Looking at S4 ownership, Yorkshire Area

[gingerprince]

Hi all. I currently run a TVR Griffith 500 which I'm in the process of changing for 2 cars (a bike engined Lotus 7 for track use, which I have now bought) and a "practical but fun" car. Which brings me to the S4.

When the TVR's sold I expect to have up to 10k to spend on a car. I have a couple of questions: -

1) I know that S4 ownership is "relatively" expensive compared to your average car, but coming from a TVR background I'm not unused to large bills - but how do S4 biturbo's compare? For example the TVR is serviced every 6k miles at roughtly 400+VAT for a basic service, plus "extras" like 500 quid replacement clutch, 300 quid recore radiator, 1000 replacement cams/followers etc etc. I've spent about 4k in servicing and maintenance over the last 2 years. How do S4's compare (using independant specialist not main stealer) for average service costs and interval? And how often does "expensive" stuff happen?

2) What options are there re specialists for servicing and general maintenance in and around the Yorkshire area. With my cars historically I'm used to trolling around the country to find uber-specialists, but I'd like to not have to faff quite so much now for basic servicing (obviously I'll go further afield if i decide to chip/rr etc in future).

3) One of my requirements is that I'll need to have a towbar to tow the Seven to track days etc. Is the S4 capable of taking a removable towbar without making the bumper look like a Hannibal Lector mask?

Thanks for any advice,


Simon
http://www.stuffandting.com/

[SimonS4MTM]

Hello and welcome.

1, I do not believe the S4 to be much more expensive than any other car when it comes to routine servicing. Oil should be changed at 5k intervals at around £60 to £70 a go. Then service intervals at every 10k miles with 10k mile services costing around £150 and 20k services costing around £300. Cam belt is every 80k or 5 years, also change water pump and a few other parts at a cost of £600 to £900 depending on who does it. Tyres should last you up to 20k at the front at a cost of £200 a pair. Clutch is likely to cost you about £600. These cars only become expensive when things go wrong, ie turbo replacement will set you back upwards from £2k, though this is a good excuse to upgrade to more horses and reliability with RS4 turbo’s.

2, I good specialist with these cars is a must, there are various ones around the country, I am sure that someone can advise you of one in the Yorkshire area. An Audi dealer is unlikely to be able to diagnose a fault with these cars!!!

3, I believe that a removable tow bar was an option for these cars.

One extra point, once you have chosen your car, get it to a specialist for a health check. There are various parts on these car that will fail and cause a drop off in performance and possible turbo damage. Although they are relatively cheap to replace, search the forum for MAF, DV, EGT sensor for further information.

I have owned S4’s for over 4 years now and have not had any big bills, I estimate that with servicing and repairs for my current car over 40k miles use, I have spent in the region of £2k, that includes a cam belt change, repairs to aux water pump, fuel sender, new MAF, new DV’s.

God luck with the search.

[shineydave]

i have the removable bar on mine, no visible evidence of it's prescence with the ball removed. look for a later facelift car as these have the RS4 manifolds which don't rattle and break up. also (in my opinion) the interior on the later cars is much nicer. try to get one with recaros and sat-nav plus/tv, you can never have enough toys.

if you get yourself a vag-com you can diagnose any problems yourself then either fix them or advise a garage what to replace, a great boon. i don't know of any specialists in yorkshire and as simon says you'll be very lucky if your local audi dealership will be able to diagnose your car correctly. i took mine to a dealership for servicing who failed to spot a faulty alarm, dodgy MAF and the afterrun pump not working, then didn't refit the airfillter correctly and lost a clip off the MAF mounting.

[LeeMarshall]

Hi Simon, i have an exceptionally clean S4 for sale if you are interested? it really wouldnt be for sale but need cash for my driving school! it was checked over with vagcom on saturday and no fault codes at all so all is well! the DV's are fine as are the MAF's.full main dealer history with 88k. will take 7250. Its had the dreaded cambelt changed at 80k, dont let the price put you off as i am aware its a bit cheap, speak to Oliew from this site and he will tell you how good my car is! He was the person who put vagcom on it! you wouldnt be dissapionted, if you want you can call me :07920132142 or PM me for more details. cheers Lee

[springfield]

Cheap Car That..........Go on you know you want it, i have also had an E36 M3 and found that more expensive to run, the S4 will cost you nowhere near as much to run as a TREVOR.

