstrong sounds like a nice one, look forward to seeing pics of it 👌🏻

[@christophermetcalfe8910]

Great information. Around the 7 min mark you mention doors dropping. I have the same paint rub in the same place , and found it to be the door card had been off at some point , and not replaced correctly. Thus the end trim rubbing on the bodywork, not the actual door dropping. Worth a check 👍

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks for that, funnily enough someone else also mentioned this and your right it’s that rubber trim with the reflector that’s not mounted up correctly. That’s what I love about the car community, we help each either. Thanks for the comment 👌🏻

[@ScottPC]

Mine did the same! Its very hard to push the rubber back in.

[@Wattlebird123]

Excellent video I'm joining the TT family as well! @29:43 how awesome that a blue Audi TT rides by

[@trevskiman]

Great stuff! Your videos are very informative and led me to many great sites and products to both beautify and maintain my 3.2 V6 TT! Only discovered you a couple of days ago, already got the engine bay bolts, and a couple of other things ordered that I didn’t know about or where to find ‘em. Thanks guys, keep it up!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks appreciate the kind words and if you ever want to know anything drop me a message

[@_milkpops]

I am potentially buying my first TT today…this video is so helpful!!!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks glad it is getting put to good use

[@tommythompson6602]

I first had a 225, and now a 180, got the 180 for 300 dollars with a broken turbo. I gotta say they almost run the same due to the extra weight of the Haldex. Alot of people think that is all time Awd but it is not. It engages upon wheel spin basically only on gravel or dirt really. My old Awd would spin the same as my 180 on launch. Short story long don't overlook the 180 if you are on a budget and find one cheap. Still a fun car

[@TheParrottBros]

180’s are great fun, not to be overlooked for sure. And less to go wrong if 2wd haha. Besides the exhaust and possibly xenon lights they are usually the same visually

[@danischulze8021]

Excellent video! Anyone in the market should take this with them! Well done and thank you!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you for the kind words. I was hoping to share information that anyone could use to know what they are buying when they go to look at a MK1 tt. They are brilliant cars but it is worth checking all the known faults. That way you are not taking on a project car haha. Thanks for watching 😊

[@ScottPC]

I swear the non working washers isn’t a MOT failure if the vehicle is older than 2009. The list spot on. I got mine last year.

[@TheParrottBros]

Possibly, i knoe they changed the rules recently but good to check they work or not i guess if they are fitted, always a great haggling tip either way :)

[@philtowle4683]

I noticed in some of the newer rules that discs and pads in brakes can't be missing now!

[@TrackAndBeyond]

great video, I have been somewhat restoring a mk1 TT which was in a horrific state but still too good to go to the big scrap heap in the sky. this has given me a few bits to go over before i sell it on keep doing what your doing! hope to be on your level on KZbin one day! Jason

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you for the kind words, that’s pretty much the state of mine when I first purchased it. Most would have walked away but i just couldn’t. If your on Facebook send me some pics would love to see it. Thanks

[@davidpate2237]

Very good video.watching you from the USA. I just picked up one it's missing a couple other covers for the buttons that you were pushing from what I've driven over the vehicle drives very well

[@TheParrottBros]

Ooo lovely. I’m sure you’ll be trawling though the how to’s on this channel now then. What colour and spec did you get?

[@nickmarsh8283]

The biggest thanks to you, just made that list. Ive had mine for about 4 months, just like you said runs common TT issues. And yes she's a 225

[@TheParrottBros]

its my pleasure to help other suffers... i mean happy tt owners :)

[@IanTetrault]

That countryside you are driving through is fantastic.

[@legendarycarchannel9142]

This guy is awesome I just got a 2001 audi tt quattro 225 and it's awesome thanks man

[@WickedMachineWorks]

My AUQ engine is running super rich. I’m going to do a small video and do the O2 sensors first. I’ve done all of the tubes and pipes in the engine bay so I’ve eliminated that.

[@Big__Ry]

What’s up bro? Went to view a v6 today and thanks to your informative video I just that junk where it was. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@TheParrottBros]

Good man, better to walk away with the money still in your pocket than a headache car that youll regret buying and put you off tt's

[@sajaadshafique8557]

Just bought a 225, things that need fixed increasing all the but it if nice to drive. Great video, keep the content coming as it really helps.

[@TheParrottBros]

Brilliant! Yeah the are a fantastic drive, plenty more content coming. Just a disclaimer that watching my channel may affect your wallet 😂

[@dankzer2664]

Hey man, nice video as always. What have you done with your exhaust? Your car sounds mad nice.

