Soon to be new owner! (Sorry for the long post!)

Hi guys
been lurking on here a while, while ive been looking at A4s to buy. I only had a relatively small budget but ive just today given a guy a deposit on one and now the nerves have set in as always when buying a car privately.

I managed to pick up a 02 plate 81000 miler, 1.8t 163, Full leather, Manual, Park sensors etc etc, for £3500. Is that a good price? I think it is or at least its average but I might be wrong. I really wanted a quattro and ideally a 190 but couldnt find one in my budget.

Externally, it seems in good shape, apart from 2 rather major scuffs, one over the rear wheel arch and a parking scuff on the rear bumper (not massive but down to plastic) They arent my priority to get sorted as they are just aesthetic but will get them done soon.

Was it common for the rear not to have electric windows? cars with them seem to be at a premium, i can live without but wish they were there

My main concern is that it is on a long life service schedule. Seems to have been serviced regularly with numerous stamps, some audi and some independants. The problem is I cant see any evidence of cambelt change, not saying it hasnt been done but cant see it. On a long life, do audi change the belt at all before 80k?

Mechanically, the car seems sound, drove it briefly and engine seems quiet, punchy. Dump valve replaced a believe by a forge valve and one of the hoses had a leak which has been sorted, i think thats a common problem?

If i cant see any evidence of cambelt change then i will get it to my audi guy asap and get it done as i dont want that failing. I will be doing mainly short trips in the near future, so should i change to a normal service regime?

Anything you think i should look at/get done? According to computer, next service is due in 2900 miles. I guess this will be a interim service?

Finally, after cleaning and sorting it all out, I plan to remap, add centre armrest, maybe upgrade to RNS-E. ANything else recommended?

I hope to pick the car up later in the week so will try to get some pics up, but i look forward to gaining valuable knowledge as you seem a knowledgeable bunch!
Thanks a lot

Edit: Is there anything that can be done about the peeling buttons and trim on the dash etc?

Welcome to the club!

My 02 plate is a diesel so I can't asnwer any questions about cam belts, I would have thought it should have been done by 80k though.

My A4 doesn't have rear electric windows either, it was a bit bargain basement when it came to trim. One less thing to break as far as I'm concerned.

Switching from long life to fixed interval shouldn't be a problem. I use the long life oil but have it changed around every 10,000.

Don't forget to post a picture!

yeah ill get some pics up as soon as i can after i get it. I hope the cambelt has been done but i think im going to get it done by my audi guy anyway. ill probably do the same with the service, use longlife oil but change it regularly.

Anyone else got any ideas about the other stuff i mentioned?
Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dchuraman

yeah ill get some pics up as soon as i can after i get it. I hope the cambelt has been done but i think im going to get it done by my audi guy anyway. ill probably do the same with the service, use longlife oil but change it regularly.

Anyone else got any ideas about the other stuff i mentioned?
Cheers

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if u have no stamp invoice for belt get it done also waterpump at same time get it off longlife but use longlife oil personaly i would have the pick up pipe replaced and oilpump they have a few probs ith them getin blocked if it gets blocked its new engine or rebuild not cheap and har to find that lump so worth the extra the peeling nothing to stop it replace switches etc from the bay

i do a oil change every 5000-6000 miles with fully synthetic oil

Agree with the oil changes, i use the quantum longlife 111, make sure you use the proper oil filter, its probably gonna be the bigger one part number beginning 068 apposed to 06A.

Change oil every 5-6K, let the turbo spool and cool, keep yer eye on the oil light, never drive if it comes on, clean out sump, pickup and new oil pump.

Cam belt on 1.8T every 5 years or 60K, also replace the waterpump with a metal impelored one as the plastic o.e ones have a habbit of breaking up.

P.s don't want to put you off with the above, i have 2 1.8T's one B5 with 180K on clock and original turbo and a B6 quattro s-line 190, great cars/engines.

thanks for the reply guys, got the car booked for all the work to be done on monday, cambelt, water pump, oil pipe, thermostat.

