S4 B7 - Big Bill...But It's Worth It...Isn't It...?
Discussion
So the Milltek went on last year and has shown itself to be a great investment, particularly with the roof down. When Keith and the guys at Dialynx were fitting it they noted the "flexi" downpipes, between the engine and the Milltek (I think) were blowing, and could do to be replaced soon. At the time I thought let's do it at the next service...
I was very pleased with the service and quality of work at Dialynx so have stepped out of the dealer network for the first time and given the car to them to service, MOT and replace the "flexi" pipes. First 2 jobs, no problem. "Flexi" pipes, with an auto box, a much, much bigger job than I'd assumed. Engine out! Two words to strike fear into the wallet.
Having accepted that it needs to be done we're going ahead and I though if the engines coming out anyway it'd make sense to check the chains and tensioners. I haven't noticed any cold start rattle, but there was a nagging "rough bearing" type rotating noise on idle that I asked the Dialynx guys to listen to and see what they thought.
Phone rings. Chains and tensioners worth looking at. Noise likely to be related to early wear.
The cars a weekend toy with 122K on the clock. I've had it for 7 years now and put 90K on it when I was using it for motorway commuting. It's probably only worth around 5-6K so investing this much money in it makes no logical sense whatsoever...but that shouldn't stop us...should it...?
I was very pleased with the service and quality of work at Dialynx so have stepped out of the dealer network for the first time and given the car to them to service, MOT and replace the "flexi" pipes. First 2 jobs, no problem. "Flexi" pipes, with an auto box, a much, much bigger job than I'd assumed. Engine out! Two words to strike fear into the wallet.
Having accepted that it needs to be done we're going ahead and I though if the engines coming out anyway it'd make sense to check the chains and tensioners. I haven't noticed any cold start rattle, but there was a nagging "rough bearing" type rotating noise on idle that I asked the Dialynx guys to listen to and see what they thought.
Phone rings. Chains and tensioners worth looking at. Noise likely to be related to early wear.
The cars a weekend toy with 122K on the clock. I've had it for 7 years now and put 90K on it when I was using it for motorway commuting. It's probably only worth around 5-6K so investing this much money in it makes no logical sense whatsoever...but that shouldn't stop us...should it...?
Given the length of ownership I personally would consider that after that period of service it 'owes me' nothing. In terms of usefulness it could reasonably be considered to have paid for itself.
Now think about what you could buy for the price of the work and ask if it's really going to be as nice a thing.
Now think as well that cars at the repair/replace cost we're discussing are not new either and will not be perfect. Assume also that we're talking some sort of fun/performance car that's going to be at least 10 years old and will want some money putting into it to make it just so.
If you're lucky enough to be in the position where you can keep the S4 as a weekend toy you could do a lot worse than to invest that money in to making it a long termer. Gurgly V8s won't be around for much longer...
Now think about what you could buy for the price of the work and ask if it's really going to be as nice a thing.
Now think as well that cars at the repair/replace cost we're discussing are not new either and will not be perfect. Assume also that we're talking some sort of fun/performance car that's going to be at least 10 years old and will want some money putting into it to make it just so.
If you're lucky enough to be in the position where you can keep the S4 as a weekend toy you could do a lot worse than to invest that money in to making it a long termer. Gurgly V8s won't be around for much longer...
Good man AJS77 getting the work done.
If you enjoy the car and plan on keeping it then it's well worth putting the money into it.
Out of interest, did you go for a resonated or non-resonated Milltek as I've always ummed and aahed about getting a Milltek fitted over the standard exhaust I currently have.
If you enjoy the car and plan on keeping it then it's well worth putting the money into it.
Out of interest, did you go for a resonated or non-resonated Milltek as I've always ummed and aahed about getting a Milltek fitted over the standard exhaust I currently have.
Thanks for the comments all. I had the car on long-life variable servicing whilst I used it to commute up and down the M4. I've read about the potential pitfalls of variable, but figured it was an easy cruise of 60 mins each way, engine nice and hot, one start/one stop...probably OK. Having said that, once the car was "retired" to a weekend machine I switched to annual. For the exhaust I always get confused between the two types but the guys at Dialynx let me listen to an RS4 with the louder one and, whilst it was a gorgeous noise, I wasn't sure my neighbours would've agreed so went for the quieter one. Once this big job is done the next one will be to fix up the alloys which are a little blistered and to get a couple of very small rust patches fixed on the front wheelarch...you never know, after all this I may even be able to afford a little super unleaded to actual take it out for a drive...
So...an update on the car...which I still have not collected! The guys at Dialynx have been great in trying to get me out of a tricky predicament. They did the exhaust and changed the chains and tensioners, all went fine..until they started the car up...and the noise was still there. Dodgy component in the chain and tensioners spares they thought, so ordered a new set , pulled the engine out again, fitted, and started it up. The noise was still there. Moved a few other symmetrical components around to see if the noise would move sides...but it didn't. Now think the noise is sourced deeper in the engine, possibly bearing, or piston related. Costs are rising and unemotionally have already written the car off. I've just made the decision to strip the engine down to try to find the fault on the understanding from the Dialynx guys that they may not be able to find it, and even if they can it may not be economically repairable, or indeed repairable full stop. In that case the only options would be sell it for scrap and parts, or buy a secondhand engine...!!
