2004 Audi S4 Avant 4.2 V8
Discussion
jamiebae said:
Mine goes to Uetli Garage in Zürich, and is still covered by the warranty and servicing pack so thankfully I haven't bad to experience Emil Frey's bills. I have, however, experienced their (lack of) customer service - they didn't bother to respond to my emails when inquiring about a car so I spend my money elsewhere!
A pair of new Continental winter boots last week at 500 chuffs hurt a bit though, I wanted Vredesteins (currently on Pirelli Scorpion which are noisy as hell) but it seems everywhere has sold out of 235/55 R19 so there wasn't much choice.
What a coincidence!A pair of new Continental winter boots last week at 500 chuffs hurt a bit though, I wanted Vredesteins (currently on Pirelli Scorpion which are noisy as hell) but it seems everywhere has sold out of 235/55 R19 so there wasn't much choice.
I just bought a set of 18" LR alloys (used) and a matching set of brand new 235/60/18 Continental WinterContact TS850 P for the Evoque. Both bought online at a grand total of £800 (CHF 1200). Not too bad, 200 a corner for (very clean) used alloys plus brand new rubber is quite ok in my book.
But other than you, I escpecially wanted that tyre due too the reviews it's recieved.
And what a difference over the Pirelli Scorpion All Seasons the car came fitted with as standard!!
Buying a seperate set of (smaller) alloys for the winter tyres makes sense to me. First the 18" tyres where a good amount cheaper than 19"'s, and secondly the labour rates of fitting tyres are really high, so the second set of alloys will have paid for itself in 4 winters.
Also I quite like to change the look of a car twice a year
I did consider a second set of wheels, but I've still got two 'good' Pirellis for winter and as I'll probably change the car in 12 months I didn't want to spend the money. 1,200 for a set is a great price, I was struggling to find just the wheels for that kind of money let alone with good quality tyres fitted.
I don't seem to be very good with these reader's car threads it seems
But then again no news is good news!
Since my last update 1.5 years ago the car performed flawlessly. It 's now at 180k km / 115k miles, so I have covered around 8k miles/p.a.
I changed the oil a couple of times (ATU/KwikFit/Euronaster thing) with the good oil but thats it!
It is such a great car and it does really do it all!
Last month I've been to Munich and gave old horse a good spur. It is really impressive how much speed these can carry!
I have already famously claimed how annoying it is that those damn, dirty Diesels can keep up with it. Well, the true beauty of the V8 comes above 100 mph! A fast Diesel / turbo Golf GTI may well keep up with you when they caught you in the wrong gear, but it is impressive how the S4 takes up speed between 100 - 140 mph!!
Great, great car!!
I've been looking at B6 S4s for the best part of a year (on and off) - the one sticking point for me is the horror stories of chains / tensioners giving up or needing replacing which is apparently vastly expensive.
Since B6s can be had from around £5k in generally good nick with under 100k miles, it's a severe temptation. Have you had your chains / tensioners replaced or inspected at all?
Since B6s can be had from around £5k in generally good nick with under 100k miles, it's a severe temptation. Have you had your chains / tensioners replaced or inspected at all?
Oh, you mean that chain??
Looks like an expensive repair, should you need to change it...
No haven't bother inspecting anything. I have a short rattle <1 sec on cold start up. But it doesn't worry me...
Most likely a seized oil retention valve... The best preventative thing to do are regular oil changes with good oil.
Stay well clear of that Audi LongLife brew!!
When it fails, so be it. At that point I will decide whether to repair it, put in a new/used engine or sell the car.
Until then I do not worry about it.
The engine originally came from the C5 S6 where it was belt driven (in front of the engine). But due to lack of space in the B6 they decided to do a chain at the back of the engine and seal it for life. Well, some fail (chain tensioners) at some point, some don't.
It's similar stories about the Porsche 996/997 engines that are always mentioned on Forums. Truth is, there are weak points and some engines fail prematurely. But the vast majority in both cases life a long, happy engine life!
I must have two of the most fragile engines ever produced in Germany it seems!! *touchwood*
The only question you have to ask yourself:
Looks like an expensive repair, should you need to change it...
No haven't bother inspecting anything. I have a short rattle <1 sec on cold start up. But it doesn't worry me...
Most likely a seized oil retention valve... The best preventative thing to do are regular oil changes with good oil.
