Notes on cleaning and care of the Audi A3

►Audi A3 ►Service and care ◀Care of vehicle and cleaning

For cleaning and care of individual components on the vehicle, please refer to the tables below. These are recommendations only. If you have special questions or certain components are not listed, please ask your qualified workshop. Please also refer to the notes WARNING!.

(A) Component
(B) Situation
(C) Remedy

(A)	(B)	(C)
Wiper blades	Dirt/deposits	►Link
Headlights/ rear lights	Dirt/deposits	Soft sponge with mild detergent¹⁾
Sensors/ camera lenses	Dirt/deposits	Sensors: soft cloth with solvent-free cleaning agent Camera lenses: soft cloth with alcohol-free cleaning agent
	Snow/ice	Small brush/solvent-free de-icer spray
	Snow/ice	Small brush/solvent-free de-icer spray
Wheels	Road salt	Water
Wheels	Brake dust	Acid-free cleaning agent
Tailpipes	Road salt	Water; suitable stainless steel cleaning product if necessary
Ornamental trim/ mouldings	Dirt/deposits	Mild detergent¹⁾; suitable stainless steel cleaning product if necessary
Ornamental trim/ mouldings	Dirt/deposits
Paintwork	Paint damage	Refer to the vehicle data sticker for the paint no. and touch up using a paint pen ►Link
	Fuel overflow	Rinse with water without delay
	Surface rust	Surface rust remover, apply wax afterwards; contact your qualified workshop with any questions
	Corrosion	Have it removed by your qualified workshop
	Water no longer pearls off clean paintwork	Apply wax (at least twice a year)
	Paint has lost its shine, gloss cannot be restored by waxing	Treat with a suitable polish; finish with wax coating if polish does not contain wax compounds
	Residues, e.g. insects, bird droppings, resinous tree sap, road salt	Remove immediately using water and a micro-fibre cloth
	Fat-based stains, e.g. cosmetics or sun lotion	Remove immediately using mild detergent¹⁾ and a soft cloth
Carbon parts	Dirt/deposits	Same treatment as painted parts ►Link
Decals	Dirt/deposits	Soft sponge with mild detergent¹⁾
Audi e-tron charging system^*	Dirt/deposits	Dry cloth
Charging dock^*	Dirt/deposits	Soft cloth with alcohol-free cleaning agent

Table Cleaning the exterior

(A) Component
(B) Situation
(C) Remedy

(A)	(B)	(C)
Windows	Dirt/deposits	Glass cleaning agent, then wipe dry
Ornamental trim/ mouldings	Dirt/deposits	Mild detergent¹⁾
Ornamental trim/ mouldings	Dirt/deposits	Mild detergent¹⁾
Plastic parts	Dirt/deposits	Damp cloth
Plastic parts	Heavier dirt/deposits	Mild detergent¹⁾; solvent-free plastic cleaning agent if necessary
Displays	Dirt/deposits	Soft cloth with LCD cleaner
Controls and displays	Dirt/deposits	Soft brush, then soft sponge with mild detergent¹⁾
Seat belts	Dirt/deposits	Mild detergent¹⁾ (allow to dry before retracting)
Fabrics, leatherette, Alcantara	Surface dirt	Vacuum cleaner
	Water-based stains, e.g. coffee, tea, blood, etc.	Absorbent cloth and mild detergent¹⁾
	Fat-based stains, e.g. oil, make-up, etc.	Apply mild detergent¹⁾, dab off dissolved grease or colour particles with absorbent cloth; if necessary treat with water
	Special dirt/stains, e.g. ballpoint pen, nail varnish, dispersion paint, shoe cream, etc.	Special stain remover (dab off with absorbent fabric); if necessary treat with mild detergent¹⁾
Natural leather	Fresh dirt/stains	Cotton cloth with mild detergent¹⁾
	Water-based stains, e.g. coffee, tea, blood, etc.	Fresh stains: absorbent cloth Dried stains: stain remover suitable for leather
	Fat-based stains, e.g. oil, make-up, etc.	Fresh stains: absorbent cloth and suitable stain remover for leather Dried stains: grease removal spray
	Special dirt/stains, e.g. ballpoint pen, nail varnish, dispersion paint, shoe cream, etc.	Stain remover suitable for leather
	Care of vehicle	Regularly apply leather-care cream with ultra-violet protection and impregnating compound; if necessary use special colour leather cream
Carbon parts	Dirt/deposits	Same treatment as plastic parts

