School me; '91 Audi 200 20v Turbo wagon

[M-technik-3]

I am talking about the shape of the body work. Think I remember reading that Karmin worked on sketching the Avant.

[slammin.e28]

I think they are ugly as homemade sin.

The distributor is driven by a plastic gear that shears off too. Have to get a brass replacement one. We had to replace the hall effect sensor in the distributor and OH MY! It's NLA! Had to match one up from an old GTI or something since Audi/VW loves to change part #s but not update interchangeable parts.

I was always told to stay far away from old Audis....really any Audi to speak of.

[M-technik-3]

I have a lemons team near me that runs a 85 4000csq with a 4.2L V8 shoved in. This engine conversion is being done on 200's and even on UrQ's.

Do some reading on audi fans it's an old board most of the members have been around for quite some time.

[quikveedb2]

I think they are ugly as homemade sin.

The distributor is driven by a plastic gear that shears off too. Have to get a brass replacement one. We had to replace the hall effect sensor in the distributor and OH MY! It's NLA! Had to match one up from an old GTI or something since Audi/VW loves to change part #s but not update interchangeable parts.

I was always told to stay far away from old Audis....really any Audi to speak of.

In my experience these kind of idiosyncrasies exist in any vehicle. There are always weak links and/or hard to find parts. For example, my '01.5 S4 was GUARANTEED to blow the turbos at some point even with the updated oil feed lines & regular maintenance, but I loved it for being a bi-turbo awd sedan anyway. Another example; the mounting brackets or fog lights for the valence on my '87 325is. Not mechanically critical, but hard to find, expensive, or NLA. And, it's another unusual vehicle. So what do you do? You plan to replace the turbos, or make your own brackets & wait for some fog lights to pop up on the forum or at the yard. Both cars are unique, and I'd say, worth the extra effort. I also think there's something to be said for someone willing to put the time & effort in to keep an unusual vehicle like this on the road. I think the challenge is a part of the fun, unless you let it become stressful & frustrating.

I am talking about the shape of the body work. Think I remember reading that Karmin worked on sketching the Avant.

Touché

I'm going to do some more reading on the forums & decide if it's more trouble than it's worth.

[slammin.e28]

....unless you let it become stressful & frustrating.

This. Finding this shit is my job.

I don't like my job.

;)

Also it gets frustrating when you have people breathing down your neck because they don't realize parts go NLA, especially on old Audis.

BMWs I've noticed have way better supports for old cars.

VAG not so much.

Hell, I'd rank Brit cars higher on my list for having support and parts availability that anything from VAG.

[gearheadE30]

That's fair but I have a hard time turning down something that's much more interesting.

To be honest, this sells it a little bit for me. I love unusual unique things, and that looks like a pretty cool vehicle. That said, with parts being a nightmare, it better be in good shape.

[nando]

I think it's a bit silly to compare fog light brackets to something like brakes and factory turbos that are poorly designed.

[quikveedb2]

I think it's a bit silly to compare fog light brackets to something like brakes and factory turbos that are poorly designed.

I was trying to draw a parallel between different makes all having parts that go NLA or become hard to find, not suggesting that a distributor drive gear is as important as a valence mounting bracket. If we're looking for mechanical weaknesses I'd point out the rubber band driven valve-train on the m20. That alone would turn plenty of people off on the e30 325. It also happens to be the reason so many are swapped to another motor. How is that any different than swapping to Porsche brakes in the case of this vehicle, or KO4's on the B5 S4? I think it's a bit silly to say a car has no value because parts are hard to find. Sure, I'll agree that BMW has a better track record for keep part available in most cases. Just because a certain vehicle doesn't have as strong a following doesn't mean it has no worth.

[nando]

the only reason to be afraid of a timing belt is if you don't want to spend the $45 to replace it every 5 years.

[quikveedb2]

Nando, we're in a community that mostly does their own maintenance, unless I'm mistaken. If you were Joe Schmoe who it paying a mechanic the cost might be prohibitive for a 20+ year old vehicle. Regardless, it's not pertinent to the topic.

[nando]

yeah, but if you're talking about 20+ year old vehicles, it really doesn't matter what car it is - paying a mechanic to work on it makes zero sense.

[Burning2nd]

We just raped a dude off'n his avant wagon, needed a tranny... got it for 450$ got a trans for 200 and did it on a Saturday

i shouldnt say raped... more like strategically removed his wagon from his possession...And it's in killer clean shape... He spent a lot of money on it b4 it blew up... then it sat for a few years i guess (so im told)


I personal dont like audi or Vw my partner is in to em

Although ive been doing a lot of flex pipe jobs on the a4,a6's and s4-s6's

different job

[TimKninja]

I was trying to draw a parallel between different makes all having parts that go NLA or become hard to find, not suggesting that a distributor drive gear is as important as a valence mounting bracket. If we're looking for mechanical weaknesses I'd point out the rubber band driven valve-train on the m20. That alone would turn plenty of people off on the e30 325. It also happens to be the reason so many are swapped to another motor. How is that any different than swapping to Porsche brakes in the case of this vehicle, or KO4's on the B5 S4? I think it's a bit silly to say a car has no value because parts are hard to find. Sure, I'll agree that BMW has a better track record for keep part available in most cases. Just because a certain vehicle doesn't have as strong a following doesn't mean it has no worth.

In case you didn't notice, your POS B5 S4 is also timing belt driven, and To change it the front of the car has to be ripped off. Oh and to change out to those K04s the drivetrain has to come out.

The e30 will have IMMENSELY less faults then some Peice of shit Audi will ever have. How do I know? I work on Audis all day long. Give Me an old BMW any day of the week.

Now with my hatred for poorly designed modern Audis out of the way. If you understand that you can't find parts for it, and it probably won't be terribly reliable, go for it. It looks like a neat car IMO. If it's what you want, go for it.

[dougie30]

Sure but I need to be able to carry dogs & gear in lots of snow.

if there was only 160 of these brought to this country please don't load your dogs in it and use it as a winter beater....

[slammin.e28]

if there was only 160 of these brought to this country please don't load your dogs in it and use it as a winter beater....

It's just an Audi mang, and a wagon at that.