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks buddy, appreciate the ongoing channel support. It’s a pipewerx 3” down pipe and sports cat, then a custom cat back with only one small back box feeding the 2 tail pipes. Little bit too noisy for track tho going to need to get it adapted 😂

[@AlluzHH]

Watched this a day too late since i got my 180 just yesterday morning. It needs some works but it'll hopefully be allright

[@stevesloan6775]

Man O man! How haven’t I seen this video. From all your videos, this one is especially great.🤓 So concise and thorough. Again I’ll say it... I’ve learnedso much from your video uploads. Thank you! 🇦🇺🤜🏼🤛🏼🍀🍀🍀😎

[@TheParrottBros]

You and me both, every day is a school day when you own a TT 😂😂 Thanks for the kind words, makes the page worth while 😊

[@tazzygeoff621]

in the last 10 years, I have had to remove the clutch peddle and replace the thin pressed over tab that pushes against the master cylinder, they are thin and only spot welded . I have had to replace the hazard switch, rear wind deflector drive belt, driver power window cable pulley, rocker cover gasket, re glue the rear glass window (roadster) grease gear shift linkages. 200 Audi Quattro TT 225hp 6sp manual. tan baseball stitch interior. dark green paint, almost 200,000 km on the clock. in Australia.

[@TheParrottBros]

Geoff Chapman sounds like it’s weathered the same as most, green and tan is probably my most favourite combo, bet it’s lovely having a roadster in aus! Thanks for the comment

[@SylarXtream]

fantastic. im looking for a TT for a weekend/ track car. I literally got ALL the info i need here. Thank you for the great content

[@TheParrottBros]

ricardo small it’s my pleasure, thanks for watching

[@zedgerton73]

I’m also looking for a TT with haldex to swap a 2.0 stroker awp into. I totaled my gti so ima salvage the motor stroke it and throw it in. I was going to get another gti but I decided I wanted awd especially pushing 550-600hp I want it to hook not spin. I honestly was thinking about importing a right hand drive TT from Europe. They are so dirt cheap over there even paying for shipping you can save money still.

[@artSFCA]

I really enjoy your words of wisdom on the Audi TT.

[@TheParrottBros]

thanks appreciate the comment

[@jordanfarrar3564]

In about an hour seeing a 180 mk1. This checklist is so handy as it's my first car. Thank you!

[@TheParrottBros]

Brilliant, welcome aboard

[@josh-kd4gb]

Did you end up buying it?? If so how you getting on!

[@jordanfarrar3564]

@@josh-kd4gb i did, enjoyed it for a yer, took it off the road to add new clutch and now back on the road this summer

[@xxCusco]

I'm going to check out a 2001 tomorrow. It's pretty low miles and clean in the pictures, but I'm going to use your guide for those niche things. Thanks for doing this!

[@TheParrottBros]

Good luck, let me know how you get on

[@tinniswood2577]

Just bought my 4th TT last week, a mk2 3.2 Coupe. Love this channel anything about tt's is good viewing :-)

[@TheParrottBros]

4th that’s brilliant. How are you finding the mk2 3.2? Is it manual or dsg? Thank you

[@tinniswood2577]

@@TheParrottBros Its DSG. On an 07 plate with 44k, yes 44k, Serviced every year regardless of mileage and judging by the Main dealer reciepts regardless of cost too! It is in very good nick and drives lovely and when the flaps open I realise why I like the 3.2. The plan is to get the haldex and DSG oils changed initially for peace of mind then further on decsent tyres, new front discs and calipers as the calipers look really grotty. A few little silly hairline scratches need attention. Having had 3 mk1's it feels remarkably like being ina mk1 with a few creature comfort updates. Tbh I loved the stripped out design of the mk1 cabin and even thought it should have had windy handle windows!

[@TheParrottBros]

@@tinniswood2577 ooo wow that’s some find! Mileage that dreams are made of wow!! Yeah I’ve driven a few but never a mk2 v6. Where abouts in the uk are you? Worth the piece of mind service wise

[@tinniswood2577]

@@TheParrottBros I'm in the sunny South near Southampton, but we haven't had sun for a while!

