Audi A4 B5 1.8T Sport.. a facebook marketplace folly
Discussion
Prompted by the thread on the dismal choice of colours available for most modern cars, and MDMA .’s fantastic thread on the restoration of his Audi A4 1.8 T quattro I thought I’d post a few pictures of a spur of the moment Facebook market place purchase. It’s a 2000 ‘X’ reg jaipur red Audi A4 B5 1.8 T Sport which, when new, was probably 
I’ve always had a soft spot for the B5 A4 because it was my first ‘proper’ company car, by which I mean not the Ford Escort, then Astra, that the grad scheme I started after Uni provided. It being the late ‘90s, diesel was the name of the game for people at my grade, and the facelift 1.9 TDi (SE no less!!) the standard issue. But we covered a lot of miles in that car, maximising the fuel card of course! A 1.8T would have been much better, but unobtainable even had I opted to trade up by the maximum (10% from memory) that Xerox’s car scheme allowed, as it was based on some sort of TCO model, including fuel. And I can confirm that the 1.8T is less economical than a TDi
So when I stumbled across a relatively tidy looking B5 1.8 T Sport saloon on Facebook marketplace, in the same colour as an A2 we’d owned, for just £1,500 I thought, why not. Here in all its high-mileage laquer-peeling glory are a few pictures. Naturally being a T Sport it has sporty ‘competition’ alloys with low (!!) profile 205/55/16 tyres, and of course no sporty car is complete without the addition of some tasteful walnut trim
It’s done just under 160,000 miles, has scant service history looking at the paperwork in the car, though the general condition of the thing leads me to believe it has been looked after for much of its life. I’ve just had it serviced, which included a new thermostat and a replacement track rod end. I’ve also wasted, I meant spent, £160 having the LCD display repaired on a ‘while you wait’ basis by Cartronix.
Despite having covered 160,000 miles it feels remarkably tight to drive, and the interior has held up very well. 150 PS isn’t going break any records, and it has to be to be revved above 3/3.5k to have much life. But its brisk enough, smooth enough and small enough to make decent progress. Its also manual, unlike my other cars, which is nice. A broken LCD screen on the radio is the only real sign of wear inside, though the cloth on the door cards at the front is beginning to lift slightly. Oh, and the steering wheel and gear knob have been worn smooth.
Outside the lacquer peel, faded alloys and slightly cloudy headlights are not visible if you’re a few metres away, and in the sunshine, and when clean, the colour really pops. As in MDMA .’s car the trim round the rear window needs replacing, and likewise the one for the front screen. The sunroof, electric of course, works perfectly and doesn’t let in water but there is more wind noise than there should be so either adjustment or a replacement seal is needed there. But, the climate control is still ice cold. Despite being some way up the A4 range at the time the car only has electric front windows, and it doesn’t even have a front centre arm rest or auto dimming rear view mirror. All of those were standard on ‘my’ diesel SE. I do however have fully functioning electric lumbar support
The real question I guess, having bought it and spent the bare minimum to give me comfort that it’s not going to conk out, is what I actually do with it? I have no practical need for it - I’ve got a BMW i5 which covers almost all bases, and just before I bought the Audi I bought an old SLK for summer convertible use. But, it’s a relatively tidy thing that drives well and owes me very little. However, I can see sorting the window seals, refurb’ing the alloys and tidying up the paintwork – mainly the bonnet – as well as sorting out the misaligned front bumper could very quickly change that…
I’ve always had a soft spot for the B5 A4 because it was my first ‘proper’ company car, by which I mean not the Ford Escort, then Astra, that the grad scheme I started after Uni provided. It being the late ‘90s, diesel was the name of the game for people at my grade, and the facelift 1.9 TDi (SE no less!!) the standard issue. But we covered a lot of miles in that car, maximising the fuel card of course! A 1.8T would have been much better, but unobtainable even had I opted to trade up by the maximum (10% from memory) that Xerox’s car scheme allowed, as it was based on some sort of TCO model, including fuel. And I can confirm that the 1.8T is less economical than a TDi
So when I stumbled across a relatively tidy looking B5 1.8 T Sport saloon on Facebook marketplace, in the same colour as an A2 we’d owned, for just £1,500 I thought, why not. Here in all its high-mileage laquer-peeling glory are a few pictures. Naturally being a T Sport it has sporty ‘competition’ alloys with low (!!) profile 205/55/16 tyres, and of course no sporty car is complete without the addition of some tasteful walnut trim
It’s done just under 160,000 miles, has scant service history looking at the paperwork in the car, though the general condition of the thing leads me to believe it has been looked after for much of its life. I’ve just had it serviced, which included a new thermostat and a replacement track rod end. I’ve also wasted, I meant spent, £160 having the LCD display repaired on a ‘while you wait’ basis by Cartronix.
