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Am i the only guy out there with a non modified S4?

Is it possible that most of the reliability issues mentioned throughout the site are due to engines being inappropriately modified?

I have been tempted to get a few mods, but the car is pretty quick anyway and the reliability concerns along with potentially astronomical repair bills frighten the crap out of me.

Well mods and track/hard use will not help but my car has no engine mods and I am careful about warming it up and driving gently for a few miles before turning it off and I had turbo failure at exacty 50k miles - I think they just break.

Christ, 50,000 miles is nothing! Have you owned the car from new? if you have previous owners, maybe they thrashed the pants off it before you had it!(sorry)

my S4 is standard to, i thought i was the only one!! i'm tempted to get my car revo re-mapped in the near future, but it has done 42,000 miles and if the turbo's are going to die in the next 15-20,000 miles then i expect this will speed up the process some what!! that is why i haven't done anything to it yet.. but hey, if they go bang, then they'll go bang anyway sooner or later, then a set of k04's will be purchased!! i'll just have to start saving now! [img]images/graemlins/rocker.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/s4addict.gif[/img]

Another standard S4 here.

Though I'm considering putting in a short shifter [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

another std S4 avant here... it's already had a set of turbo's before 30,000 miles but no major glitches since really. I've got a tanoga Q-shift to fit (xmas!) & was thinking about wheels & a revo\amd remap but trying to resist for insurance & sanity reasons at the moment. Besides, the less I spend tweeking the Audi, the more I'll have to buy a swanky billety MTB! [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Oh yeah.. does anyone have a miltek? - does it make the same noise as the RS4 std exhaust? if so, I'll have to add that to my list.

A

Oh yeah.. does anyone have a miltek? - does it make the same noise as the RS4 std exhaust? if so, I'll have to add that to my list.

i had a miltek on my a4 1.8t sport quattro it was really loud and boomy and i didn't like it.. will an rs4 exhaust fit onto your avant anyway?

There has been a fair bit of research done in the US (e.g. AudiWorld) and there has been no conclusive correlation between mods and turbo failure. There still seems to be evidence that S4s made before 2000 are more prone to early turbo failure, however there are still early S4s about on their original turbos.

You have to accept that any turbo has a limited lifespan. I think Turbo Dynamics have suggested a 'typical' lifespan of around 80,000 miles. Of course this is probably a statistical average - some turbos will fail at 50,000 miles and other last over 100,000 miles.

If you have limited funds and you are happy with your car's performance then don't mod it. However unfortunately your turbos might still fail 'early' - that's the reliability lottery. [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

The K03 turbos do appear to be a little 'suspect' and are prone to failure at relatively low mileage in the S4. There does appear to be a number of moddified and unmoddified cars that have turbo failures at around 50K. My turbos failed at 52K when the center exhaust box partially collapsed and the MAF was faulty. I do wonder how many turbo failures are actually caused by failed MAFs.....

Oh yeah.. does anyone have a miltek? - does it make the same noise as the RS4 std exhaust? if so, I'll have to add that to my list

No it doesn't. I had the full Milltek on my S4 and now have a full Milltek on my RS4, and the RS4 is much louder. The S4 still sounds great though, it's just not as deep sounding.

I did a recording of the S4 from inside the car - have a listen!

how did the miltek S4 sound compared to the standard RS4?

Nice mp3 [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

A

Probably shouldn't post this, as its likely to invoke sods law!

Had my late 98 model S4 for the last 3 years, not modded, and not had a single problem with it - currently 64k on the clock - never even replaced a bulb.

Oh yeah.. does anyone have a miltek? - does it make the same noise as the RS4 std exhaust? if so, I'll have to add that to my list

No it doesn't. I had the full Milltek on my S4 and now have a full Milltek on my RS4, and the RS4 is much louder. The S4 still sounds great though, it's just not as deep sounding.

I did a recording of the S4 from inside the car - have a listen!

With K04's as well Rob? Sounds like it [img]images/graemlins/roundeyes.gif[/img]

I have a Nov 1998 Saloon S4, with no engine modifications, except for a CAT back Miltek exhaust, which by the way, I do like the sound of (It is not too noisey at all!) and the problems I have had include:
1. Loose heat pannels below mannifold which required replacement
2. Air mass meter went, as I was driving over the Forth Road Bridge!

I appear to have no problems with the turbos. TOUCH WOOD!

how did the miltek S4 sound compared to the standard RS4?

Nice mp3 [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Oh sorry, I mis-read the question [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

I'd say the S4 with Milltek is louder but not as deep as the standard RS4 exhaust sounds.