[@TheParrottBros]

@@tinniswood2577 haha yeah severe lack of sun recently. I’m Hertfordshire based so couple hours away. May be up for doing a video in a few months if you fancy it

[@JonGathercole]

I've seen dropped doors on many a VW and Audi (and on many other makes), usually due to wear in the hinges caused by poor greasing. I normally correct this by putting a large piece of wood under the rear of the door (preferably on the inside rather than the lower edge) to spread the load, then carefully jacking it up with a trolley jack. You need to keep the door as close as possible to the "closed" position, and don't let it fly outwards. You also need to lift the door further than you might expect, so that it drops into the correct position once the trolley jack is lowered. Do it by degrees, checking each time. You are actually distorting the bodywork slightly to compensate for the wear in the hinges, so be very careful. When you get the alignment right, it's very satisfying as the doors close easily with that famous VAG "clunk". Grease the hinges frequently thereafter with spray grease to minimise further wear.

[@joni.palomaki]

That’s a ridiculous way to fix an issue that can be shimmed away easily

[@ifere3194]

Can you cover issues with the master/slave cylinders as well as maybe tutorials on getting to those, possibly reaching the clutch itself as well.

[@andybowen5025]

Super video, informative, genuine and entertaining all at once. Some real valuable insights and as others point out here "spot on" thanks!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks Andy, hope you find the perfect tt as guessing your on the prowl.... I’ll await the links 😉

[@max-jj7bg]

Great video! Lot of essential info before buying TT which I just planning right now. Regarding headlights could always try toothpaste and old woolen sock. I did it to many cars and results are shocking. My friends polo failed MOT as headlights were very bad. They can't believe that is was same headlights when she was back next day. It is only few minutes job and will save you lot of money.

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you, plenty out there just make sure you do your checks and try not to get swayed by how good it looks if it doesn’t feel right or the list is just too long. Headlights wise I’ve heard that works, personally I’ve never tried. Usually for the best results I go through grades of wet sanding then machine polish back upto a smooth finish then lacquer for UV protection

[@leath25]

My tt roadster 1.8 has just started to get brake squeel when applying brake pedal.need to check sounds like its comming from the back.informative vid carl from cov.

[@TheParrottBros]

Could just need to drop the pads out and re grease the ears and where it gets pushed by piston. Thanks for watching as always Carl

[@RekSpace]

Great vid m8 helpful for potential new TT owners , mine is 20 yrs old 225 bam with 77k, booked in for Pipe werx downpipe install and a remap going to treat the old girl still enjoy driving the TT and working on it, huge amount starting to get broken for parts now.

[@TheParrottBros]

You will enjoy driving it even more after the down pipe and map, Say hi to pipewerx if they are the ones fitting the down pipe, lovely company to deal with. They have got to that rock bottom price where they are like you say being broken as they are worth more in parts than as a car! wont be like that forever though im sure.

[@RekSpace]

@@TheParrottBros I`m sure the value will increase with time, got a good deal on the remap looking forward to it few more mods planned in the near future.

[@TheParrottBros]

Rek73 it’s like Pringles, once you pop you just can’t stop. I brought my car with the intent of restoring back to original.... that lasted a month haha. But wouldn’t change a thing haha

[@dimitrist3561]

@@TheParrottBros You can't keep them stock, no way. There's no point anymore, they're 20 years old. Might as well enjoy them while they last.

[@TheParrottBros]

Dimitris T I like to call modifying my tt the oem+ option 😂

[@brokenthunder4163]

Bought my first car which is a 180 mk1. It burns some oil none of the gage cluster works except the screen, the doors have fallen and the interior light won't shut off. Other then minor body damage aka little dents I think I'm good.

[@onceuponacrime2027]

Thank you I’ve viewed a TT Quattro today & know nothing about cars this is very helpful but gosh there’s a lot to take in 😅

[@TheParrottBros]

Glad it was helpful! Hope you find a car you are looking for if you'd like to send me some links I would be more than happy to look over them and give you some pointers

[@megajay7065]

This is an excellent, to the point, checklist. Looking at a 180 in two days time. This will help extensively, myself being a newbie to the TT. Top marks fella. Have subscribed with notifications on. Cheers :)

[@TheParrottBros]

Welcome aboard, let me know how it goes, fingers crossed it’s a good one

[@nicciellett5008]

Great knowledge, I wish I knew someone as knowledgeable with cars!

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you

[@Nazraq04]

I really appreciate the video. I'm looking to buy a 225 TT convertible from a friend of a friend. Haven't seen it in person yet, but the exterior pictures look nice. Might get it for 3 grand, so I'm pretty serious about getting a fun second car.

