S4 purchase

[braider]

Hi guys, new to forum....Have just put a (small!) deposit on a 1999 S4 Avant from Oscar Goldman in Watford, FSH etc with 1 year comprehensive warranty. Seemed in great condition and virtually unmarked for 86,000 miles. I have 3 questions I would love somehelp with:

1. There was a tiny amount of white gunk at the top end of the plastic part of the dipstick (i.e. oil level indicator at bottom of dipstick). The car had a short run from cold and I am told that this can be condensation etc. Is it something to worry about...? am thinking about an RAC check before signing over any real money.

2. Anyone have any info on Oscar Goldman?? seemed a good bloke and obviously knows his S4s.

3. Audi Camberley changed the cambelt at 76,000 but not the water pump...anything to worry about??? No undue noises etc coming from car at low/high revs and it pulled really smoothly.

Any help gratefully received!!!!!!

[dazzer]

Condensation - mmm. I am intrigued as I never see anything like this on the end of my dipstick and I don't drive mine that regularly.

I remember Mihnea telling me that the heads can sometime crack on the S4 after over 70,000 miles. Maybe you could clarify this Mihnea.

Check the water level in the expansion tank. Then give the car a good long run and check it again.

[jacko788]

hi braider best thing to do is take on board what the guys on here say but make up your own mind,too many guys on here will scare ur pants off with things that go wrong on s4s.they are basically a reliable sound car that needs tlc.good luck i just bought one with 110k luvvin large

[cpufreak]

I'd be concerned that they changed the cambelts, and not the waterpump. waterpump is due at 80,000 miles, so perhaps its worth phoning up Audi Camberley (they're part of Whites aren't they?) and asking why they didn't do the waterpump too. (effectively its the same amount of labour to do both, and the parts for the waterpump are inexpensive). Only explanation for not changing it, is if it was done before that...if so why?

Find out what the white gunk is, too...like dazzer my car frequently spends a week or more sitting without being used and I've never seen any white gunk on its dipstick.

[jacko788]

white gunk on dipstick is usually water in the oil ie head gasket gone,maybe they have done the gasket n not flushed the engine???

[tartan_rob]

braider - I must stress - this is my own personal opinion, but if you were a mate and came to ask me my advice, I would advise you (unless some further investigation found otherwise) to avoid this car. There are loads out there with varying spec's and if you have doubts, its best to walk away. White gunk in the oil anywhere NORMALY (not always) means the worst - it may not in this case - but if I found gunk anywhere near my oil, I'd be trading it in. For reference, my car is going into Audi Swindon today for a new cambelt, water pump and radiator, the total bill is £902 + VAT, Audi recommended doing the pump at the same time as no extra charge to fit it. But please remember - this is my opinion only. My car has 140k miles on it.

[Dippy]

Waterpump is not a service item in my service schedule. If a dealer just follows the schedule, it won't get changed (nor will a couple of other items too).

[mikeyquattro]

Rob, why are you taking your car to audi and not keith?

[tartan_rob]

Not sure mikey. The £902 quote seemed quite good for belt, pump and radiator + they have thrown in a loan car for a week (otherwise it would have been time off work)....I have a great relationship with them and know and trust their work, not that I don't trust Dialynx, because I do.

I always think of Keith as a performance tuning geezer and everytime I'm here there he seems very busy....no reason other than I needed another car and could not be bothered hiring one and getting taxi's about the place. In hindsight I should have got a quote from him. Why you ask?>

[braider]

thanks guys I am taking a good mate who is an experienced mechanic to see it on wednesday so will let you know his opinion, 1 year warranty gives me a bit of peace of mind....

looking around the forum it seems that Audi do not do the water pump at the same time as the cambelt

[mikeyquattro]

I see your point with the car but keith charges £290 inc. for cambelt.
And i have had bad experiances with swindon audi.
£90p/hr at audi and £40p/hr with keith!!
He is a good tuning specialist but his bread and butter is servicing etc.

[tartan_rob]

Thanks Mikey - you've cheared me up no end.....

I thought it was the other way around i.e. he was primarily a tuning geezer...

[ChrisG]

I'd be concerned that they changed the cambelts, and not the waterpump. waterpump is due at 80,000 miles, so perhaps its worth phoning up Audi Camberley (they're part of Whites aren't they?) and asking why they didn't do the waterpump too. (effectively its the same amount of labour to do both, and the parts for the waterpump are inexpensive). Only explanation for not changing it, is if it was done before that...if so why?

Find out what the white gunk is, too...like dazzer my car frequently spends a week or more sitting without being used and I've never seen any white gunk on its dipstick.

The owners (brother and sister ) sold the business to Colbornes much earlier this year. The VW franchise next door was bought by Martins( Basingstoke)
Visited once early summer - nobody I recognized in the showroom and they treated me - well not like somebody who has bought 7 Audis and 2VWs ( daughter's) in the last nine years.......... I'll give them another try soon and see if they are better.
Not used the Service for many years - just not convenient for work

ps
Sorry, didn't intend hi-jacking thread !

[Witchfinder]

I'd always been told that white gunk means water in the oil; ie: head gasket has gone.

[mikeyquattro]

Sorry!!!