Main Dealers on the whole are clueless and charge you the pleasure of 90 plus squids an hour use a good specialist, the car advertised above sounds as if it has had all the bits that go wrong done, i might add i do not know Lee and have no gain in this whatsoever.

[CliveH]

Hi Simon - welcome to the forum.

I agree with all the above (except Lee, as my car isnt for sale!)
Oh, and your Yorkshire specialist is "shineydave"...

Seriously, if you'd like to get together before the next official Northern Meet to have a chat about these cars, just give one of us a shout (PM). Happy to help

[shineydave]

your Yorkshire specialist is "shineydave"...

yup, that's why i was at your spot on tuesday evening with your Vag-Com surgically implanted into my rear ashtray looking clueless whilst you sorted my fault codes out.

[gingerprince]

Thanks for all the info guys, nice to find a friendly forum when looking into buying a specialist car

Thanks for mentioning your car Lee, but yellow isn't really for me - I'm after the stealth look really.

In terms of "local" servicing etc, looking through forums the nearest reputable place might be Awesome GTi, seems to get good reviews on here.

Looking at towbars I'd guess having an OEM bar fitted after-market would be very expensive. Anyone know if the A4 equivelant of aftermarket towbars will fit, eg http://stores.channeladvisor.com/towbar/Items/305220?

Just need to wait for someone to bite for my TVR now and then I can start a-looking proper!

Cheers, Sy

[fraser29]

Hi I have owned a number of audis over the past few years and have finally got enough cash together to upgrade from my 2.8 quattro avant to an S4 avant.

All the info above was v interesting but can someone confirm the following as I have arranged to view an S4 avant tomorrow.

The car I am looking at has 65k on clock and was last serviced at 60k the "trader" has told me that this was a "long life " service and it would not need servicing again until 80K. I did not think that this sounded right. Any comments as S4MTM says oil should be changed at every 5k.

it has not had a cambelt change and it is a 2001 so would have thought that I should take this off the asking price??


I would appreciate any suggestions or if anyone has a 2001 S4 avant with no more than 65k on clock with recaro's for sale i would be keen to hear from you

[fraser29]

Just picked up my 2.8 from Audi and whilst there i got them to check their system for the car I was going to view tomorrow. Nothing on their system under reg or chsis No. so was told that the car would be an import. Put me off a bit so might give it a miss and the HPI report I did shows 4 owners yet the ad states 2 owners!!

Will have to keep looking for the right one but any advice would be appreciated.

Has anyone got any experience of Fontain or Croft Motors??

[dazzer]

Can't rate Sports Tech Ltd at Ilkeston highly enough.

http://www.sportstechltd.co.uk

[35col]

Looking at towbars I'd guess having an OEM bar fitted after-market would be very expensive. Anyone know if the A4 equivelant of aftermarket towbars will fit, eg http://stores.channeladvisor.com/towbar/Items/305220?

I've got a Bosal detachable towbar,new and never used, you could make an offer for if you get a car?

Col

[SimonS4MTM]

Frazer

These engines have turbo's that get very hot, as all turbo cars, this will put the oil through a very tough life.

Although Audi have recomended service schedules, it is common to think that the oil should be changed every 5k miles, this is common with most cars.

The turbo's on these cars are the weak point and anything that you can do to improve their life is an advantage.

[fraser29]

Thanksvery much for the info. will make sure that the one I eventually get has the oil change at every 5k.

I am calling sportstech now!

The money is burning a hole in my pocket and as it has been nearly 3 years since I first test drove an S4 and could not afford it my S4 has been along time coming !

[SimonS4MTM]

Oh and the cambelt is due at 5 years