Table Cleaning the interior

WARNING!

Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visibility conditions such as light rain, low sun or when driving at night these coatings can cause increased dazzle, which is a serious safety hazard. Such coatings can also cause the wiper blades to judder.

WARNING!

Audi e-tron charging system^*
- Never immerse the charging system or the connectors in water.
- Only clean the charging system when the operating unit is fully disconnected from the electricity grid and from the vehicle.

Caution!

Headlights/rear lights
- Never clean the headlights/rear lights with a dry cloth or sponge.
- Do not use cleaning agents containing alcohol. This could cause the glass to crack!
Wheels
- Do not use paint polish or other abrasive agents.
- If the protective paint coating on the wheel rim is scratched or damaged by stone chips etc., the damaged area should be touched up without delay.
Sensors/camera lenses
- Never remove snow and ice from the camera lens using warm or hot water - danger of cracks appearing on the lens.
- Never clean the camera lens with cleaning agents which are abrasive or contain alcohol – danger of scratches and cracks appearing.
Charging dock^*
- Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or fluids containing alcohol – risk of discolouration.
Windows and windscreen
- Remove snow and ice from windows and exterior mirrors with a plastic scraper only. To avoid scratches, the scraper should only be pushed in one direction and not moved to and fro.
- Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!
- To avoid damaging the heating element, do not put stickers on the inner side of the rear window.
Ornamental trim/mouldings
- Do not use chrome cleaning agents.
Paintwork
- The vehicle must be free of dirt and dust before applying polish/wax – otherwise the paintwork may be damaged.
- Do not polish/wax the vehicle in direct sunlight – this can damage the paint!
- Do not attempt to polish out surface rust deposits – this can damage the paint!
- Remove cosmetics and sun lotion immediately - otherwise the paintwork may be damaged.
Displays
- Displays must not be cleaned with a dry cloth – this can scratch the display!
Control consoles
- Do not let any liquid get inside the control consoles – risk of damage!
Seat belts
- Do not remove the seat belts to clean them.
- Do not use chemical cleaning agents, corrosive liquids, solvents or sharp instruments to clean the seat belts or their components – this can damage the belt webbing!
- If you find any damage to the belt webbing, the belt fittings, the belt retractor or the buckle, have the belt in question replaced by a qualified workshop.
Fabrics/leatherette/Alcantara
- Do not use leather care products, solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain removers, or any similar products on leatherette/Alcantara fabrics.
- To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a qualified workshop.
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard sponges or similar utensils.
- Do not use the seat heating^* to dry the seats.
- Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as zip fasteners, rivets or belts, can also damage the surface of the fabric.
- Please make sure you close any velcro fasteners, e.g. on your clothing, as these could otherwise damage the upholstery.
Natural leather
- Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain removers, or any similar products on leather fabrics.
- Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as zip fasteners, rivets or belts, can also damage the surface of the fabric.
- Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard sponges or similar utensils.
- Do not use the seat heating^* to dry the seats.
- Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight for long periods, otherwise it may tend to lose some of its colour. If the car is left for a prolonged period in the bright sun, it is best to cover the leather.

Note

It is much easier to remove dead insects if the car has been waxed recently.
Regular waxing can help protect against surface rust.

¹⁾ Mild detergent: not more than two tablespoons of pH-neutral detergent to one litre of water

◀Care of vehicle and cleaning

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