S4 B6 buying advice please

[VAGMAN]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I'm looking to replace my BMW 330Ci for an Audi S4 avant (b6) within a week or two. Previously had a Golf R32 and missing it. I have arranged to view one this week. It's a 2003 with a little over 100k on the clock. I have access to VCDS and will take this with me to run a full check. Any advice on what to look for/avoid would would be appreciated. Most of all I would like information on timing chain related issues. Can the tolerances be read using VCDS/what would acceptable figures be? Please point me in the direction of an existing buyers guide if there is one, I couldn't find it via search bar. Thanks, Will.

[spikeyboy101]

Hi,

Used to own a B6 S$ and from memory these are the know things to look out for:

1) Timing Chain - tell tale signed are a rattle at cold start up.
2) Aux Rads corroding (situated behined each for the front fog lights)
3) Suspension Bushes wearing.
4) Clutch - 100k and it should really have been changed by now.
5) Front Disks - mine needed replacing approx every 30k miles.


Other than that they are failry bullet proof.

[VAGMAN]

Thanks for the reply. I have just got back from viewing a dolphin grey S4 Avant, quite disappointed with this particular example. It was priced at £6,995 with 107,000 miles and looked great in the pictures. So I was expecting it to at least be presentable. When I arrived it was filthy to start with, never a good impression! Covered in tree sap, leaves ect... Under the bonnet it was evident that no one had been in there for some time. Too much oil in the engine, valve cover had been sealed with instant gasket, countless fault codes on engine management; engine mounts, multiple misfire and temperature sensor codes. Nearly all the plastic trim pieces where damaged in some way, glove box hinges snapped and repaired with wood screws, boot lid storage retaining clip snapped, leather severely cracked and dry looking. It was endless. So my search continues. I have browsed through the classifieds here, ebay, auto trader & piston heads but haven't seen many up for grabs. Happy to travel reasonable distance from Somerset/Devon boarder.

So please feel free to point me in the direction of any up for sale. What I'm looking for is:
S4 B6 / B7
Avant/estate
Manual
Black full or half leather
Any colour considered
Around the £7k mark.

Thanks, Will.

[Ian_C]

Good ones are getting rarer and rarer now, and increasingly rare under 100k. Was looking at autotrader / pistonheads the other day to try and get an idea what mines worth if I sell.

There is unfortunately no way to predict when chains (or more likely chain tensioners) will let go. There are no checks that can be done on the car, electronic or mechanical, short of taking the engine out. I hunted for a car with the best history I could find with more frequent services than the longlife 20,000 mile / two year interval. Personally I think this is the only way.

As Spikeyboy mentions, make sure you buy one with the clutch done and a receipt to prove the proper dual mass flywheel was fitted. Its 2k+ to do properly! I viewed what would have been a stop-gap 2000 B5 A4 Avant 2.8 quattro the other day and would have bought it had it not been for the clutch / flywheel. Didn't fancy buying it and having to do a clutch flywheel - I know how much they cost!

I had my heart set on Nogaro blue with matching blue alcantara like Spikeyboys and initially I only considered Nogaro painted cars. I wanted Spikeyboys but it wasn't for sale. Then 'mine' came up and I knew it made sense, compromised on the colour because it ticked all the other boxes. Dolphin grew on me big time after I bought it, I love the stealth, plus it looks superb when nicely polished and waxed

[VAGMAN]

I've just been to pick up a Dolphin grey S4 avant, with all the toys I wanted and a nice surprise of cat back resonated Milltek too! The 2 hour drive home in it was a pleasure! Very pleased with it. Did any of the B6 S4's come with cruise control? Quite surprised that it wasn't a standard feature.

[Ian_C]

Excellent! Sounds similar to mine! Post some pics and the spec! Cruise was optional strangely

[VAGMAN]

[Ian_C]

Yey that looks familiar!

[VAGMAN]

Yeah, I'm really chuffed with it. Beautiful car to drive, can get a bit frustrating when trying to crawl with slow traffic and It could do with a little more room to rest your clutch foot but all considered its a brilliant compromise between practicality and fun. I can imagine I'll be holding onto it for many years to come.

[Ian_C]

You'll soon get into lazy habits like not bothering to change down to first and just pulling away in second

[VAGMAN]

Ha, I've already started that. Think I began doing that even on the journey home after buying it. Not always but often. Has anyone fitted any sort of front lip or splitter? Guess Cupra R might do the trick that's what was on the front of my R32 and looked decent. Seen any or have any photos of similar on the S4's?

[spikeyboy101]

here my old car (damn Ian you have a good memory): http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... s4#p468373

Parted with it 3 years ago for aroun £8,500 so surprised your having trouble finding a good example now at £7,000 (i should have held onto her )

[Ian_C]

Yours was a beaut, was surprise how long it took to sell, and it sold for substantially less than I paid for mine July 2010 with 66k on the clock. I am surprised they haven't depreciated more tbh since. As ever with these cars, there are cheap dogs out there, and properly looked after examples command a decent premium. Cannot believe I'm contemplating selling mine, I will miss it, but I will be back