Despite having covered 160,000 miles it feels remarkably tight to drive, and the interior has held up very well. 150 PS isn’t going break any records, and it has to be to be revved above 3/3.5k to have much life. But its brisk enough, smooth enough and small enough to make decent progress. Its also manual, unlike my other cars, which is nice. A broken LCD screen on the radio is the only real sign of wear inside, though the cloth on the door cards at the front is beginning to lift slightly. Oh, and the steering wheel and gear knob have been worn smooth.
Outside the lacquer peel, faded alloys and slightly cloudy headlights are not visible if you’re a few metres away, and in the sunshine, and when clean, the colour really pops. As in MDMA .’s car the trim round the rear window needs replacing, and likewise the one for the front screen. The sunroof, electric of course, works perfectly and doesn’t let in water but there is more wind noise than there should be so either adjustment or a replacement seal is needed there. But, the climate control is still ice cold. Despite being some way up the A4 range at the time the car only has electric front windows, and it doesn’t even have a front centre arm rest or auto dimming rear view mirror. All of those were standard on ‘my’ diesel SE. I do however have fully functioning electric lumbar support
The real question I guess, having bought it and spent the bare minimum to give me comfort that it’s not going to conk out, is what I actually do with it? I have no practical need for it - I’ve got a BMW i5 which covers almost all bases, and just before I bought the Audi I bought an old SLK for summer convertible use. But, it’s a relatively tidy thing that drives well and owes me very little. However, I can see sorting the window seals, refurb’ing the alloys and tidying up the paintwork – mainly the bonnet – as well as sorting out the misaligned front bumper could very quickly change that…
I walked past one of these yesterday & thought that that's a great looking car that's aged really well (aside from the nasty five spoke aftermarket wheels it was sitting on).
Yours looks great.
I looked at buying an S4 of this gen a few years ago from an estate sale, but annoyingly missed out.
Yours looks great.
I looked at buying an S4 of this gen a few years ago from an estate sale, but annoyingly missed out.
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I no longer own the A2 in the same colour as I sold it to my brother a few years back, but it also looked great in Jaipur red and a matching set would have been nice
I’m glad I’m not the only one that things these A4s have aged well, but they are very small when parked next to modern stuff. Next to the i5, which to be fair is a big old lump even if it doesn’t feel like it to drive, the A4 looks very dainty!
Having the wheels refurbed won’t be that expensive, and I think they’ve suffered from 25 years of rather agressive cleaning stuff. Actual kerb damage is minimal, but then there’s a lot of sidewall!! I have remembered that I also replaced the centre caps with some eBay £10 specials as the originals had gone completely white where the finish had been eaten away… Oh, and I bought 4 new tyres. Amazingly it has a full sized spare, with the original tyre on. The age of the tyre was picked up on an MOT a couple of years ago - advisory for a 23 year old tyre
Still, after 25 years and 160,000 miles I think it can be excused looking a little careworn…and the interior is a nice place to be still
I’m glad I’m not the only one that things these A4s have aged well, but they are very small when parked next to modern stuff. Next to the i5, which to be fair is a big old lump even if it doesn’t feel like it to drive, the A4 looks very dainty!