Unfortunately i have a terrible groaning noise coming from my steering at slow speed steering at and near full lock. I dont think its the alternator clutch as i can still move the fan inside the alt one way when the enigne is off, and i dont think it looks like the tensioner. Ive changed the PAS fluid but the noise is still there so i guess its a new rack :( hope this isnt a big job to fix. can it be done DIY? i can do most stuff on the car but never changed a rack before.

I had that groan very loud when warm on my 1.8t avant quattro. Was sure it was rack. Replaced upper steering/suspension joints which are notorious. Not expensive and job done. Car feels s much tighter too. Might be worth checking. Don't think today's Audis are in same league for reliability as my earlier 90's quattros.

I did the steering rack on my B5 1.8T sport, took a weekend, not really what i would call difficult, more awkward, basically the rack is held to the car by 3 bolts, its all the other bits that take the time, track rod ends bottom of the steering column, hydraulic pipes etc. The rack comes out from the drivers side wheel arch, no need to remove the suspension components as the Haynes manual suggests.

Hope your problem is a bit easier than a rack, but if you can turn a spanner, and have a driveway, then you can do it!!!!!!!

Mine was leaking fluid badly into the bellows, replacement from Bristol power steering, still ok after 5 years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnyCat

I had that groan very loud when warm on my 1.8t avant quattro. Was sure it was rack. Replaced upper steering/suspension joints which are notorious. Not expensive and job done. Car feels s much tighter too. Might be worth checking. Don't think today's Audis are in same league for reliability as my earlier 90's quattros.

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I will second that build quality on my b5 was much better

An update -
had my cambelt, waterpump, oil pickup pipe, temp sender and aux belt tensioner replaced today.

I need a new thrmostat and probably a couple of CVs both of which ill probably do myself, wheres the best place to get these parts? Ive tried euro car parts but the thermostat seems a bit pricey at nearly 50 quid. Is this a reasonable price?


Still got the loud steering groan and i really dont want to have to resort to changing a pump or rack so just thought id elaborate a little to see if anyone has any other ideas.

If i turn full lock left or right, even when stationary, and then press the throttle either in gear or neutral, i get an increasingly loud groan that changes pitch the higher i rev. The closer i move the steering back to the middle the quieter the noise gets until about 3/4 a turn away from full lock when it pretty much disappears.

I dont notice the noise as much when driving at speed but then i never go close to full lock when going quickly so probably wouldnt notice it.

Ive now ruled out:

Aux belt tensioner
PAS fluid (flushed and changed)
Alternator pulley (i think this is ruled out, as when the engine is off, the alt fan inside moves freely in one direction indicating that the pulley probably isnt seized).

Thanks very much for your help guys, really want to get this sorted!

Hi again, glad to hear that you are making progress. Did you read my thread re upper suspension joints. I dont know how this creates a groan but I had something at least very similar if not the same as you described. I was convinced that it was steering rack. My garage knew their stuff changed the joints which have to be changed on all Audis at some point and the groan disappeared. Same as you really loud at slow speed on full lock, on parking and when moving off from parked. I must admit this was worse for me on a warm day after a longish drive. Trust me its worth a check. I have not had this noise since my joints were replace three months ago. I did have a rack changed on a 1991 2.8 quattrto coupe many years ago due to a dodgy pump, and it did make a similar noise until it gave up completely chucking out steering fluid everywhere. Thats why I dreaded the same problem this time around. I am not a mechanic just a layman and experienced driver. One thing I have learned is suspension affects steering. They work in unison. If you have to replace the rack then there are alot of companies out there who will take your old rack in exchange for a refurbished one which is a much cheeper option. They then recondition your old one and sell it on. If you can afford it get a new one though. Prepare to pay at least double. Best of luck.;)

thanks JohnyCat, i will check the joints soon, but how will i know if they are failing? i had a quick wiggle of them and they seemed solid. I dont see how a joint can make the noise especially when the noise gets louder with throttle, even when not moving, but i guess anything is worth a shot!