Stay well clear of that Audi LongLife brew!!
When it fails, so be it. At that point I will decide whether to repair it, put in a new/used engine or sell the car.
Until then I do not worry about it.
The engine originally came from the C5 S6 where it was belt driven (in front of the engine). But due to lack of space in the B6 they decided to do a chain at the back of the engine and seal it for life. Well, some fail (chain tensioners) at some point, some don't.
It's similar stories about the Porsche 996/997 engines that are always mentioned on Forums. Truth is, there are weak points and some engines fail prematurely. But the vast majority in both cases life a long, happy engine life!
I must have two of the most fragile engines ever produced in Germany it seems!!
*touchwood*The only question you have to ask yourself:
That's the bugger! I've seen so many stories of these going wrong / needing replacing - and I test drove an S4 Avant early last year which had a very pronounced rattle from the rear of the block which the trader couldn't (or didn't want to) diagnose. Drove fine but that sound was always prevalent and I did wonder if it'd pop during the test itself - which would have been interesting.
I may well look into these again in summer. You're right that you just have to wait and see - every car has the potential for big bills and I guess I've fallen prey to some of the interweb propaganda!
I may well look into these again in summer. You're right that you just have to wait and see - every car has the potential for big bills and I guess I've fallen prey to some of the interweb propaganda!
A very brief rattle on cold start (i.e. less than one second) appears normal for these. Mine does it and so does the one of a mate of mine. Done it since I bought it and it has never got worse. However, if the rattle persists, it is apparently a sign that the tensioners are on the way out (according to specialist Audi forums). I've done 30K blissfully trouble free miles in mine, and I anticipate at least another 30K the same.
After 3 years and 40'000 km / 25'000 miles I sold the Audi!
It developed a automatic transmission failure I didn't wanted to take care of. Also I fancied something new!
Obviously I sold it for peanuts, but it worked out as a really inexpensive car considering I didn't pay much either.
Now for the horror story selling it:
I sold it to some Eastern European bloke (a trained Audi mechanic as he told me and part time trader) for little money (but a fair price considering the defect gearbox) In parts alone more expensive if you'd break it, mind!
Of course he knew everything about the transmission failure, as it has been described in the ad and he came by to test drive it.
Also I have a contract listening all the faults (also the ones he made up to beat down the price; I couldn't be arsed to reveal myself as a petrolhead and just nodded to everything he said).
He came by with his little boy and told me he wanted the car for himself as a family car and wanted to repair it himself. Again I couldn't be arsed what he does with the car once he bought it.
He paid the agreed price and came back a day later to collect it. All seemed to be ok. Although trying to con me into telling me what other faults the car allegedly has, he seemed like a half decent guy.
Now, not even a week later I got a phone call from someone who bought the Audi of him for more than what I paid for 3 years ago!
Of course not mentioning any defects or failures.
He asked me whether I already sold the car on with a defect gearbox. Which of course I affirmed.
The new owner now wants to report the seller (my buyer) to the police for fraud. And he wants me to testify against him, since I can prove he sold it on knowing about the defect gearbox.
Great!
Of course I'll help him, but it costs time and energy and since I already made acquaintance with half the buyers family during viewing and pickup (you know these folks have big families, many brothers and cousins!) it leaves a bitter aftertaste to testify against them...
Well, lesson learnt!!
It developed a automatic transmission failure I didn't wanted to take care of. Also I fancied something new!
Obviously I sold it for peanuts, but it worked out as a really inexpensive car considering I didn't pay much either.
Now for the horror story selling it:
I sold it to some Eastern European bloke (a trained Audi mechanic as he told me and part time trader) for little money (but a fair price considering the defect gearbox) In parts alone more expensive if you'd break it, mind!
Of course he knew everything about the transmission failure, as it has been described in the ad and he came by to test drive it.
Also I have a contract listening all the faults (also the ones he made up to beat down the price; I couldn't be arsed to reveal myself as a petrolhead and just nodded to everything he said).
He came by with his little boy and told me he wanted the car for himself as a family car and wanted to repair it himself. Again I couldn't be arsed what he does with the car once he bought it.
He paid the agreed price and came back a day later to collect it. All seemed to be ok. Although trying to con me into telling me what other faults the car allegedly has, he seemed like a half decent guy.