Having the wheels refurbed won’t be that expensive, and I think they’ve suffered from 25 years of rather agressive cleaning stuff. Actual kerb damage is minimal, but then there’s a lot of sidewall!! I have remembered that I also replaced the centre caps with some eBay £10 specials as the originals had gone completely white where the finish had been eaten away… Oh, and I bought 4 new tyres. Amazingly it has a full sized spare, with the original tyre on. The age of the tyre was picked up on an MOT a couple of years ago - advisory for a 23 year old tyre
Still, after 25 years and 160,000 miles I think it can be excused looking a little careworn…and the interior is a nice place to be still
Scoobydrew95 said:
The cloth in yours has faired better than the leather in mine. They're on similar mileage too.
Interesting how yours has rear parking sensors and part electric seats but manual rear windows?
In my experience of old cars, and I am a serial buyer of cheap old cars to run along side proper cars, the cloth trim always stands up better. With the possible exception of the E30 3 series where the cloth has a tendency to split. But then then the leather just cracks and peels anyway!! Interesting how yours has rear parking sensors and part electric seats but manual rear windows?
On this one only electric seat adjustment is lumbar, everything else is manual. The rear parking sensors are odd..they were an option from new, but I don’t think these are genuine. They seem to be too proud of the bumper for that. However, they do work so that’s a plus! I remember Audi standard spec at the time was miserly…this one doesn’t have traction control or ESP as that also was an option so I have a blank switch where it would have been. It does however have an optional electric sunroof and of course, the walnut trim
PSRG said:
In my experience of old cars, and I am a serial buyer of cheap old cars to run along side proper cars, the cloth trim always stands up better. With the possible exception of the E30 3 series where the cloth has a tendency to split. But then then the leather just cracks and peels anyway!!
On this one only electric seat adjustment is lumbar, everything else is manual. The rear parking sensors are odd..they were an option from new, but I don’t think these are genuine. They seem to be too proud of the bumper for that. However, they do work so that’s a plus! I remember Audi standard spec at the time was miserly…this one doesn’t have traction control or ESP as that also was an option so I have a blank switch where it would have been. It does however have an optional electric sunroof and of course, the walnut trim
Yes, i have experienced the awful BMW cloth seats in my e34. On this one only electric seat adjustment is lumbar, everything else is manual. The rear parking sensors are odd..they were an option from new, but I don’t think these are genuine. They seem to be too proud of the bumper for that. However, they do work so that’s a plus! I remember Audi standard spec at the time was miserly…this one doesn’t have traction control or ESP as that also was an option so I have a blank switch where it would have been. It does however have an optional electric sunroof and of course, the walnut trim
It seems not too many cars were optioned with them. It's something i am grateful mine has.
Jealous of the sunroof too! In any case, do hope you keep it for a while. Be good to see some more on it. There should be a sticker in the wheel well, which will hold all the various codes, paint, engine etc and i think vin iirc. So if you need any more info there is a good place to start!
I had one of the Quattro Sport versions of that with 180bhp, apparently quite a limited edition and not that many were brought into the country.
Still have a set of the 'Bolero' 10 spoke 17" alloys which would look great on that somewhere.
Car got px'd because of the oil pickup sludging up starving the top end of oil at 132k miles, sounded worse than a knackered diesel engine.
Still have a set of the 'Bolero' 10 spoke 17" alloys which would look great on that somewhere.
Car got px'd because of the oil pickup sludging up starving the top end of oil at 132k miles, sounded worse than a knackered diesel engine.
I dimly remember, from ordering that company A4 back in ‘99, that there were 3 no cost cloth options for the upholstery. A sort of chequered ‘sporty’ one, a herringbone ‘luxury’ one and this wavy ‘natural’ one. All available in more than once colour as well. Can you imagine having those sort of no-cost choices when specc’ing a car today? The TDI ended up being aluminium sliver with blue herringbone cloth seats, and also a fetching blue dashboard and steering wheel 
The only picture I have of that car, somewhere in the alps.