[@TheParrottBros]

Very nice indeed, make sure you buy with your eyes and not your heart ;)

[@Nazraq04]

@@TheParrottBros Thanks! The owner is letting me take it this weekend to try it out. I'll use my time searching for anything that stands out. I'm kinda concerned that they told me the radiator was replaced last year. As I understand it, once you have cooling issues, they tend to keep having issues.

[@andyhodgev.a.g1291]

Not a bad little vid this Dom for someone with zero knowledge wanting to get into these cars 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheParrottBros]

Andrew Hodgson thanks Andrew appreciate the comment 👌🏻

[@jenniferboudreau9366]

that would be me

[@MH-fb5kr]

My 2003 Quattro with 84k on the clock has done well since I maintain and service per Audis recommendations. Has the bad pixel display but I just ignore it and get gas when close to 300 miles. Pretty darn good car!

[@TheParrottBros]

Sounds like you have it well sussed mate, the pixels are just an annoyance, the worst part is when it affects the clock dials them selves. The noggy speedo goes Awol sometimes 😆

[@Darcstartv]

Great video, Just fyi upper door frame paint damage is virtually 99% not door drop, it’s because people don’t fit the door card rubber properly. Check the upper rubber lug is pushed in. It’s a real shame so many have this damage. That rubber shouldn’t touch the body, paper should slide through as a test.

[@TheParrottBros]

Darcstartv thanks for commenting. That’s interesting I’m gonna have to give that a go as I’m intrigued now haha. Thanks for your input

[@Fleming41st]

Thanks for the video bud considering one of these for my 1st track car either this or an r53

[@blakeyblake2982]

Amazing video well done👏🏼 Do you have a video that covers the 3.2 engine only? thanks

[@youngstayoung6633]

Lot to check, be there a week me and still have no clue haha

[@TiggerzSRi]

Great video! Thanks for the information, going to see a TT tonight for my girlfriend, she ALWAYS wanted one! It’s an eBay win so as long as it’s as described and you have pointed out the important points! All the best, cheers

[@TheParrottBros]

At least you are going there knowing what to look for and get a rough idea of how good a car is, any questions just shoot me a message good luck!

[@lukass3692]

great video. going to Check out a 2000 1.8T this weekend. Looks clean but this video will be a huge help. Thanks, mate👍

[@TheParrottBros]

Glad its still getting put to good use, your welcome to send me over a link and ill take a look and provide pointers if youd like

[@MacGyver-1]

I was just given a 2001 TT 225Q roadster with 164k miles, found to be bad was n75 solenoid, oil pressure switch, power steering cooler, rear shocks, rear springs, new convertable top , new LCD display, fuel gauge not working, rear wind deflector belt, abs trigger wheels in the rear, locked up rear break caliper. Bad door speaker. Finding more all the time tho....

[@paulp96275]

Thanks very much for your vid I’ve just bought a high miler front wheel drive roadster I’m getting on a bit now so just looking for a bit of bald head burning 😂and something to tinker with ,I will be watching your channel in depth for some fix it tips 👍👨🏻‍🏭

[@TheParrottBros]

😂😂😂 bald head burning! Welcome aboard the tt journey, any questions you know where I am

[@clivedalgleish5987]

Your video is FANTASTICand I am seriously thinking about buying a Mk1 225, but what years do you recommend? Subscribed to your Channel 5STARS!!

[@TheParrottBros]

Hey buddy, thanks for the kind words, if your after a 225 i would go for a ‘bam’ engine, it’s a newer engine with no egr, no secondary air pump etc ( less to go wrong ) They are 2001 onwards. If you can find a well looked after one with decent service history and record of cam belts etc you’ll be fine

[@jonathanvanderzee9481]

Going to look two cars over in the coming days, and this will be very helpful in sorting any common areas of concern. Thank you !

[@TheParrottBros]

Brilliant, let me know how you get on

[@adrianstealth340]

did you get one ???? hows it been ????? (milage /age ? )

[@jonathanvanderzee9481]

@@adrianstealth340 yes. 03, 255 6M. 151k. Been taken care of fairly well. Passed the big tests a few items planned for spring, polybush the suspension bits and lots of cleanup underhood and undercarriage. Fun car I love it.

[@TheParrottBros]

@@adrianstealth340 even I bought one last week 😂😂

[@J4rn0]

Great video, thanks. Realy helpfull. Though im issing 1 crucial item. TTs before 2001 seaminly are harder to chiptune then TTs from 2001 and up. Which chassis numbers etc would be hard and which would be easy to chip would be realy interesting to know. (still havent figured it out here).

