S3 - Turbo Failure

[TurboLess]

Hi,

Last Friday whilst my girlfriend was driving my car, the turbo on my 2001 S3 (89,000 miles) gave up the ghost. This resulted with the car coming to a halt after having lost the entire engines oil content.

Managed to get the car to a dealer, who after checking the car over has given me a quote of £8,973.00 to put it right.

The quote includes: -

New Engine
Turbo
Turbo Charger
Inter Cooler
Exhaust System

Clearly with the car being just under 10 years old and probably a second hand value of approx £5,000 - £6,000 (at best) it's a no brainer.

However, what should I do with the car, so at least I can get something for whats left?

Anyone got any suggestions?

I've had the car from new and it has (had) a full VAG service history, not that that makes it any better.

The ironic thing is that I drove it the day before, and on my way home the 1000 mile service notification came on!!! Shame it couldn't tell me the turbo was on its way out

Regards

[ed'sA3-1.8THK]

I should advise you to walk away from your S3, but I'm partial to early models

do not repair your engine - crank & rod bearings are gone and the bearing debris has melted/scraped away into the oil galleries and drillings and is v. difficult to completely remove

block & head may also have warped

and rings have burned/gouged cylinder bores

immediately look for a decent engine from breakers with hopefully known history - you must change out toothed timing belt and idler and water pump to have any peace of mind

I expect to be able to drive an S3 fairly hard when exercising, so if my car, I would fit new K04, not rebuilt as aftermarket cost BorgWarnerKKK reseller is not high

I would also fit new clutch disc & cover at this time

at ten years carefully inspect water radiator

finally due to leaking turbo shaft oil seal, the catalytic core is saturated with engine oil - the two catalysts will have to be replaced and the O2 sensors or wideband F/A sensing will be wrong and combustion mixture will run quite rich

one of the mechanics with your dealer may be interested in working on your S3 on his/her personal time and you may be able to negotiate a lump sum cost for labour - you are probably looking at 6500+ if modest labour charge

independent garage specializing in audi's is another approach

either way replace engine...

otherwise you only have rolling chassis to sell...

don't be too hard on gf, as at ten years or 90,000 miles you are already due for blown turbo oil seal and/or failed toothed timing belt and one or other will total your engine...

[harry k]

I think this post has made my mind up to what to do with my s3. Last Week i got a garage bill for £2800 and this has nearly cost me my marriage. My s3 is a 2000 plate with 100000 miles on, and i'm pretty sure it has'nt had a new turbo yet. I just cant justify spending any more money on it if anything big goes wrong. I paid £7800 for it a year ago (just before the press announced the country was in ressession) i cant belive i made such a stupid mistake. Now i own my own business so i'm not a porper, but these prices are ridiculous. Am i alone in thinking this?

[Mr V]

TBH, a lot of people feel the same way. The dealers are quiet and independants busy. A lot of my work colleagues are busy doing private jobs as people try finding cheaper alternatives.

[TurboLess]

Hello,

If you're interested, i can put you in touch with a couple of Audi techs who'd be willing to repair the car privately or if you'd rather sell the car as it is then let me know how much you'd be after.

Cheers

Hi & Thanks for the post.

The reall question is how much would this cost?

I've considered finding a write off TT or S3 purely for the engine complete, then I'd just need to source another exhaust. Unless I've over simplified this? :-)

I do have some one who is willing to give me £700 for it as is, and I know from talking to him that he will be putting it back on the road doing the same thing.

He's due to pick it tomorrow, so if I do decide to try this myself I'd need to make my mind up pretty quick.

The problem I have is that I have no where to keep it due to on street parking, currently it's at the dealers and I'm sure they prefer it gone sooner rather than later.

By the way where in the country are the techs?

Many Thanks & Regards

[TurboLess]

Just to let you all know the final quote from the dealer was just under £9k!!!

I've come around to the fact that it was going, now the girlfriend keeps telling me to put it back on the road by using a write off TT or S3 for the engine donor.

What is a man to do!!!