The only picture I have of that car, somewhere in the alps.
Edited by PSRG on Wednesday 27th August 15:24
Scoobydrew95 said:
Yes, i have experienced the awful BMW cloth seats in my e34.
It seems not too many cars were optioned with them. It's something i am grateful mine has.
Jealous of the sunroof too! In any case, do hope you keep it for a while. Be good to see some more on it. There should be a sticker in the wheel well, which will hold all the various codes, paint, engine etc and i think vin iirc. So if you need any more info there is a good place to start!
Thanks for that! Is there a VAG equivalent of the old BMW realoem website for decoding codes / spec attached to the VIN? I ask with some trepidation, knowing that it’ll take me further down the road of ‘improving’ the car, with the consequent financial implications. I’ve already bought a brochure from eBay, and the ‘bolero’ alloys mentioned above sound interesting too It seems not too many cars were optioned with them. It's something i am grateful mine has.
Jealous of the sunroof too! In any case, do hope you keep it for a while. Be good to see some more on it. There should be a sticker in the wheel well, which will hold all the various codes, paint, engine etc and i think vin iirc. So if you need any more info there is a good place to start!
PSRG said:
Scoobydrew95 said:
Yes, i have experienced the awful BMW cloth seats in my e34.
It seems not too many cars were optioned with them. It's something i am grateful mine has.
Jealous of the sunroof too! In any case, do hope you keep it for a while. Be good to see some more on it. There should be a sticker in the wheel well, which will hold all the various codes, paint, engine etc and i think vin iirc. So if you need any more info there is a good place to start!
Thanks for that! Is there a VAG equivalent of the old BMW realoem website for decoding codes / spec attached to the VIN? I ask with some trepidation, knowing that it’ll take me further down the road of ‘improving’ the car, with the consequent financial implications. I’ve already bought a brochure from eBay, and the ‘bolero’ alloys mentioned above sound interesting too It seems not too many cars were optioned with them. It's something i am grateful mine has.
Jealous of the sunroof too! In any case, do hope you keep it for a while. Be good to see some more on it. There should be a sticker in the wheel well, which will hold all the various codes, paint, engine etc and i think vin iirc. So if you need any more info there is a good place to start!
That looks like a bit of a bargain.
It comes from the same era as the 2000 Seat Leon Cupra I had which did have T/C and ESP, 4 electric windows and electric leather seats with driver's memory but manual lumber adjustment and 4 electric windows, but no sunroof!
VAG cars from that era were a real mix and match in terms of spec!
It comes from the same era as the 2000 Seat Leon Cupra I had which did have T/C and ESP, 4 electric windows and electric leather seats with driver's memory but manual lumber adjustment and 4 electric windows, but no sunroof!
VAG cars from that era were a real mix and match in terms of spec!
Yes, I seem to remember that specs and prices were fault fluid around that time…a response I think to the accusation that U.K. buyers were being ‘ripped off’ relative to our European cousins!
But I do sometimes wonder why the original buyer of these slightly odd specc’ed cars ordered what they ordered. The A4 was a popular choice back in the day, and the person who soecc’ed this one obviously wanted something with a bit of performance or they’d have gone for a better equipped 1.8SE. But they didn’t want the smoothness or comfort of an auto V6. So maybe a slightly younger person. As an older one might have gone V6 auto for similar performance. Younger maybe explains the rather bright colour. But, in that case why add walnut trim?
But then, maybe it was a company car and the V6 auto didn’t make sense. In which case the 1.8T gives the performance without the emissions hit. But then why chose such a loud colour, if you wanted the sober interior?
