Calling Audi Owners

[EYM3]

I had a B7 A4 2.0T Avant. I bought it when it had 135k miles and sold it with 180k. During that period, I can definitely say it's been the most unreliable car I've ever owned, which includes other VW's, BMW's, and Japanese cars.

In the time I owned it, I had to replace 3 fuel pumps, all the coil packs, diverter valve, purge relay valve, 2 cam followers, window switch, broken glove box, vacuum pump, fuel rail leak,... the list went on and on. This doesn't include what the previous owner replaced which included new turbo, cats, and fuel pump which weren't cheap. The check engine light would come on every couple months that I kept my code reader handy always to find out the next problem was.

I did all the regular maintenance such as regular fluid changes myself which wasn't too bad. You do need special tools for draining and removing the oil filter housing. Yes, the front end needs to be pulled forward to do the timing belt. Also, you need a lift and Vagcom tool to do stuff like trans fluid changes.

The car did have the S-Line package which drove and looked great. Also the Bose stereo was probably one of the best factory radios I heard, even better than the HK one in my e46. However with all the issues I had during ownership, I'm reluctant to ever jump into another Audi that isn't under a factory warranty.

[nando]

You're going from a Camry (horrid car, but one of the most reliable ever made) to an Audi (one of the least reliable cars ever made).

Keep the Camry..

[M-technik-3]

I have an 01 B5 A4 Avant 1.8 manual. I LOVE the looks of the newer body you're looking at. I believe they dealt with the sludging disaster of the 1.8 after buying so many engines for customers - I think there was a class action lawsuit against VW after the warranties ran out and engines were failing.

Mine has 130k and of course way out of warranty. I bought it used, one-owner, dealer-maintained. I just finished putting a new used engine in myself after mine ate rod bearings and threw a rod out the bottom of the pan.

The problem with that specific engine was that the pan had to fit around a big cross-member, so they made the capacity smaller. The Passat and sideways Golf configuration were better.

3 1/2 quarts of oil, turbo boost, oil-to-water oil cooler, very tight packaging, and complicated systems meant they were very susceptible to oil sludging. Oil change interval was too long even with synthetic. Filter was tiny.

I took really good care of it, regular synthetic changes, etc, but it let go with no warning. The packaging made it the most complicated car repair I've ever tried. Runs great now, everything except the long block is new. I use the newer huge oil filter that holds an extra half quart, and I'll change it at 3000.

The quattro system is the best bad weather / snow / ice system I've ever used. (Soob is maybe close behind).

SO….buy one with very good service history and receipts, and even then be careful.

[ATTACH]98067[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]98068[/ATTACH]

Bingo, I see these dead in the bone yard all the time when the HG or Turbo is dead because of oil related issues, Folks drive them short distances and never warm them up properly and so forth common issue here in the US.

Oil line clogs on the turbo and seizes, owner gets a bill for 2.5K+ and freaks and junks the car and then proceeds to buy another car.

Edit: That being said what a but pain to change the serpentine or timing belt on any Avant All Road pulling the front end off. Companies are trying to make cars dealer only serviced to make more money from repairs.

I owned a few Audi's over the years and hated the late 80's and early 90's they had the same issues as the E34/36 and E31's Green Party years....Biodegradeable and disposable.

[fiveightandten]

like any car its all driver errors. just like all the issues with s54 and s62 engines even our m20's. You take appropriate manufacturer recommended maintenance and you shouldn't find balls of gunk oil in the pan lol.. History shows those engine have been proven to handle whatever.

So, no cars have ever been manufactured with engineering flaws? All cars will remain 100% reliable as long as you follow recommended maintenance, and any failures are user error?

Which company do you design cars for?

[arams325]

+1 on the subaru I absolutely hate working on audi's everything is such a pain to get too they look nice, drive great and feel solid but the thing will drain your wallet dry

[kway]

[ATTACH]98068[/ATTACH]

I feel cold and miserable just looking at that.