Now, not even a week later I got a phone call from someone who bought the Audi of him for more than what I paid for 3 years ago!
Of course not mentioning any defects or failures.
He asked me whether I already sold the car on with a defect gearbox. Which of course I affirmed.
The new owner now wants to report the seller (my buyer) to the police for fraud. And he wants me to testify against him, since I can prove he sold it on knowing about the defect gearbox.
Great!
Of course I'll help him, but it costs time and energy and since I already made acquaintance with half the buyers family during viewing and pickup (you know these folks have big families, many brothers and cousins!) it leaves a bitter aftertaste to testify against them...
Well, lesson learnt!!
Filibuster said:
After 3 years and 40'000 km / 25'000 miles I sold the Audi!
It developed a automatic transmission failure I didn't wanted to take care of. Also I fancied something new!
Obviously I sold it for peanuts, but it worked out as a really inexpensive car considering I didn't pay much either.
Now for the horror story selling it:
I sold it to some Eastern European bloke (a trained Audi mechanic as he told me and part time trader) for little money (but a fair price considering the defect gearbox) In parts alone more expensive if you'd break it, mind!
Of course he knew everything about the transmission failure, as it has been described in the ad and he came by to test drive it.
Also I have a contract listening all the faults (also the ones he made up to beat down the price; I couldn't be arsed to reveal myself as a petrolhead and just nodded to everything he said).
He came by with his little boy and told me he wanted the car for himself as a family car and wanted to repair it himself. Again I couldn't be arsed what he does with the car once he bought it.
He paid the agreed price and came back a day later to collect it. All seemed to be ok. Although trying to con me into telling me what other faults the car allegedly has, he seemed like a half decent guy.
Now, not even a week later I got a phone call from someone who bought the Audi of him for more than what I paid for 3 years ago!
Of course not mentioning any defects or failures.
He asked me whether I already sold the car on with a defect gearbox. Which of course I affirmed.
The new owner now wants to report the seller (my buyer) to the police for fraud. And he wants me to testify against him, since I can prove he sold it on knowing about the defect gearbox.
Great!
Of course I'll help him, but it costs time and energy and since I already made acquaintance with half the buyers family during viewing and pickup (you know these folks have big families, many brothers and cousins!) it leaves a bitter aftertaste to testify against them...
Well, lesson learnt!!
Not sure I'd be going to court to be honest. Eastern European, big family, they know you and your address. Not sure if you have kids etc or a new nice car but it's not really worth the potential comeback. Have had similar experience with reporting a traffic incident and they came and sat outside my house for days to try and intimidate. That as before I had kids though, if that as now i wouldn't risk any harm coming to my family.It developed a automatic transmission failure I didn't wanted to take care of. Also I fancied something new!
Obviously I sold it for peanuts, but it worked out as a really inexpensive car considering I didn't pay much either.
Now for the horror story selling it:
I sold it to some Eastern European bloke (a trained Audi mechanic as he told me and part time trader) for little money (but a fair price considering the defect gearbox) In parts alone more expensive if you'd break it, mind!
Of course he knew everything about the transmission failure, as it has been described in the ad and he came by to test drive it.
Also I have a contract listening all the faults (also the ones he made up to beat down the price; I couldn't be arsed to reveal myself as a petrolhead and just nodded to everything he said).
He came by with his little boy and told me he wanted the car for himself as a family car and wanted to repair it himself. Again I couldn't be arsed what he does with the car once he bought it.
He paid the agreed price and came back a day later to collect it. All seemed to be ok. Although trying to con me into telling me what other faults the car allegedly has, he seemed like a half decent guy.
Now, not even a week later I got a phone call from someone who bought the Audi of him for more than what I paid for 3 years ago!
Of course not mentioning any defects or failures.
He asked me whether I already sold the car on with a defect gearbox. Which of course I affirmed.
The new owner now wants to report the seller (my buyer) to the police for fraud. And he wants me to testify against him, since I can prove he sold it on knowing about the defect gearbox.
Great!
Of course I'll help him, but it costs time and energy and since I already made acquaintance with half the buyers family during viewing and pickup (you know these folks have big families, many brothers and cousins!) it leaves a bitter aftertaste to testify against them...
Well, lesson learnt!!
For the new buyer - caveat emptor.
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