I might be overthinking this
But I do sometimes wonder why the original buyer of these slightly odd specc’ed cars ordered what they ordered. The A4 was a popular choice back in the day, and the person who soecc’ed this one obviously wanted something with a bit of performance or they’d have gone for a better equipped 1.8SE. But they didn’t want the smoothness or comfort of an auto V6. So maybe a slightly younger person. As an older one might have gone V6 auto for similar performance. Younger maybe explains the rather bright colour. But, in that case why add walnut trim?
But then, maybe it was a company car and the V6 auto didn’t make sense. In which case the 1.8T gives the performance without the emissions hit. But then why chose such a loud colour, if you wanted the sober interior?
I might be overthinking this
PSRG said:
Yes, I seem to remember that specs and prices were fault fluid around that time…a response I think to the accusation that U.K. buyers were being ‘ripped off’ relative to our European cousins!
But I do sometimes wonder why the original buyer of these slightly odd specc’ed cars ordered what they ordered. The A4 was a popular choice back in the day, and the person who soecc’ed this one obviously wanted something with a bit of performance or they’d have gone for a better equipped 1.8SE. But they didn’t want the smoothness or comfort of an auto V6. So maybe a slightly younger person. As an older one might have gone V6 auto for similar performance. Younger maybe explains the rather bright colour. But, in that case why add walnut trim?
But then, maybe it was a company car and the V6 auto didn’t make sense. In which case the 1.8T gives the performance without the emissions hit. But then why chose such a loud colour, if you wanted the sober interior?
I might be overthinking this
You're over thinking it, the v6 was a lazy engine with poor fuel economy so the 2.8 was probably more attractive. I knew someone who had the 1.8T as a company car because it fitted in the bracket plus an Audi stood out more in the company car park in those days before they were everywhere.But I do sometimes wonder why the original buyer of these slightly odd specc’ed cars ordered what they ordered. The A4 was a popular choice back in the day, and the person who soecc’ed this one obviously wanted something with a bit of performance or they’d have gone for a better equipped 1.8SE. But they didn’t want the smoothness or comfort of an auto V6. So maybe a slightly younger person. As an older one might have gone V6 auto for similar performance. Younger maybe explains the rather bright colour. But, in that case why add walnut trim?
But then, maybe it was a company car and the V6 auto didn’t make sense. In which case the 1.8T gives the performance without the emissions hit. But then why chose such a loud colour, if you wanted the sober interior?
I might be overthinking this
Ooh, memory lane. And somehow reading this thread had caused me to remember T851ANP, the registration of my A4.
It had been registered by Audi as a demonstrator, I bought it from a guy who was getting a company car. Sometime around 2001 as I recall, when the economy was on its arse. He just wanted rid. I paid £14,000, the previous owner had paid £21,000 from Audi nearly new, and list was a lot higher, although I can't find a record on line to confirm my feeling it was optioned up to about 25-26k
As for oddball spec - how about a Black 1.8T Avant, i.e. not a 1.8T SE, or T Sport which were far more common. Had the 5 spoke alloys though, and a sunroof from memory. Who spec'd a car like that, and why?
Amazingly the last MoT expired in June 1024 last recorded mileage 149,000.
It had been registered by Audi as a demonstrator, I bought it from a guy who was getting a company car. Sometime around 2001 as I recall, when the economy was on its arse. He just wanted rid. I paid £14,000, the previous owner had paid £21,000 from Audi nearly new, and list was a lot higher, although I can't find a record on line to confirm my feeling it was optioned up to about 25-26k
As for oddball spec - how about a Black 1.8T Avant, i.e. not a 1.8T SE, or T Sport which were far more common. Had the 5 spoke alloys though, and a sunroof from memory. Who spec'd a car like that, and why?
Amazingly the last MoT expired in June 1024 last recorded mileage 149,000.
Forgot how absolutely glorious Audi interiors of this vintage are. My Uncle ran a 2.4 V6 30v Avant in Merlin back in the late 90s - many great memories in the passenger seat enjoying some spirited driving along the A34/303 keeping a tally of how many times the speed bleep went off.
Lovely motor and looking forward to following the thread.
Lovely motor and looking forward to following the thread.
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