[@RollingCinemar]

Very informative and detailed Keep the good work going I’m thinking of buying a TT SOON Ps I love the beard 😍

[@TheParrottBros]

At least now if you go to buy one your eyes are open and you’ve got plenty to barter with. And thanks appreciate that. Been growing it a couple years haha

[@RollingCinemar]

@@TheParrottBros many thanks 🙏🏼 to you

[@marcelsamito8724]

Cool water problems. Expansion barrel or hoses to and from the barrel

[@mal_752]

Excellent as always. Invaluable advice and fabulous vlog. Thanks 😊 🙏

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you very much, appreciate the ongoing support and thought it would be a good video for new owners / prospective owners

[@max-jj7bg]

Again thanks for this guide. I picking my 180 project on Monday! I done all your checks and all fine except ESP light on (did not checked the fuse yet). What you will recommend first... VAG scan etc? By the way ESP icon is covered from inside!!! ...only see part of it if you know where to look. Again I noticed it only thanks to your video.

[@TheParrottBros]

Best thing you can do is get a full vcds scan for sure, glad you put the video to good use. I expect you likely will have a abs sensor issue or similar

[@nuffheadroom5038]

Another excellent guide my friend,..the temperature and fuel gauges on my car work but are not illuminating when the lights are on..is this an easy fix or do i need replacements?

[@TheParrottBros]

Thank you very much, and I’ve never had to do it but I believe you can just change the bulbs if you put your clocks out they should have replaceable bulbs for each area, as I have seen people change the colour of them in the past

[@mikeg8229]

Hello !!!! Finally I've bought my dream Audi TT in silver and now I want to start making this car a beauty:). I have a question about tailight issue that you mentioned at 8:44. In my car I have a lot of scratches on it ( I mean on this round little piece)... Can you give me any advice how to fix it. By the way you are doing great job making those videos. Thumbs Up

[@TheParrottBros]

Congratulations and welcome aboard!! The likelihood is someone’s probably had a go at scratching it off. You may find getting a new light might be easier if they are deep scratches. Feel free to email me pics and I can advise new steps. Email address in video description 👌🏻

[@SIFB-lq2wc]

I own a tt mk1 Quattro and, while watching this video every time you say that a piece is prone to fail, I remember my tt and I realize, oh damn all of these failed in my car😂. I inherited the car from my dad so I gotta start working on it soon

[@TheParrottBros]

Haha thats awesome! people often ask me to give their car a look over and point out any issues always ends up being the common failure points haha 😅

[@quietenglishman4179]

A most interesting and informative video. The number of possible problems is scary. I had to buy a replacement key ( a lot more than £250.) My headlights needed refurbishing and, as there was very little paperwork with the car, I had the cambelt and water pump changed (the cost was eye-watering.) There was no owners manual, of course, a quick look on e-bay shows that people remove these and sell them separately (what's the matter with folk: the manual is part of the damn car.) Mine's done just over 100,000 miles, I wonder how many miles should the 1.8 engine cover before it's totally finished?

[@TheParrottBros]

Its unbelievable that still to this day cars are sold without service history, that people dont keep receipts and service info. And the owners manual is a basic necessity!! every car should have one just for info on regular maintenance checks. My 1.8T is on 185K miles uk, i have heard of many with in excess of 200K without issue, generally speaking if well kept the engines can run and run

[@quietenglishman4179]

@@TheParrottBros This is so reassuring. I do take care of the car and drive it carefully. I try not to use it for very short journeys. My aim is to keep it for a number of years as long as it keeps running. Thank you for your reply.

[@zuhlera]

Just bought one recently 180hp no Quattro , had the valve body replaced recently still feels like the gears when coming to a stop on the last gear only other than that it responds very well

[@TheParrottBros]

Brilliant what colour did you go for? The older Dsg gear boxes are not the fastest when changing up and down so wouldn’t surprise me if it’s normal buddy. Even my 2010 s4 is slow changing down when coming to a stop.

[@zuhlera]

The Parrott Bro’s the usual black & gear boxes are a huge problem ain’t it

[@olivermale9369]

Great video as always - I’ve recently had the windscreen wipers fail on mine and I heard that’s a pretty common problem too? Cheers for keeping up the content 😀

[@TheParrottBros]

Thats a good one, i didn't mention it as hoped people would check if they work on all cars but have heard people say that they only work on one of the many speeds haha, thanks for supporting the channel as always :)

[@colinbell9636]

Great video Dom somethink everyone should watch before buying a TT , hope you’re well fella keep up the good work 👊🏻

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks Colin appreciate the ongoing channel support means a lot. Hope it helps new buyers steer clear of the cars destined for breaking ayy or gets them a better deal :)

[@blakethieme7554]

Hey man I’m looking at a black 6 speed varient with a stage one tune that makes 300hp but it has 150,000 on it what are your thoughts?

