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I'm considering a S4 (b5) purchase.
Given my budget (5-7k) I'm looking at 1999/2000 Avant and high mileage examples.

My Q - what should i look out for other than obvious , given that I am seeking stock un modded examples with good service history.

What are typical high mileage figures for current owners?

Anyone passed 175k or anyone on 200k - what should I look for in the service history and anything to consider that might not be covered in this?

Thanks in advance - here's hoping I can find a decent S4

Im on 130K high mileage and my cars runnign fine apart from the clutch and turbos may be on there way out.

I bought it at 110K and unmodified.

Things to look out for are, faulty MAF (air flow meter) , clutch on way out, bad gear box, Leaky diff, turbos will be near their life expectancy if they have not been changed, starter motor / alternator been in their an swful long time and is mostly an engine out job. (So are the turbos).

Why dont you got for a low mileage examle. You could get an avant for about 8000 without having the risks and it would be about 70K on the clock. there s a saloon on classifides with about 70K on i think and its been well kept for just under £7000.

Someoen on here I recall has passed about 175K. And someone else with just over 160K.

Bear in mind high mileage example are mostly nearly motorway mileage anyway. I kno wmine was.

check the classifides regularly and im sure youll find a low mileage for the price youre looking for.

Make sure its a face lift if possible as it would be a better car. You can pick up the older 1998 models for about £5000 with higher mileage but I would put the extra money in and get a nice low mileage facelift.

Good luck

Do a seach in this forum, there is plenty to read

One thing commonly forgotten about and not mentioned in many forums is the prop shaft. best part of £1k to replace......

I guess what I'm asking is all things being equal - (ie not overly thrashed, not modded, driven within sensible parameters, reg serviced, reg oil change and not left up on blocks, not raced and basically motorway mileage...)
Do S4's last ? Can I expect with near certainty to gain for example 250k from a well looked after 2000/2001 model.

Volvos for ex have that rep for going on and on , Ferrari's on the other hand "burn brighter for shorter" so to speak.
With a bi turbo v6 performance vehicle what is the considered lifespan of these cars? I've seen quite a few RS2's about ..I appreciate your comments and wondered how many of you run higher mileage S4s as more or less everyday vehicles..
Cheers for you help so far - I may have to dig deeper to get lower mileage..but I'm just trying to balance cost/potential reward....!

Thanks

What do you mean "going on and on"? Do you mean a car that will do lots of miles without any major part replacements? If so that that counts the B5 S4 out. As already mentioned there are a few items which have limited longevity, however the big issue is the turbos. Not only do they not last forever, but it is also relatively easy for a fault such as an air leak to cause premature damage such that replacement is required. In general turbo replacement requires engine removal, and turbos should be replaced in pairs. That means a big cost that can happen at any time.

You would probably be better off looking at the not turbo V6 units if you want longevity (leaks, valve failures, etc). Although there are "no guarantees" that a car or it's parts will last, the running costs (parts) are going to be less as well (I wonder what the difference in service cost for a 2.4V6 vs. an S4). The engine blocks and shell etc should be fine for 250k, but the cost of upkeep will vary greatly.

P.s. Look at the number of Audi 100/80s still around (15yr+).

My car has 195k on the clock , mostly motorway miles. It was stock when i bought it, plenty of service history all the way through. Now its in my hands, it's been subjected to some mods and harder driving style. Engine is still very strong, guess we will see how it holds up on bigger turbo's

ChrisS2 wrote:My car has 195k on the clock , mostly motorway miles. It was stock when i bought it, plenty of service history all the way through. Now its in my hands, it's been subjected to some mods and harder driving style. Engine is still very strong, guess we will see how it holds up on bigger turbo's

same here,160k and still going well with 400bhp and heavy right foot,gearbox is managing to hang together for the time being too

Mine is on 160K and I drive it like it's stolen. Still on original turbos too.

All, thanks for the advice and comments. I hate to admit it but looking sensibly I cant afford this at the moment. I am going to have to be practical and go for an oilburner...still doesnt stop me dreaming.

need something to last me for a few years and that will provide reasonable economy/comfort for regular uk/continental trips in addition to motorway commutes.

SonicDeathMonkey I used to drive my S3 like it was stolen, boy what a feeling..with the bose at full blast that got the hairs on the back of the neck going...
Well here's to dreaming of S4's and one day RS's...

In the meantime I will have to contend myself with the occasional blast in my mates 911 (997) when I am in Paris...although strangely, I would still prefer an Audi...

If you want it bad enough you will get one.
I can't really afford to own my RS4 but I had to have one, so I got one!!
I could be at home at the weekends, but I choose to work overtime to pay for it. And when I get home after a 12hr shift on Sunday I'll have a big grin on my face cos I have a lush motor in the garage!

If you getting an oil burner then go for something like a 1.9 tdi or if oyu want some mental power. Go for a 330D BMW and get the bolloc*$ tuned out of it!

Good MPG and great speed. Been told you can get about 600nm of torque on a 330D. Thats more or less the same as a stage 3 S4. Not bad for shifting on the small roads and nippy enuff on the bigger ones too.