[LateFan]

I have an 01 B5 A4 Avant 1.8 manual. I LOVE the looks of the newer body you're looking at. I believe they dealt with the sludging disaster of the 1.8 after buying so many engines for customers - I think there was a class action lawsuit against VW after the warranties ran out and engines were failing.

Mine has 130k and of course way out of warranty. I bought it used, one-owner, dealer-maintained. I just finished putting a new used engine in myself after mine ate rod bearings and threw a rod out the bottom of the pan.

The problem with that specific engine was that the pan had to fit around a big cross-member, so they made the capacity smaller. The Passat and sideways Golf configuration were better.

3 1/2 quarts of oil, turbo boost, oil-to-water oil cooler, very tight packaging, and complicated systems meant they were very susceptible to oil sludging. Oil change interval was too long even with synthetic. Filter was tiny.

I took really good care of it, regular synthetic changes, etc, but it let go with no warning. The packaging made it the most complicated car repair I've ever tried. Runs great now, everything except the long block is new. I use the newer huge oil filter that holds an extra half quart, and I'll change it at 3000.

The quattro system is the best bad weather / snow / ice system I've ever used. (Soob is maybe close behind).

SO….buy one with very good service history and receipts, and even then be careful.

[DrJosh]

To be fair, the B5 S4 is known to be a maintenance nightmare. Although I still find me self contemplating selling my X5 and picking up an avant and engine hoist.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Here we go again.

I DD a b5s4, bought it in October with 128k, it now has 147k on it.

It hasn't been cheap, and I have had to keep up on repairs, but the car is amazing and hasn't stranded me.

A good friend has a 1.8t jetta with almost 300k on the stock engine/trans.

I like my Audi's, but they require patience and either a fat wallet or mechanical ability.

That said, they are easy to work on. Putting it into service position takes 30 minutes or less and makes things like a timing belt cake.

Also, Audi longitudinal setup have real AWD. No haldex to worry about.

[King Mufasa]

like any car its all driver errors. just like all the issues with s54 and s62 engines even our m20's. You take appropriate manufacturer recommended maintenance and you shouldn't find balls of gunk oil in the pan lol.. History shows those engine have been proven to handle whatever.

[XwalkerX]

honestly I LOVED all the audis Ive owned.

I still think that my b6 s4 avant was the best daily driver I ever had (aside from the fuel milage) IMO the interior is SO much better than the BMW counterpart of the same year

I owned the s4 from 18k-49k miles so I didn't really have any issues at all but I hear the timing chains become a problem later in their life so there is that.

the 1.8t is kind of a no brainer but it is pathetic without a tune and even then its still annoying how you have to really put your foot into it to get it up and moving.

as to the gent bashing the 3.0l v6 I think you may have just bought a car built on Friday. my best friend owned a b5 3.0 he originally bought as a winter car/commuter car with 190k for $800 and the car would NOT die. he owned it for 2 years and aside from oil changes he only had to replace a wheel bearing and the headunit.


my b6 s4





my b6 a4 1.8t

https://www.flickr.com/photos/xwalkerx/5473675995

[dirty30]

subaru wagon, put an audi badge on it if it makes you feel better

[fiveightandten]

Get a Subaru.

[DrJosh]

I have owned two, my family has owned several, and I will own more again. I had a B6 1.8T and a 90 20v. My parents currently own a B6 3.0 with 170k miles on it (bought it cpo at 40k) and the only thing that has happened out side of maintenance is the AC compressor went out.

People on here give Audi a bad name, but really they are no worse nor easier than any similar vintage BMW (starting with the B5/E46). Earlier Audis, such as my 90 20v Quattro, was much more advanced than my 89 E30, and if not maintained they can be headaches.

And for what it is worth, my 03 X5 feels like it was built cheaper than my old 03 A4.

[keine30]

I agree with the terrible mechanical complexity. Every job on an Audi is a chore because of the way they're put together.