attn UK-URQ listers--need advice

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <9708058734.AA873476289@genchip.uunet.ca> "Mike Hopton" writes:

>      AM Cars, very helpful, prompt service, dealt with Mrs Marsden and she 
>      referred technical questions to her husband, exteremly good price for 
>      ur-q top mounts! On the suspension they recommended Boge and H&R's for 
>      a daily driver. I'd certainly order parts from them again.

Agreed.  Supplied my last set of lifters.

>      Sanburn, a little disorganized but very friendly. Great place if your 
>      looking to buy a "used" part for fault finding. You should try here 
>      for that exhaust, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by the price 
>      if they have one.

Ask for "Dave who knows quattros".  Best visited in person.

>      Dialynx, I've spoken with Aelred a couple of times, always very 
>      helpful. Seems genuinely interested that people as far away as Toronto 
>      are calling him, no strong sales pitch and I hope one day to be able 
>      to buy Euro bumpers from him.

Don't think I've ever dealt directly with Dialynx, though I know a lot of people 
who have.  I know Aelred fairly well from various Club meetings. I have
one of his manifolds.

>      BR Motorsports (see Phil Payne for PR) :)

I wouldn't recommend BRM for parts.  They're not cheap.  I would also not 
recommend Bernard, their third mechanic - the last time he touched my car it 
took Martin three days to sort it all out.  They _are_ good for engineering 
(e.g., fitting AP brakes) and both Tim and Martin are very highly experienced 
ur-quattro mechanics - possibly the best in England.

>      German and Swedish, I believe they offer quite reasonable suspension 
>      packages, No experience.

Good for most parts, if you know what you want.  Sometimes a bit over-
enthusiastic - 'ship and be damned', even if it's actually the wrong part.

>      In the Audi/VW classifieds there is always a fairly large ad for 
>      someone advertising "I HAVE the largest sstock of second hand quattro 
>      turbo parts in the country...". Anyone on the list done business with 
>      this place, no name or company given therefore I've never called.

What was the number?  In general, I would advise _EXTREME_ caution buying used 
parts in the UK - at least four ur-quattros have been stolen and have 
disappeared during the last four months.  I am currently negotiating to buy a 
stolen engine from the insurance company who paid out on it.

-- 
 Phil Payne
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club