Can't believe my treasured cossetted car is so close to being scrapped...perhaps if I hadn't taken it in in the first place I'd never have known...but then again perhaps I'd have been sliding down the M3 with a seized drivetrain!
If anyone had a similar tale of woe it'd make me feel better to hear it...as long as the end result is good news!!
Can't believe my treasured cossetted car is so close to being scrapped...perhaps if I hadn't taken it in in the first place I'd never have known...but then again perhaps I'd have been sliding down the M3 with a seized drivetrain!
If anyone had a similar tale of woe it'd make me feel better to hear it...as long as the end result is good news!!
Latest news is the engine has been stripped and one side of pistons seems discoloured and corroded. Cylinder liners are OK, so it would seem there is a chance to re-build with some reconditioned or new pistons. The Dialynx guys are taking a few more measurements then a recommendation on the best way forward...and of course the bill to get it back on the road... This will be one hell of an expensive exhaust repair!
Surely you need a cast iron diagnosis before moving ahead with the next stage of repair - if such a thing is possible. Sounds like the piston discolouration is the result of a fault somewhere else, not the fault itself.
If you get the pistons replaced but the noise is still there on rebuild then you are no better off mechanically but even further in a hole financially. And you are only going to find out once the car is fully reassembled.
At this point I'd have the entire engine stripped down until they find the cause before simply replacing worn parts in the hope that they are the cause.
BTW I still mourn the loss of my old 2.7 Bi-Turbo S4. One of the turbos started to make a noise and it was an engine out job to replace both. Job would have cost more than the car was worth - about 7k
I traded the car in against a nearly new e46 M3. Always regretted that. Should have paid the money and saved my S4.
Well done for going for the save and sorry it has turned in to a bigger job then you expected. Good luck.
TD
If you get the pistons replaced but the noise is still there on rebuild then you are no better off mechanically but even further in a hole financially. And you are only going to find out once the car is fully reassembled.
At this point I'd have the entire engine stripped down until they find the cause before simply replacing worn parts in the hope that they are the cause.
BTW I still mourn the loss of my old 2.7 Bi-Turbo S4. One of the turbos started to make a noise and it was an engine out job to replace both. Job would have cost more than the car was worth - about 7k
I traded the car in against a nearly new e46 M3. Always regretted that. Should have paid the money and saved my S4.
Well done for going for the save and sorry it has turned in to a bigger job then you expected. Good luck.
TD
AJS77 said:
Latest news is the engine has been stripped and one side of pistons seems discoloured and corroded. Cylinder liners are OK, so it would seem there is a chance to re-build with some reconditioned or new pistons. The Dialynx guys are taking a few more measurements then a recommendation on the best way forward...and of course the bill to get it back on the road... This will be one hell of an expensive exhaust repair!
FYI. years ago, Dailynx built a twin turbo B6 S4, and it still holds one of the lap records at Curborough sprint course.Thanks to both the last posters - reassuring words indeed. The first time I visited Dialynx I kinda sensed the guys had forgotten more about engines than I will ever know, so I'm sure they'll give me the best advice and skills to try to get the old beast back on the road where she should be... The post about the bi-turbo B6 has got me thinking though...perhaps I should ask Keith what else we could/should do during the rebuild to add a little to the stock 344 bhp factory figures...
Thanks for asking. Hopefully this Saturday is collection day, practically 5 months after popping it in for a quick service and some exhaust repairs. Keith is telling me the engine rebuild went well and is now back in the car. MOT this week, then a bit of tax and insurance, some 99RON, and away we go...hopefully. Oh and the little matter of the bill...!
AJS77 said:
Thanks for asking. Hopefully this Saturday is collection day, practically 5 months after popping it in for a quick service and some exhaust repairs. Keith is telling me the engine rebuild went well and is now back in the car. MOT this week, then a bit of tax and insurance, some 99RON, and away we go...hopefully. Oh and the little matter of the bill...!
I looked at getting one of these as an Avant for the Mrs as a runabout but the fear of this job put me offI don't see the issue in spending big bucks on it if you're going to keep it a few years
Seem to remember it was practically a full rebuild to sort in the £8k kind of range?
Hope it's all sorted now anyway I've just bought my first Audi they are beautifully made cars
So the collection day a few weeks ago...became the "still not fixed" day! However Keith e-mailed me on Friday just gone to say the job is now complete, the engine is sweet, and she was in the MOT shop. Assuming the MOT went OK I will, I really hope this time, be back on the road next Saturday. Will provide an update on what the conclusion to the last 6 months work are...and indeed what it's all cost...
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff