High millage audi s4s 2.7 twin turbo
High millage audi s4s 2.7 twin turbo
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Discussion

slipstream 1985

Original Poster:

13,778 posts

209 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Anything to worry about? What sort of miles can they get up too and any major issues i should look at? I fancy one as a winter ski / daily car.

Baryonyx

18,291 posts

189 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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They are capable of huge miles if they've been maintained but it comes at a cost. Read up extensively on the owners forum for a real appreciation of the costs. I'm no expert, but I did read a lot on them when I was thinking of getting one (I ended up with a 4.2 A8 instead). The scariest thing to me was turbo failure, or a boost hose issue. Mainly because I've seen friends throwing good money after bad chasing boost issues on VAG engines. I could at least say that if the gearbox blew up on my A8 (the biggest spectre of A8 ownership), I would at least know what it was!

TheAngryDog

13,265 posts

239 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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I believe it is an engine out job to replace turbo chargers, not really ideal!

ManOpener

12,467 posts

199 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Dentist drill turbos and boost leaks are the two biggest issues. Aside from that the engines are pretty reliable albeit expensive to work on given the amount of the car you need to dismantle to get access to much of them.

MacD1

150 posts

153 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Great cars and would highly recommend buying one, they are truly epic. If you're going to purchase a high mileage example make sure it has a good service history as they do take some upkeep. Also if you think that they are great in the snow, they're not, unless you have winter tyres on in which case they will be okay. They have 225/45 91Y and roughly come in for new PS3's fitted about £110 a corner. Ultimately they are big fat tyres so won't be great in the snow, regardless of 4wd. In the rain they are unbeatable though:-) I estimate in my time of ownership (6 years) i have spent 10k, turbo's went at 119k and had them replaced which is a engine out job, like most jobs on these car, that is one of the downsides. I get a oil change every 6 months etc but other than front suspension arms which go like fuses you will be fine:-)

MacD1

150 posts

153 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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DM if you want the full low down though OP

jamiehamy

360 posts

206 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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I had one for nearly 3 years. Bought with 118k, sold with 180k. Apart from 'usual stuff' like brake, bushes and ball joints, never caused a moments bother.

It was bog standard apart from LPG. Took it out to Albania and Kosovo, ran like a dream. Oh - it never had a clutch and never had the turbos done. Was built from stone. Wish I hadn't sold it for £600 because it sailed through its next MOT and still going strong!


TheAngryDog

13,265 posts

239 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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225 tyres are not big and fat. My car has 245's on the front and 275's on the back and that's rwd. In fact my old mg zt had 225 width tyres on it and they weren't wide

TorqueDirty

1,904 posts

249 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Best car I ever had!

Utterly brilliant with a decent remap. 330 bhp and gobs of torque easily achieved. Total stealth weapon but still delivers a very refined drive.

Turbos do go. One of mine went at about 90k and like a total prat I bottled it and traded it for a nearly new M3. Worst car decision I ever made (and there is an impressive list!)

Have had a number of fast cars since but none have provided the balance of effortless performance, refinement and understated style that my old s4 did.

Had one of the later V8 models whilst mine was at the fixers and it was totally gutless by comparison, although it did corner better and sound better to be fair.

Would I buy one with mega miles? Probably not but if I found one with 50k miles and a good history I'd have it in a shot - especially if it was Yellow and an Avant!


Searider

1,005 posts

285 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Have a look on audisrs.com

willmagrath

1,387 posts

176 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Do NOT get a modified one. Turbo replacements are £3.5k for the pair!

MacD1

150 posts

153 months

Friday 12th December 2014
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TheAngryDog said:
225 tyres are not big and fat. My car has 245's on the front and 275's on the back and that's rwd. In fact my old mg zt had 225 width tyres on it and they weren't wide
Fat enough to be useless in snow!