Hi Guys, S4 Advice Please

[Mikedav]

Hi there, new to the board!

Im looking at possibly buying an S4 (old shape) and I could do with some good concise advice! Ive been looking around and have seen several early S4s- 1999s mainly- in the £13-£15k ballpark, but with relatively high mileage, around 60-80k. What are S4s like at this level? Would a high mileage S4 make a sound and dirt cheap purchase for someone doing less than 15k a year (ie me) or a headache in terms of bills and reliability?

If a high miler is a bad idea, I can probably go to £17k at the very maximum; what would this get me? What should I look out for? Whats the differences between pre facelift and post? And of course what are these like on running costs / theft target / insurance?

Many thanx in advance guys, looking foward to hearing more and hopefully sometime become a part of the community [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[Bushy]

Geoff frm AmD always told me these engines weren't run in properly until 80k miles

Really loosened up then [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[DJG]

Welcome.

I have a 99 S4 with 50K miles myself that I bought last August.

Performance is still great and I love the car.

Few suspension creaks and general rattles that are taking a while to track down otherwise fine.

You need to be aware that running costs are not cheap.

Servicing is OK (fully synthetic oil a must!), but parts are not cheap and for a lot of parts you are stuck with Audi OEM parts or generally more expensive performance parts.
(Repeat after me, I must not be tempted.....[img]images/graemlins/FIREdevil.gif[/img])

For example in the next few months my car will need the following:

Front disks and pads £400
Rear disks and pads £300
Possible new silencer £300
Four tyres £450

Apart from the tyres these are the best Audi fitted prices I could find including VAT.

I'm a 15K miles a year person and this year will need a minor and a major service.

My 50K service with a brake fluid change cost about £280 (and I provided my own oil!).

Not sure what the 60K will cost. £400?

So not a cheap year for me this year! Hopefully once I have got these things sorted out I will not have to spend too much more for a while.

Plus:
Insurance £600 (I am an old git)
Average of 23MPG

Also had a battery, new dash, heated mirrors and some suspension parts fixed under warranty.

Cambelt will also need changing at the latest at 80K miles and will cost something like £500 by an Audi dealer (best to get water pump done at the same time).

Don't mean to sound negative. I do love the car, but not exactly cheap motoring. It is a high performance car built in fairly small number with relatively expensive parts. Using independents rather than Audi can save on labour costs, but not really on parts.

With hindsight buying a later lower mileage car could have saved me money.

Written this a bit hastily as about to go out.

Hope it makes sense.

David
[img]images/graemlins/s4anogaro.gif[/img]

[Joules]

To add....

60K Service £272 inc VAT

I demanded cambelt and water pump in preparation of tuning in the near future and the cost then was £696 meaning £424 for cambelt and w pump..... (May have been lucky again Dave [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]


I have owned 4 S2's and now 1 S4. My cars have ranged from 130 000 miles to my S4 with 60K. The engines are solid and with regular servicing will go on and on.

My advice would be to check during the test drive for 1st to second and third gear changes. They should be relatively smooth with no clipping when engaging. It's the boxes IMHO where the real weak link exists. I lost 3rd on one of my S2's and many fellows forum member on this site and AUDIZINE have had similar experiences.

So in summary .... the car is ordinarily very reliable and is in a very mild state of tune (0.6 Bar Boost) so there is plenty left. Servicing and parts as Dave said are not cheap but INSURANCE relative to performance is cheap. That alone will save you hundreds over an EVO or STI.

Choice is yours,

Joules

[tombs]

That sevice sounds abit steep, I had my S4 done at Audi in Tonbridge 50k service, oil changed with Mobil 1 and it cost £211 including VAT, I guess it must vary from dealership to dealership?

[Mikedav]

Thanks guys, sounds pretty much as I expected really. It does seem to be an extremely fast car relative to costs though...I was looking at a 330Ci, but that would cost much more and isn't as complete, subtle or in anyway rare like the S4.

I will have to look into insurance, can anyone give me an idea of how it compares to a 330 in that department? The quote I had for the latter was £900 (I am 21...yes I know, but I am willing to spend more than I should on a car if I can have an S4 [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]).

Oh and I assume if I am looking at a 70,000 mile+ car, I need to make sure the cambelt service has been done then!

[DavidT]

Servicing interval is 10,000 miles.

Rough costs are:

10,000 £ 150
20,000 £ 220
30,000 £ 150
40,000 £ 400

The belts are done at 80,000 so this is a £ 700 service.