[@TheParrottBros]

Blake Thieme if it’s a 225 no stage 1 makes 300hp, usually 225’s will make 280hp ish but will need to have had a 3” Downpipe, front mount cooler, bigger turbo intake pipe etc. If it has had al those things and has a print out then brilliant, higher mileage cars it’s imperative than you get a good maintenance history including cam belts, haldex etc

[@NordicAdvRider]

That was an awesome video. Really good tips for a buyer. I hope you can make a video how to fix a hanging door as this is a common problem.

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks for the on going support as always buddy, it is on the list and will be done at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later :)

[@leifsEVO]

Listening to the prices, made me look at the year this was made, they sounded VERY cheap.

[@dimitrist3561]

Just a few things to add. Grey foam coming out from the vents when the aircon is running means they need to pull the dashboard and replace small flaps that regulate the cold/warm airflow in the cabin. Might as well change the heater core while at it. If not fixed, you will have really bad cooling after a while. While changing gears, if it feels a bit floppy and you hear a metalic *cling* sound, the gear shift linkage is about to break and it will leave you stranded without being able to shift gears at all. Happened to me two weeks ago, at least it got stuck in 5th gear and I was able to drive home and send it for service the next morning. And I can't emphasize this one: roadsters should not be parked in incline when it rains. They will flood the rear compartment and the water will fall in the comfort module which runs the electric windows, locks. Trust me, you don't want this to happen as it's quite expensive to replace. Engine bay issues, whatever you said has happened to me. One thing that I can say about the temperature gauge, mine's been faulty for some time now, reading as if the car is way too warm. The aircon command that show the engine temperature reads the same, as if the car is about to melt down. I use an bluetooth odb2 connector and Torque on an Android phone to monitor how healthy my car is, read codes, boost pressure etc. It also reads temperature straight from the ecu and it never exceeds 97 degrees even in hot summer stuck in traffic. My tuner also confirms that the car is safe to use. One thing I would like to have is a way to read the oil level, since they can burn a bit of oil at high mileage, but haven't found a way to monitor oil pressure etc.

[@TheParrottBros]

Dimitris T Thank you for try at lovely long comment of brilliant information. Appreciate you taking the time to write it out. I’ve never had any roadsters but I often see blocked drains and ccm etc getting wet and breaking. I’ve added that to the list of things to check. Oil temp and pressure I may be wrong but I believe that the liquid gauge that plugs into the obd port monitors that. Failing that you can fit a sensor on the oil filter housing or sandwich plate mount and buy an oil pressure gauge should you be worried. That’s odd you would thing that your temp is being monitored from one place. The fact that your gauge, the climate control are both reading hot but obd isn’t is odd. Not heard that before Thanks from The Parrott Bros

[@dimitrist3561]

@@TheParrottBros That's what I have experienced and the temperature gauge is definitely busted. You can start the car cold after two days of sitting still and it may decide to show it as fully warmed up. I know, I need to replace it but I'm not an engineer, I can't fix things on my own and the list of what has to be done on the car never ends. There's always something of greater importance.

[@TheParrottBros]

@@dimitrist3561 You've hit the nail on the head there, there is always something to do on a tt, I usually find that when i do something and cross it off I add 2 more haha, it truly is never ending but its certainly a labour of love

[@mikeyb3797]

Well, today I learned that my wing mirrors turn inwards. I thought they were fixed! LOL

[@TheParrottBros]

Haha! Every day is a school day ayy ☺️

[@zafnor]

me too!!

[@mohammedabdulwahhaab7126]

I feel like this video has been tailor made for me for when I am looking for a TT 😀 cheers Dom!

[@TheParrottBros]

Mohammed Abdul Wahhaab haha who said it isn’t? I’ve been meaning to do one for a while as there wasn’t a great one there then you reminded me when you said about possibly wanting one

[@Hasdac]

Have a video on adjusting the doors? Thanks 👍

[@intergrale4x4]

Just bought an 06 plate 190 BVR the steering is really heavy like the racks knackered fluid id correct I've checked it !!

