$850 plus $400 deposit plus shipping.

Top Hydraulics sends you a rebuilt and upgraded pump from inventory first, you install it in your cabriolet, and send back your old one. The pump always ships filled with the correct hydraulic fluid.  No need to remove the hydraulic hoses - simply detach your valve block (the aluminum part with the electric solenoid valves on it), remove the mounting frame from the old motor, and swap motors. Drain the hydraulic fluid from your old pump/motor, re-use Top Hydraulics' packaging material, and send your old motor/pump back for core refund. Return shipping cost is on you.

A core deposit of $400 is already included in the list price. You get back the deposit in full once we receive a matching core without signs of serious abuse. Here is the fine print: Some corrosion on your core is okay, and very deep corrosion or a stripped pressure relief valve may result in a reduced core refund. It's a common sense approach: if we have to replace metal parts other than the rotating parts inside the pump, then we need to recover that cost from the core deposit.

Top Hydraulics fully rebuilds and tests the pumps before sending them out to you. This includes service and repairs to the electric motor, upgrade of some motor components, resealing of the pump unit, inspection of all pump components such as pistons and impellers (replacement if they are not to spec), and extensive testing for output pressure, output flow, long term performance, and thermal behavior. We keep the tolerances so tight that no pump will ship without at least exceeding factory pressure specs by 5%.

If your convertible top should be moving slower than usual, then the problem could be a failing pump motor, failing seals in the pump, failing pistons, a failing impeller, a failing pressure regulator in the pump, or internal bypasses in the valve block or one of the hydraulic cylinders. Internal bypasses in the valve block or the hydraulic cylinders are not addressed in this special option, because those are different parts (which can be serviced by Top Hydraulics, as well). Such internal bypasses are less common than pump motor failures.

Top Hydraulics gives you a three-year warranty on the pump. It is highly advisable to flush your hydraulic system at this point. Simply cycle your top and the storage cover manually while either the reservoir is empty (that way you expel old fluid into the reservoir and suck air into the cylinders), or while the pump is disconnected from the valve block (put a waste container under the valve block). One manual cycle without fluid in the reservoir will expel about 95% of the fluid remaining in the system, which is good enough. Your Audi Cabriolet hydraulics are self-venting. As soon as you have a proper fluid level in the pump's reservoir, the pump can operate again. Air from the cylinders will be expelled back into the reservoir - you will have to top off the reservoir once or twice. While there is air in your cylinders, the top and the storage cover will move down faster than usual. Try to catch them by hand a little the first few times, or simply let go of the convertible top button once they start picking up speed. Almost all air will be out of the system after five cycles. Allow the electric motor to cool down between cycles - it is not made to operate continuously for extended periods.

Cleanliness is very important while dealing with your hydraulic system. Do not allow any dirt to enter the system, and use the proper fluid. For hydraulic fluid, either use Audi fluid, or Mercedes fluid p/n A0009899103, or FeBi 02615, or Pentosin CHF-11S (or Aral Vitamol in Europe). All these fluids will mix. FeBi 02615 is your least expensive alternative, without any compromise in quality.