Too good to be true ?

[lives2ride]

Hi all,

I have been researching the site regularly for the last few months and found it most helpful with a view to purchasing an S4 Avant, my budget being 13/14k.

Having recently found one at my local "sports and perfomance" garage that fits my requirement I now have a few reservations. Its a Dolphin Grey 99T with 67k on the clock, leather, sunroof, climate con, Bose etc. and they want 11k. However the vehicle is a 2002 Belgian import that is a repossessed company car, log book intact but no service history (they are chasing this up). The salesman at the garage seems a little bit of a "wideboy" which concerns me and the car has film tinted windows currently which I will have removed. Apparently it is HPI and VMC checked, comes with a 12 month warranty and will have a multi point inspection plus a service prior to sale, which alleviates some of my fears.

Being a natural sceptic this seems a bit dodgy, a little cheap and too good to be true and I wondered what thoughts your more learned members might have ? I have also suggested a new cam belt but they reckon this should be done at 100k for S4's, is there anything I need to be aware of on imports or things to look out for when I inspect again ?

My head tells me to steer clear but my heart wants the car real bad....

[DavidT]

Hi, welcome to the site.

If the car has been serviced in the UK, you should be able to get info from your local dealer. For me, no service book=no services, until proven otherwise. It's amazing how many people buy without history but these cars need the oil changed regularly.

You should do all the relevant checks yourself imho, it's a lot of money to risk.

Cambelt service is 80k miles.

General wear and tear, look at a few and you will have a good idea if it looks right for the mileage show.


Best of luck.

[DuncS3]

I think as David says that you could ring Audi UK to get service history - anyone?

Dunc

[CliveH]

I thought belt change was at 65k? and it's a big job (front off)

I take it this is LHD if it's a Belgian import, so the £11k is probably about right for age, mileage, spec, LHD.

I would be more concerned about the service history than the wideboy selling it (arent they all like that?!)

[springfield]

Insist on service history or walk ! there are others,just had my belts one at 59k do not always go by mileage as rubber has a shelf life and detiriates with age.
I would not be happy driving around in a 10 year old car with only 20k on the clock and original belt,I knew of an old dears car with 12k on it original belt snapped and mashed top of engine.

Jim

[mikeyquattro]

If it's not right, it's not for you.
Follow your head

[KayGee]

Cambelt is 80K, plugs are 60K, Oil every 10K. Audi customer services will tell you the AUDI service history if you have the VIN. Do your own HPI before purchase, if you decide to go ahead and get an Audi specialist or AA/RAC inspection done. I'd say no service history means it's not been serviced and therefore should be cheaper than that.

[CliveH]

KayGee - offtopic, but is your car really an RS4 saloon???!

[KayGee]

Getting there... it's an S4 saloon with a lot of RS4 parts. Would like an RS4 body kit fitted but its a damned expensive conversion. Need my bank account to recover from last visit to the man with the spanners. Gonna have to settle for RS4 look bumper for this year.

[dazzer]

Be patient my friend - good things come to those who wait

[CliveH]

Hows the KO4 turbo upgrade coming on Dazzer...?

[dazzer]

Hi Clive,

A million miles away with the conversion - I can't even make a decision about suspension.

Still loving the MRC remap though - zero error codes.

[CliveH]

Nice one Dazzer. I'm loving MRC remap too - like a different car!

I'm still toying with suspension options too - I'll PM you to save clutterring up the forum with general chit chat

[Turbo Joe]

RS4 MAF on a S4? Is this possible? I thought the fit would have been off?

[CliveH]

Yes, this is possible, just need some different size hoses to make it fit.