[@TheParrottBros]

Is the pump working? It’s entirely possible that the steering pump has failed

[@PhilBonny]

Great Video, thanks. Just bought an 03 225, and the heated seat on the drivers side, it only lights up once pushed in, not when out and twisting. Any thoughts on how to fix it?

[@TheParrottBros]

I would start by replacing the switch, a few quid and could be the cause of the issue, also check the heated seat wiring is plugged in under the seat, thats where i would start

[@PhilBonny]

Thanks,@@TheParrottBros Might swap with passenger/investigate connections. Is no biggy, but a bit irritating. Windscreen washer draining after 24 hours is more the priority fix.

[@TheParrottBros]

both very common issues, usually the alien is broken and will allow water to run out of bottle, or split or disconnected pipe good luck and report back how you get on :) @@PhilBonny

[@zeroid4042]

Thank you this helped me very much i was checking out tt a few days ago and it looked like its in great condition but i watched this video and i realised it was horrible so now i have other one thats better again thanks 😃 oh and your beard is majestic 👍🤣

[@TheParrottBros]

Why thank you, been growing it for what seems like forever now! Glad this video has got your eyes open to whats out there and hope you get a nice one

[@1881Gordon]

Really Comprehensive Buyers Guide. Great work. Are the Xenon Headlight units (Where fitted ) Reliable/ expensive to replace?

[@TheParrottBros]

1881Gordon the lamps are not too expensive to buy new, the rest as long as you are happy to buy from breakers etc are cheap as chips. Pretty reliable too. Thanks for the comment

[@dl8531]

Just discovered your channel after buying a TT a week ago - today it's decided not to start even though it has already run today. Now I'm researching as to why, fuel pump maybe? Great videos eitherway, I have a mk4 golf and have always loved TTs'

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks buddy, it could be that amongst other things. Is it turning over but not firing?

[@peterk4134]

Good car to learn about Zen and the art of car maintenance . Fix one problem, expect another. Now my car stalls after a 30min drive.

[@TheParrottBros]

They are certainly suitable for those who dont mind doing a bit thats for sure

[@tommythompson6602]

But....my 180 looks identical to my old 225, same paint color, stuckshift. The only difference if you sat the 2 beside each other is the single exhaust and missing gear on stick lol. Has the spoiler and 17s etc

[@peterpontius]

What code reader(s) do you suggest that you can purchase online? Thanks for another excellent video! Hope to make it over the pond again in April 2021.

[@TheParrottBros]

Peter Pontius ive heard a lot of good things about obdeleven it’s a Bluetooth one you can use via your phone. If you want a plug in handset I would look on amazon for one with a good review in your county as plenty of good cheap options. I use vcds with a rosstech lead but it’s a 200-250£

[@retroaytch9638]

Hello Parrot Bro, i bought an Audi TT 8N today in green. I am located in the South of Germany. You probably know that the rear light has a different color for the reverse light on one side. Maybe you have the possibility to get me a UK rear light for the left? If you organize TT meetings at your place, then I'm willing to combine that with a vacation. best regards from Munich

[@johnnycashh7148]

Another great vid...always appreciate your TT knowledge!

[@TheParrottBros]

John Holodnick thanks for the comment and the ongoing channel support John

[@johnnycashh7148]

@@TheParrottBros I've spent $5 K for the car and another $5K in parts/labor. 🤣

[@TheParrottBros]

@@johnnycashh7148 haha after i had spent more than the car cost me i stopped counting.... but if my partner asks its always less that the real figure haha

[@johnnycashh7148]

@@TheParrottBros Haha...yep, keep em rolling!!

[@jefflong802]

Hiya man my name is Jeff great videos myself and sad Have bought a mark one TT Roaster 3.2 v6 So far so good Except for when the heater is on a 18 does seem warm . And I am trying fug engine Bay screws I think they're called rivets Do you know where I could get some I've looked on eBay And I found something similar but they're not screwing they're pushi and lock

[@TheParrottBros]

Have a search for m6 engine dress kit, usually you will get a nice list of items if not look for m6 countersunk screws, anodised countersunk washers etc

[@dinointhetube]

The rust in the rear tailgate probably comes from the glue which has degenerated they used in factory to secure rear spoiler try some clear silicone to prevent further invasion of water.