David

[Dippy]

I'll just add that the turbos have a life expectancy of less than 100K. Replacement is a few grand.

I bought my S4 new. In hindsight I would have bought an older S4 and had it severely overhauled including RS4 turbos.

[DJG]

Hi Tombs,

My 50K service did include a brake fluid change, but considering I did provided my own oil it still seems a bit pricey.

Prices and flexibility do seem to vary quite a bit. I wanted to use Mobil 1 and can buy it on my fuel card.

Whites Camberley don't have Mobil 1 and wouldn't let me bring my own oil. [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] They won't be doing my servicing any more. Pity as I work about 3 minutes drive away.

Reading Audi do have Mobil 1 and would have no problem with me providing the oil myself. Also had the best price if I provided the oil. Seen some negative reports and had one or two problems with them in the past, so thought I would try:

Martins at Baingstoke. They don't have Mobil 1, but no problems with me bringing my own, this didn't reduce the price much though. Brake fluid change bit pricey too. [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] OK, but not overly impressed. Didn't manage to trace my front end clunk. Didn't wash the car either.

David

[DJG]

Think you've got a good dealer there Joules. Bit too far away for me though.

Pleased to hear the 60K service is less than I thought too!

David

[tombs]

Hi DJG

Now that is poor!! I've got to say I have been so far impressed with Tonbridge Audi, the car was vacumed and washed when I picked it up [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img], I am surprised at Camberley!! Tut Tut!

[img]images/graemlins/s4anogaro.gif[/img]

[DJG]

Hi,

Yes new rules at Whites. Not allowed to fit any parts they didn't supply themselves, including oil [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Damn nuisance.

Will give Whites another try to sort our my mystery "clunk" though as I am on their doorstep.

Bit sad really that I haven't found an Audi dealer that I am really happy with since the Great Audi/VW separation.

David

[Golich]

Mikeday,

If buying an early one 97/98 make sure the recall work was carried out to replace the ECU and a number of turbo hoses. This will be described in the service book as "Quality improvement" or something odd like that. If you're not sure whether this has been carried out. Note down the registration no. and chassis No. and call any Audi parts/service dept and ask them to check this out.

I did this before buying my one only to discover. The recall had never been carried out. To be fair to Audi they did stomp up the full cost, which also required a new imobiliser since the new ECU's are not compatible with the older fixed code immobiliser.

If considering a +50k check to see if the front suspension arms have been replaced. You shouldn't hear any creaking noises when pressing down on the front suspension.

Get yourself a copy of "used car buyer" in every copy is a very comprehensive used car buyer's checklist.

Also the following link has excellent advice on buying an S4.

http://www.s4-mtm.com/images/Audi%20S4% ... 9.2004.pdf

If the full link doesn't work, you'll find the S4 buyers guide in the Library link right at the bottom of the page. It's a very good.

Try Tesco for Insurance I got a tremendous saving with them. £525 but I'm 32 with full no claims and clean licence. I fear your going to find it very very expensive.

Good Luck.

PS If you hold off for 6-10 months you can have my Imola yellow S4 Avant with black leather/Blue Alcantara heated seats, RS4 rear spoiler, AMD chipped to 323bhp. Hyperboost dump valves. Will have new rear suspension. Shouldn't have more than 60K miles for about £14K. Early model but registered 1999. [img]images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/yellows4.gif[/img]

[Mikedav]

If you hold off for 6-10 months you can have my Imola yellow S4 Avant with black leather/Blue Alcantara heated seats, RS4 rear spoiler, AMD chipped to 323bhp. .... Shouldn't have more than 60K miles for about £14K. Early model but registered 1999

Thanks for all the advice, very helpful. regards insurance, a 2.8 Quattro quote I got today was £747, and I am budgeting circa £1300 for insurance- sound about right? For a car like this I think it would be worth it, especially as I have an £8k deposit (my VW) sitting in the drive so my payments on the ar wont be too high. As I said, a 330ci was £900 ish fully comp, but I will need to shell out neary £19k for that...

Your car sounds perfect in terms of timing, miles and price...but I wanted a saloon and Im not a fan of yellow! Shame that...

The more I research this car the more I like it- awesome power, subtle looks. Hows the perception aspect? My dad has a 530i Sport and whenever I drive that, I am ignored at junctions, a target for vandals, and generally villified...as the Audi is so discreet, any problems?

[PhilT]

Very descreet. Scared a few unsuspecting drivers in fairly powerful machines a few times [img]images/graemlins/bigwave.gif[/img]