[@TheParrottBros]

I’ve had numerous theories about this over the years, that is certainly one of them another is the gasket they use brakes down and allows water to penetrate in and then it sits until it rusts

[@dinointhetube]

@@TheParrottBros sorry yes I meant the gasket. I just had my tailgate repaired because of rust . Luckily I had it done at a major VW Audi paint repair shop so they only charged for parts and free labour.👍

[@jan_venter]

Your AIR BAG light disconnected, it does not illuminate at all. How did you disable it?

[@mikenolan1889]

I always wanted a mk1 s3 but then i bought a tt bam for a under of a third of the price at 108k and the car looks better than a a3

[@fonziebulldog5786]

Dont know why it often went under the name, hairdresser sport car but i know a guy who have one of these with the V6 and its like brand new and treated the same. Very nice car.

[@TheParrottBros]

They are a lovely looking car and the v6 is just a theatrics of sound. Very cool cars

[@celebratecrypto3693]

I have aftermarket side skirts. That were on my car when I bought it. They look good but with a lowered tt or coils I think the stock side skirts look the best to be honest but only when lowered not stock ride height

[@TheParrottBros]

Yeah I know what you mean, the votex kit looks great but if you are at the skirts are a little on the low side and can quite easily get caught on speed bumps

[@samuelresende6351]

Nice guide man! I’ve got that yellow light on the left side of the cluster turned on as well, how did you come to fix that? Cuz Idk what the issue might be. I believe that it could be the quattro fluid that needs to be changed, cuz I have my tt for about 3 months only and I don’t think the last owner have done it. Thanks man🤙🏼

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks buddy, it could be a number of things from maf to a wheel sensor, Haldex etc. Get it plugged into car diagnostics or a code reader and see what’s going on is the best way. Are you enjoying it?

[@andrewgrimwood6280]

Great video as always bud on the standard 150bhp tt what sort of boost should that be showing

[@TheParrottBros]

Thanks for the support, you know wjhat i would say 7-10psi but i will double check and get back to you on that one as not 100%

[@andrewgrimwood6280]

@@TheParrottBros Cheers for the reply mate appreciated it

[@sorrygunsathome]

Missed common interior issues such as the switch covers for theair controls(also way too expensive) and the vinyl for the doors lifting up from im assuming from heat and its only right next to the dew wipers of the windows. Also the vacuum booster has rubber stand offs for vibration they dry rot and break so its just wobbling and its also very expensive as that booster part number is priced to reflect the fact a Lamborghini shares the same part.

[@TheParrottBros]

sorrygunsathome thanks for your input some great ones there. A couple not even I have heard of. Thanks from the parrott bros

[@Catchingcars]

hey man thanks for the vid i am thinking about buying a tt as a third car. What rims are these they look bigger than standard are they from an a8? looks beautiful!

[@steffenscheibler5849]

The radios have an issue which arises with time used.. the volume control is the best way to check it. Turn the volume up and down and if the volume doesn't increase/decrease nice and linearly, then you will need a new stereo very soon. The issue is that the current volume level if saved on the EEPRPOM on the head unit which can be updated ~10000 times as part of it's life. So after the knob has been turned ~10000 times, it just starts to fail. There is no (reasonable) fix for this. Some (most) head units have this. As other settings are also saved in that same EEPROM over time everything is affected.

[@DarkClosetOfTheMind]

Great video, thank you! Meguiar's makes a kit for the headlights that you can do yourself, I did it on my daughters Beetle and it turned out great.

[@DarkClosetOfTheMind]

@@unidax8708 try local junk yards, craigslist or people parting out cars on FB marketplace.

[@chrisbradshaw9494]

Hey parrot bros, need some advice! Audi tt mk 2001. My esp button does nothing? It lights up red but when I press it nothing comes on the dash basically nothing happens. Do you think the function is still working I don't know the difference between it being on or not as my first car! I love this car spent a fortune on it just wondering what your thoughts are please. Respect bud👍

[@TheParrottBros]

Possibly. What happens when you turn your ignition on, does the light show up on the dash? If you were to say pull off quick in the wet does it feel like you get wheel spin or does it just take off? Usually if it’s turned off you should get some spin. You can always get it plugged into diagnostics and see if a fault is logged that would show any issues

[@MH-fb5kr]

Take your prospective purchase for a thorough inspection before sealing the deal… works for any vehicle.

[@TheParrottBros]

That’s good to do if you can, not always easy though. Specially when car is £1k ish and sellers can be hard work haha

[@babakgholian3467]

I did not expect that many problems with the tt !!!!

[@TheParrottBros]

Most are fine, this is just a list of possible issues with a 20+ year old car, im sure if you look at other models of the same era they will likely be similar :)